You have certainly seen many New York sights in movies and TV series. The city is a stamped figure in Hollywood productions and probably shaped the way you see the United States! Let’s remember some of those places that ended up on the big screen?

8 New York sights on the big screen:

1. Statue of Liberty

X-Men (2000)

The Statue of Liberty is one of the main and most iconic sights in New York. The head of the statue was where the battle of the first X-Men film took place (2000). It was also cut and played on Broadway by the giant monster of Cloverfield (2008) and the monument’s torch defied the frozen waves that swept New York in the natural disasters of the film The Day After Tomorrow (2004). The only time the Statue of Liberty was not destroyed or presented as a witness to wars and catastrophes was when she took a tour of the city (while thousands of people applauded) in The Ghostbusters 2 (1989).

2. Empire State Building

Independence Day (1996)

Disaster films love to depict epic destruction of landmarks, and the Empire State Building in New York is no exception. He was completely disintegrated by a lightning bolt from a gigantic spaceship on Independence Day (1996) and suffered some damage in Superman II (1980) when Zod dropped the building’s radio antenna after a punch from Superman. The most memorable scene, however, is when the main character of King Kong climbs to the top of the building to defend himself from fighter planes, in the classic 1933 film, and then in the 2005 remake, directed by Peter Jackson.

3. Times Square

The Spectacular Spider-Man 2 (2014)

One of New York’s busiest intersections, Times Square is super flashy, thanks to its impressive array of lights and billboards with LEDs hovering over the cars. A memorable scene there can be seen in the film Colorful Friendship (2011), starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis. Other films that rely on the crossing are The Ninja Turtles (2014), Fast and Furious 8 (2017) and The Spectacular Spider-Man 2 (2014). There is also where Michael Keaton’s character walked only in his underwear in Birdman (2014) and where Scarlett Johansson messed with the continuous space-time to show a historic Times Square in Lucy (2014).

4. Central Park

PS I Love You (2007)

When we think of New York sights, Central Park is one of the first that comes to mind. And he doesn’t miss out on Hollywood productions either! The park is seen, for example, at the end of PS I Love You (2007), when Hilary Swank walks with her mother in the feature, Kathy Bates, over there. In addition, it also serves as the setting for an entire music scene with Amy Adams in Encantada (2007). Other classic features that featured Central Park appearances were Bonequinha de Luxo (1961), Esqueceram de Mim 2 (1992) and Encontro de Amor (2002).

5. Wall Street

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Home to the New York Stock Exchange, Wall Street is portrayed in many films that talk about business and the stock market. Perhaps the main reference of this genre in recent years is the biopic O Lobo de Wall Street (2013). If you want to check out street locations that appear in the film, start at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan to recall the scene in which Leonardo DiCaprio’s character passes by the Stock Exchange building. The Big Bet (2015) also captured New Yorkers’ bustle along Wall Street. Landmarks to see other buildings besides the Stock Exchange include the Federal Hall, Trinity Church and the Charging Bull sculpture.

6. Queens

Spiderman (2002)

Queens is one of New York’s five districts, where Spider-Man’s alter ego, Peter Parker, lives with his aunt May. Spider-Man (2002), directed by Sam Raimi, uses a real house on 69th Road, in Forest Hills, to represent the residence of Cabeça de Teia. The scene where Peter Parker runs to catch the school bus was filmed at 44th Street on Queens Boulevard. The battle between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin takes place on Queensboro Bridge, which links Queens and Manhattan. This bridge was also portrayed in Salt (2010) and in Shock Treatment (2003).

7. American Museum of Natural History

Night at the Museum (2006)

The film Night at the Museum (2006), starring Ben Stiller, had external scenes recorded at the American Museum of Natural History itself. The series’ two sequences, A Night at the Museum 2 (2009) and A Night at the Museum 3 – The Secret of the Tomb (2014) were also partially set in the famous building. However, the indoor facilities were recreated using CGI and, therefore, were filmed in separate sets and studios. In the films, Stiller’s character is a night watchman at the Natural History Museum, in which various historical figures and exhibitions come to life at night.

8. Plaza Hotel

Dundee Crocodile (1986)

Put an Australian crocodile shaker in New York and you have the recipe that made Crocodile Dundee (1986) one of the most famous comedies of the 80s. In the film, you follow the main character arriving at the Big Apple, buying a hot dog at Times Square, riding in a limousine in Manhattan and staying at the Plaza Hotel on 768 5th Avenue. In addition to the comedy, you can also see the hotel in Descalços no Parque (1957), Brides at War (2002) and 101 Dalmatians (1996).