In the 2014 Alejandro G. Iñárritu film “Birdman,” Michael Keaton plays Riggan Thomas, a former superhero actor who is trying to breathe new life into his career by putting on a Broadway play.
The theater where Riggan stages his comeback, and where much of the film takes place, is the St. James Theatre, which really is located right in the heart of Broadway. Although crafted to look like a single take, the film was in fact shot in many different takes across several locations, which are not always as close together as depicted in the film. Some of the interior shots of the St. James Theatre, for example, were actually sets built at Kaufman Astoria Studios (34-12 36th St, Astoria, NY 11106).
LOCATION: St. James Theatre, 246 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036
During a couple scenes in the film, Sam, played by Emma Stone, sits on the rooftop of the neighboring Helen Hayes Theatre (240 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036), where she is joined by Mike, played by Edward Norton.
The Majestic Theatre, which sits across the street, can also be seen many times throughout the film.
As part of the Jim Henson “Imagination Unlimited” Exhibition at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, some puppets and props from Henson’s 1982 film “The Dark Crystal” were on display. The exhibition ran from June 1 through September 2, 2018.
Here are the Kira and Jen puppets. Jim Henson served as puppeteer for Jen in the film.
This is the puppet for SkekSil the Chamberlain, for which Frank Oz served as puppeteer.
Some miscellaneous props used by the Skeksis, Mystics and Pod People.
Some tie-in books to the film.
While the exhibition has since closed, all of these pieces were on loan from New York’s Museum of Moving Image (gifted by the family of Jim Henson) and will likely go back on display there at a future date.
The daytime news and talk staple “The Today Show,” famous for it’s crowds gathered outside, can be found at NBC Studio 1A in midtown Manhattan, at the corner of W 49th St and Rockefellar Plaza.
In the heart of Times Square is MTV Studios, where the network has taped an endless variety of shows over the years, most notably “Total Request Live” from 1998 – 2008. MTV acquired the location in 1997, part of One Astor Plaza and still regularly film programming there today.
For the 1992 sequel “Home Alone 2: Lost In New York,” the entire, original cast and crew returned, as well as a location from the first film. In the early scenes, the McCalister house is once again on display. The famous home can be found in Winnetka, Illinois. A fence has since been built around the property.
LOCATION: 671 Lincoln Ave, Winnetka, IL 60093
The bulk of the film, however, takes place in New York City this time around. Upon arrival, Kevin is seen riding in a taxi across the Queensboro Bridge. The bridge has been featured in countless films, such as “Manhattan,” “Death Wish” and many more.
LOCATION: 61 Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge Path, New York, NY 10044
Kevin takes in many of the city’s landmarks, including Radio City Music Hall. The landmark concert hall has appeared in countless productions, such as “The Godfather,” “Rosemary’s Baby,” “Annie,” “Rocky III,” “Radio Days” and many more.
LOCATION: 1260 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020
Later Kevin makes his way over to Central Park, where he first encounters the Pigeon Lady, a scary and mysterious woman covered in birds, who essentially serves the same role as Old Many Marley in the original film. Kevin is initially frightened when he sees her feeding birds in front of Gapstow Bridge in Central Park, though the two eventually strike up a friendship.
LOCATION: Gapstow Bridge, Central Park, New York, NY 10019
Very close to Gapstow Bridge is another major location in the film, the Plaza Hotel. “Guests of the new ‘Celebrity Ding, Dang, Dong’ stay at the world-renowned Plaza Hotel, New York’s most exciting hotel experience.” It is a real, well-known hotel in Manhattan, perched right above Central Park. Here is a view of the hotel from the park. The Plaza Hotel has appeared in countless films, such as “The Fisher King,” “They All Laughed,” “Annie Hall,” “King of New York,” “Megalopolis” and many more.
LOCATION: 768 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019
Later in the film, Kevin returns to Central Park at Bethesda Terrace and Fountain, where he flees from the Sticky Bandits. The terrace is another famous New York landmark seen in countless films.
LOCATION: 72 Terrace Dr, New York, NY 10021 (inside Central Park)
A reverse view of the fountain. Here Kevin hides in the back of a carriage, narrowly escaping the bandits.
