25+ ICONIC Movie Locations in New York City (Ranked) (2024)

This list of the most recognizable movie locations in New York City was written byAlejandro Beltran, co-founder of New York Simply (an official partner of Apple Maps)and NYC local.

With as many as 300 movies filmed in New York City each year, directors and producers must get creative with where they shoot. The entire city is fair game, from instantly recognizable locations like Times Square to hidden gems like local bars.

In this guide, I’ll tell you about more than two dozen iconic filming locations in New York City and include some of the films that made them famous. We have a lot of ground to cover, so let’s dive in!

Visiting New York City?If you haven’t decided where to stay (yet) check out our helpful guide onWhere to Stay in New York City (The best neighborhoods for first timers +3 to avoid). Don’t have time?Here’s our favorite hotel in NYC,hands down.

Iconic Movie Locations in New York City

#22. Coney Island

Website: Coney Island
Address: Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY

FromThe Warriors(1979) to the final battle inSpider-Man: Homecoming(2017), Coney Island has been a popular filming location in New York City for decades. The instantly recognizable boardwalk and Luna theme park help establish a scene immediately.

Movies Filmed on Coney Island:

• The Wiz (1978)
• The Warriors (1979)
• Men in Black 3 (2012)
• Brooklyn (2015)
• Wonder Wheel (2017)
• Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

#21. Puck Building

Website: Puck Building
Address: 295 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012

The bottom three floors of the Puck Building, named after Puck from Shakespeare’s AMidsummer Night’s Dream, are the New York City flagship store of REI. However, on the big screen, the character Grace Adler from Will & Grace worked and where Harry & Sally from the movie When Harry Met Sally… (1989) fought and (spoiler!) eventually said their first I love yous.

Movies Filmed at the Puck Building:

• When Harry met Sally… (1989)
• The January Man (1989)
• Cupid (2009)

#20. The Unisphere

Website: Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Address: Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Corona, NY 11368

The Unisphere is a 140-foot stainless steel globe in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Originally built as part of the 1964 World Fair, it’s become a famous filming location in New York City.

Several action movies have been filmed at the sphere (Men in Black, Iron Man 2, Captain America: The First Avenger) as well as a series of hip-hop music videos, including“Flava in Ya Ear” by Craig Mack and “Mo Money Mo Problems” by the Notorious B.I.G. both feature the Unisphere.

Movies Filmed at the Unisphere:

• Black Rain (1989)
• Men in Black (1997)
• Iron Man 2 (2010)
• Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
• Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

#19. 7B Horseshoe Bar AKA Vazacs

Website (Facebook): 7B Horseshoe Bar AKA Vazacs
Address: 108 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009

7B Horseshoe Bar AKA Vazacs is a beloved 100+ year-oldEast Village dive barwith quite a few appearances on the big screen. It’s where Carrie gets arrested for smoking pot in Sex and the City and Luke Cage’s bar in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There are too many iconic scenes to list!

Movies Filmed at 7B Horshoe Bar AKA Vazacs:

• Godfather II (1974)
• Serpico (1973
• Crocodile Dundee (1978)
• Rent (2005)
• What Happens in Vegas (2008)
• Begin Again (2013)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016)

#18. Columbia University

Website: Columbia University
Address: 116th and Broadway, New York, NY 10027

Columbia University has had world-changing alums walk its campus, like Langston Hughes, Amelia Earhart, and Barack Obama, to name a few. It’s also been one of the most iconic movie locations in NYC, thanks largely to the Low Memorial Library at the center of the school, which has been featured in films likeSpider-Man(2002).

Movies Filmed at Columbia University:

• The Detective (1968)
• Altered State (1980)
• Ghostbusters (1984)
• Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
• Malcolm X (1992)
• Spider-Man (2002)
• Hitch (2005)

#17. The Copacabana

Website: The Copacabana
Address: 625 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019

Famous for once being owned and operated by members of the American Mafia, the Copacabana’s infamy is unrivaled in New York City. The nightclub is best known for Martin Scorcese’s masterful one-shot take of Henry Hill entering the Copacabana inGoodfellas(1990). The club has changed locations numerous times but is currently in Times Square.

