Top 5 Historical New York Movie Landmarks

Filmmakers love using New York’s harried streets as the favorite backdrop for their films. Maybe it’s because the city boasts the most fascinating landmarks or because of its many picturesque facades, New York City‘s visage appears in countless film classics. Most of the iconic scenes in New York have been played over and over again throughout the decades, but here are the Top 5 historical New York movie landmarks that have made it to the screens.

1. Empire State Building

The 103-story skyscraper that stands firm in Midtown Manhattan, where the 5th Avenue and West 34th Street intersect, tops the list of movie landmarks in New York City. At 1,454 feet high, the building has been featured in many movies. Perhaps none rendered it better than the 1993 movie “Sleepless in Seattle”, whereby the building is depicted as a haven for lovers atop NYC’s greatest landmarks.

2. Verrazano Narrows Bridge

The double-decked suspension bridges connecting New York City’s boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn at the Narrows has made it to the screen for many decades. From as early as 1977, this historical landmark was featured in top movies, with one of the most notable being “Saturday Night Fever” (1977), as it depicts the serenity of the surrounding areas.

3. The Plaza Hotel

Located in the borough of Manhattan, this historical landmark has also been featured in many movies. This 20-story luxury hotel stands at 250ft tall in the west side of Grand Army Plaza. Many movie directors appear to have a soft spot for its design, with one of the most well-known movies being the 1992 hit-movie “Home Alone 2”.

4. The Coney Island Boardwalk

Built in 1923, the boardwalk located in Brooklyn’s Coney Island has been a popular movie setting. Stretching for 2.51 miles from West 37th Street to Brighton 14th Street and home to the Coney Island Cyclone and the Wonder Wheel Ferris wheel, this historical landmark is a favorite for many movie directors. The 2000 movie Requiem for a Dream brought the real-effect of the boardwalk to life once again.

5. Times Square

This iconic landmark cannot be left out when looking at the Top 5 historical New York movie landmarks. In many movies, it is depicted for its brightly illuminated hubs in addition to being one of the world’s busiest intersections. It is featured in “Midnight Cowboy” (1969), whereby the cast depicts the uniqueness of the world’s most visited tourist attraction. For many years it has been a common scene in many movies and the ambiance has made it a favorite for many screen settings.