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10 Film Locations in Midtown Manhattan

10 films locations in Midtown NYC

Do you enjoy spotting where some of your favorite films or tv shows have had scenes shot when you visit a city? A ton of films have been shot in Midtown Manhattan over the years. This continues with many productions closing down streets and parks every year to make your next favorite flick.

In our research to develop a Tourist Scavenger Hunt in New York Midtown, we’ve come across much information, not only some which can only be gleaned when doing the actual scavenger hunt, but also some we wanted to share with you for your visit planning. Here are 10 film locations to see in New York Midtown.

10 film locations in Midtown Manhattan

Grand Central Terminal Grand Central Terminal

This is the principal Amtrak terminal for the city, as well as a central hub for the various metro lines crisscrossing the city. The current Beaux Arts building is the third railroad structure to stand on this site, now covering 48 acres. The original Grand Central Depot was built in 1871 by railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt. The number of railroad companies quickly outgrew the Depot and in 1899 it was demolished and replaced with the six-story Grand Central Station.

Back then, trains were steam-powered. After a 1902 catastrophic collision, the decision was made to switch to modern electric trains. Again, the existing building was rebuilt to accommodate electric trains. Grand Central was no longer just a stop along a route, but the final stop. Hence, it became Grand Central Terminal, and officially opened in 1913.

The nicest feature of Grand Central Terminal is the ceiling of the grand hall, a colossal, breathtaking mural of the zodiac constellations.

Grand Central Terminal

To sum up, 49 films have used Grand Central Terminal as an important scene over the years.

  1. Grand Central Murder (1942)
  2. Spellbound (1945)
  3. The Thin Man Goes Home (1945)
  4. North by Northwest (1959)
  5. Seconds (1966)
  6. Sweet Charity (1969)
  7. The Out-of-Towners (1970)
  8. Necrology (1971)
  9. Superman (1978)
  10. A Stranger is Watching (1982)
  11. Falling in Love (1984)
  12. Midnight Run (1988)
  13. The House on Carroll Street (1988)
  14. The Cotton Club (1984)
  15. The Freshman (1990)
  16. A Shock to the System (1990)
  17. State of Grace (1990)
  18. The Fisher King (1991)
  19. The Prince of Tides (1991)
  20. Carlito’s Way (1993)
  21. Amateur (1994)
  22. Hackers (1995)
  23. One Fine Day (1996)
  24. Extreme Measures (1996)
  25. Men in Black (1997)
  26. Tadpole (2000)
  27. Men in Black II (2002)
  28. Unfaithful (2002)
  29. Bad Company (2002)
  30. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
  31. Taxi (2004)
  32. Kinsey (2004)
  33. Just My Luck (2006)
  34. Whirlygirl (2006)
  35. I Am Legend (2007)
  36. Reign over me (2007)
  37. Revolutionary Road (2008)
  38. Old Dogs (2009)
  39. The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)
  40. The Code (2009)
  41. Duplicity (2009)
  42. The Switch (2010)
  43. Step up 3D (2010)
  44. Friends with Benefits (2011)
  45. Arthur (2011)
  46. Loosies (2012)
  47. The Avengers (2012)
  48. Greetings from Tim Buckley (2012)
  49. Broken City (2013)

NY Public LibraryNew York Public Library

Patience and Fortitude are the two majestic lions outside the main branch of the New York Public Library. They have been the institution’s mascots for more than a century.

It has been NY’s largest and busiest circulating library. It is mostly closed since August of 2017 for major renovations. You can still access the entrance which is worth a quick visit. It will reopen in early 2020.

Patience and Fortitude

Overall, 44 films had significant scenes shot here at New York Public Library:

  1. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
  2. You’re a Big Boy Now (1966)
  3. Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
  4. Network (1976)
  5. The Wiz (1978)
  6. Chapter Two (1979)
  7. Exposed (1983)
  8. Ghostbusters (1984)
  9. Prizzi’s Honor (1985)
  10. Off Beat (1986)
  11. Regarding Henry (1991)
  12. Sliver (1993)
  13. Quiz Show (1994)
  14. Zoya (TV 1995)
  15. Picture Perfect (1997)
  16. The Astronaut’s Wife (1999)
  17. The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)
  18. Finding Forrester (2000)
  19. Lost Souls (2000)
  20. The Devil and Daniel Webster (2001)
  21. Head Over Heels (2001)
  22. Becker (TV; 2002)
  23. Maid in Manhattan (2002)
  24. Spiderman (2002)
  25. The Time Machine (2002)
  26. 13 Going on 30 (2004)
  27. The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
  28. Shortcut to Happiness (2004)
  29. 13 Going on 30 (2004)
  30. CSI: NY (2005)
  31. Stay (2005)
  32. All My Children (2006)
  33. The Pink Panther (2006)
  34. Jumper (2007)
  35. Spiderman 3 (2007)
  36. Sex and the City: The Movie (2008)
  37. Uncertainty (2008)
  38. Salt (2010)
  39. The Adjustment Bureau (2011)
  40. Arthur (2011)
  41. Winter’s Tale (2013)
  42. 5 to 7 (2013)
  43. Oblivion (2013)
  44. A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014)

