There's something about New York over the holidays. From ice skating in Central Park to Rockefeller's iconic Christmas tree, the city has long been romanticized as the ultimate winter destination – both off and onscreen.
Of all the movies set in the Big Apple, those that take place over the festive season are by far the most magical. But which ones capture the spirit of the city – and the attention of audiences – best? From rom-coms like When Harry Met Sally to family classics like Home Alone 2 and Elf, there is more than enough for an NYC holiday movie bingefest.
New Year's Eve (2011)
Following the Love Actually blueprint for ensemble romantic comedies, New Year's Eve weaves several storylines in the run-up to New Year.
Some are stronger than others, such as the unlikely bond forged between Paul and under-appreciated secretary Ingrid. Regardless, the entire movie is a heartwarming, lighthearted watch, showing the vast variety of friendships and relationships at play in New York City.
Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)
While Santa Claus: The Movie kicks off in the North Pole, the action soon moves to New York. This is all thanks to one of Santa's top elves, who resigns from the workshop and winds up in the city working for a manipulative toy company executive.
It definitely doesn't rank among the top Santa Claus movies, but Santa Claus still offers plenty of fun moments — namely watching Santa navigate 1980s Manhattan. Plus, the effects are so bad, that they're actually good.
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Yes, When Harry Met Sally isn't exclusively a holiday film. The titular best friends gradually grow to accept their romantic feelings for each other in New York in the '80s. However, the movie has enough festive scenes that it definitely classes as an honorary example.
As can be expected from a romantic comedy, it shows New York in its most idyllic state. Expect every Christmas staple to make an appearance, from ice skating in Central Park to Rockefeller Center to dragging a Christmas tree through the streets to their apartment.
Miracle On 34th Street (1994)
This 1994 remake doesn't quite have the magic of the original, but it comes pretty close. When Kris Kringle is a hit as a department store Santa, he's soon embroiled in conflict with those who want to disprove he's lying about being the man in red himself, while young Susan insists it's true.
While it lacks the real-life reference of Macy's like the 1947 version, the film still does an accurate job of portraying New York at Christmastime. There's ice skating, streets crammed with last-minute shoppers, and a wealth of cynical, cutthroat characters. Manhattan Christmas to a tee.
Serendipity (2001)
This quirky romantic comedy uses a wintery New York as its backdrop. After a chance meeting while Christmas shopping at Bloomingdale's, Jonathan and Sara decide to let fate take the wheel, until it one day brings them back together.
As they repeatedly cross paths throughout the city, the main character is really New York itself. It's glittering, magical, and full of potential — which is really the festive period in a nutshell.
The Night Before (2015)
Typically speaking, the stoner comedy genre doesn't lend itself to actual emotion. The Night Before is an exception. Opening on the death of Ethan's parents in December 2001, it fast-forwards to 2015 when his best friends have spent every Christmas Eve since trying to make him happy.
From then on, the movie mostly follows the trio trying to find the mystical Nutcracker Ball. It is, of course, hilarious, but the bond between the men — especially against a city as big, sprawling, and isolating as New York — is also genuinely touching.
Miracle On 34th Street (1947)
The original and best, Miracle on 34th Street again covers a single mother and her daughter's bid to defend Kris Kringle when he insists he's Santa Claus.
Even as a black-and-white Christmas movie, New York looks absolutely magical. Most of the movie takes place in Macy's, and even though it doesn't quite look like the department store of today, it's a nostalgic throwback to a version of the city that's long since been lost.
Scrooged (1988)
Over the years, there have been Scrooged transports the tale to 1980s New York. "Scrooge" himself is Frank Cross, a cynical television executive who demands his employees work on Christmas Eve.
Just like the original, Frank's years of bad behavior soon catch up with him. In what might be the most New York take ever, the Ghost of Christmas Past takes the form of a taxi driver. Frank's redemption arc sees him scattered all over the city, all while not-so-subtly calling out the issues with its working culture that make him so Scrooge-like.
Elf (2003)
When Buddy discovers that he is not in fact an elf but a human, he leaves the North Pole to track down his biological father, Walter. The only issue? Buddy is optimistic, innocent, and endlessly energetic — Walter is anything but.
Seen through Buddy's eyes, New York is a magical fantasyland. Even when he's hit — literally – by the realities of the city, such as life-threatening taxis, he's completely besotted. Elf is the festive fairytale people expect from New York. And if Buddy's take is anything to go by, all it takes is positivity to find the joy in everything.
Home Alone 2: Lost In New York (1992)
In this sequel to Home Alone, Kevin finds himself once again alone for Christmas. After a mix-up at the airport, he flies alone to New York. There he spends days exploring with his father's credit card, checking himself into the Plaza Hotel, and overloading on room service.
The movie basically acts a greatest hits tour of New York at Christmastime. Kevin lives everyone's festive dream, covering Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, and Battery Park. He might have to battle some burglars, but at least he gets to soak in the magic along the way.
