Famous Movie Locations in New York City: A Cinematic Itinerary Through the Big Apple

Page Index – Famous Movie Locations in New York City: A Cinematic Itinerary Through the Big Apple

1. - Movies Set in New York: The City’s Most Iconic Film Locations
2. - Midtown & Uptown Manhattan on the Big Screen
3. - A Walkable Itinerary Through Manhattan’s Most Famous Sets
4. - Central Park on the Big Screen
5. - Visiting Central Park Through the Lens of Film
6. - Brooklyn, Between Cinema and Real Life
7. - Other New York Boroughs & Cult Films
8. - Map: Movie Sets in New York
9. - Visiting New York’s “Movie Neighborhoods”

Movies Set in New York: The City’s Most Iconic Film Locations

New York City has long been one of the most filmed places on earth. With its glittering skyscrapers, famous yellow cabs, leafy parks, and bustling streets, it has become a true cinematic symbol, adaptable to every genre: romantic comedies, thrillers, musicals, action blockbusters, and sci-fi epics. There are so many movies set in New York that anyone strolling through Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the other boroughs will often find themselves face-to-face with backdrops they’ve already seen on the big screen—scenes that helped shape the city’s global image.

Over the decades, hundreds of films have effectively turned the Big Apple into an open-air set, showcasing its many faces: the elegance of the Upper East Side, the relentless energy of Times Square, the retro charm of Coney Island, and the calm of Central Park’s tree-lined paths. Some films captured New York’s most romantic soul (like Breakfast at Tiffany’s and When Harry Met Sally); others—such as Taxi Driver or Joker—revealed its darker, restless side.

Then there are works that made the city a stage for intimate, wistful reflections—think Woody Allen’s Manhattan—and stories of friendship, love, and reinvention, like Good Will Hunting or You’ve Got Mail.

For visitors, exploring New York’s movie locations is like taking a journey within a journey—seeing the beauty of each neighborhood through a particularly original lens. You don’t need to be a film buff to recognize that unmistakable magic only cinema can make timeless.

Beyond cinema, New York has also starred in TV series that made history—from Sex and the City to Friends—cementing its status as one of the world capitals of pop culture.

Midtown & Uptown Manhattan on the Big Screen

The beating heart of the city, Manhattan is where New York’s movie locations are most immediately recognizable. Midtown’s shimmering towers and the Upper East Side’s grand, tree-lined avenues have hosted countless scenes that made film history.

Following a New York movie itinerary through this area is an unforgettable way to discover legendary corners of the city—almost as if you were walking through a vast, open-air film set.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Perhaps the most iconic Manhattan movie of all, Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) features Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly and immortalizes the window of Tiffany & Co. at 727 Fifth Avenue, on the corner of 57th Street. The unforgettable opening scene—Holly sipping coffee while gazing at the jewels through the glass—has become one of the most recognizable moments in cinema.

Fans of Audrey Hepburn can still visit the boutique today: the ground floor is home to the Blue Box Café, where you can enjoy breakfast or afternoon tea in a space inspired by the film (advance reservations required). Continue south along Fifth Avenue to find both Rockefeller Center and St. Patrick’s Cathedral, two other recurring backdrops in films set in New York.

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

The beloved holiday sequel (Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, 1992) is a love letter to the city. Kevin McCallister, played by a young Macaulay Culkin, stays at the Plaza Hotel, at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Central Park South. The gilded lobby and grand staircase remain much as they appeared on screen and are visible to visitors entering through the main doors.

Just steps away is the Central Park Zoo, where Kevin meets the “Pigeon Lady,” and the iconic Gapstow Bridge on the park’s southeast side, the setting for one of the film’s sweetest scenes. During the holidays the area becomes even more atmospheric thanks to Rockefeller Center, home to the most famous Christmas tree in the United States.

Ghostbusters

Among the most beloved New York-set movies is undoubtedly Ghostbusters (1984), in which the team’s headquarters is the firehouse Hook & Ladder 8 at 14 North Moore Street in Tribeca.