Also, the following television series also significant scenes shot here at New York Public Library:

  1. Law & Order (TV; ongoing)
  2. Smallville (TV; 2004)
  3. The Prince Pilot (TV; 2005)
  4. Queer Eye for the Straight Guy Weddings (TV; 2005)
  5. Traveler (TV; 2007)
  6. Kings (TV; 2008)
  7. Gossip Girl (TV; 2010)
  8. Who Do You Think You Are? (TV; 2010)
  9. NEWSROOM (TV;2012)
  10. Muhammad Ali (HBO/TV;2012)
  11. Person of Interest (TV, 2013)
  12. The Following (TV;2014)

Bryant Park

Bryant Park HotelBryant Park is a large park, often referred to as an oasis of green in the heart of Midtown. Find here lawns, fountains, pathways, an outdoor reading room, a ping-pong area and a Pétanque area. In winter, there is an ice-skating rink here.

It is bordered by the Bryant Park Hotel to the south (originally the American Radiator Building), and the Bank of America Tower to the north-west.

Bank of America Building

Across Ave of the Americas to the west of Bryant Park is was located Circle NYC nightclub in which scenes from How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008) were shot.

On the whole, 23 films filmed various scenes within Bryant Park:

  1. The World According to Garp (1982)
  2. Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993)
  3. Private Parts (1997)
  4. The Out-of-Towners (1999)
  5. End of Days (1999)
  6. Loser (2000)
  7. Head over Heels (2001)
  8. The Caveman’s Valentine (2001)
  9. Spider-Man (2002)
  10. Shortcut to Happiness (2003)
  11. Happy Hour (2003)
  12. Heights (2005)
  13. Spider-Man 3 (2007)
  14. I Think I Love My Wife (2007)
  15. Sex and the City (2008)
  16. Deception (2008)
  17. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010)
  18. Letters to Juliet (2010)
  19. Morning Glory (2010)
  20. Wanderlust (2012)
  21. Winter’s Tale (2014)
  22. Trainwreck (2015)
  23. Ted 2 (2015)

Also, other TV programs filmed various scenes within Bryant Park:

  1. Project Runway (2004-…)
  2. Glee (2009-2015)
  3. Person of Interest (2011-2016)
  4. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2015)
  5. Jessica Jones (2015-)
  6. Conviction (2016-2017)

Port Authority Bus Terminal

The Port Authority Bus Terminal is the main gateway for interstate buses into Manhattan in New York City. It opened in 1950 and stands 1 block east of the Lincoln Tunnel to New Jersey. 8,000 buses and 225,000 people go through it on an average weekday through its 223 gates! 13 Subway lines also stop at the Port Authority.

To sum up, 9 films had significant scenes shot here:

  1. The Touch of Her Flesh (1967)
  2. Lusting Hours (1967)
  3. The Anderson Tapes (1971)
  4. Heroes (1977)
  5. Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
  6. Streatwalkin’ (1985)
  7. Bad Lieutenant (1986)
  8. Keane (2004)
  9. World Trade Center (2006)

Times Square

Originally called Long Acre Square, this stretch of intersections between 42nd and 48th St has long been a major commercial hub full of restaurants, theatres, shops and office buildings.

Today it is likely full of locals and tourists here to take in that New York feeling. There are many street performers in designated zones. There are almost 50 theatres on both sides of Times Square, on 42nd St 43rd St and every street all the way up to 50th.

As a result, 38 films have prominently shown Times Square:

  1. Times TowerKing Kong (1933)
  2. The Seven Year Itch (1954)
  3. Killer’s Kiss (1955)
  4. Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
  5. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
  6. Midnight Cowboy (1969)
  7. Cannonball (1976)
  8. Superman (1977)
  9. Annie (1982)
  10. A Chorus Line, The Movie (1985)
  11. Crocodile Dundee (1986)
  12. Batteries Not Included (1987)
  13. Big (1988)
  14. Naked in New York (1993)
  15. Jerry Maguire (1996)
  16. Conspiracy Theory (1997)
  17. Cradle Will Rock (1999)
  18. Center Stage (2000)
  19. Times BuildingVanilla Sky (2001)
  20. Perfume (2001)
  21. Sidewalks of New York (2001)
  22. Life or Something Like It (2002)
  23. Phileine zegt sorry (2003)
  24. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
  25. Closer (2004)
  26. She Hate Me (2004)
  27. When Will I Be Loved (2004)
  28. Just My Luck (2006)
  29. Enchanted (2007)
  30. BillboardsMichael Clayton (2007)
  31. Spread (2009)
  32. Whatever Works (2009)
  33. Date Night (2010)
  34. Twelve (2010)
  35. Captain America (2011)
  36. New Year’s Eve (2011)
  37. Friends with Benefits (2011)
  38. Lola Versus (2012)

Hotel Edison

Hotel EdisonBuilt in 1931, Hotel Edison has room for 1,000 guests over 26 floors and is one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in New York with its curved edges, bold lines, and an interior that is both elegant and bold. When the hotel opened, the lights were famously turned on by Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb. It is located on W 47th between 6th and 7th St.