A couple other, notable locations from the film were actually sets. Uncle Rob’s house, where Kevin once again wreaks havoc on the Sticky Bandits with homemade traps, was a set located on Brownstone Street on the backlot of Universal Studios Hollywood. The street suffered a fire in 2008 and portions had to be rebuilt.
While made to resemble Central Park, the scene where the Pigeon Lady throws bird seeds all over the bandits, saving Kevin from harm’s way in the process, was also a set.
Near the end of the film, Kevin is finally reunited with his mother in front of Rockefeller Center.
LOCATION:45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111
Some props from this film, as well as the first part, can be found on display at Planet Hollywood in Florida.
LOCATION: 1506 E Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
In Sam Raimi’s original 2002 “Spider-Man” film, Peter Parker, played by Tobey Maguire, works at the Daily Bugle as a freelance photographer who has an uncanny ability to capture photos of Spider-Man. Famous for it’s triangular shape, the Flatiron Building in Manhattan is one of the more iconic skyscrapers in New York City. The building has appeared in countless films, such as “The Usual Suspects,” “As Good As It Gets,” “I Am Legend” and many more.
LOCATION: 175 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010
Norman Osborn’s Manhattan rooftop home isn’t in Manhattan, or New York at all. It’s the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills, California.
LOCATION: Greystone Mansion, 905 Loma Vista Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210
The scene where Mary Jane Watson, played by Kirsten Dunst, kisses an upside down Spider-Man in the rain wasn’t filmed in New York City either. It was filmed on the Warner Bros. Lot in Burbank, California. Designed to look like New York alley, this facade can be seen as part of their studio tour.
LOCATION: 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505
The bike Peter rides in the film can be found on display at Sony Pictures Studio.
LOCATION: 10202 W Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
The 1989 romantic comedy “When Harry Met Sally…” was filmed in New York City, Chicago, Illinois and Los Angeles, California. After driving across the country together, Sally, played by Meg Ryan, drops off Harry, played by Billy Crystal in front of Washington Square Park in New York City. The park has been seen in countless films, including “Kids,” “Chasing Amy,” “I Am Legend,” “Ghostbusters II,” “Inside Llewyn Davis,” “Serpico” and many more.
LOCATION: Washington Square, New York, NY 10012
The most famous scene in in the film is of course when Sally fakes an orgasm for Harry while sitting in the middle of a deli. The deli in question would be Katz’s Delicatessen, located in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Opened in 1888, the deli is wildly popular for it’s sandwiches, consistently ranking among the highest rated in New York City. The restaurant has been seen in many films, including “Enchanted,” “Across The Universe,” “Donnie Brasco,” “We Own the Night” and many more, but it remains most synonymous with “When Harry Met Sally…”
LOCATION: 205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002
This plaque can be found on the sidewalk in front of the building.
The inside still heavily resembles how it appeared in the film. The walls are completely covered with photos of endless celebrities who have visited over the years. Here is a shot of the backdrop behind Harry and Sally’s table.
Here is the exact spot where Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal filmed their famous scene.
The deli makes the table quite easy to identify by hanging this sign above it, which references the scene’s famous punchline, stating, “Where Harry met Sally… Hope you have what she had! Enjoy!”
If you find yourself in Manhattan and you’re looking for a good sandwich, you can’t go wrong with Katz’s. The prices aren’t cheap, but the portions are large and the deli itself is just as much of an attraction as the food itself.
The apartment from David Fincher’s 2002 home invasion thriller “Panic Room” is located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, near Central Park. The apartment was only used for exterior shots in the film.
LOCATION: 38 W 94th St, New York, NY 10025
Here is a view of the entire building, although it’s never seen from this angle in the film.
The apartment interiors were filmed entirely on a custom built set in Manhattan Beach, California at Raleigh Manhattan Beach Studios (1600 Rosecrans Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266). That set has of course long since been removed.
The ending scene of the film shows Jodie Foster and Kristen Stewart sitting on a park bench. They are seated in an area known as The Mall in Central Park, a tree-covered pedestrian walkway that leads to Bethesda Terrace. The two are seated near the Robert Burns statue. The benches have slightly changed from how they appeared in the film.
