10 Film Locations in New York

The Statue of Liberty, New York’s colossal green landmark, has been used in some truly epic films. The statue’s head was where the climactic battle in the first X-Men (2000) movie took place. It was also lopped off and thrown onto Broadway by the giant monster in Cloverfield (2008). 

Lady Liberty’s torch defied the frozen tidal waves that swept over New York in the disaster film, The Day After Tomorrow (2004). The one time that she wasn’t destroyed, or used as a silent witness, was when she took a stroll through NYC as crowds cheered on in Ghostbusters II (1989). Visit the pedestal and relive these iconic films through the incredible views.

Disaster films love depicting the total destruction of great landmarks, and New York’s Empire State Building is often one of them. It was totally disintegrated by a death ray blast from the gigantic spaceship in Independence Day (1996) and suffered minor damage in Superman II (1980), when Zod knocked off the building’s radio antenna following a punch from his nemesis.  

The building’s most memorable cinematic moment would be when the title character climbed up its spire to fend off fighter planes, in the classic monster flick King Kong (1933), and again in Peter Jackson’s 2005 remake. If you grew up watching some of these films, stay in a hotel near the Empire State Building, and soak up the nostalgia. 

Known as one of New York’s busiest intersections, Times Square catches the eye with its stunning array of flashing neon signage and glitzy LED billboards that loom over the yellow taxi cabs below.

Times Square was also spotted in the live-action blockbuster Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014), during the car chase scene in The Fate of the Furious: Fast & Furious 8 (2017) and was the location of the epic Spidey versus Electro battle in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014). It’s also where Michael Keaton shuffled around in only his underwear in Birdman (2014). Why not stand in the centre of this iconic square and commemorate your trip with a photo?

FDNY Ladder 8, or Firehouse: Hook & Ladder Company 8, is an instantly recognisable fire station belonging to the New York City Fire Department. It prominently served as the fictional firehouse-turned-ghostbusting headquarters of the titular team in the original ‘80s Ghostbusters films, and even reappeared in the 2016 reboot.
 
The building itself is of historical value, having been built in 1903. You can usually see a big red fire truck parked behind its main gate, as well as a Ghostbusters panel that's hung in its interior. It's still an active firehouse so there are no tours, but you can treat yourself to some trendy merch.

Home to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Wall Street is featured in many Hollywood films about finance and the stock market. Perhaps the biggest movie that depicts this frenzied location is the Scorsese-helmed biopic, The Wolf of Wall Street (2013). 

Start at 11 Wall Street, in Lower Manhattan, to see where Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, Jordan Belfort, strolled past the NYSE building. Other films that showcase this district include The Dark Knight Rises (2012), American Psycho (2000) and The Big Short (2015). Don’t forget to take a selfie with the nearby Charging Bull statue, which floats through space at the end of Don't Look Up (2021). Book hotels closest to Wall Street for a taste of the high life.

Queens is one of New York City’s 5 boroughs. It’s also where Spider-Man’s alter ego, Peter Parker, lives with his Aunt May and Uncle Ben. Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man (2002) used a humble double-story house on 69th Road in Forest Hills to depict the superhero’s residence.  

The scene where Peter Parker runs for the school bus was shot on 44th Street at Queens Boulevard, while the climactic battle between Spidey and the Green Goblin took place on the Queensboro Bridge, which connects Queens and Manhattan. This bridge is also depicted in Salt (2010), Anger Management (2003) and Now You See Me (2013). Why not book a guided tour to see more of Queens' intriguing sights?

The Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel Control Building, also known as the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel Ventilation Building, is used as the fictitious MIB headquarters in the sci-fi comedy Men in Black (1997), and its 2 smash-hit sequels. It’s where Will Smith’s character, James Darrell Edwards III, enters a lift, only to emerge as a man-in-black named Agent J. 

The building is also where both Agent J and Agent K, played by Tommy Lee Jones, report back about their top-secret escapades investigating criminal incidents related to extraterrestrial lifeforms. This architectural icon dates to the 1950s and is the longest continuous underwater vehicular tunnel in North America. Check out the incredible architecture when you visit this iconic New York film location.

Night at the Museum (2006), starring Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson and Robin Williams, features exterior shots of New York’s American Museum of Natural History. Its 2 sequels, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009) and Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014), are also partially set there.

While the CGI-heavy interior sequences were shot on separate sets and studio stages, you can still see many incredible exhibits similar to those depicted in the film. Check out the T-Rex skeleton and the Human Origins and Cultural Halls.

The ‘80s romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally (1989) is famed for its memorable scene where Meg Ryan’s character Sally sits across a table from Harry, played by Billy Crystal, inside a classic New York diner.

This was shot at Katz's Delicatessen on East Houston Street which is now a must-visit attraction for nostalgic cinema buffs. Order yourself Harry's iconic pastrami-on-rye sandwich or a decadent slice of classic New York cheesecake and marvel at the celebrity photographs lining the walls.

Put a crocodile-wrangling outback Aussie in New York City and you have a comedic recipe that made Crocodile Dundee (1986) a smash hit when it was first released. The lead character, played by Paul Hogan, experiences the Big Apple by ordering a hotdog in Times Square, riding a limo across Manhattan and staying at The Plaza Hotel on 768 5th Avenue.

The Plaza’s other starring roles include Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller North by Northwest (1959), the hilarious Home Alone II (1992) and Baz Luhrman’s extravagant The Great Gatsby (2013). Indulge in some retail therapy during your visit at the Plaza Boutique for luxury souvenirs like fine jewellery, fragrances and apparel to match The Great Gatsby vibes.