New York City isn’t just the backdrop for countless Hollywood hits – it’s practically a star in its own right.
Thousands and thousands of movies have been shot here since the beginning of the 20th century, from rom-coms to disney classics and thrilling action flicks, and because of this, many landmarks have become total hotspots for movie enthusiasts visiting the city.
In this blog, we’ll take you on a tour of the 7 best movie spots in NYC, where you can walk in the footsteps of iconic characters, relive classic scenes, and experience the atmosphere of the films firsthand.
1. Central Park
Central Park, located in between the Upper West Side and Upper East Side neighbourhoods of Manhattan, is one of the most recognisable movie locations in the world, having been featured in hundreds of films.
An iconic area of Central Park is the Bow Bridge – one of the City’s most romantic settings – which has been the backdrop of many film settings for love, romance, and of course, the broken heart. You can find this bridge in films such as Spider-Man 3 and Enchanted.
2. The Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty, New York’s colossal green landmark, has also been the backdrop of some truly incredible films.
This symbol has appeared in one of the most famous scenes in cinema history – Planet of the Apes, where it is buried in sand. The statue’s head was also where the climactic battle in the first X-Men movie took place, and where the frozen tidal waves swept over New York in the disaster film, The Day After Tomorrow.
At Yellow Moon Tours, our New York City private tour guides can curate an entirely bespoke private tour of the famous movie spots in New York City for you and your family. From Central Park to the Statue of Liberty, we will work with you to maximise your time in New York so you can get as much as you can out of your trip.
3. Times Square
Times Square is known as one of the City’s busiest intersections, and with its display of flashing neon signage and glitzy LED billboards, it is a frequent superhero fight location in many blockbuster movies. So if you’re into your Marvel films, we highly recommend taking a trip here.
One of the most well-known scenes in Times Square for superhero enthusiasts is the climactic fight between Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire) and the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe).
Times Square was also spotted in the live-action blockbuster Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles during the car chase scene in The Fate of the Furious: Fast & Furious 8 and was the location of the epic Spidey versus Electro battle in The Amazing Spider-Man 2.
4. Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany & Co. is a super famous movie spot in NYC primarily because of its iconic role in the classic film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”.
This brand has long been a symbol of luxury, elegance, and New York City sophistication, and the association with Breakfast at Tiffany’s solidified this image, making the store not just a jewellery shop but a cultural landmark in NYC.
If you love this classic film, Tiffany & Co. is the site of its most iconic scene and not one to be missed.
5. Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is a 125 year old icon of New York City and one of the most recognisable bridges in the world.
There are countless iconic movies that feature Brooklyn Bridge in the background, for example I Am Legend, The Perfect Man, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and Annie Hall, but some also have scenes shot on the actual bridge itself.
For example, Enchanted, which follows Giselle (Amy Adam), a typical Disney princess, as she gets ripped from her traditional animated world getting stuck in present day NYC. Another famous movie filmed on Brooklyn Bridge is the fan-favourite Sex and the City: The Movie.
6. The Empire State Building
If you’re into Sci-Fi/ action films, you’re highly likely to have seen the Empire State Building crop up at some point.
Disaster films love depicting the total destruction of great landmarks, and New York’s Empire State Building is quite regularly one of them. It was totally blown apart by a death ray blast from the gigantic spaceship in Independence Day, and suffered damage in Superman II.
But the building’s most memorable cinematic moment would have to be when King Kong climbed up it to fend off fighter planes, in the classic monster flick King Kong, and again in Peter Jackson’s 2005 remake.
7. Wall Street
Home to the New York Stock Exchange, Wall Street is featured in many Hollywood films centred around finance and the stock market. The most popular movie that portrays this frantic location is The Wolf of Wall Street, featuring Leonardo Di Caprio and Margot Robbie.
Another iconic film set in this location is The Great Gatsby, with scenes reflecting the era’s financial excess, and Wall Street representing the economic backdrop of the time.
Interested in visiting a range of different movie spots but unsure where to start?
At Yellow Moon Tours, you can tailor your itinerary to your specific interests, whether you’re keen on classic films, modern blockbusters, or a mix of both. You also won’t have to worry about navigating public transit or dealing with parking when getting from place to place, which is especially handy in a busy city like NYC.
Get in touch with our friendly team today on +44 (0) 20 3290 3665 to discuss your custom NYC movie tour.
For more tips about travelling to New York, check out our tour planner blog, including ‘How to Explore New York’ ‘The Best Winter Activities in New York City’ and ‘5 Must-Try New York Food Experiences’.
For inquiries or questions about our tours, please send us an email at info@yellowmoontours.com or fill in our enquiry form to book your private tour today.
Written by Kate Jones for Yellow Moon Tours, the private tours specialist covering London, Paris, New York and Ireland.
