Movies Based in New York City

Want to get a look at some of the sites of New York City without actually traveling here?  Well, if you are a movie fan, then you are really in luck.  Take a look at a short list of films that are set in New York City.   You'll get to see so many of the cities sites and attractions as the back drop to some of the greatest action sequences, love scenes and dramatic happenings in film history. See the * for our favorites.

If we've missed any (which I'm sure we did), please let us know.

2000's

  • 16 Blocks - (2006) (Action Adventure/Crime Drama) * - Bruce Willis, Mos Def - A burnt out cop attempts to get a key witness to court without the two of them getting killed.
  • Maid In Manhattan - (2002) (Romantic Comedy) - Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes. - A maid pretends to be what she is not and still gets the man. Views of Manhattan and the Bronx
  • Spiderman - (2001) (Action Adventure) * - Toby McQuire, Willem Defoe, Kirstin Dunst - See Spidey swing into action to fight crime on the streets of the Big Apple. Great shots of the Empire State Building, Queensboro bridge and more.
  • The Devil Wore Prada - (2006) (Comedy) * - Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci - A young journalist copes with working for the world's worse boss.
1990s

  • Men in Black - (1997) (Action Adventure/Sci Fi) - Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith - Two secret agents based in Manhattan must save the Earth from destruction by aliens
  • Money Train - (1995) (Action Adventure/Comedy) - Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrelson - A disgruntled cop plans to rob a train full of subway fares.
  • Six Degrees of Separation - (1996) (Drama) - Stockard Channing, Will Smith, Donald Sutherland - Two New York Art Dealers revaluate their lives after meeting a young man who claims to be the son of a famous singer.
  • You've Got Mail - (1998) (Romantic Comedy) - Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan - The owner of a small bookshop falls in love with the owner of the big chain bookstore putting her out of business over the Internet.
1980s

  • Arthur - (1984) (Comedy) - Dudley Moore, Liza Minnelli - A happy go lucky, multimillionaire drunk finds love on the other side of the tracks.
  • Big - (1988) (Comedy) - Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins - A young boy's wish comes true and he turns into an adult who must fend for himself in New York City.
  • Coming to America - (1988) (Comedy) Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones - An African Prince comes to America to find a wife.
  • Crocodile Dundee - (1986) (Comedy) Paul Hogan - An Australian Bushman leaves a real jungle for the asphalt jungle of New York City.
  • Do the Right Thing - (1989) (Comedy/Drama) * - Ossie Davis, Danny Aiello, Rosie Perez, Spike Lee - Spike Lee's story of one hot day in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.
  • Ghost Busters - (1984) (Comedy) - Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Sigourney Weaver - Check your brain and have some fun.
  • Moonstruck - (1987) (Romantic Comedy) * - Cher, Nicholas Cage - This is a fantastic Oscar winning flick with fantastic New York scenery like a full moon over Manhattan.
  • Splash - (1984) (Romantic Comedy) * Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah - A mermaid comes to Manhattan.
  • Wall Street - (1987) (Drama) * - Charlie Sheen, Michael Douglas - Greed leads a young stock broker to get involved with insider trading.
  • When Harry Met Sally - (1989) (Romantic Comedy) - Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan - This movie explores the question, will sex ruin a friendship? Wonderful shots taken all over NYC.
  • Working Girl - (1988) (Romantic Comedy) - Harrison Ford, Melanie Griffith, Sigourney Weaver - A secretary impersonates her ailing boss to advance her career.
1970s

  • Annie Hall - (1977) (Romantic Comedy) - Woody Allen, Diane Keaton - Follow the relationship between a neurotic comedian and equally neurotic Annie Hall.
  • Dog Day Afternoon - (1975) (Drama) - Al Pacino - A bank robbery goes terribly wrong.
  • Saturday Night Fever - (1977) (Drama) - John Travolta, Karen Lynn Gorney - A young man struggles to make a better life for himself by disco dancing. Straight out of Brooklyn.
  • Taxi Driver - (1976) (Drama) - Robert De Niro, Cybill Shepard, Jodie Foster, Harvey Keitel - Martin Scorsese's raw look at the darker side of New York City. (Are you talking to me?)
  • The French Connection - (1971) (Crime Drama) - Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider - Two NYC narcotics officers battle drug trafficking with a French twist.
  • The Out of Towners - (1970) (Comedy) - Jack Lemon, Sandy Dennis - Neil Simon comedy about two tourists who have a very unforgettable time in New York. Hilarious (avoid the Steve Martin remake like the plague).
1960s

  • Breakfast at Tiffany's - (1961) (Romantic Comedy/Drama) * - Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard - A quirky New York girl learns to love again. Very touching.
  • Midnight Cowboy - (1969) (Drama) * - Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voight - Explores the seedier side of New York very effectively. Disturbing
  • The Odd Couple - (1968) (Drama) * - Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau - Two devorced men, one a neat freak the other a slob, try to live together.
  • West Side Story - (1961) (Musical) * - Natalie Wood, Rita Moreno - 10 Oscar Winning Musical that is a classic adaptation of Romeo and Juliet set in New York City in the 60s.
1950s and Before

  • Miracle On 34th Street - (1947) (Comedy/Drama) * - Maureen O'Hara, Natalie Wood - Attorney defends an old man who claims to be Santa Claus.
  • On the Town - (1949) (Musical Comedy) * - Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra - Three sailors on 24 hour leave experience New York City. Great shots all around town.