Traveling to New York and get a feel for your city ahead of your trip?
Or maybe you can’t travel to New York right now, at least not physically, but still want to experience its charms.
Or perhaps you want to get a glimpse of what New York was like in days gone by.
Movies have a way of transporting us to another world. With everything New York has to offer, no wonder it’s been the inspiration and setting for hundreds of movies.
There are endless movies set in the Big Apple itself. Here’s a handful of some of the most iconic movies set in New York, along with some of my personal favorites.
Table of Contents
1. King Kong (1933)
Genre: Adventure, romance, monster
About: You can’t have a list of movies set in New York without mentioning one of the most culturally impactful movies of all time: the 1933 classic King Kong.
The giant ape Kong battles fearsome dinosaurs on his native Skull Island as he saves his human love, Ann. But after being captured and brought to New York City, Kong is no match for the savagery of the modern world, and dies after battling airplanes from atop the Empire State Building.
Where to visit: The Empire State Building, where the climactic scene takes place
Watch Kong climb the Empire State Building here.
Did you know King Kong wasn’t the first movie to show the Empire State Building? Find out more fun facts in my article 10 Fascinating Facts about the Empire State Building.
2. Elf (2003)
Genre: Comedy
About: Christmas is one of my favorite seasons in New York City and the greatest New York Christmas movie is, in my opinion, Elf.
Will Ferrel stars as a human raised by elves in the North Pole who travels to New York City to find his biological father. In the process, he spreads Christmas cheer to the skeptical humans around him.
Where to visit: Nothing screams Christmas-in-New-York more than visiting the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center
Watch the trailer here.
3. Night at the Museum (2006)
Genre: Fantasy, comedy
About: I unapologetically love this movie about one of my favorite museums in New York City.
Ben Stiller stars as a divorced father who accepts a job as a nightwatchman at the American Museum of Natural History. He soon discovers that, once all the visitors leave, the museum becomes even more lively at night.
Where to visit: the American Museum of Natural History
Watch the trailer here.
4. Taxi Driver (1976)
Genre: Neo-noir, psychological drama
About: Yellow taxis are as integral to New York City’s fabric as the Statue of Liberty and hot dog stands.
One of several movies on this list listed by the U.S. Library of Congress as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically” significant, Taxi Driver stars Robert De Niro as a NYC taxi driver and part-time vigilante. The movie includes the classic line, “You talkin’ to me?”
Where to visit: Take a ride in an iconic yellow NYC taxi
Watch the trailer here.
5. West Side Story (1961 & 2021)
Genre: Musical, romantic drama
About: The story of Romeo and Juliet is re-interpreted in these movie adaptations of the Broadway musical of the same name, this time amidst the gang violence and ethnic tensions of 1950s New York.
Both movies were nominated for multiple Academy Awards, including the Academy Award for Best Picture (the 1961 version won). Rita Moreno, who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in the 1961 movie, also appeared in the 2021 remake.
Where to visit: The Upper West Side, where the story takes place. (It’s now one of New York’s wealthiest areas.)
My favorite song from the musical was “America.” You can watch the 1961 version here and the 2021 version here.
6. The Godfather (1972)
Genre: Gangster
About: Often cited as one of the greatest films of all time, The Godfather is also one of the most influential movies ever made.
The film tells the story of Michael Corleone’s transformation from reluctant family member to feared mafia don.
Where to visit: Director Francis Ford Coppola insisted in filming on location, so much of the movie was filmed in New York.
Watch the trailer here.
7. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
Genre: Romantic comedy
About: Audrey Hepburn shines as Holly Golightly, a New York socialite aspiring to marry wealthy, in a role that cemented her as one of the most memorable fashion icons of all time.
The movie was nominated for several Academy Awards, and won two, including Best Song for “Moon River,” which was performed by Hepburn.
Where to visit: Tiffany & Co. flagship store on 5th Avenue
Hear Audrey Hepburn sing “Moon River” here.
8. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Genre: Comedy, drama
About: Fashion is a huge part of New York, and The Devil Wears Prada gives a glimpse into the glamorous, cutthroat world of New York high fashion.
Anne Hathaway stars an aspiring journalist who lands a job at Runway, one of the world’s most influential fashion magazines. Her boss is the ruthless boss-from-hell Miranda Priestly, played to perfection by Meryl Streep.
Where to visit: 1221 Avenue of the Americas was used as the exterior and lobby of Runway’s offices
Watch the trailer here.
9. Ghostbusters (1984)
Genre: Supernatural, comedy
About: New York may have more than a few places that are said to be haunted, though you’re unlikely to encounter the ghosts from the 1984 hit Ghostbusters.
The group of ghost catchers operating in New York City are called on to get rid of New York City’s ghost problem. The film’s enduring popularity has generated a multimedia franchise.
Where to visit: The New York Public Library, where the opening scene takes place
Watch the trailer here. (And don’t forget to listen to the catchy theme song, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.)
Don’t forget to learn more fascinating facts about the New York Public Library here!
10. When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Genre: Romantic comedy
About: Can men and women be friends?
That’s the question that When Harry Met Sally seeks to answer. Bill Crystal and Meg Ryan star as Harry and Sally, in a film that chronicles the pair’s coincidental encounters over a period of twelve years.
