Summary
- Taxi Driver (1976)
- Annie Hall (1977)
- Do The Right Thing (1989)
- Manhattan (1979)
- After Hours (1985)
- Wall Street (1987)
- Goodfellas (1990)
- Superman (1977)
- The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)
- Serpico (1973)
- Mean Streets (1973)
- Gangs of New York (2002)
- Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
- I Am Legend (2007)
- Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
- American Psycho (2000)
- When Harry Met Sally (1989)
- King Kong (2005)
- Saturday Night Fever (1977)
- Escape from New York (1981)
The best movies set in Manhattan and greater New York City are among the best movies ever made. New York City has inspired America’s most brilliant filmmakers, including Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen, and Spike Lee. Consequently, the following 20 films belong on every New Yorker’s must-see list, ideal for fans of the city’s vibrant film culture.
Taxi Driver (1976)
Robert De Niro’s Travis Bickle is an iconic New York character, and Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver is one of the greatest New York movies of all time.
Annie Hall (1977)
Annie Hall is the classic New York City film, brilliantly written and directed by Woody Allen in his prime, co-starring the beautiful and charming Diane Keaton.
Do The Right Thing (1989)
In Spike Lee’s brilliant film, the hottest day of the year in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, explodes into events that will change residents’ lives forever.
Manhattan (1979)
Woody Allen is torn between a beautiful teenager (Mariel Hemingway) and his best friend’s girlfriend (Diane Keaton) in 1979 Manhattan.
After Hours (1985)
In this cult favorite directed by Martin Scorsese, a meek office worker travels downtown in pursuit of a beautiful artist, finding himself trapped in a New York nightmare.
Wall Street (1987)
Michael Douglas’s Gordon Gekko trains the young Charlie Sheen in the ways of Wall Street. Lesson number one: Greed is good.
Goodfellas (1990)
Goodfellas is one of the great mafia movies, filmed primarily in New York City for that extra gritty realism.
Superman (1977)
Christopher Reeve is the superhero who saves Metropolis/New York City from the evil Lex Luthor.
The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)
Kermit the Frog and friends pursue dreams of Broadway stardom in New York City.
Serpico (1973)
Al Pacino is New York detective Frank Serpico, who risks his life to expose police corruption.
Mean Streets (1973)
Harvey Keitel and Robert De Niro star in Scorsese’s gripping tale set in New York’s Little Italy.
Gangs of New York (2002)
This epic tale transports us back to the notorious Five Points neighborhood of New York City in 1863.
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Al Pacino’s attempted bank robbery turns into a dramatic hostage situation and standoff with police, broadcast live on local TV.
I Am Legend (2007)
Will Smith portrays the last human survivor in a post-apocalyptic New York City overrun by vampires.
Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
This epic film chronicles the lives of turn-of-the-century Jewish gangsters in New York, starring Robert De Niro and James Woods.
American Psycho (2000)
Christian Bale portrays Patrick Bateman as the ultimate soulless Wall Street yuppie in this dark satire.
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
This romantic comedy explores the complex friendship between Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) over 11 years in New York City.
King Kong (2005)
New York plays a starring role in all versions of King Kong, including this 2005 remake by Peter Jackson, featuring Naomi Watts.
Saturday Night Fever (1977)
The iconic white suit, the dance moves. Witness John Travolta in this disco-era classic set in Brooklyn.
Escape from New York (1981)
This time, post-apocalyptic New York City features Kurt Russell battling to escape from Manhattan before it explodes.
