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. Here are eight iconic movies set in New York City.
You’ve Got Mail (1998)
I love to watch this movie 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…)
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 get 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.
Maid in Manhattan (2002)
Who can resist a good rom-com? This film 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!
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), this film catches 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.
Breakfast At Tiffany’s (1961)
This 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.
Serendipity (2001)
Two strangers meet 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…
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
This one is a Nora Ephron movie so you know it’s a good one! In this movie, Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan are longtime friends who fear a romantic relationship could doom their friendship forever. This movie 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).
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci all star in this film following the story of a new college graduate working as an editor in a high profile magazine, clawing for her place in a cutthroat 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.
I hope you’ve discovered a new movie to watch (or found a new one to add to your list!).
I can’t believe I’ve never seen When Harry Met Sally, need to get it ASAP.