The 15 Movies and TV Shows That Made Us Fall in Love with NYC
When someone says "New York City," the first thing that might come to mind is a stock image of the Statue of Liberty or the Brooklyn Bridge. But it's the moment where Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks meet at the top of the Empire State Building, or when Blair Waldorf eats yogurt on the steps of the Met, that bring this great big city to life.
While New York is brimming with postcard-worthy architecture and parks, it's the long list of beloved movies and TV shows that really tell the stories of New Yorkers and the crazy city they live in: Stories so good you can practically taste the dirty water dogs and smell the roasted street nuts. From Times Square to Chelsea to the farthest reaches of Brooklyn, these movies have seen it all, and we've compiled a list of the ones that inspired us to move here, convinced us to stay here, or just give us that warm tingly feeling about our country's largest metropolis. Click on through for the notable films and shows that made us heart NY.
Photo: Alamy1/16Because how could you not?
Photo: Alamy2/16Breakfast at Tiffany's: 1961
The opening scene is as New York as it gets: A yellow taxi cab pulls up to Tiffany's to the tune of "Moon River," and a Givenchy-clad and oh-so-iconic Audrey Hepburn steps on to Fifth Avenue, and looks longingly into the store window as she eats some of New York's famous pretzels and coffee. It's a place we've all been before (maybe minus the designer dress), and we can't blame the girl for staring. The movie continues to follow Holly Golightly's adventures and dreams as one of New York's society girls, and we're left craving pastries and diamonds.
Photo: Alamy3/16Ghostbusters: 1984
A cult classic that haunted the New York Public Library and brought a King Kong-sized marshmallow man to terrorize the Big Apple. A disorderly team of parapsychologists (the official term for ghostbusters) traverse the city, fighting off demonic spirits and demigods. It's not the most pleasant view of NYC, but at least we know we're safe and sound thanks to these guys.
Photo: Alamy4/16Big: 1988
A visit to NYC isn't complete without a peek into FAO Schwartz, the oldest toy store in the United States. Tom Hanks hops around on a massive floor piano (the envy of all children of the '90s) in this movie about looking like an adult when you're still just a kid—a feeling that everyone can relate to when they walk into that magical place. Oh, and the Zoltar Speaks that changes his fate at the beginning of the flick? You can get still get your fortune told by that machine on Coney Island (at your own risk!).
Photo: Alamy5/16The Cosby Show: 1984-1992
Brooklyn's most beloved family, the Huxtables, taught us everything we needed to know about character choices, values, and great sweaters. Their Brooklyn Heights brownstone housed many a coming-of-age lessons and gentle fatherly advice from Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable (the great Bill Cosby himself). We laughed, we cried, and we grew up on their street stoop right along with them.
Photo: Alamy6/16Sex in the City: 1998-2004
Do we even need to explain this one? Carrie Bradshaw ran the city streets—in six inch heels no less—and to this day, every friend group has a Carrie, Miranda, Samantha, or Charlotte. SITC redefined the rules of dating in NYC, exalted the weekend brunch, and taught us how to make a reservation at all the right restaurants. The four fabulous and fashionable females brought NYC to life for only six seasons, but we're still watching each episode over and over again to this day.
Photo: Alamy7/16When Harry Met Sally: 1989
Katz's Deli is one of those spots everyone finds themselves in eventually—it's inevitable. You'll recognize the place from the famous scene in When Harry Met Sally where Sally, well...deeply enjoys a sandwich. As Harry and Sally continuously run into each other on the streets over the years, you come to realize that even the biggest cities can seem tiny at times.
Photo: Alamy8/16Seinfeld: 1989-1998
This long-running sitcom portrays a close-knit circle of characters, set mostly in Jerry Seinfeld's Upper West Side apartment, that defined the New York friend group for a generation. Many of the episodes are based on the writer's real-life experiences and gives a taste of NYC in the '80s and '90s, shoulder pads and all.
Photo: Alamy9/16Friends: 1994-2004
A show with one of the most well-known themes songs and coffee shop hangouts (that would be "I'll Be There for You" and Central Perk, for the un-initiated), Friends ran 10 seasons, starring all your best friends that you never actually met. From "Smelly Cat" to…well, really anything Phoebe said, the cast made us laugh until we cried and long for the day when we, too, shared apartments with our besties and patroned our own favorite local cafe.
Photo: Alamy10/16Law & Order: 1990-
The darker, not-so-pretty side of New York City. Law & Order, and its spin-off Law & Order: SVU, focuses on the crimes and prosecutions of the five boroughs. It's the show that gave many of us our knowledge of court-room drama and legal speak, as well as many a sleepless nights.
Photo: Alamy11/16Sleepless in Seattle: 1993
Don't let the title mislead you—this movie brought romance to one of New York's tallest skyscrapers: The Empire State Building. If a loved one has ever told you to meet them at the top of the cultural icon on Valentine's Day, know that a) they're referencing this movie and b) they're a keeper, so you better get your butt up there before it closes.
Photo: Alamy12/16Rent: 2005
Another dark look into the side of New York City that's not all bright lights and big dreams. Based on the Broadway show that opened in 1996, this heart-wrenching and beautiful film adresses everything from the HIV/AIDS epidemic to drug addiction to homosexuality. It's heavy, but the soundtrack is gold and it gives a multi-dimensional look into the city that never sleeps.
Photo: Alamy13/16The Devil Wears Prada: 2006
Highlighting one of the city's most profitable and dominant industries, The Devil Wears Prada showed the world what working at a fashion magazine is really like (except that, cough cough, we actually eat food and we don't always get to travel to Paris for fashion shows…). Regardless, it will make you think twice about using the word "stuff."
Photo: Alamy14/16Girls: 2012-
The show that gave the world an inside look into the deep depths of Brooklyn (and parts of Manhattan—I see you Shosh!). With Lena Dunham taking the lead as Hanna Horvath, we get a glimpse into the absurd and never-boring lives of millennials living in BK. New York is not all glamour and fame, but sometimes it’s the dirt and grime which make it the most fun. Warehouse raves, anyone?
Photo: Alamy15/16Gossip Girl: 2007-2012
Your one and only source into the scandalous lives of Manhattan's elite—from their fabulous Upper East Side apartments to their head-to-toe designer looks, Serena and Blair had it all (or did they…). The dramatic tales of these New York teens took us through just about every life experience you can imagine—the good and the bad. It also gave us a lifelong spine-tingling reaction to the phrase "xoxo."
Photo: Alamy16/1630 Rock: 2006-2013
Named after the Rockefeller Center, a national historic landmark that's home to a skating rink and the annual Christmas Tree in wintertime, 30 Rock delves into the masterminds behind an SNL-like sketch comedy show, and the hilariously endearing Liz Lemon. Blerg.
