Top 30 Movies Filmed in New York City
By Staff
Was Elf filmed in New York City?
We’ve seen Will Ferrell be outrageous and funny at the same time, but perhaps he took it to a whole new level in Elf. The 2003 Christmas-comedy gives a spin to the typical holiday film while keeping a story intact.
Buddy (Will Ferrell) is an orphaned human who is raised by elves in the North Pole. He eventually leaves to New York City in hopes of finding his biological father. During his adventure, he encounters various people and crosses locations in the city.
He finds out his dad Walter Hobbs (James Caan) works in the Empire State Building, which makes an appearance during the movie. The department store that is used to mimic the original Gimbels store is located on the corner of Fifth Avenue and East 30th Street. Buddy’s dad’s apartment was filmed at 55 Central Park West in the Upper West Side.
Buddy and Jovie (Zoey Deschanel) visit Rockefeller Center alongside Fifth Avenue between 49th and 50th Street. Buddy also makes a trip across the Queensboro Bridge. Lastly, the final scene when Buddy and company are trying to help Santa against the Central Park Rangers takes place in mid-Central Park.