Whether depicting the story of a disillusioned antihero like in “Taxi Driver,” or sardonic millennials like on “Girls,” countless filmmakers and showrunners have found NYC to be the perfect setting for their story. Due to its near-ubiquitousness with screens both big and small, the city that never sleeps is a top destination for aspiring actors.
Why are so many movies and TV shows filmed in New York? Let’s break it down:
It’s an international phenomenon. The Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park—these aren’t just landmarks, they’re celebrities in their own right. When filmmakers want instant recognition, they just point a camera at one of these bad boys and voilà: instant New York.
It’s an artistic melting pot. Music, live theater, comedy—these creative fields and more have a lengthy history in the town. This cross pollination is what makes NYC one of the best cities for actors and what makes it so attractive to filmmakers.
It’s massive. As the most-populated city in America, resources such as personnel, financing, and equipment are easier to find. It also makes it easier from a storytelling and shooting perspective to have a unique take. If you need 500 extras for a crowd scene, a quirky location that screams “hipster coffee shop,” or nearly anything else imaginable, the city’s got you covered.
Becoming an actor in New York isn’t easy, but it isn’t easy anywhere. In New York, at the very least, you are sure to be exposed to a lot of casting calls.
How to Become an Actor in NYC Without further ado, let’s look at some of the TV shows and movies that have shot (or are shooting) in the greatest city in the world.
It’s no exaggeration to say that some of the greatest television ever has been shot in the city that never sleeps. As we go through just a few examples, take note of how different they all are—a New York TV show doesn’t mean just one thing.
1. “Sesame Street” (1969–present): Yes, even Muppets love New York! There might not be an actual Sesame Street in NYC, but the TV show has filmed in the city for the entirety of its legendary run. Few kids for the past 50 years in America have grown up without watching an episode of the show, which was seen as groundbreaking for its approach to children’s television when it was first programmed. Initially shot in Manhattan, today, “Sesame Street” records in Queens.
2. “Law & Order” (1990–present): *Dun dun* Speaking of New York institutions, Dick Wolf’s crown jewel has been a mainstay in NYC for decades. At this point, the procedural and its spinoffs have covered every type of crime that could exist in the concrete jungle. It’s also made use of nearly every working actor in the city: Getting a bit part on a “Law & Order” show is almost seen as a rite of passage.
3. “30 Rock” (2006–2013): Tina Fey’s masterpiece is so New York that it’s named after its Manhattan address. Like most sitcoms, the majority of “30 Rock” was shot in a studio—but unlike something like “Friends,” that studio was also based in New York. The show’s primary inspiration is a longstanding New York institution, “Saturday Night Live,” and there is plenty of humor derived from living in NYC, including small apartments and being accosted by a stranger on a sidewalk.
4. “Girls” (2012–2017): Lena Dunham’s HBO series is like a documentary of every existential crisis in the city, masterfully exploring life for 20-somethings. “Girls” hits on universal quarter-life-crisis subjects, such as romantic relationships, career struggles, and friendship growing pains, but gives them an NYC-specific flair.
5. “Broad City” (2014–2019): Born from the hallowed halls of the Upright Citizens Brigade (another rite of passage for NYC comedians), Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson’s web series-turned-sitcom “Broad City” is a surreal, hilarious, definitive millennial TV show.
And let’s not forget other TV series filmed in NYC:
- “Sex and the City” (1998–2004)
- “Rescue Me” (2004–2011)
- “Flight of the Conchords” (2007–2009)
- “Blue Bloods” (2010–2024)
- “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” (2015–2019)
There have been a lot of TV series filmed in New York, and there have been just as many movies. Some of the most celebrated scenes in cinematic history have happened somewhere in the five boroughs. Here are some of the most notable movies that take place in NYC.
1. “The French Connection” (1971, dir. William Friedkin): Friedkin probably broke just about every filming rule in the city to get “The French Connection” made, but it’s hard to say it wasn’t worth it. The riveting crime drama boasts the New York chase scene (if not the best chase scene anywhere), capturing the city with all the grit it deserves. To this day, filmmakers take a page out of this movie’s book when deciding how to capture Gotham.
2. “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three” (1974, dir. Joseph Sargent): The subway is New York’s lifeblood, making this subway-centered thriller required viewing for its residents. It’s got everything from hijacking to ransom demands, not to mention Walter Matthau’s deadpan delivery.
3. “Taxi Driver” (1976, dir. Martin Scorsese): Does this film’s depiction of the nitty gritty of the city make you want to avoid it at all costs, or relish in its filth for the rest of your life? The answer may be a bit of both, and that’s what makes it such a defining New York movie. The Big Apple’s residents love to complain about their home, but there’s nowhere else on Earth they’d rather be. It’s hard to choose just one Scorsese movie for our list, but if we have to, it’s got to be this one.
4. “Do the Right Thing” (1989, dir. Spike Lee): Another quintessentially New York movie from a quintessentially New York director, this scorching comedy-drama takes a similar approach to the city as “Taxi Driver.” Lee looks at it with a critical eye, but he can’t help but shoot it in a way that celebrates its largest borough’s beauty. To this day, no other movie has captured summer in the city quite like this one.
5. “Maestro” (2023, dir. Bradley Cooper): This biopic of legendary composer Leonard Bernstein showcases locations such as Carnegie Hall and the New York Philharmonic. Cooper depicts New York’s evolution over decades, intertwining Bernstein’s story with that of the city itself.
Here are some other New York cinematic masterpieces:
- “Miracle on 34th Street” (1947, dir. George Seaton)
- “Serpico” (1973, dir. Sidney Lumet)
- “Annie Hall” (1977, dir. Woody Allen)
- “The Warriors” (1979, dir. Walter Hill)
- “After Hours” (1985, dir. Martin Scorsese)
- “Carlito’s Way” (1993, dir. Brian De Palma)
- “Elf” (2003, dir. Jon Favreau)
- “Uncut Gems” (2019, dir. Josh and Benny Safdie)