Check Out The Most Filmed Location In The World While Exploring This US City
What's not to love about New York? It has unforgettable sights and abundant world-class art, museums, music, and theater. Spread across the five boroughs are enough great restaurants to keep the hungriest foodie sated for a lifetime. Perhaps most importantly, it has that unmistakable "New Yorkness" that makes it distinct from any other major city and attracts millions of visitors every year. On top of all that, New York is one of the greatest screen stars, with its iconic skyline appearing in countless films and TV shows. It is arguably the most cinematic city in the world and a must-see destination for movie buffs everywhere.
The silver screen's love affair with the Big Apple began even before the major Hollywood studios rose to dominate the American movie industry, with early examples of New York on film dating to the early days of the silent era. It is a muse for directors like Mel Brooks, Martin Scorsese, and Spike Lee, and The City That Never Sleeps has appeared in just about every genre: A giant gorilla scaled the Empire State Building in "King Kong" and Travis Bickle prowled Times Square in "Taxi Driver," Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra sang about the sights in "On the Town" and Richard Roundtree strutted to Blaxploitation superstardom in "Shaft," to name just a few. Yet while New York City's famous landmarks get plenty of screen time, it is Manhattan's primary green space that holds the record for the most-filmed location in the world: Central Park.
Central Park on Film
Central Park is one of New York's top attractions, sprawling over 843 acres in the middle of Manhattan Island. As far as public spaces go, it is one of the most easily identifiable in the world, flanked by skyscrapers and dotted with many distinctive landmarks that have provided a backdrop to hundreds of movies over the decades. The Big Apple's "Green Lung" has racked up over 350 screen credits dating as far back as "Romeo and Juliet" in 1908, making it the most filmed location in the United States.
Central Park looked stunning in wintry black and white in "Portrait of Jennie" and provided a dreamy atmosphere for the "Age of Aquarius" opening number in Milos Forman's "Hair." Romance is often in the air; Miss Piggy and Kermit enjoyed a carriage ride in "The Muppets Take Manhattan" while Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan took an autumnal stroll in "When Harry Met Sally." Kevin befriended a lonely pigeon lady in "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York," Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges bonded naked at night in Sheep's Meadow in "The Fisher King," and Bruce Willis barreled a taxi right through the middle of it in "Die Hard With a Vengeance."
Perhaps Central Park's most significant cinematic moment is in "Manhattan," Woody Allen's monochrome love letter to his home city. During the celebrated opening montage set to Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," the director saves the park for the final magnificent shot, illuminated by a spectacular firework display.
Central Park in Real Life
Although Central Park has long had a reputation for being dangerous at night (a fact often highlighted in movies), it attracts thousands of visitors from all walks of life every day. Apart from the usual park-based activities common with other civic open spaces, Central Park has plenty of things to see and do all year round, from ice skating in the winter to outdoor concerts in the warm weather. Taking a boat out on the lake is a fun way to relax or enjoy a romantic moment, and if you're feeling cultured, you can check out Shakespeare in the Park.
Beatles fans will be heaven when visiting Strawberry Fields, and kids of all ages will love the old-fashioned carousel at mid-park. You can take the view from the top of Belvedere Castle or find a strategic spot on the Mall or Bethesda Terrace and indulge in some people-watching. You're never too far away from refreshments, ranging from stalls selling ice cream and hot dogs to more upmarket fare like Tavern on the Green, best known to movie buffs as the joint where Louis Tully (Rick Moranis) was savaged by a demon dog in "Ghostbusters." For a truly panoramic view, splurge on a few cocktails at Darling, with its 47th-floor rooftop terrace overlooking the vast expanse of greenery. It'll make you feel like the star of your own movie.