30 Movies to Watch Before a Trip to NYC
Watch one of these fun movies set in New York City before your next trip to Manhattan. Plenty of romantic comedies that will make you swoon, family-friendly movies to watch with your kids, and even some thrilling action-adventures the guys will love, too.
My daughter and I are planning an epic trip to New York City in December for a whirlwind Christmas tour of the decorations and her first visit to the Rockefeller Center tree.
Our entire adventure was inspired by her favorite Christmas movie — Elf, featuring Will Ferrel in his iconic role as Buddy the Elf.
We plan to rewatch Elf before we go, but I just had to pull together this fun list of our favorite movies set in New York City so we can squeeze a few more in while we wait for our travel day to arrive.
I’ve arranged the list with all the Christmas and holiday movies at top but you’ll find tons of great romantic comedies and musical movies to watch before a mother-daughter trip to New York.
If your kids are younger than my college-aged girl, you’ll find plenty of cute kid-friendly titles at the bottom of the list.
And in the middle? I loaded our queue up with some fun watches to share with my husband. He’s not coming . . . this time. But he’s a great sport who will love to share in our excitement.
Elf
The movie that inspired it all. My daughter has dubbed our trip the “Elf Tour of NYC.”
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- Rockefeller Center
- Empire State Building
- Central Park
- Macy’s
Miracle on 34th Street
I’m not going to lie, I just might cry a little when I get to stand inside Macy’s at Christmas with my sweet girl. This classic holiday film is my favorite Christmas movie of all time.
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- Macy’s
- 34th Street
- NYC Courthouses
Home Alone 2
While we tend to rewatch Home Alone each year, we don’t always make it to Home Alone 2. This year we’re skipping straight ahead to this one!
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- The Plaza Hotel
- Central Park
- FAO Schwarz
- Rockefeller Center
You’ve Got Mail
I could watch You’ve Got Mail over and over again, this is for sure my favorite cozy comfort movie.
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- Cafe Lalo
- Zabar’s
- Riverside Park
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Since I share a name with this movie and am a huge Audrey Hepburn fan, I’m going to have to introduce my daughters to this classic. Photo op outside of Tiffany’s anyone??
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- Tiffany & Co. on 5th Ave.
- Central Park
When Harry Met Sally
While not my favorite Meg Ryan movie, would it really be a list of movies set in New York without When Harry Met Sally??
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- Katz’s Delicatessen
- Washington Square Park
- Central Park
- Metropolitan Museum
The Devil Wears Prada
I am beyond excited they are filming a sequel to The Devil Wears Prada. Perhaps it will inspired a second whirlwind tour of New York??
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- Times Square
- Bryant Park
- Fifth Avenue Fashion
Nonnas
We watched Netflix’s Nonnas for a movie night during Mother’s Day weekend and the whole family loved it. While not in Manhattan, I loved the focus on the New York family restaurant and Vince Vaughn’s scrappy character.
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- Staten Island
- Enoteca Maria
13 Going on 30
It’s been family tradition to watch this movie on my daughters’ 13th birthdays. I’m so excited my first is all grown up and we get to go experience New York together.
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- Times Square
- Central Park
- Henri Bendel New York
- New York Public Library
Rent
If you love Broadway musicals, there’s no going to New York without watching Rent.
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- East Village
- Alphabet City
- Tompkins Square Park
tick, tick. . . BOOM!
Once you’ve watched Rent, take a peek behind the scenes to the inspiring story of the man who created the masterpiece!
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- Greenwich Village
- SoHo
- New York Theater Workshop
In the Heights
Hamilton fans have to add Lin-Manuel Miranda’s first musical to their watchlist.
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- Washington Heights
- Highbridge Pool
- George Washington Bridge
Ghostbusters
We’ve seen this countless times, but I know my husband will be more than happy to watch Ghostbusters all over again. This was one of my first introductions to New York as a kid and it is truly iconic.
