10 MOVIES THAT MAKE YOU HEART NYC
New York is iconic to most, and is a vivid picture in the dreams of many. This is due largely to the fact that the city has served as the backdrop for so many great films, and we all fall a bit more in love with the sights and sounds of the city through the stories we see play out on the big screen. Check out this list of movies that take you on a journey into New York, and see if your favorite film made the cut.
Annie Hall – In this off-beat romance, a Neurotic New Yorker named Alvy Singer falls in love with a free spirited woman named Annie Hall. This is a quintessentially New York film directed, written and starring Woody Allen. Check out Coney Island, where Woody Allen’s character is from.
Serendipity – Starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale, this classic tale of two lovers is set in the Upper East Side of New York City. They meet and decide that if they meet again, it was fate that brought them together. We’re taken through the journey of these star-crossed lovers through great NYC locations like Bloomingdales, and of course Serendipity III located at 225 East 60th Street.
Photo Credit: © New Line Cinema
The Sex and the City Movie – It’s time to put on your stilettos and take another sip of your Cosmopolitan. This popular series – which became a movie in 2008 – was a love letter for the fans of the show. Miranda, Charlotte, Samantha and Carrie continued to do what we loved to see them do – shop, talk about sex and go to fabulous places in New York City. Check out the iconic 42nd Street New York City Library, where Carrie and Big planned to have their nuptials, located on 5th and 42nd Street.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York – Kevin is back! And he’s terrorizing New York icon the Plaza Hotel. With scenes that take you through so many icon New York locations like FAO Schwartz and Central Park, this classic feel good film with Macaulay Culkin is great inspiration for taking the family to NYC for the holidays. Just don’t get left by your parents!
The Muppets Take Manhattan – It takes a lot to make it on Broadway, but the Muppets are up for the challenge! Your favorite Muppets take Manhattan and some of its most famous locations by storm, with the help of stars such as Joan Rivers, Gregory Hines and Liza Minnelli. Go to Bergdorf Goodman on 5th Avenue and 58th Street, where Miss Piggy and Joan Rivers worked behind the perfume counter and gave each other makeovers.
Photo credit: © Paramount Pictures
Wolf of Wall Street – Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, this movie shows the opulent and decadent life of Wall Street stockbrokers in the 80s and 90s. Filmed near iconic spots like the New York Stock Exchange, it also captured off-the-beaten-path spots, like Rao’s Restaurant on 455 East 114th Street, where Leonardo DiCaprio’s character Jordan Belfort meets with his private investigator to discuss an ongoing FBI investigation of his company.
Saturday Night Fever – This disco sensation takes us south of the trendy borough of Brooklyn. As John Travlota’s character Tony struggles to make it in his middle class neighborhood, he escapes the reality of life by going to the disco. Meanwhile, his friends horse around on The Verrazano Bridge–the longest suspension bridge in the world, which connects Brooklyn to Staten Island.
Photo credit: © Paramount Pictures
Breakfast at Tiffany’s – This is a Classic movie that takes place all over New York, and of course, the most famous scene occurs in front of Tiffany’s flagship store on 5th avenue and 57th Street. Take a moment to have a bagel or muffin in front, just as Holly Golightly did in the film.
Black Swan – Showcasing the world of dance in New York City, this thriller about a ballerina driven to madness shows the Upper West Side, and the iconic Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, where you can always catch a performance from the New York City Ballet. Perhaps Swan Lake?
King Kong – You can’t look at the Empire State building without thinking of this classic 1933 film and imagining King Kong beating his chest and holding the beautiful Ann Darrow in his hand. Relive this moment by climbing up to the observation deck, and beating your chest. You may look silly, but you’re just showing your love for the city that never sleeps!
About the author: Alisa Vilabrera is a writer for Miles Away Blog