New York City has been the setting and filming location for countless iconic movies over the past century. The city’s towering skyscrapers, bustling streets, diverse neighborhoods, and rich culture have provided the backdrop for some of the most memorable scenes in cinema history. From gritty crime dramas to sweeping romances, New York’s inimitable energy and personality shine through in these films. Here is an in-depth look at some of the most famous movies filmed in New York City.
What are some classic black-and-white movies filmed in New York?
New York was a popular filming location even in the early days of cinema, with its striking cityscape providing an evocative setting for many classic black-and-white movies.
King Kong (1933)
This groundbreaking monster movie used innovative special effects to bring the giant gorilla King Kong to life. Iconic scenes include King Kong swatting biplanes from atop the Empire State Building.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
Audrey Hepburn sparkles as Holly Golightly in this romantic comedy based on the Truman Capote novel. The film highlights famous New York locations like Tiffany’s, the public library, and Central Park.
The Naked City (1948)
A police procedural film noir shot on location in New York. The movie’s climactic chase scene through the streets inspired the popular TV series of the same name.
Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
This dark drama stars Burt Lancaster as an unethical newspaper columnist and Tony Curtis as a press agent in the gritty world of 1950s NYC tabloid journalism.
What are some iconic movies set in 1970s New York City?
The 1970s were a turbulent time in New York’s history, as captured in these groundbreaking films shot among the city’s neighborhoods, nightclubs, and crowded streets.
Taxi Driver (1976)
Robert De Niro delivers his famous “You talkin’ to me?” line as disturbed taxi driver Travis Bickle in Martin Scorsese’s disturbing psychodrama. The film starkly depicts the crime and vice of 1970s NYC.
The French Connection (1971)
Gene Hackman stars as a detective investigating drug smugglers in this thrilling police procedural, famous for its frantic car chase underneath the BQE. Based on a true story.
Saturday Night Fever (1977)
John Travolta became an overnight sensation as Tony Manero, a Brooklyn youth for whom dancing provides escape from his dead-end life. Features the city’s disco and nightlife culture.
The Warriors (1979)
This cult favorite follows a Coney Island gang on a journey through a dystopian vision of New York’s subway system and streets. An early example of the “gang” movie genre.
Annie Hall (1977)
Woody Allen’s romantic comedy charts the relationship between neurotic comedian Alvy Singer (Allen) and ditzy Annie Hall (Diane Keaton) against NYC landmarks.
What are some iconic romantic comedies filmed in New York?
With its famed parks, plazas, restaurants, and apartments, New York City provides the ideal backdrop for heartwarming romantic comedies.
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan star as friends wondering if sex can ruin a relationship. Features iconic scenes at Katz’s Deli and Central Park.
You’ve Got Mail (1998)
Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan play online love interests unaware they are business rivals in this remake of 1940’s The Shop Around the Corner. Highlights NYC locations like Cafe Lalo.
Serendipity (2001)
John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale play strangers who meet randomly at Bloomingdale’s and attempt to find each other again. Also stars Central Park’s Wollman Rink and the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
Moonstruck (1987)
Cher won an Oscar for her role as a widowed Brooklyn bookkeeper who falls for her fiancé’s estranged brother (Nicolas Cage). Captures the Italian American community.
Enchanted (2007)
Amy Adams stars as a fairy tale princess transported to live-action modern day Manhattan in this fish-out-of-water romantic comedy. Features iconic NYC spots.
What are some classic New York Christmas movies?
When the holiday season hits New York, the city becomes even more magical. These beloved films use Christmas in New York as a backdrop for heartwarming stories.
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
This holiday classic follows a department store Santa who claims to be the real Kris Kringle. Features scenes at the old Macy’s on 34th Street and Central Park.
Elf (2003)
Will Ferrell is the lovable Buddy, an orphaned human raised by elves who heads to NYC to find his family. Includes iconic Christmas locations like Central Park and the Rockefeller Center tree.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
Macaulay Culkin returns as Kevin McCallister, who accidentally ends up alone in New York and outwits thieves once more. Features scenes at the Plaza Hotel, Carnegie Hall, and Central Park.
The Apartment (1960)
Jack Lemmon plays an insurance clerk who tries to climb the corporate ladder by lending his NYC apartment to executives for trysts in this Billy Wilder classic.
Scrooged (1988)
Bill Murray stars in this comedic take on A Christmas Carol as a cynical TV executive visited by ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future.
What are the most iconic New York crime movies?
New York has long captured the imagination of filmmakers seeking a gritty, urban setting for hard-boiled crime stories. Here are some of the most influential examples:
The Godfather (1972)
Francis Ford Coppola’s opus chronicles the Corleone crime family, with famous scenes at Italian restaurants and Long Island estates. Captures NYC’s organized crime underground.
