6 Famous Movies Filmed in NYC

Movies Filmed In Nyc, Unsplash — Credit: Unsplash

New York City is known for its skyscrapers, big businesses, the stock market, and busy nightlife. It’s an iconic state in America and is one of the most visited cities by travelers all over the world.

There are also several movies filmed in NYC that show off its iconic streets and high-class business owners. Some movies even highlight the history of gangsters and crime. If you want to check out the best movies filmed in NYC, then check out these top recommendations.

6. The First Purge, Prime Video (2018)

First Purge, Universal Pictures — Credit: Universal Pictures

The Purge franchise focuses on a dystopian first world where crime is legal for one night only in order to cut back on crime throughout the rest of the year. There are a total of five movies, with one in the works, with The First Purge being the fourth installment.

In this film, the movie focuses on the very first purge that ever happened and is considered a prequel to the rest of the films. While filming took place mainly in Buffalo, there were several scenes shot in New York City, making it one of the best movies filmed in NYC.

5. American Gangsters, Starz (2007)

American Gangsters, Universal Pictures — Credit: Universal Pictures

Gangster movies are pretty common in New York, and one of the best movies filmed in NYC is American Gangsters, a 2007 biographical crime movie starring Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington.

The film is loosely based on the criminal career of Frank Lucas, a gangster from La Grange, North California who smuggled heroin into the United States on American service planes returning from the Vietnam War before being detained by a task force. Filming took place mainly in New York City and eventually concluded in Thailand.

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4. Bruce Almighty, Bravo (2003)

Bruce Almighty, Universal Pictures — Credit: Universal Pictures

An amazing comedy, and one of the best movies filmed in NYC, is Bruce Almighty, a 2003 fantasy comedy film starring Jim Carrey as Bruce Nolan. The down-on-his-luck television reporter complains to God, who is played by Morgan Freeman, about his job going south and is offered a chance to try being God himself for a week.

All sorts of wacky stuff ensues as he steps into God’s shoes, making for an amazing film. Since the film is set in Buffalo, New York, there are several locations filmed there as well as New York City.

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3. The Godfather, Paramount (1972)

Iconic Movie Openers — Credit: Paramount Pictures

The Godfather is one of the best movies filmed in NYC and is also considered one of the best movies of all time. The epic gangster film is based on Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel and stars an ensemble cast featuring Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, and more.

It’s the first of the trilogy and follows the Corleone family under the patriarch Vito Corleone from 1945 to 1955, in which it then focuses on the transition of the youngest son, Michael, becoming the mafia boss. Filming took place in many locations around New York City as well as Sicily.

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2. The Wolf of Wall Street, Paramount (2013)

The Wolf Of Wall Street, Paramount Pictures — Credit: Paramount Pictures

Of course, a movie focused on the stock market has to be set where it’s located: New York. One of the best movies filmed in NYC goes to The Wolf of Wall Street, a biographical black comedy film that stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, and Margot Robbie.

The movie was directed by Martin Scorsese and is based on the 2007 memoir by Jordan Belfort. It recounts his career as a stockbroker in New York City and how his firm, Stratton Oakmont, engaged in rampant corruption and fraud on Wall Street, leading to his eventual downfall.

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1. The Avengers, Disney Plus (2012)

The Avengers, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures — Credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The MCU is one of the largest franchises in the world right now. Following superheroes and gods including Thor, Iron Man, Black Widow, Captain America, and more, fans finally get to see them all group up to great the Avengers.

The movie was released in 2012 and follows the superhero group formed by Nick Fury, a spy agent for the agency S.H.I.E.L.D. The group hopes to combine their strengths in order to stop Thor’s brother Loki from subjugating Earth. It’s the sixth movie in the MCU but the first movie of the Avengers and was filed in New York City September in 2011.