Movies Filmed at the Copacabana:

• The French Connection (1971)
• Raging Bull (1980)
• Goodfellas (1990)
• Carlito’s Way (1993)
• Green Book (2018)

#16. Katz’s Delicatessen

Website: Katz’s Delicatessen
Address: 205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002

One of the mosticonic restaurants in New York City, Katz’s Delicatessen is a 136-year-old deli famous for its rib-sticking pastrami on rye. The restaurant’s walls are adorned with pictures of celebrities who couldn’t resist the deli’s delights.

The restaurant has had some Hollywood screen time, most famously for a (non-PG) scene in When Harry Met Sally… (1989) that the restaurant has commemorated with a sign above the seat where Meg Ryan sat while filming.

Movies Filmed at Katz’s Delicatessen:

• When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
• Donnie Brasco (1997)
• Looking for Kitty (2004)
• We Own the Night (2007)
• Enchanted (2007)

#15. Guggenheim Museum

Website: Guggenheim Museum
Address: 1071 5th Ave, New York, NY 10128

Thanks to its unique architecture, the Guggenheim Museum is among the most famous movie locations in NYC. The art museum boasts nearly one million visitors a year, and since it’s directly across the street from Central Park, countless other visitors get to see it from the outside. The spiraling, all-white interior has seen a few creative chase scenes, like inMen in Black(1997).

Movies Filmed at the Guggenheim Museum:

• Cactus Flower (1969)
• Someone Watch Over Me (1987)
• She-Devil (1989)
• Men in Black (1997)
• When in Rome (2010)
• Annie (2014)
• Players (2024)

#14. Firehouse, Hook & Ladder Company 8

Website: Firehouse, Hook & Ladder Company 8
Address: 14 N Moore St, New York, NY 10013

Firehouse, Hook & Ladder Company 8 has limited appearances on the big screen, but it’s had one thatreallycounts. It’s home to Ghostbusters Headquarters!This iconic NYC filming location was threatened with closure in 2011, but a public campaign to save it worked, and it’s still home to a team of first responders today (so get out of the way if you hear sirens!).

Movies Filmed at Firehouse, Hook & Ladder Company 8:

• Ghostbusters (1984)
• Ghostbusters II (1989)
• Hitch (2005)
• Ghostbusters (2019)

#13. Washington Square Park

Website: Washington Square Park
Address: Washington Square, New York, NY 10012

One of the most famousparks in New York City, Washington Square Park, is home to the famous Washington Square Arch. Hollywood has used the park to establish scenes. The park has been the site of a handful of action scenes in movies likeI Am Legend(2007) andAvengers: Infinity War(2018).

Movies Filmed at Washington Square Park:

• Ghostbusters II (1989)
• Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)
• I Am Legend (2007)
• Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
• To All the Boys: Always and Forever (2021)

#12. The American Museum of Natural History

Website: The American Museum of Natural History
Address: 200 Central Park W, New York, NY 10024

TheAmerican Museum of Natural History(AMNH) needs no introduction; it is famous thanks to the movieNight at the Museum(2006), where Ben Stiller plays a night-time security guard. Although the movie wasn’t filmed inside the actual museum, the exterior, exhibits, and context all reflect the real AMNH. They even offer a self-guidedNight at the Museum tourfor those interested.

Movies Filmed at the American Museum of Natural History:

• Malcolm X (1992)
• Men in Black II (2002)
• The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
• Night at the Museum (2006)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2016)

#11. New York Public Library – Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

Website: New York Public Library – Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Address: 476 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018

When it opened to the public in 1911,the New York Public Library was officially the largest marble building ever built in the country. In its 100+ years of existence, the monolithic library has become one of the most iconic movie locations in New York City.

Movies Filmed at the New York Public Library:

• Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
• Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
• Spider-Man (2002)
• The Day after Tomorrow (2004)
• The Pink Panther (2006)
• Sex and the City: The Movie (2008)

#10. Brooklyn Bridge

Website: Brooklyn Bridge
Address: Brooklyn Bridge, New York, NY 10038

The Brooklyn Bridge adorns New York City’s epic skyline and is an iconic symbol of the Big Apple. Some might be shocked to learn how many movies have been filmed at the Brooklyn Bridge, but its instantly recognizable structure makes it hard to beat. The Brooklyn Bridge scene inI Am Legend(2007) cost $5 million to shoot and is one of the most iconic movie scenes filmed in NYC!