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- New York Public Library
- Columbia University
- Hook & Ladder 8 Firehouse
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Both my husband and kids love the entire Spider-Man series in all the iterations. If you haven’t seen it yet, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse has so much NYC eye candy to enjoy.
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- Brooklyn
- Manhattan Skyscrapers
- Brooklyn Bridge
Sex in the City
The movie may not be as fun if you haven’t been a fan of the Sex in the City television series, but if you don’t mind catching up your travel companion it is an excellent option for NYC highlights.
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- Magnolia Bakery
- Fifth Avenue Shopping
- Carrie Bradshaw’s Iconic Apartment Front: 66 Perry Street
- Central Park
- New York Public Library
- Plaza Hotel
- Brooklyn Bridge
- Times Square
Ocean’s Eight
While I’m a huge fan of the Oceans series, Ocean’s Eight is absolutely my favorite of the bunch. Sandra Bullock is brilliant and this is a perfect mom-daughter movie pick before a trip to New York.
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Cartier Mansion
The Godfather
If I had to pick only one mobster movie to add to the list, it would absolutely have to be the epic Godfather original. Believe it or not, my husband still has not seen it. I think we’ll have to change that soon.
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- Little Italy
- Ellis Island
Black Swan
I don’t do scary movies well and Natalie Portman in Black Swan freaks me out. But if you and your daughter are into the NYC ballet, I think this would have to be a must-see.
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- Lincoln Center
- Upper West Side
West Side Story
My girls both yelled at me when the credits rolled on West Side Story. I’m not sure I ever heard my youngest cry that hard at a movie. If you’re up for an emotional wringing out, add this Hollywood classic to your list.
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- Upper West Side
- Lincoln Square
Hitch
Give me all the rom-coms all the time. I loved this fun Will Smith movie when we saw it in the theater.
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- Ellis Island
- Central Park
- Hudson River
- Meatpacking District
Maid in Manhattan
Jennifer Lopez was truly at her best when filming romantic comedies in the early 2000s. We’ve circled back to many of them for movie nights and this is such a cute pick.
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel
- Central Park
- Brooklyn Museum
Uptown Girls
I’m still so sad about Brittany Murphy but she truly shines in Uptown Girls alongside Dakota Fanning.
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- Central Park
- Upper East Side
An Affair to Remember
This is perhaps one of the most famous New York City movie moments of all time but if you’re not up for the classic An Affair to Remember, you could watch Sleepless in Seattle which is a wonderful love letter to this epic scene.
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- Empire State Building Observation Deck
The Muppets Take Manhattan
Now we get to the more kid-friendly movies on the list. I adore the muppets and all of their movies but The Muppets Take Manhattan made such an impression on me as a kid. This is an adorable away to introduce the city to little ones.
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- Times Square
- Central Park
- Broadway
Enchanted
Disney’s live-action fairytale is an adventurous romp through NYC. Central Park as a gateway to fantasy land? Fun, fun, fun.
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- Times Square
- Central Park
- Brooklyn Bridge
Annie
I’m still particular to the 1980s classic, but the newer remake of NYC’s famous Annie is super fun, too. There are plenty of gorgeous city highlights throughout the movie.
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- Brooklyn
- Manhattan
- Roosevelt Island Tram
- Beacon Theater
- Guggenheim Museum
Night at the Museum
If you plan to visit the museum in New York, you absolutely need to add Night at the Museum to your watch list!
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- American Museum of Natural History
Mr. Popper’s Penguins
You could enjoy a fun red aloud book about NYC and then do a movie night follow up if you choose Mr. Popper’s Penguins!
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- Central Park
- Tavern on the Green
Eloise at the Plaza
I read Eloise to my girls when they were little and we were thrilled to see the movie version starring Julie Andrews. There’s an Eloise at Christmastime movie we may have to watch for nostalgia’s sake before we go!
NYC LOCATIONS TO SEE:
- The Plaza Hotel
- Central Park
More Fun Travel Movies
One of my favorite ways to prep before a trip is to watch fun movies with my family before we go. Here are a few more great picks for your next movie night:
