Blab Entertainment
A24 Publishes On Location in New York City, a 179-Spot Film-Lovers Guide
When a city becomes a character in a film, its streets transform into pilgrimage sites for fans. A24 has taken that premise and turned it into a tangible map of the metropolis that has inspired Hollywood and independent cinema alike. The company’s new travel book, On Location in New York City, charts 179 restaurants, shops, parks, bars, and landmarks that have appeared on screen, offering a curated itinerary for movie enthusiasts eager to step into the real‑world settings of their favorite scenes.
Written by Canadian director Celine Song, whose 2023 feature Past Lives and 2025 film Materialists both use New York as a character, the guide opens with a brief love letter to the city. Song notes its beauty and its “ugly, brutal, messy” qualities that keep filmmakers coming back. The book is organized into six categories—Entertainment & Sightseeing, Shopping, Eating, Nightlife, Parks & Recreation, and Photo Opportunities—each populated with maps, addresses, telephone numbers, and symbols that indicate cash‑only, adult‑only, open‑late, or landmark status.
The Entertainment & Sightseeing section lists iconic sites such as the Empire State Building, Radio City Music Hall, and Grand Central Terminal, where Terry Gilliam staged 1,000 extras for The Fisher King (1991). It also highlights less obvious locations, including the Judd Foundation, whose SoHo interiors were used by Adrian Lyne in 9½ Weeks (1986). The Shopping chapter spotlights department stores, toy shops, and specialty retailers. FAO Schwarz is noted for still housing Tom Hanks’ giant “Walking Piano” from Big (1988) after the store’s move to Rockefeller Plaza, while the Diamond District is referenced in Uncut Gems (2019). Bergdorf Goodman is singled out as the only New York‑only department store.
In the Eating section, restaurants that have appeared in film are named, such as Bubby’s in Tribeca (used in The Devil Wears Prada (2006)), Raoul’s in SoHo (featured in Sex and the City: The Movie (2008)), and Katz’s Delicatessen, which made cameo appearances in three 2007 films. The guide also includes a note about the ubiquitous hot‑dog cart.
Nightlife entries cover venues that have served as settings for recent movies, including Basement in Queens, a concrete techno club used in Babygirl (2024), and 7B (also known as Horseshoe Bar) in the vicinity of Tompkins Square Park.
Parks & Recreation highlights Central Park and other green spaces, while Photo Opportunities lists iconic film‑related spots such as the Tribeca firehouse from Ghostbusters (1984), Mick Dundee’s lamppost on Fifth Avenue, the Queensboro Bridge view from Manhattan (1979), Times Square as it appeared in Vanilla Sky (2001), and the Statue of Liberty.
The book sells for $36 through A24’s website and for £28 through Mack Books. Its design echoes Wallpaper*’s Travel Guide series, focusing on practical navigation for visitors.
A24’s decision to publish a film‑location guide aligns with its history of supporting independent cinema. Founded in 2012, the company has distributed and produced titles such as Moonlight, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and Past Lives. Song’s own work has earned critical acclaim and Academy Award nominations, and her involvement lends the guide an insider perspective.
On Location in New York City is currently available for purchase online and in select bookstores. It offers a structured itinerary for fans who wish to walk in the footsteps of their favorite movies, providing a tangible link between New York’s real‑world streets and its cinematic history.
Written by Canadian director Celine Song, whose 2023 feature Past Lives and 2025 film Materialists both use New York as a character, the guide opens with a brief love letter to the city. Song notes its beauty and its “ugly, brutal, messy” qualities that keep filmmakers coming back. The book is organized into six categories—Entertainment & Sightseeing, Shopping, Eating, Nightlife, Parks & Recreation, and Photo Opportunities—each populated with maps, addresses, telephone numbers, and symbols that indicate cash‑only, adult‑only, open‑late, or landmark status.
The Entertainment & Sightseeing section lists iconic sites such as the Empire State Building, Radio City Music Hall, and Grand Central Terminal, where Terry Gilliam staged 1,000 extras for The Fisher King (1991). It also highlights less obvious locations, including the Judd Foundation, whose SoHo interiors were used by Adrian Lyne in 9½ Weeks (1986). The Shopping chapter spotlights department stores, toy shops, and specialty retailers. FAO Schwarz is noted for still housing Tom Hanks’ giant “Walking Piano” from Big (1988) after the store’s move to Rockefeller Plaza, while the Diamond District is referenced in Uncut Gems (2019). Bergdorf Goodman is singled out as the only New York‑only department store.
In the Eating section, restaurants that have appeared in film are named, such as Bubby’s in Tribeca (used in The Devil Wears Prada (2006)), Raoul’s in SoHo (featured in Sex and the City: The Movie (2008)), and Katz’s Delicatessen, which made cameo appearances in three 2007 films. The guide also includes a note about the ubiquitous hot‑dog cart.
Nightlife entries cover venues that have served as settings for recent movies, including Basement in Queens, a concrete techno club used in Babygirl (2024), and 7B (also known as Horseshoe Bar) in the vicinity of Tompkins Square Park.
Parks & Recreation highlights Central Park and other green spaces, while Photo Opportunities lists iconic film‑related spots such as the Tribeca firehouse from Ghostbusters (1984), Mick Dundee’s lamppost on Fifth Avenue, the Queensboro Bridge view from Manhattan (1979), Times Square as it appeared in Vanilla Sky (2001), and the Statue of Liberty.
The book sells for $36 through A24’s website and for £28 through Mack Books. Its design echoes Wallpaper*’s Travel Guide series, focusing on practical navigation for visitors.
A24’s decision to publish a film‑location guide aligns with its history of supporting independent cinema. Founded in 2012, the company has distributed and produced titles such as Moonlight, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and Past Lives. Song’s own work has earned critical acclaim and Academy Award nominations, and her involvement lends the guide an insider perspective.
On Location in New York City is currently available for purchase online and in select bookstores. It offers a structured itinerary for fans who wish to walk in the footsteps of their favorite movies, providing a tangible link between New York’s real‑world streets and its cinematic history.