Movies Filmed on the Brooklyn Bridge:

• Kate & Leopold (2001)
• I Am Legend (2007)
• Sex and the City: The Movie (2008)
• Cloverfield (2008)
• John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)

#9. Empire State Building

Website: Empire State Building
Address: 20 W 34th St., New York, NY 10001

As one of the premier movie locations in New York City, the Empire State draws its fair share of tourists climbing to the top of itsobservatoryfor a photo with King Kong. Over 100 movies have been filmed at the Empire State Building over nearly a century.

Movies Filmed at the Empire State Building:

• King Kong (1933)
• Superman II (1980)
• Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
• Independence Day (1994)
• Elf (2003)
• King Kong (2005)

#8. Radio City Music Hall

Website: Radio City Music Hall
Address: 1260 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020

The neon lights outside of Radio City Music Hall are as memorable as anything you’ll see in New York City, making it one of the premier movie locations in NYC. The ability to set context in a scene is essential, and Radio City Music Hall does that for viewers instantly. All it takes is a second on the glowing marquee, and immediately, boom, you’re in the middle of bustling Manhattan.

Movies Filmed at Radio City Music Hall:

• The Godfather (1972)
• Annie (1982)
• Home Alone 2 (1992)
• New York Minute (2004)

#7. The Statue of Liberty

Website: The Statue of Liberty
Address: Liberty Island, New York, NY 10004

Although movies are rarely filmed in the Statue of Liberty, it has become a pivotal tool for directors to establish their stories on the big screen. As both one of the most recognizable movie locations in New York City (and ahistorical American landmark), the fascination with the Statue of Liberty is evident by its millions of annual visitors.

Movies Filmed at the Statue of Liberty:

• Saboteur (1942)
• Planet of the Apes (1968)
• Splash (1984)
• Ghostbusters II (1989)
• Wolverine (2000)
• The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
• Spider Man: No Way Home (2021)

#6. The Plaza Hotel

Website: The Plaza Hotel
Address: 768 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019

A premier New York City institution and world-famous hotel,The Plazahas been featured in countless classic films. F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Beatles, Tommy Hilfiger, and Simon Fuller have all stayed at the Plaza, adding to its lore as an opulent playground, and movies like Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) have been able to capitalize on its luxurious reputation.

Movies Filmed at The Plaza Hotel:

• North by Northwest (1959)
• The Way We Were (1973)
• Home Alone 2 (1992)
• Bride Wars (2009)
• The Great Gatsby (2013)

#5. The Rockefeller Center

Website: The Rockefeller Center
Address: 45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111

Home to late-night television programs like The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers, the Rockefeller Center has also spent some time gracing the big screen (especially around the holiday season). It’s the place where (spoiler!) Kevin gets reunited with his mom at the end ofHome Alone 2: Lost in New York(1992) and where Buddy goes ice skating in the movieElf(2003)

Movies Filmed at the Rockefeller Center:

• Home Alone 2 (1992)
• Mr. Deeds (2002)
• Elf (2003)
• Respect (2021)

#4. Grand Central Terminal

Website: Grand Central Terminal
Address: 89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017

New Yorkers won’t sporadically burst into a random dance routine at Grand Central Terminal (like inFriends with Benefits), but the train terminal sees crowds of up to 750,000 people daily! Hollywood has used the bustling station to help someone escape amidst the crowds, like in the moviesCarlito’s Way(1993) andJohn Wick 3(2019).

Movies Filmed at Grand Central Terminal:

• Carlito’s Way (1993)
• Men in Black II (2002)
• Friends With Benefits (2011)
• The Avengers (2012)
• John Wick 3 (2019)

#3. The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Website: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Address: 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028

With over 2 million pieces of art spanning 5,000+ years,the Metis the largest museum in the country and the fifth largest museum in the world.Averaging 6 million visitors per year, it’s considered the most visitedmuseum in New York City.

The famous NYC museum has also had its fair share of screen time, and its beautiful exterior has been one of the staple movie locations in New York City. The interior has its merits, too, being the setting for the annual Met Gala.

Movies Filmed at the MET:

• When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
• Looking for Richard (1996)
• Maid in Manhattan (2002)
• Hitch (2005)
• The Nanny Diaries (2007)

#2. Times Square

Website: Times Square
Address: Times Square, Manhattan, NY 10036

Times Square is likely one of the first places your mind goes to when you think of New York City, which is why directors love filming there. The bright lights and bustling crowds make it instantly recognizable, becoming one of the most common filming locations in New York City.

