11 Iconic Film Locations in New York City July 26 2014
In the history of motion pictures in the United States, many films have been set in New York City. Take a look at a collection of some of the most famous, distinguished, unforgettable and memorable film scenes shot in New York City.
1. Breakfast at Tiffany's
Among the most romantic of all movies ever filmed in New York City are those in Blake Edwards’ screen adaptation of Truman Capote’s tale, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. The film’s opening sequence showed Audrey Hepburn still wearing a glamorous evening dress from the night before, staring dreamily into Tiffany’s gem-filled window as she consumes a breakfast of coffee and a Danish pastry. The scene took place at the corner of 5th Avenue and 57th Street.
2. Friends with Benefits
Friends with Benefits is a romantic comedy directed by Will Gluck and starring Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake. Two young people meet in New York City and naively believe adding sex to their relationship will not lead to complications. "Dylan" and "Jamie" leave his Rockefeller Center office for a convenient lunch at Cafe Habana in SoHo, 17 Prince St, New York.
3. The Proposal
For three years, Andrew Paxton played by Ryan Reynolds has slaved as the assistant to Margaret Tate played by Sandra Bullock, hard-driving editor at a New York publisher. When Margaret, a Canadian, faces deportation for an expired visa, she hatches a scheme to marry Andrew. He’ll only accept if she'll promise a promotion and officially propose to him. So, reluctantly Margaret agrees to his demands and whilst outside the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration offices kneels down and asks Andrew to marry her, 26 Federal Plaza, Broadway and Thomas Street.
4. Night at the Museum
A fantasy adventure-comedy film based on the 1993 children's book of the same name by Milan Trenc. It follows a divorced father trying to settle down, impress his son, and find his destiny. He applies for a job as a guard at New York City's American Museum of Natural History and subsequently discovers that the exhibits, animated by a magical Egyptian artifact, come to life at night. The Museum is located at Central Park W and 79th Street.
5. Alfie
In Manhattan, the British limousine driver, Alfie (Jude Law) is surrounded by beautiful women, most of them clients, and he lives as a Don Juan, having one night stands with all of them and without any sort of commitment. In this scene he picks up a just another "client" and it's filmed at nine-acre waterfront park located between the Manhattan Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge.
6. The Seven Year Itch
In one of the greatest publicity stunts of the century, the producer of The Seven Year Itch invited every major New York news photographer to the corner of 52nd Street and Lexington on the night of September 15, 1954 to watch Marilyn Monroe's dress skirt get repeatedly blown upward over a subway grate (supposedly by the passing of a subway below). The images of Marilyn's skirt being blown upwards as she tries to hold it down is one of the most iconic images of American pop culture.
7. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Kevin McCallister and his family are taking a vacation to Florida. At the airport Kevin loses his family and accidentally gets on a plane to New York City. After enjoying himself there for a while, he runs into his old enemies, Harry and Marv, who have escaped from prison. Macaulay Culkin stands in front of Radio City Music Hall, an entertainment venue located in New York City's Rockefeller Center, 50th Street and 6th Avenue.
8. Spider-Man 2
Peter Parker runs the gauntlet as the mysterious company Oscorp sends up a slew of super villains against him, impacting his life. New York's superhero saving the city while working as a deliverly boy at Joe's Pizza.
9. Leon
The film stars Jean Reno as the titular mob hitman; Gary Oldman as corrupt DEA agent Norman Stansfield; a young Natalie Portman, in her feature film debut, as Mathilda, a 12-year-old girl who is taken in by the hitman after her family is murdered; and Danny Aiello as Tony, the mobster who gives the hitman his assignments. An undeniably tender moment in this film comes when Leon accompaines 12 year-old Mathilda, carrying her houseplant down an empty 7th Avenue.
10. Vanilla Sky
A successful publisher finds his life taking a turn for the surreal after a car accident with a jaded lover. For this scene, Tom Cruise runs through a deserted Times Square wondering why he is the only person there. The film's producers spoke to the NYPD movie unit and requested to film in Times Square with one condition. It had to be completely empty. There was of course no way this could be achieved in normal daytime hours, but after closer inspection, on a Sunday morning from 4:30am until 6am.
11. The Wolf of Wall Street
Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stock-broker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government. Jordan Belfort played by Leonardo DiCaprio in this scene tries to bribe a policeman on his yacht that's stationed at the North Cove Marina, located at 385 South End Ave #6H, Battery Park.