Hotel Edison

Walk in to see the main lobby which is still in the original Art Deco style. There are many beautiful paintings and murals.

In any event, 3 films and TV shows had significant scenes shot here at Hotel Edison:

  1. The Godfather (1972)
  2. Bullets over Broadway (1994)
  3. Sex and the City (1998-2004)

Radio City Music Hall

Radio City Music HallThis entertainment venue is part of the Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan. It is nicknamed the Showplace of the Nation. Radio City Music Hall was designated a New York City Landmark in May 1978. Originally designed by Edward Durell Stone and Donald Deskey in the Art Deco style, it opened in August 1932.

The Rockettes who put on a Christmas Spectacular here every year have been doing so since November 1932!

Overall, 5 films had scenes here at Radio City Music Hall:

  1. The Godfather (1972)
  2. My Favorite Year (1982)
  3. Radio Days (1987)
  4. Home Alone 2 (1992)
  5. Quiz Show (1994)

Rockefeller Plaza

Rockefeller Center Rockefeller Plaza houses a large fountain which turns into a skating rink in winter and several signature stores such as Cole Haan and the Lego Store.

On the whole, here are 9 films that shot scenes here in front of the fountain and golden statue of Prometheus:

  1. On the Town (1949). It is where Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly sign New York New York.
  2. Ghostbuster (1984)
  3. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
  4. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
  5. Rockefeller PlazaPrivate Parts (1997)
  6. Autumn in New York (2000)
  7. Spider-Man (2002)
  8. Elf (2003)
  9. The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

Waldorf Astoria

Waldorf AstoriaNo hotel is as much a New York icon as the Waldorf-Astoria, built in 1931. The hotel lobby is normally well worth a visit; however, the hotel is currently closed as it undergoes a complete renovation and restoration. It should reopen by 2022.

To sum up, here are 15 films with significant scenes shot here at the Waldorf Astoria:

  1. Weekend at the Waldorf (1945)
  2. The Out-of-Towners (1970).
  3. The Great Gatsby (1974)
  4. My Favorite Year (1982)
  5. Hannah and her sisters (1986)
  6. The Godfather Part III (1990)
  7. Scent of a Woman (1992)
  8. Analyze This (1999)
  9. Serendipity (2001)
  10. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
  11. Maid in Manhattan (2002)
  12. Catch Me If You Can (2002)
  13. Alfie (2004)
  14. The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)
  15. The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

MetLife Building

MetLife Building
By Postdlf, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=667586

This 59-story skyscraper, opened in 1930, is still referred to many New Yorkers by its original name, the Pan Am Building, named for the now non-existent airline. There aren’t many fans of the MetLife building other than the building’s landlords. That’s because its architectural school called Brutalism that uses concrete and blockish forms dwarf the regal Helmsley Building you just saw.

In addition, in the Avengers movies, the MetLife Building is transformed into the Avengers Tower.

As a result, here are 18 films in which we can clearly see the MetLife Building:

  1. Grand Slam (1967)
  2. Only When I Larf (1968)
  3. Coogan’s Bluff (1968)
  4. The French Connection (1971)
  5. Highlander (1986)
  6. Gremlins 2 (1990)
  7. Godzilla (1998)
  8. Armageddon (1998)
  9. Catch Me If You Can (2002)
  10. Knowing (2009)
  11. The Avengers (2012) – appears as Stark Tower
  12. Iron Man 3 (2013) – appears as Stark Tower
  13. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) – appears as Stark Tower
  14. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) – appears as Stark Tower
  15. Daredevil (2015-…) – appears as Stark Tower
  16. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) – appears as Stark Tower
  17. Jessica Jones (2017-…) – appears as Stark Tower
  18. Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) – appears as Statesmen Whiskey tower

Tourist Scavenger Hunts

We invite you to try our Tourist Scavenger Hunt in New York Midtown. It is a 2.5-hour guided walking tour throughout Midtown Manhattan from Grand Central Terminal to Times Square, Rockefeller Center, and everything in between. You do it on your mobile phone (how it works).  It only costs $30 for your group (1 to 6 people). Moreover, you will enjoy seeing these film locations and much more while completing challenges and learning about Midtown’s history.

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