Where to visit: Katz’s Delicatessen, where one of the movie’s iconic scenes takes place – and where the unforgettable line “I’ll have what she’s having” was uttered
Watch the trailer here.
11. Coming to America (1988)
Genre: Romantic comedy
About: What’s the perfect place for a prince to find a queen? Queens, New York is the conclusion Eddie Murphy as Prince Akeem of Zamunda comes to in this 1988 classic, and he travels from his posh palace in Africa to a gritty apartment in New York to accomplish just that.
The film has gained a cult following since its release. Just get a load of the multiple characters played by Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall.
Where to visit: Madison Square Garden, where Akeem suffers awkwardly through a basketball game and encounters a fellow countryman while waiting for the bathroom
Watch the trailer here.
12. The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974 & 2009)
Genre: Crime drama
About: New York City’s famous subway system transports millions of passengers each year safely, but it can unfortunately also be a dangerous place.
Luckily, the plot of The Taking of Pelham One Two Three is a fictional account of a hijack taking place on the 6 train. The movie was remade in 2009.
Where to visit: Take the 6 train subway and the New York City Transit Museum in Brooklyn, where parts of both movies were filmed.
Watch the trailer for the original film here and for the 2009 remake here.
13. Midnight Cowboy (1969)
Genre: Drama
About: I have a confession to make: I’ve never actually seen this movie about two New York-based hustlers, starring Jon Voight as a not-too-successful prostitute and Dustin Hoffman as a down-on-his-luck con artist.
But I have watched the scene where Dustin Hoffman nearly gets hit by a taxi, then yells indignantly at the driver, “I’m walking here!” Though the encounter was unscripted, it made it into the final cut of the film and Dustin’s one-liner became one of the most famous movie quotes of all time.
You can watch the famous scene here.
14. On the Town (1949)
Genre: Musical
About: Think you can see all of New York’s major sights in one day?
That would be a hell of an undertaking, but that’s exactly what Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Jules Munshin, who play three U.S. Navy sailors, set out to accomplish on their 1-day shore leave. The movie, which was an adaptation of a Broadway musical, won an Academy Award for Best Musical Score.
Where to visit: The trio head to several locations around New York. Head to the Intrepid Museum to visit a real-life WWII aircraft carrier. Learn more about the Intrepid Museum here!
See many of New York’s attractions through the eyes of the sailors in the opening scene here.
15. Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
Genre: Epic crime
About: New York is a popular setting for gangster movies, and Sergio Leone gives his contribution to the genre in this film about the rise of Jewish gangsters in 1930s New York.
The film originally did poorly in the U.S., where it was severely edited by distributors. The original 229-minute “European cut,” on the other hand, is regarded as one of the greatest films of all time.
Where to visit: Washington Street and Water Street, Brooklyn offers the unforgettable view of the Manhattan Bridge, as seen in the theatrical release poster.
Watch the trailer here.
16. Madagascar (2005)
Genre: Comedy
About: Here’s one for the kiddos, brought to you by DreamWorks.
A group of animals from the Central Park Zoo live pampered, albeit captive, lives. When one of them decides to escape, his friends follow, and they must all learn to how to survive in the wild.
Where to visit: The Central Park Zoo, naturally
Watch the animals try and escape from New York (and feel as lost as tourists often do) here.
17. Enchanted (2007)
Genre: Musical, fantasy, romantic comedy
About: Not even New York can escape Disney’s hand.
Amy Adams stars in this live-action/animated hybrid as a Disney princess who ends up in New York City. As to be expected, there’s lots of singing and a happy ending, but the movie is a charming take on the optimistic/innocent-outsider-vs-cynical-New-York trope.
Where to visit: Times Square is where Amy Adams’ Princess Giselle pops out of a manhole and into live action
Watch the trailer here.
18. Spider-Man (2002)
Genre: Superhero
About: I won’t argue who’s the best Spider-Man, but Tobey Macguire makes a convincing case that it’s him in this first installment of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy.
After Peter Parker is bitten by a genetically engineered spider, he develops spider-like abilities. He fights crime as the masked vigilante Spider-Man, falls in love with Mary Jane, and fights the Green Goblin.
Where to visit: The Roosevelt Island tram, where one of the movie’s major scenes takes place
Watch the trailer here.
19. The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
Genre: Science fiction, disaster
About: I won’t list my favorite apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic film set in New York (that would be a massive spoiler to the movie), so I’ll list 2004’s The Day After Tomorrow.
New York is beset by catastrophic climate disasters that turn Manhattan into a frozen wasteland. The film held the record for the highest-grossing opening weekend for a disaster movie for 20 years.
Watch the trailer here.
20. The Interpreter (2005)
Genre: Politically thriller
About: Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn star in this film that follows an interpreter of African languages at the U.N. and her quest for revenge.
It’s far from the best movie on this list, but I’m including it here because it was the first movie ever to be allowed to film inside the United Nations Headquarters.
Where to visit: United Nations Headquarters
Watch the trailer here.
There you have it! An idiosyncratic list of movies set in New York. Have any more films to add? Let me know in the comments!
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