The Best New York Movies

Updated December 12, 2019 1.9k votes 160 voters 7.6k views101 items

List RulesMovies about or set in New York.

The Statue of Liberty, Times Square, crowded streets, Chinatown, multi-million dollar townhomes, Wall Street, the World Trade Center, the September 11th bombing, Queens, Central Park – these are the things that come to mind when we talk about New York. This third most populous U.S. state is so popular, it is the setting for many movies and films. There are many popular films about New York City, aka The Big Apple.

But which of those films about New York are the best? Since New York, and especially New York City is home to some of the most iconic structures of the United States it only makes sense that movies like King Kong, Shadows, and Do the Right Thing all feature this famous place. Whether you feel like an NYC comedy, an New York action flick, a classic film, or a tear-jerker drama, there's certainly something on this list for you!

This list has the best movies about New York including: Wall Street, Manhattan, Rosemary’s Baby, Dog Day Afternoon, Taxi Driver, Sweet Smell of Success, The French Connection, Ghostbusters, Saturday Night Fever, On the Town, and Escape from New York.

Vote up your favorite New York City film or add the one you love if it is not already on the list.

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The Godfather
Al Pacino, Marlon Brando
Released: 1972
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
The Godfather is a 1972 American crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the... more on Wikipedia
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Goodfellas
Robert De Niro, Samuel L. Jackson
Released: 1990
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Goodfellas is a 1990 American crime film directed by Martin Scorsese. It is a film adaptation... more on Wikipedia
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Greta
Isabelle Huppert, Chloë Grace Moretz
Released: 2019
Directed by: Neil Jordan
Greta is a 2018 American drama thriller film directed by Neil Jordan. A young woman (Chloe... more on Wikipedia
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The Warriors
Mercedes Ruehl, Robert Townsend
Released: 1979
Directed by: Walter Hill
The Warriors is a 1979 American cult thriller film directed by Walter Hill and based on Sol... more on Wikipedia
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Ghostbusters
Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver
Released: 1984
Directed by: Ivan Reitman
Ghostbusters is a 1984 American sci-fi-fantasy comedy film, directed and produced by Ivan... more on Wikipedia
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The Godfather Part II
Al Pacino, Robert De Niro
Released: 1974
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
The Godfather Part II is a 1974 American epic crime film produced and directed by Francis Ford... more on Wikipedia
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Taxi Driver
Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster
Released: 1976
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Taxi Driver is a 1976 American neo-noir psychological thriller film directed by Martin... more on Wikipedia
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The French Connection
Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider
Released: 1971
Directed by: William Friedkin
The French Connection is a 1971 American dramatic thriller film directed by William Friedkin... more on Wikipedia
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Saturday Night Fever
John Travolta, Fran Drescher
Released: 1977
Directed by: John Badham
Saturday Night Fever is a 1977 American drama film directed by John Badham. It stars John... more on Wikipedia
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Dog Day Afternoon
Al Pacino, Carol Kane
Released: 1975
Directed by: Sidney Lumet
Dog Day Afternoon is a 1975 American drama film directed by Sidney Lumet, written by Frank... more on Wikipedia
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West Side Story
Natalie Wood, Rita Moreno
Released: 1961
Directed by: Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise
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Gangs of New York
Cameron Diaz, Leonardo DiCaprio
Released: 2002
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Gangs of New York is a 2002 American fictionalized historical drama film set in the mid-19th... more on Wikipedia
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Escape from New York
Jamie Lee Curtis, Kurt Russell
Released: 1981
Directed by: John Carpenter
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Mean Streets
Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese
Released: 1973
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Mean Streets is a 1973 film directed by Martin Scorsese and co-written by Scorsese and Mardik... more on Wikipedia
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Do the Right Thing
Samuel L. Jackson, Martin Lawrence
Released: 1989
Directed by: Spike Lee
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The Odd Couple
Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau
Released: 1968
Directed by: Gene Saks
The Odd Couple is a 1968 American black comedy film written by Neil Simon, based on his play... more on Wikipedia
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The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
Jerry Stiller, Walter Matthau
Released: 1974
Directed by: Joseph Sargent
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On the Waterfront
Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint
Released: 1954
Directed by: Elia Kazan
On the Waterfront is a 1954 American drama film about union violence and corruption amongst... more on Wikipedia
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Once Upon a Time in America
Jennifer Connelly, Robert De Niro
Released: 1984
Directed by: Sergio Leone
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Breakfast at Tiffany's
Audrey Hepburn, Mickey Rooney
Released: 1961
Directed by: Blake Edwards
Breakfast at Tiffany's is a 1961 American romantic comedy film starring Audrey Hepburn and... more on Wikipedia
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Manhattan
Meryl Streep, Woody Allen
Released: 1979
Directed by: Woody Allen
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If Beale Street Could Talk
Kiki Layne, Stephan James
Released: 2018
Directed by: Barry Jenkins
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The Wolf of Wall Street
Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew McConaughey
Released: 2013
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
The Wolf of Wall Street is a 2013 American biographical black comedy film directed by Martin... more on Wikipedia
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After Hours
Martin Scorsese, Teri Garr
Released: 1985
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
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Hannah and Her Sisters
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Woody Allen
Released: 1986
Directed by: Woody Allen
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