Movies Filmed in Times Square:

• Crocodile Dundee (1986)
• Big (1988)
• Spider Man 3 (2007)
• I Am Legend (2007)
• Date Night (2010)
• Friends with Benefits (2011)
• Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

#1. Central Park

Website: Central Park
Address: Central Park, New York, NY

Central Park’s star power isn’t a mystery; its 843 acres brimming with diverse landscapes: rolling meadows, glittering lakes, iconic bridges, and towering trees have made it a treasured movie location. Directors love the park for rom-coms, thrillers, and even superhero flicks. Popular places like The Mall, Bethesda Terrace, and the Loeb Boathouse have kept Hollywood coming back time and time again.

Movies Filmed in Central Park:

• Hair (1979)
• Staying Alive (1983)
• Home Alone 2 (1992)
• Big Daddy (1999)
• Serendipity (2001)
• Stuart Little 2 (2002)
• Uptown Girl (2003)
• 27 Dresses (2008)
• When in Rome (2010)
• Get Him to the Greek (2010)
• Friends with Benefits (2011)
• When in Rome (2010)
• The Avengers (2012)
• The Letter (2012)
• John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)

More Famous Film Locations in NYC (From TV Shows)

#5. Lotte New York Palace (Gossip Girl)

Address: 455 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10022

First shown in the pilot episode and then sporadically throughout the seasons,Lotte New York Palaceis frequented by fans of Gossip Girl. Owned by Chuck Bass (in the series), the clever hotel even offered a Gossip Girl package in 2018 so guests could live like Serena van der Woodsen.

#4. McGee’s Pub (How I Met Your Mother)

Address: 240 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019

The famed McLaren’s Pub from How I Met Your Mother is based on McGee’s bar in midtown Manhattan. Quite a bit larger than the bar from the set, McGee’s is where the show’s creators stopped by for drinks while working for the Late Show with David Letterman.

#3. Tom’s Restaurant (Seinfeld)

Address: 2880 Broadway, New York, NY 10025

Tom’s Restaurant has long been a favorite of students of Columbia University. President Barack Obama ate there as a student, and John McCain dined there when visiting his daughter. It was a popular neighborhood restaurant before it became one of the most iconic film locations in New York City.

When creating the show Seinfeld, Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David stopped by often and used it as the muse for Monk Cafe in the beloved sitcom. Fans of the show stop by for a photo but find themselves sticking around for the all-day breakfast & good cup of coffee.

#2. Carrie Bradshaw’s Apartment (Sex and the City)

Address: 66 Perry St, New York, NY 10014

Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment can be found at 64 Perry Street in the West Village. As one of the most famous locations in New York City from television, the outside of the home is usually a fan or two snapping photos. The one thing to remember is that it’s a real home, so be respectful of the people who live there.

#1. The Friends Building (Friends)

Address: 90 Bedford St, New York, NY 10014

Though the TV show Friends was filmed in California, the show is set in New York City, and visitors can stop by the corner of Bedford and Grove Streets to see the apartment’s exterior used in the opening credits. You won’t be able to enter the building, but there’s a charming cafe below — which is not Central Perk like it is in the show. Instead, it’s called The Little Owl.

The Best Movie Locations in New York City (Post Summary)

1. Central Park
2. Times Square
3. The MET
4. Grand Central Station
5. The Rockefeller Center
6. The Plaza Hotel
7. The Statue of Liberty
8. Radio City Music Hall
9. Empire State Building
10. Brooklyn Bridge
11. New York Public Library
12. The American Museum of Natural History
13. Washington Square Park
14. Firehouse, Hook & Ladder Company 8
15. Guggenheim Museum
16. Katz Delicatessen
17. The Copacabana
18. Columbia University
19. 7B Horseshoe Bar AKA Vazacs
20. The Unisphere
21. Puck Building
22. Coney Island
23. Lotte New York Palace
24. McGee’s Pub
25. Tom’s Restaurant
26. Carry Bradshaw’s Apartment
27. Friends Building

Map to the Best Film Locations in New York City

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And there it is my friends, a list of my favorite movie locations in New York City. Let me know if I missed any of your favorite movies or places.

Cheers!