Goodfellas (1990)
Another mob masterpiece from Scorsese, starring Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, and Joe Pesci as Brooklyn gangsters working their way up the ranks. Features quintessential New York Italian American culture.
Mean Streets (1973)
An early Scorsese crime saga following Charlie (Harvey Keitel) and reckless friend Johnny Boy (De Niro) involved with the Mob in Little Italy and Greenwich Village.
The Naked City (1948)
The first major Hollywood noir filmed in NYC, using actual NYC locations to lend authenticity. Its harsh, documentary-style visuals influenced future police dramas.
The French Connection (1971)
Based on a true story, Gene Hackman as Detective Popeye Doyle chases down heroin smugglers in this groundbreaking, Oscar-winning thriller.
What are some iconic superhero or sci-fi movies showcasing New York City?
NYC’s monumental architecture and crowded neighborhoods make an impactful backdrop for fantastical superhero and science-fiction spectacles.
Spider-Man (2002)
Peter Parker gains spider powers and protects New York as Spider-Man in this blockbuster that showcases Spidey swinging from skyscrapers and stopping the Green Goblin.
Avengers (2012)
NYC’s skyline is the battleground as Marvel superheroes including Iron Man, Hulk, and Captain America team up to defend the city from Loki and the Chitauri army.
Cloverfield (2008)
Found footage horror movie depicting a giant monster’s attack on the city, with characters scrambling across recognizable streets and landmarks.
Escape from New York (1981)
In the dystopian future of 1997, Manhattan has been converted into a maximum security prison. Kurt Russell stars as Snake Plissken enlisted to rescue the President.
The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
Climate disaster movie in which NYC is impacted by catastrophic flooding. Dramatizes the effects of severe weather on the city’s famous sites.
What are some classic coming-of-age movies showcasing youth culture in New York?
From high school students to recent college grads, young adulthood in New York has provided material for relatable stories of self-discovery.
The Graduates (1967)
Mike Nichols’ generation-defining comedy-drama follows directionless college grad Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman). Many scenes feature iconic New York locations.
Kids (1995)
Controversial indie film about teenage aimlessness and the HIV epidemic in the 90s NYC streets. Directed by Larry Clark and written by Harmony Korine.
Frances Ha (2012)
Greta Gerwig stars as a 27-year-old apprentice dancer navigating life and love in modern Brooklyn in this black-and-white comedy-drama directed by Noah Baumbach.
Metropolitan (1990)
Whit Stillman’s debut indie comedy-drama follows a group of wealthy Manhattan prep school students during Christmas break and their adventures through New York debutante society.
Ghost World (2001)
Thora Birch and Scarlett Johansson play cynical outsider grads in this bleak indie film set in an unnamed city modeled after NYC. Based on the comic by Daniel Clowes.
Homecoming (1996)
The best of the late 90s urban coming-of-age films, following a group of friends during one emotional night. Stars Larenz Tate and Nia Long. Directed by Joe Roth.
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (2008)
Michael Cera and Kat Dennings play two teens thrown together for a night of music and adventure in the NYC indie rock scene.
What are some of the most iconic Woody Allen movies showcasing New York City?
As a quintessential New York director and screenwriter, Woody Allen has defined the city on screen since the 1970s through romantic comedies, dramas, and more.
Annie Hall (1977)
Allen’s most honored film charts the ups and downs of his relationship with Diane Keaton’s title character, with NYC spots like the Queensboro Bridge and Central Park as a backdrop.
Manhattan (1979)
A 42-year-old dating a 17-year-old causes controversy in Allen’s gorgeous black-and-white Valentine to New York, featuring iconic imagery of the Manhattan skyline.
Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
A Thanksgiving family drama tracking the lives and affairs of three sisters over two years. Showcases 1980s NYC life through Allen’s lens.
Broadway Danny Rose (1984)
Allen plays the hapless title character, a talent agent to has-been performers and embittered lounge acts who gets tangled up with the mob. A love letter to the grittier side of NYC’s entertainment scene.
Radio Days (1987)
A nostalgic look back at the 1930s and 1940s NYC depicting Allen’s childhood memories of growing up in a working-class Jewish family and the magic of radio programs.
What are some iconic movies that showcase New York City neighborhoods?
Beyond Manhattan, New York’s outer borough neighborhoods also provide distinctive settings that add authenticity and local flavor to movies.
Do the Right Thing (1989)
Spike Lee’s provocative drama about racial tensions building on a hot summer day in Brooklyn’s Bed-Stuy neighborhood. Established Lee as a major director.
