10 Must-Watch Films Before Visiting New York

Planning a trip to New York? Movies are a great way to build excitement before you go—and to discover the city at the same time. Once you arrive, you can visit the filming locations of your favorite films. Specialized tours are available; find them in the New York travel guide under film-themed tours.
In the meantime, here’s my personal selection of 10 films that capture New York beautifully. If you’ve seen each of these, you’ll recognize the city throughout your stay. Let’s go!

1/ Once Upon a Time in America

THE STORY: Released in 1984, Sergio Leone’s final film takes you to 1930s New York and the lives of two gangsters played by Robert De Niro and James Woods. This epic spans more than 4 hours, flashing back to the late 1960s.
WHERE TO GO: To experience the film’s atmosphere, visit DUMBO, at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge on the Brooklyn side. Head to Front Street and look toward the Manhattan Bridge. You’ll see the exact image from the film’s famous poster.

2/ The Day After Tomorrow

THE STORY: Earth enters a new ice age, and New York experiences the most dramatic cold. The special effects are stunning—frozen New Yorkers crossing the East River on foot, the Empire State Building encased in ice.
WHERE TO GO: The film’s heart unfolds inside and outside the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue. A Russian tanker runs aground there, and the main characters seek shelter inside. If you loved the film, visiting the library is a must.

3/ Ghostbusters

THE STORY: Released in 1984, the same year as Once Upon a Time in America, Ghostbusters is a completely different kind of film. Follow the wild adventures of Doctors Venkman, Stantz, and Spengler—three researchers who start a paranormal investigation company. New York proves to be the perfect hunting ground.
WHERE TO GO: The Ghostbusters headquarters is located in SoHo, at the corner of Moore Street and Varick Street. It’s the former Hook & Ladder 8 firehouse. Look at the sidewalk: a graffiti tag marks the ghost hunters’ presence.

4/ Wall Street

THE STORY: Oliver Stone’s famous film features Gordon Gekko, a ruthless financier played by Michael Douglas, and Bud Fox, a young trader played by Charlie Sheen. Will the student surpass the master? Filmed in 1987, it critiqued Wall Street’s excesses—the very system that collapsed 20 years later during the 2008 financial crisis.
WHERE TO GO: If you loved Wall Street, you can’t visit the Financial District without thinking of the film. Head to Wall Street itself, in front of the New York Stock Exchange. The neighborhood is also central to Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

5/ The Gendarme in New York

THE STORY: One of the most popular comedies of French cinema also ventured to New York. Far from the French Riviera, the gendarmes of Saint-Tropez travel to an international police conference in New York. Naturally, nothing goes as planned.
WHERE TO GO: Filmed in 1965, The Gendarme in New York shows you 1960s New York, including Little Italy. You’ll see a very different skyline from today and vintage taxis. Beyond the comedy, it’s a glimpse into New York’s history.

6/ I Am Legend

THE STORY: Humanity is decimated by a new virus. A former U.S. Army officer played by Will Smith is immune and survives as the last inhabitant of New York. He searches for other survivors while keeping himself occupied.
WHERE TO GO: At the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge, you’ll think of the film’s poster showing the bridge destroyed. Also visit Park Avenue, near Grand Central Terminal, to imagine Will Smith’s character being attacked by mutants.

7/ The Thomas Crown Affair

THE STORY: The Thomas Crown Affair tells the story of a daring heist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This remake of the original film with Steve McQueen also takes you to the financial district, where Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan) has his offices with stunning views over New York Harbor.
WHERE TO GO: To channel Thomas Crown, head to the Met’s Impressionist galleries. You’ll find it impossible to make eye contact with the museum guards without thinking of the perfect heist!

8/ Taxi Driver

THE STORY: Released in 1976, Martin Scorsese’s film puts you in the back seat of a New York taxi driven by Robert De Niro. An insomniac Vietnam veteran, he drives nights. It’s a raw look at late-1970s New York—violent and gritty, far from today’s city.
WHERE TO GO: The diner where taxi drivers gathered was at the corner of Park Avenue and 28th Street. Don’t bother looking for the Belmore Cafeteria—it’s been demolished. But you can play “spot the difference” by seeing how Times Square and Columbus Circle have changed.

9/ Marathon Man

THE STORY: Another classic, this 1976 film follows Babe Levy (Dustin Hoffman), a history student at Columbia University training for the New York Marathon. Meanwhile, his brother uncovers the activities of a former Nazi war criminal living under an assumed identity. Babe gets caught in the middle.
WHERE TO GO: Once you’ve seen Marathon Man, you’ll never look at Central Park the same way. Dustin Hoffman trains for the marathon there. If you want to follow in his footsteps, run along the Reservoir—you’ll be in the film!

10/ Year of the Dragon

THE STORY: Released in 1985, this film follows Captain Stanley White (Mickey Rourke), a New York police officer reassigned to Chinatown. A Vietnam War veteran, he takes on the Chinese mob that controls the neighborhood.
WHERE TO GO: Watch Year of the Dragon before exploring Chinatown’s narrow streets. To see the funeral parade scene, head to Mott Street. Captain White might be staking it out.

Your Top 10?

As I said at the start, this selection of 10 films is completely personal. So many films have been shot in New York. If you’d like to recommend films set in New York that deserve to be seen or revisited before your trip, please leave a comment below. 🙂 The floor is yours!