Queens has long established itself as one of New York’s premier filmmaking hubs. Here, historic studios and authentic city streets have doubled as backdrops for iconic movies and TV shows. From Kaufman Astoria Studios to Silvercup Studios, this borough is the birthplace of blockbusters like Spider-Man and Goodfellas, while its streets have graced the silver screen time and time again. In this i-queens.com article, we explore the most famous Queens filming locations. We’ll dive into the history of local studios and see how film and television production has transformed the borough’s economy, urban landscape, and tourist appeal.
Kaufman Astoria Studios: From the Capital of Silent Film to a Modern Blockbuster Factory
The history of the Queens film industry dates back over a century. In 1920, the legendary Adolph Zukor opened a studio for Famous Players-Lasky, a company that would later become part of the Paramount Pictures empire. The Astoria complex quickly became a Mecca of the silent film era. Over the next 20 years, it produced more than 120 silent and sound films. Tallulah Bankhead and Claudette Colbert played their very first roles on these stages. It was also here that the Marx Brothers shot their debut films, The Cocoanuts (1929) and Animal Crackers (1930).
At the outbreak of World War II, the complex was taken over by the U.S. Army Signal Corps. During this time, the studio was used to shoot and produce army training and propaganda films. After the military vacated the facility in 1970, the building gradually fell into disrepair.
A much-needed revival began in 1977 when a non-profit foundation reopened the main stage for the filming of the musical The Wiz. In 1980, the City of New York approached developer George Kaufman to renovate and expand this national historic landmark. Kaufman successfully brought his vision to life, creating a full-service studio capable of handling projects of any scale.
Today, Kaufman Astoria Studios (KAS) spans over 500,000 square feet and houses nine sound stages. It is home to New York’s only Hollywood-style backlot, which opened in 2013. These stages have hosted hits like Orange Is the New Black, Sesame Street, and Goodfellas, along with films starring Meryl Streep, Al Pacino, and Tom Hanks.
From Bakery to Film Empire at Silvercup Studios: The Birthplace of The Sopranos and Sex and the City
While Astoria takes pride in Kaufman, Long Island City boasts Silvercup Studios. This complex is a prime example of how the New York film industry breathes new life into old industrial spaces.
For many decades in the 20th century, Long Island City was a hub for commercial bakeries. The future studio building was erected in 1930 to manufacture Silvercup brand bread. At its peak, the bakery supplied about a third of all the bread consumed in the metropolis, including deliveries to New York City schools. However, a union strike forced the plant to close in 1975. The iconic neon sign on the roof, installed in the early 1960s, remained the only reminder of its past glory.
In 1983, brothers Stuart and Alan Suna converted the former bakery into a film and television studio. Silvercup quickly became one of the most sought-after production hubs in the city. It eventually expanded across three locations (two in Long Island City and one in the Bronx) with a total of 23 sound stages. This is where legendary shows like The Sopranos, Sex and the City, Gossip Girl, and 30 Rock were filmed. In 2020, Silvercup Studios was acquired by Hackman Capital Partners, the world’s largest owner of independent film and television studios.
Iconic Streets of Queens: The Real Filming Locations of The Godfather, Goodfellas, and Men in Black
Queens is more than just closed sound stages; it’s a tapestry of hundreds of street locations. The borough has served as a backdrop for some of global cinema’s greatest masterpieces. Here are the most famous spots you can see in person:
- Flushing Meadows-Corona Park and the Unisphere.
Built for the 1964 World’s Fair, this giant steel globe has become a pop-culture icon. It was here that the legendary alien bug battle scene from Men in Black was filmed. The Unisphere also made appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, featuring in Iron Man 2, Captain America: The First Avenger, and Spider-Man: Homecoming.
- Calvary Cemetery in Woodside.
The largest cemetery in the U.S. was the filming location for Don Corleone’s funeral in Francis Ford Coppola’s legendary The Godfather. This exact spot was also used in the action-packed blockbuster John Wick.
- The Restaurants and Bars of Astoria.
Queens played a pivotal role in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas. For instance, the real-life Neir’s Tavern stood in for The Bamboo Lounge. Additionally, young Henry Hill’s house was filmed on 32nd Street in Astoria, while other scenes were shot at the Jackson Hole Diner near Astoria Boulevard.
- The Pepsi-Cola Sign.
This historic landmark on the East River waterfront makes an appearance in Men in Black, Spider-Man (2002), and the hit series Nurse Jackie.
- Astoria Boulevard Subway Station.
This station served as the backdrop for a key scene in Julie & Julia starring Meryl Streep. It also featured in the tense getaway sequence in Goodfellas.
The Spider-Man Phenomenon: How Peter Parker and Marvel Comics Turned Forest Hills into a Tourist Mecca
Forest Hills, a quiet and leafy residential neighborhood in Queens, unexpectedly found itself at the epicenter of film tourism. The reason is simple: according to Marvel comics, this is where Peter Parker grew up. Fan interest in the area skyrocketed to unprecedented levels with the release of new movies. The hype reached its peak in 2023 with the launch of the Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 game on PlayStation 5, which finally added virtual replicas of Queens and Brooklyn to the map of “Marvel’s New York.”
Dedicated fan communities even tracked down a real private home on Ingram Street that perfectly matches the comic book descriptions of the Parker residence. Tourist routes through Manhattan now frequently incorporate Spider-Man locations, and official New York City tour guides make sure to mention Forest Hills in their brochures.
For locals, this newfound fame poses a challenge: how do you balance fan enthusiasm with the privacy of a residential neighborhood? In 2022, there were even local discussions about erecting an official Spider-Man statue in Forest Hills. The idea was to give tourists a dedicated spot for photoshoots, thereby reducing foot traffic on residential streets. Visitors are strongly advised to treat the neighborhood as a scenic backdrop for a respectful walk, rather than an open-air theme park.
Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI): Preserving Global Cinematic Heritage in a Former Paramount Studio
The heart of the Queens film industry beats not just on sound stages, but also in the halls of the Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI). Opened in 1988 in one of the original buildings of the former Paramount studio, the museum is entirely dedicated to the art, history, and technology of film, television, and digital media.
In 2011, the museum completed a massive $67 million expansion designed by architect Thomas Leeser. One of the crown jewels of the revamped space is the Sumner M. Redstone Theater, whose design was heavily inspired by Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Welcoming around 300,000 visitors annually, the museum features permanent exhibits, including a large-scale tribute to the life and creative genius of Muppets creator Jim Henson.
Queens has long outgrown its status as Manhattan’s shadow. Thanks to the rich history of giants like Kaufman Astoria and Silvercup Studios, coupled with an unprecedented boom in film tourism, the borough stands tall as a bona fide entertainment capital of the East Coast.
Film and television production has breathed new life into derelict industrial zones, providing New York City with tens of thousands of jobs and billions in revenue. When you stroll down the streets of Forest Hills or wander through Flushing Meadows Park, you aren’t just exploring a city — you are walking through the sets of the world’s grandest cinematic universe.