The finale, however, unfolds uptown, in front of 55 Central Park West, a striking 1929 Art Deco building that commands the corner of 66th Street. Known to fans as “Spook Central,” the residence is privately occupied and not open to visitors, but its brick façade and geometric detailing are instantly recognizable.

Men in Black & The Avengers

Midtown’s canyons of glass and steel host some of the city’s most spectacular movie locations. In the sharp, witty Men in Black (1997), for instance, the agency’s secret entrance hides behind the Battery Tunnel Ventilation Building near Battery Park; many interior scenes were filmed at the Unisphere in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens—easy to reach by subway.

Action fans will also remember The Avengers (2012), whose climactic battle takes place around Park Avenue and Grand Central Terminal (with help from CGI). The station’s interior at 89 East 42nd Street is, of course, entirely real and free to visit: from its marble staircases you can spot the exact perspective of Iron Man’s flight toward the Stark Tower—fictionally placed where the MetLife Building stands today.

The Devil Wears Prada

Set in the world of fashion publishing, The Devil Wears Prada (2006) showcases some of the Upper East Side’s most elegant backdrops. The editorial offices of the fictional “Runway” magazine are actually inside the McGraw-Hill Building at 1221 Avenue of the Americas, while protagonist Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) lives in SoHo, along Crosby Street.

Another real-life stop tied to the film is the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), where Andy accompanies the implacable Miranda Priestly to an exhibition. The museum sits at 11 West 53rd Street, a short walk from Times Square, and is open daily—an ideal stop for travelers who want to blend art and cinema in a single itinerary.

A Walkable Itinerary Through Manhattan’s Most Famous Sets

Here’s a short walk that strings together some of the most representative New York movie locations, all concentrated between Midtown and Uptown.

Start with the celebrated Tiffany & Co. window, where Audrey Hepburn opens Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

From there, it’s only a few minutes to the Plaza Hotel, the scene of so many holiday misadventures in Home Alone 2 and an ideal gateway to Central Park.

Inside the park, Gapstow Bridge and the surrounding paths appear in countless romantic films; continue north along Central Park West to 55 Central Park West, the infamous haunted building of Ghostbusters.

End at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the modernist complex used as a backdrop for films and musicals—including The Avengers, which shot several sequences here in the aftermath of the Midtown battle.

In roughly two hours you’ll cross several of the city’s most recognizable film locations—a perfect mini-tour for anyone eager to discover New York through its most famous scenes, from elegance to action to comedy.

Central Park on the Big Screen

Among all New York movie locations, none is as instantly recognizable—or as frequently used—as Central Park. Wedged between Fifth Avenue and Central Park West, this great green rectangle is the city’s lungs and one of the most filmed parks in the world.

When Harry Met Sally

Few images capture a New York fall better than the golden alleys of When Harry Met Sally (1989). The protagonists’ strolls along The Mall and beneath the arches of Bethesda Terrace are among the film’s most beloved sequences. The Mall is a broad, tree-lined promenade running from 66th Street to Bethesda Fountain, one of the park’s most photographed spots.

The fountain—topped by the “Angel of the Waters”—is reachable from East 72nd Street or via Bow Bridge, which spans The Lake and offers one of Manhattan’s most romantic views. It’s here you’ll find the autumnal magic that helped make When Harry Met Sally one of the most cherished films set in New York.

Autumn in New York & Serendipity

Two later films—Autumn in New York (2000), starring Richard Gere and Winona Ryder, and Serendipity (2001), with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale—further cemented the park’s image as a place of renewal and destiny.

In Autumn in New York, some of the most evocative scenes unfold by the Loeb Boathouse, the lakeside restaurant where the leads meet, and near Bow Bridge, often called the most romantic bridge in New York.

