Magazine
Movies in Central Park: Our Favorite Park Locations Made Famous on Film
Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect changes since its original publication.
With its abundance of historical landmarks, iconic sites, and breathtaking landscapes—as well as the New York City skyline as a backdrop—Central Park has been the filming ground for hundreds of movies. In fact, it’s the most popular filming destination in the world. From just about anywhere in New York City’s 843-acre backyard, an establishing shot of the Park instantly becomes synonymous with the Big Apple.
Perhaps by now, your mind is running like a film reel, rapidly scrolling through the many Central Park locations that have been featured in memorable scenes. What movies in Central Park first come to mind?
Read on for a handful of our favorite Park locations made famous on film. Then go even further behind the scenes on our Central Park on Screen Tour!
A view of the Lake from the Central Park Boathouse, where Sally and her friends enjoy lunch in When Harry Met Sally.
CENTRAL PARK BOATHOUSE
For many, the first Central Park film scenes that come to mind are from the iconic When Harry Met Sally. While Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) are seen walking and talking through several Central Park landscapes throughout the film, a particularly memorable shot is from the Central Park Boathouse. There, Sally and her friends enjoy lunch by the Lake while chatting about her love life—a scene you can easily recreate today.
Featured in films such as Maid in Manhattan and Kramer vs. Kramer, the Mall’s unique landscape allows filmmakers to capture the democratic ideal that drives the design and use of Central Park.
THE MALL
The Mall’s promenade—the only straight path in the entire Park—is flanked by two rows of American elm trees that bring a sense of peace and tranquility to any film. Consider Maid in Manhattan, where Maria Ventura (Jennifer Lopez), a single mother trying to make ends meet by working as a maid in a first-class Manhattan hotel, and Chris Marshall (Ralph Fiennes), a New York politician, share an intimate conversation about a possible future while strolling along this iconic Central Park location. Interested in seeing how the Mall looked before the creation of the Conservancy? Follow Ted Kramer (Dustin Hoffman) in Kramer vs. Kramer as he tries to squeeze time out of his busy workday to teach his son, Billy, how to bike.
A beloved Park location that has appeared in movies including Spider Man 3, Uptown Girls, and Enchanted, Bow Bridge is considered a symbol of love or a representation of character changes in a narrative.
BOW BRIDGE
No setting is more fitting for lovers of the romance genre than the elegant Bow Bridge. It’s the perfect place to reflect and wonder if “fairy-tale” love can exist in the real world of NYC—a theme explored in the movie Enchanted. Channel your inner Princess Giselle (Amy Adams) and venture across Bow Bridge’s graceful arch to Bethesda Terrace...maybe while singing “That’s How You Know.”
At the heart of Central Park, Bethesda Terrace’s stunning architecture has appeared in numerous popular films including Marvel’s The Avengers, John Wick: Chapter 2, Smurfs, Elf, and more.
BETHESDA TERRACE
Speaking of Bethesda Terrace, the heart of Central Park has been a centerpiece for a number of films. Consider the movie Marathon Man, in which Thomas Levy (Dustin Hoffman) makes a brief stop at the Terrace before continuing his journey to other picturesque Park locations, including the Reservoir and the Delacorte Theater. Or the thrilling ending of Elf, when Buddy (Will Ferrell) and Santa Claus just barely avoid crashing Santa’s sleigh into Bethesda Fountain. More recently, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye, gathered at Bethesda Terrace to determine what the future holds for the villainous Loki following his siege on the Big Apple in Marvel’s The Avengers. Even Keanu Reeves made an appearance at Bethesda Terrace in the closing scene of John Wick: Chapter 2.
Gapstow Bridge has offered a scenic backdrop to films including Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and The Devil Wears Prada.
GAPSTOW BRIDGE
Dating from 1896, Gapstow Bridge’s rustic stone construction makes for a stunning backdrop in plenty of films. One particularly well-known scene here is from Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, when Kevin meets “the Pigeon Lady” in Central Park. Stanley Tucci and Anne Hathaway also visited the area for The Devil Wears Prada, filming a scene showing a fashion shoot along the edge of the Pond, with Gapstow Bridge in the background.
A small reflection of the City itself, Cherry Hill has gone through a series of changes, becoming an intriguing location for filmmakers who want to illustrate how the Park is a microcosm of the Big Apple.
CHERRY HILL
If there is anything Cherry Hill can tell us, it’s that Central Park is ever-changing in its appearance and functionality, much like the City itself. Central Park’s history could be described as a long, winding journey—something Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and the rest of the Muppets gang can relate to in The Muppets Take Manhattan. In one scene on Cherry Hill, Miss Piggy spies on Kermit; her purse is stolen, and the porcine protagonist pursues the thief in roller skates to retrieve her belongings. Showing the dangers of crime and poverty that had befallen the Park during the 1970s and ’80s, this iconic location underwent massive transformations in large part due to the Conservancy’s efforts.
There are, of course, thousands of other memorable movie moments in Central Park, and more being made all the time. On your next visit, relive some of your favorite films—and you just might see behind the scenes of an upcoming blockbuster!
Garrett Chan is an editorial intern at the Central Park Conservancy.
BOOK A TICKET FOR THE CENTRAL PARK ON SCREEN TOUR
Want to learn more about the power and prevalence of New York City’s backyard in the world of film? Interested in getting a behind-the-scenes look at the most iconic Park locations that have been featured on the big screen? Join our expert guides on our Central Park on Screen Tour to get even more insider information on the movies and locations mentioned here—plus plenty more!