LOCATION: The Mall, Central Park, New York, NY 10022
In Steven Spielberg’s “Catch Me If You Can,” Frank Abagnale Jr., played by Leonardo DiCaprio, lives at this home early in the film. Supposedly located in New York, the real home can be found in Studio City, California. It is located next door to the house from “My Stepmother Is An Alien.”
LOCATION: 12075 Valleyheart Dr, Studio City, CA 91604
Frank and his family are forced to move into a smaller apartment at this building, which can be found in Yonkers, New York.
LOCATION: 110 Buena Vista Ave, Yonkers, NY 10701
Frank Abagnale Sr, played by Christopher Walken, reads a letter from his son as he walks into the Abagnale Stationers store, which can be found in San Pedro.
LOCATION: 421 W 6th St, San Pedro, CA 90731
After posing as an airline pilot, Frank begins forging payroll checks at the former Ambassador Hotel. The hotel was a staple of film and television, appearing in such films as “The Graduate,” “Forrest Gump,” “Seven,” “Bobby,” “True Lies,” “L.A. Story,” “True Romance,” “The Mask,” “Calendar Girl” and dozens more. The hotel has since been demolished, with only this post and statue from the original building remaining.
LOCATION: 3400 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010 (now demolished)
Carl, played by Tom Hanks, is on the hunt for Frank, who stays at the Tropicana Motel in Hollywood. While the Tropicana was a real motel at one time, it was demolished in 1988. Instead, the Hollywood Roosevelt was used. It’s actually the rear of the Roosevelt building that is seen in the film.
LOCATION: 7000 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028 (rear of the building on Hawthorn Ave)
Carl eats at a diner, where a waitress tips him off that the alias Frank has been using is the name of “The Flash” in the comic books, cluing him in that his suspect may be younger than he originally thought.
LOCATION: 1238 W 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90017 (since closed and remodeled)
The Miami Airport where Frank slips past the FBI by surrounding himself with attractive flight attendants was actually filmed at the Ontario Airport in Ontario, California. This particular terminal is not in active use and has popped up in countless other films, including “Saving Mr. Banks,” “Zodiac,” “Blow,” “Argo” and many more.
LOCATION: 1940 Moore Way, Ontario, CA 91761
Another view of the same airport, depicted as the baggage claim terminal in the film.
Later in the film, Frank takes his father to an upscale restaurant, where he tells him he bought him a Cadillac. The actual location is not a restaurant at all. It’s the famous “Pompeian Room” of the Doheny Mansion, located on the campus of Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles. While the mansion does offer occasional tours to the public, some of the guides can be strict about allowing photos inside. Many films have shot at the mansion, including “The Princess Diaries,” “Drag Me To Hell,” “Flowers In The Attic,” “Spider-Man 3,” “The Three Amigos” and more.
LOCATION: 10 Chester Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90007
The bank scenes were filmed at Union Station, a train station in downtown Los Angeles. It has featured in many films as well, such as “Blade Runner,” “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Species,” “Bugsy,” “Pearl Harbor” and more.
LOCATION: 800 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Frank strikes up a romance with Brenda, played by Amy Adams, who brings him to the house of her father, played by Martin Sheen. Frank has to make an abrupt departure with the FBI hot on his heels. The house used in the film can be found in Pasadena. The address is on E Crary St, but the back of the house faces that direction and the perimeter is surrounded by a wall, so you won’t see much from there. The front side of the house is actually around the block on Layton St, which dead-ends into the driveway of the home. The same house has also been seen in the films “Matilda,” “Hocus Pocus,” “Scream 2” and “The Midnight Hour.” Unfortunately, the property owners have since posted no trespassing signs near the end of Ladyton St, making it much more difficult for pedestrians to see the house anymore.
LOCATION: 2186 E Crary St, Pasadena, CA 91104 (front of the home faces Ladyton St)
Frank is arrested in front of his mother’s house, which can be found in Pasadena. The same location appears in the film “Disturbia.”
LOCATION: 3077 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107
Late in the film, Frank passes this store and stops as he sees a pilot’s uniform on display. This can be found just a few buildings up from the Abagnale Stationers store seen early in the film.
While set in the town of Ossining, New York, Don Draper’s house from the TV series “Mad Men” is located in Pasadena, California. It’s actually right around the corner from the house from the movie Father Of The Bride.
Film Oblivion 