In Serendipity, the snowy, breathless finale leads to Wollman Rink, the winter ice-skating rink near the park’s southern entrance at 59th Street and Sixth Avenue.

Enchanted & Night at the Museum 2

Central Park is not just for romance; it’s also a stage for fantasy and adventure. Enchanted (2007) turns the park into a giant, open-air musical: the exuberant “That’s How You Know” number was filmed across Bethesda Terrace, Bow Bridge, and The Mall, with hundreds of extras.

Another crowd-pleaser, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009), also features the American Museum of Natural History, which faces Central Park West at 79th Street. Although many interior sequences were shot on sets, the museum’s real façade appears clearly in several scenes, making it a must-see stop for anyone exploring the city’s most famous film locations.

Home Alone 2 & The Smurfs

Among kids’ favorites, Home Alone 2 returns here, with Kevin dashing through the park’s paths, meeting the Pigeon Lady, and crossing the oft-mentioned Gapstow Bridge. Years later, The Smurfs (2011) revived the idea of the park as a magical space at the city’s heart, filming many scenes on Sheep Meadow, the vast lawn in the central section of the park.

The Avengers & Doctor Strange

Even big-budget action films found room among Central Park’s trees. In The Avengers (2012), the epilogue—when Thor and Loki leave Earth—was filmed at Bethesda Terrace; in Doctor Strange (2016), one of the most spectacular battles erupts near West 60th Street, at the park’s southwest entrance.

These are some of the Marvel franchise’s most instantly recognizable New York moments, confirming once again Central Park’s remarkable versatility as a natural set for wildly different genres.

Visiting Central Park Through the Lens of Film

If you’d like to retrace the most celebrated New York movie locations inside the park, a simple half-day, walkable route might include:

the Plaza Hotel,

Gapstow Bridge,

Wollman Rink and The Mall,

Bethesda Terrace,

The Lake all the way to Bow Bridge and the Loeb Boathouse.

Brooklyn, Between Cinema and Real Life

Across the East River lies Brooklyn—one of the city’s most authentic and multicultural boroughs. On the big screen, Brooklyn has long embodied the concrete, everyday spirit of New York-set films: stories born among bridges, red-brick rowhouses, street art, and waterfront parks. Over the decades, filmmakers have portrayed Brooklyn as a working-class backdrop for friendship and rivalry, and more recently as a creative hub—equally perfect for comedies and dramas.

Once Upon a Time in America

Sergio Leone’s masterpiece (1984), accompanied by Ennio Morricone’s soaring score, offers one of the most intense portraits of the city set in the early 20th century. Among its most recognizable locations is the Williamsburg Bridge, immortalized in the scene where young Noodles gazes toward the river at sunset. You can recreate the view from the intersection of South 6th Street and Washington Street, which frames the bridge against Manhattan.

Many exteriors were shot in DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), now a revitalized area full of cafés and galleries. Strolling along Washington Street between Water and Front Streets, you can still capture the famed composition of the Manhattan Bridge arch with the Empire State Building perfectly centered.

Saturday Night Fever

Among the New York movies that defined an era, Saturday Night Fever (1977) unfolds largely in Bay Ridge. The Manero family’s apartment is at 221 79th Street; the iconic “2001 Odyssey” disco has since been demolished.

The film’s other essential landmark, the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, appears multiple times, connecting Bay Ridge to Staten Island. Visitors can admire it from the waterfront paths of Shore Road Park, a peaceful promenade with access to several bike routes. The neighborhood still preserves a residential feel—far from Manhattan’s frenzy yet perfect for discovering Brooklyn’s authentic side.

Do the Right Thing

Shot entirely in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing (1989) is one of the borough’s defining films. The main set was the block of Stuyvesant Avenue between Quincy Street and Lexington Avenue, where “Sal’s Famous Pizzeria” was constructed for the shoot.

Although the original structure is gone, the area still reflects many of the film’s visual hallmarks: brownstone stoops, civil-rights murals, and a vibrant African-American community.

