Midtown at the movies
STOP 1 OF 12
Flatiron Building
Midtown & Flatiron · From outside
The thin wedge at Fifth and Broadway is the Daily Bugle in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films, and the crossing at its north end is where Buddy the Elf has one of his first New York moments.
EThe editors · 3 Classic New York films lists — switch
Midtown at the movies
King Kong, Holly Golightly, Kevin McCallister and Buddy the Elf: twelve Midtown stops from the Flatiron to the river.
12 placesA full dayRead the guide ↓
- 1. Flatiron BuildingThe thin wedge at Fifth and Broadway is the Daily Bugle in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films, and the crossing at its north end is where Buddy the Elf has one of his first New York moments.Spider-Man (2002) +1Midtown & FlatironFrom outside15 minutesFree
2. Empire State BuildingKong’s last stand and the office Buddy goes looking for his father in. Seven blocks north up Fifth Avenue.King Kong (1933) +1MidtownPaid entry15 minutes outside, 1½ hours with the observatoryFree outside; observatory tickets from about $44
3. New York Public Library, Fifth AvenueThe lions, the steps and Fifth Avenue out front have been in more films than most actors.Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) +2MidtownFree to visit30 minutesFree
4. Grand Central TerminalThe main concourse and the subway below it.The French Connection (1971) +1MidtownFree to visit20 minutesFree
5. Times SquareThe tidy Times Square of today is a long way from the one in Taxi Driver, but the street plan is the same.Taxi Driver (1976) +1MidtownFree to visit20 minutesFree
6. Radio City Music HallThe Music Hall’s marquee on Sixth Avenue at 50th Street.The Godfather (1972) +1MidtownFrom outside10 minutesFree outside; shows and tours are ticketed
7. Rockefeller Center rink and plazaThe rink, the gold Prometheus and, in season, the tree.Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) +1MidtownFree to visit30 minutesFree to look; the rink and Top of the Rock are ticketed
8. The St. Regis New YorkA Fifth Avenue hotel with a part in two very different 1970s films.The Godfather (1972) +1MidtownFrom outside10 minutesFree to look; drinks at the King Cole Bar are pricey
9. Tiffany & Co., Fifth AvenueThe flagship at Fifth Avenue and 57th Street, still with its window displays.Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)MidtownFree to visit15 minutes; longer if you go inFree to walk in
10. The PlazaThe hotel at the corner of the park, across Grand Army Plaza from the building that held FAO Schwarz.Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)MidtownFrom outside20 minutesFree to look; the food hall downstairs is open to everyone
11. Central Park ZooA short walk into the park from the Plaza.Annie Hall (1977)Central ParkPaid entry15 minutes outside, 1 hour in the zooFree in the park; zoo tickets extra
12. Sutton Place ParkA small public park on the East River with the Queensboro Bridge right overhead.Manhattan (1979) +1MidtownFree to visit20 minutesFree
Watch before you go
Official clips and trailers from the studios’ own channels. They load only when you tap play.
The guide
How to do it: Midtown at the movies
Midtown is where the big set pieces happened: Kong on the Empire State Building, Holly Golightly at Tiffany’s window, Kevin at the Plaza and the Rockefeller tree, Michael Corleone at Radio City at Christmas. Most of it is still exactly where the films left it.
The walk runs north up Fifth Avenue with detours to Grand Central and Times Square, then east along 57th Street to the river for the bench view from Woody Allen’s Manhattan.
- The order to do it in
- South to north: Flatiron, Empire State, the library and Grand Central, Times Square, Radio City and Rockefeller Center, the St. Regis, Tiffany and the Plaza, the zoo, then east to Sutton Place Park.
- When to go
- A weekday, starting around 8am, before Fifth Avenue fills up. Late November to early January adds the Rockefeller tree and rink, and the window displays.
- Getting there
- Start at 23 St (R W) by the Flatiron. Finish at Sutton Place Park; Lexington Av/59 St (4 5 6 N R W) is a ten-minute walk back.
- What to bring
- Comfortable shoes: this is about 4 miles. A MetroCard or contactless card if you want to skip a stretch on the subway.
- What it costs
- Free to walk. Paid extras: the Empire State observatory, Top of the Rock, the rink, the zoo and anything at the Plaza or the King Cole Bar.
Worth knowing
- Grand Central and the library are free, warm and have restrooms.
- Times Square is best seen early; by noon the crowds make it slow going.
- In December, see the tree from the Channel Gardens before 8am or after 11pm.
Researched and written by us from Movie-Locations.com — The Godfather, Movie-Locations.com — The French Connection, Movie-Locations.com — Saturday Night Fever, Movie-Locations.com — Taxi Driver, Movie-Locations.com — Manhattan and Movie-Locations.com — Annie Hall, among others. Episodes checked against episode guides; places and access checked October 2026. Private homes are view-only from the street.