A Bronx Tale (1993)
Robert De Niro’s directorial debut, is about a boy torn between a local mob boss (De Niro) and his upstanding father (Chazz Palminteri). Vividly depicts 1960s Bronx and Italian American culture.
Moonstruck (1987)
Starring Cher and Nicolas Cage, set amid Brooklyn’s vibrant Italian American community. Uses neighborhood locations to immerse viewers in the milieu.
Saturday Night Fever (1977)
John Travolta’s star-making performance as a dancer trying to escape his dead-end existence in this disco-era drama dripping with 1970s Brooklyn atmosphere.
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
Wes Anderson’s quirky comedy about a dysfunctional family living in their own imagined version of New York. Makes use of vintage NYC locations like the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
What are some lesser-known indie movies that showcase the real modern New York City?
Beyond the iconic landmarks, these micro-budget indies use the texture of the five boroughs to tell relatable human stories about real New Yorkers living their lives.
Pieces of April (2003)
Katie Holmes plays an NYC punk rocker trying to host Thanksgiving dinner for her estranged family. Shot guerilla-style on location in the Lower East Side.
Medicine for Melancholy (2008)
The romance unfolds between African American twenty-somethings against the rapidly gentrifying backdrop of San Francisco… I mean, Brooklyn neighborhoods.
Wendy and Lucy (2008)
Michelle Williams plays a woman traveling cross-country who gets stranded in Brooklyn with only her dog for support. Shot with a small crew around the borough.
Last Days of Coney Island (2015)
A “docu-fiction” following characters lingering around present-day Coney Island, lamenting the disappearance of old NYC and its past grandeur.
What are some other classic movies prominently featuring New York City?
Beyond specific genres or categories, these additional films of all kinds feature New York City prominently and memorably within the story.
- West Side Story (1961) – Film adaptation of the Broadway hit re-setting Romeo & Juliet among NYC street gangs.
- Marathon Man (1976) – Dustin Hoffman gets tangled in crime and intrigue on the gritty streets of 1970s NYC.
- Wall Street (1987) – Oliver Stone’s indictment of finance culture, with Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko.
- Ghostbusters (1984) – Comedy supernatural adventure with Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd battling ghosts and Gozer around NYC.
- When We Were Kings (1996) – Documentary on the famous Ali vs. Foreman “Rumble in the Jungle” 1974 boxing match.
Conclusion
New York City has been immortalized through its indelible presence in so many classic films across nearly every genre imaginable. From sweeping panoramas of its iconic skyscrapers to embedded slices of authentic neighborhood life, the city has provided a diverse cinematic playground for over a century of filmmaking. Directors and actors alike have been drawn to capture New York’s kinetic energy on screen.
The city’s rich cultural legacy – everything from its crammed tenements to its posh uptown haunts – continues to inspire new stories and cinematic love letters. Whether it’s depicted in black and white or living color, the big city’s innumerable faces and facets are guaranteed to captivate audiences for decades to come. New York remains one of the most storied, filmed locales in the world.
Frequently Asked Questions About New York Movies
What film made New York City iconic for movie settings?
Many early silent films used New York street scenes and landmarks, but the first major iconic presentation of New York City was in the original 1933 King Kong, which used landmark locations like the Empire State Building in groundbreaking ways.
Why has New York always been popular for movies?
New York offers a diversity of locations, from recognizable landmarks to neighborhood streets representative of various cultures and eras. Its energy and creativity have always drawn artists. The city also has a large pool of creative talent for film production.
What makes New York distinct as a movie setting?
No other city offers the towering skyline, dense neighborhoods, and mix of business, culture, crowds, and attitude found in New York. Directors can explore themes around class, ambition, anonymity, and reinvention.
Which New York neighborhood is shown most in movies?
Manhattan is by far the borough and neighborhood most depicted in movies over time. But many films have also captured outer borough areas like Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and parts of Staten Island.
Where do most NYC movie scenes get filmed?
In addition to real New York locations, common shooting sites include the Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens and Steiner Studios at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Los Angeles sets are also dressed up to double for New York frequently.
Which director is most associated with using New York in movies?
Woody Allen has dedicated his career to chronicling both the upscale, neurotic world of Manhattan as well as the vibrancy of the outer boroughs in films like Annie Hall, Hannah and Her Sisters, and more.
What iconic movie sites can I visit in New York?
Popular sites include Katz’s Deli from When Harry Met Sally, the NYPL and Tiffany’s from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the Rockefeller Center skating rink from Love Actually, and many more landmarks appearing in famous movies over the decades.
Where can I learn more about New York City film locations?
There are many online resources and location walking tours available. The NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment celebrates NYC’s starring role in many films and shows through its “Made in NY” initiatives.