“Bed-Stuy” is reachable via the A subway line (stop: Utica Avenue). Today it’s a dynamic cultural zone, with bars, vintage shops, and creative spaces that keep Spike Lee’s neighborhood identity alive.

Brooklyn & The Intern

Two more recent films showcase the borough’s brighter, contemporary face. Brooklyn (2015), set in the 1950s, follows a young Irish immigrant building a new life in New York; many scenes were filmed across Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill, elegant brownstone neighborhoods.

In The Intern (2015), starring Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro, the start-up’s headquarters occupies a real building in DUMBO near Jay Street. The area offers superb views from Brooklyn Bridge Park—a waterfront greenway along the East River, with standout vantage points at Pier 1 and the lovingly restored Jane’s Carousel (originally built in 1922).

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn & The Warriors

As early as the 1940s, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945) portrayed the life of a working-class family in Williamsburg, then home to waves of European immigrants. Although most interiors were recreated on sets, the film still evokes the neighborhood’s historic soul.

In the 1970s, The Warriors (1979) captured Brooklyn’s grittier, rebellious edge, with many scenes shot in Coney Island—both the story’s starting point and finale. The Coney Island Boardwalk and the Wonder Wheel still welcome visitors and remain among the most evocative New York film locations for those seeking the borough’s popular energy.

Other New York Boroughs & Cult Films

Beyond Manhattan and Brooklyn, filmmakers have spotlighted other corners of the city—turning them into instantly recognizable settings for audiences (and travelers) worldwide. We’re talking especially about the Bronx, Staten Island, Queens, and Harlem.

The Godfather

Although popular imagination links Francis Ford Coppola’s saga to Little Italy, many exteriors for The Godfather (1972) were actually filmed on Staten Island. The Corleone family home still stands at 110 Longfellow Avenue in the Todt Hill neighborhood, a quiet, leafy residential area. The house is private property, but its wrought-iron gate and recognizable façade are visible from the street.

Other key scenes were shot at Calvary Cemetery in Queens (off Greenpoint Avenue) and around Astoria, where several interior sets were located.

Joker

Among the most recent, photogenic New York movie locations is the now-famous staircase from Joker (2019), starring Joaquin Phoenix. You’ll find it in Highbridge (South Bronx), connecting Shakespeare Avenue and Anderson Avenue (between 167th and 170th Streets).

Since the film’s release, the “Joker Stairs” has become a bona fide attraction, even appearing on official city itineraries. It’s easy to reach on the 4 train (stop: 167th Street), but keep in mind it’s a residential area—best visited during daylight hours.

Goodfellas

Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas (1990) used a variety of locations in Queens and Brooklyn. Some of the best-known spots cluster around Jamaica Avenue, especially at 85-02 (formerly “The Suite Lounge”), where Henry Hill makes one of his most memorable entrances.

Another recognizable stop is the classic diner now called “Jackson Hole Diner,” formerly the Airline Diner, at 69-35 Astoria Boulevard North, where Henry and Tommy talk business. It’s still open—perfect for a nostalgic pause steeped in the film’s 1970s vibe.

West Side Story

Before it became one of the most beloved musicals of all time, the original West Side Story (1961) was filmed around the Upper West Side, especially in the San Juan Hill area—later demolished in the 1960s to make way for Lincoln Center. The film preserves some of the last visual traces of this once-bustling neighborhood.

Steven Spielberg’s recent remake (2021) moved many scenes to Lower Manhattan and Queens, but the Upper West Side connection remains strong.

Map: Movie Sets in New York

Visiting New York’s “Movie Neighborhoods”

Many New York film locations outside Manhattan are found in residential districts that are easy to explore independently by subway and bus. If, however, you’d like deeper insight—without having to juggle all the logistics—consider joining an Italian-language guided tour. It’s a great way to uncover behind-the-scenes trivia about the films and learn how New York’s urban fabric has evolved over the decades.