The 8 Best Movies Set in New York City

This post is all about the best movies set in NYC.

The spirit and energy of New York are electric. You’re lucky if you can experience it yourself but if not, there are endless movies that will transport you to the greatest city on earth. If you’re a fan of movies and the Big Apple, we’ve rounded up a list of the best movies set in NYC that capture the sights and sounds.

8 Best Movies Set in NYC

1. You’ve Got Mail (1998)

I love to watch You’ve Got Mail every fall. Crisp New York days, bookstores, and the holidays around the corner all make this movie feel extra cozy. It stars Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks who are two strangers with a budding relationship via an anonymous chat…but are unknowingly feuding bookstore owners in real life.

It’s filmed largely on the Upper West Side and features a lot of pretty brownstones. P.S., every time I visit Books Are Magic in Brooklyn, I think, “This could be The Shop Around the Corner!” (The actual bookstore was set in a shop on 106 West 96th St which at the time was a cheese shop but is now a laundromat…).

2. A Rainy Day in New York (2019)

A lot can happen during a rainy day in New York, and this movie certainly packs a whole adventure into the span of a day.

Timothée Chalamet and Elle Fanning play a couple who come to New York for what should be a dream weekend: interview a movie director for a school project and spend the rest of the weekend getting lost in the city.

Things go awry and each has their own version of a New York weekend. This film was shot in SoHo and Greenwich Village and gives a really good taste of what the city feels like.

3. Maid in Manhattan (2002)

Who can resist a good rom-com movie, especially if it’s set in NYC? Maid in Manhattan features New York legend Jennifer Lopez who plays a maid in a luxury hotel who loses everything for love but then gets it all back in a happily ever after.

This movie is wholesome and sweet but also shows the hard work of making it in New York!

4. Home Alone 2: Lost In New York (1992)

What says “Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals” more than the Big Apple decked out for the holidays? Following young Kevin McCallister’s escapades (played by Macaulay Culkin), Home Alone 2 captures the best city sights across the boroughs, from the Long Island Pepsi Cola sign to the Queensboro Bridge.

Of course, it covers much of Manhattan too: the Statue of Liberty, Radio City Music Hall, the Plaza Hotel, Empire Diner (which is still open!), and of course the iconic scene in Central Park at Bethesda Fountain.

5. Breakfast At Tiffany’s (1961)

Breakfast At Tiffany’s is a must-watch featuring two brilliant stars: Audrey Hepburn and New York. This film was nominated for five Academy Awards and the iconic soundtrack was nominated for six Grammy Awards.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s is woven strongly into New York culture and has kept a permanent place in pop culture. In the movie, Audrey Hepburn falls in love with a neighbor and the movie follows their unfolding love story with all of its twists and turns. It’s as sophisticated and darling as you would expect.

6. Serendipity (2001)

In Serendipity, two strangers meet while Christmas shopping at Bloomingdale’s (on East 3rd Ave) and what ensues is a nearly perfect day spent together. They share the world-famous Frrrozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity III and ice skate under the falling snowflakes at Wollman Ice Rink in Central Park and then they separate leaving it to fate to determine if they’re reconnected.

7. When Harry Met Sally (1989)

When Harry Met Sally is arguably some of Nora Ephron’s best work.

In the movie, Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan are longtime friends who fear a romantic relationship could doom their friendship forever. It captures the magic of fall in New York and famously made Katz Deli a big destination (this is where the iconic “I’ll have what she’s having” quote came from).

8. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci all star in The Devil Wears Prada, following the story of a new college graduate working as an editor in a high-profile magazine, clawing for her place in a cut-throat industry and city.

This movie is especially heartwarming and features some legendary New York spots like Bubby’s, Central Park, St. Regis, and Lennox Health.

That concludes the 8 best movies set in NYC.

Whether you’re a local or just a fan of the Big Apple, these classic, must-watch movies are sure to transport you to the heart of NYC. Happy watching!