10 Iconic New York City Filming Locations, Ranked

There’s no place in the world like New York City. It’s the capital of the world in many ways – a central hub for the world of finance, media, and of course, show business. It’s one of the most cinematic places on Earth, having hosted countless film and television productions over the past century.

There are too many great NYC locations to count, but a handful of spots are particularly iconic. Some of these have hosted dozens, if not hundreds of productions. Others have hosted fewer films, but are equally memorable nonetheless.

10 Hook & Ladder 8 – Ghostbusters / Hitch

Located on the corner of N. Moore and Varick St. in the downtown neighborhood of Tribeca, Hook & Ladder 8 is among the most famous movie locations in New York for its appearance in 1984’s Ghostbusters. 

The interior scenes were shot on stages in Los Angeles, but since much of Ghostbusters was filmed on location in New York, the firehouse itself makes several appearances in the film, as well as in the 2016 remake. It was also featured in Hitch, Seinfeld, and How I Met Your Mother.

9 New York County Courthouse – 12 Angry Men / Wall Street / Goodfellas

Located at 60 Centre St. in the Financial District, the New York County Courthouse is a landmark building that’s been featured in numerous classic films. 12 Angry Men, The Godfather, Goodfellas, and Wall Street all filmed scenes on the famous steps outside the main entrance. The interior courtroom was used for the original Miracle on 34th Street, and the inferior remake used the building’s exterior, as well.

Most frequently, the exterior was used numerous times in the hit series Law and Order, one of the first television shows to regularly shoot on location throughout New York.

8 Dakota Building – Rosemary’s Baby

The Dakota Building is one of the most storied buildings in Manhattan. Sitting on the corner of 72nd St. and Central Park West, it’s most famous for being the one-time home of John Lennon, who was tragically killed just outside the front of the building.

As a movie location, it famously hosted Rosemary’s Baby in 1968, which had the extremely rare privilege of shooting inside the building, as well as outside. The Dakota is perhaps the most exclusive residential building in all of New York, and so the footage shot inside for Rosemary’s Baby is one of the only opportunities the general public has ever had to take a look at the interiors. 2001’s Vanilla Sky used the exterior of the building, but the interior apartment scenes had to be shot on stages.

7 Rockefeller Center – Elf / The Godfather / 30 Rock

Rockefeller Center is a 19-building complex in midtown Manhattan, built from 1927 to 1932. It’s most famous for its Christmas activities, which include its giant Christmas tree, ice skating rink, and the world-famous Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, the world’s largest indoor theater, which is part of Rockefeller Center. Elf, and Home Alone 2 both featured the Christmas tree plaza, and The Godfather filmed outside Radio City.

Behind the Christmas tree is 30 Rockefeller Center. It’s the home of NBC Studios, where The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon and Saturday Night Live are filmed. Of course, the hit NBC sitcom 30 Rock was filmed on location inside the halls of the building, as well.

6 Katz’s Delicatessen – When Harry Met Sally / Donnie Brasco

In addition to being one of the most famous eateries in New York, Katz’s is also one of the most celebrated movie locations in the city. Meg Ryan’s famous fake orgasm scene in When Harry Met Sally takes place here. In fact, a sign is still placed over the table where she sat in the scene.

Additionally, the deli was the meeting place between Donnie Brasco and the FBI in 1997’s Donnie Brasco. The deli is also featured in Across the Universe, We Own the Night, Mary and Max, and many other movies.

5 The Plaza Hotel – Home Alone 2 / The Great Gatsby / American Hustle

The Plaza Hotel is a staple of the 5th Ave scene, sitting at the corner of 5th Ave and 59th St., just across from Central Park. It’s a symbol for the elegance and haute couture of New York’s main shopping district, and it’s a decadent and luxurious hotel dating back to 1907. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York featured several scenes inside and outside the hotel and is the most famous use of the Plaza in film and TV.

Additionally, The Great Gatsby, American Hustle, Arthur, and many other films were shot here, as were episodes of HBO’s Sex and the City and The Sopranos. Carmela and Meadow have tea in the lobby restaurant, and Tony is staying in a suite at the hotel when he learns from Christopher that his cousin whacked the New York boss’ brother.

4 Times Square – Birdman / Captain America: The First Avenger / Vanilla Sky

The Times Square theater district hosts the biggest party on Earth every year on New Year’s Eve. It’s also hosted countless film productions, like Captain America: The First Avenger, Big, Spider-Man, and others. The Oscar-winning Birdman was shot at the St. James Theatre and included several scenes in Times Square.

Most unusually, Cameron Crowe’s Vanilla Sky emptied Times Square to shoot an eerie dream sequence. Taxi Driver also featured Times Square in its earlier, grittier and grimier incarnation.

3 Empire State Building – King Kong / Sleepless In Seattle

The tallest building in the world at the time of its completion in 1931, the Empire State Building is a symbol of the majesty of New York. King Kong cemented the building’s status in cinema history just two years after it opened its doors, as the building hosts the landmark film’s unforgettable finale.

Kong isn’t the only movie character to famously appear on the roof. Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks meet atop the building at the observation deck on Valentine’s Day in Sleepless In Seattle and Buddy’s dad has an office in the building in Elf. 

2 Central Park – Hair / Muppets Take Manhattan / Enchanted

There’s no place in the world quite like Central Park. It’s a sprawling piece of landscape architecture that occupies 843 acres of land in the middle of Manhattan, providing a giant backyard to the borough’s 2 million residents. It’s hosted countless productions, and many a classic film have been set in the park.

The iconic rock opera Hair filmed all over the park: the Mall, the Bandshell, the Bethesda Terrace, and the Sheep Meadow. Muppets in Manhattan, Enchanted, Elf, and Serendipity are some notable examples of other movies, among many others. In fact, IMDb has registered the park as a location in a staggering 800 film and television titles.

1 Grand Central Terminal – Superman / North By Northwest / The Avengers

Grand Central Terminal is the architectural crown jewel of New York and one of the busiest train stations in the world. It’s also as iconic a movie location, as it was Lex Luthor’s lair in the original Superman. The lair itself was a soundstage recreation, but some scenes were shot on location in the concourse. It hosted the final chase scene in Carlito’s Way and the rousing finale of The Avengers.

The first film to shoot inside Grand Central Terminal was Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece North by Northwest in 1959, and it’s been a staple of the New York filmmaking scene ever since.

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