The Empire State Building is a 102-story skyscraper on Fifth Avenue between West 33rd and 34th Streets in Midtown, Manhattan, New York City. It has a roof height of 1,250 feet (381 m), and with its antenna included, it stands a total of tall. The Empire State Building stood as the world's tallest building for nearly 40 years, from its completion in early 1931 until the topping out of the original World Trade Center's North Tower in late 1970. It has been featured in numerous films, TV shows, songs, video games, books, photographs, and artwork.
Film
Perhaps the most famous popular culture representation of the building is in King Kong (1933), in which the title character, a giant ape, climbs to the top to escape his captors, but falls to his death after being attacked by military biplanes. In 1983, for the film's fiftieth anniversary, a tall inflatable Kong was placed on the building mast above the observation deck by artist Robert Vicino. In 2005, Peter Jackson's remake of King Kong was released, set in 1930s New York City, including a final showdown between Kong and biplanes atop the Empire State Building. The 1976 remake of King Kong was set in a contemporary New York City and held its climactic scene on the twin towers of the World Trade Center. The Empire State Building and King Kong are both featured in the virtual reality world called the Oasis in Steven Spielberg's 2018 science fiction film Ready Player One. In the disaster film Deluge (1933), the Empire State Building is one of several buildings that collapse during the earthquake that hits New York. Love Affair (1939) involves a couple who plan to meet atop the Empire State Building, a rendezvous that is prevented by an automobile accident. The film was remade in 1957 (as An Affair to Remember) and in 1994 (again as Love Affair.) In the climax of The Thief (1952), the protagonist, an espionage agent for an unnamed foreign power, is pursued by an FBI agent from the 86th-floor observatory to the 102nd-floor observatory and then into the spire. Sleepless in Seattle (1993), a romantic comedy partially inspired by An Affair to Remember, climaxes with scenes in the Empire State Building's lobby and observatory. The 2013 drama film Burning Blue also features a romantic scene in which the Empire State Building is viewed from a neighboring building's rooftop when the lights come on at sunset.Burning Blue (2013) – A Magic Trick Scene (2/10) | Movieclips – YouTube In the Looney Tunes cartoon "Much Ado About Nutting", a squirrel has so much difficulty opening a coconut he carries it to the Empire State Building's observation deck and tosses it over the edge. While the street is damaged by the impact, the coconut remains intact. In the 1946 Looney Tunes cartoon Baseball Bugs, Bugs Bunny is pitching in the Polo Grounds against the Gashouse Gorillas. In the bottom of the ninth, with two outs and Bugs protecting a one run lead, the opposition hits the ball out of the park for an apparent game-winning two-run homer. Bugs pursues the ball through New York City. The chase culminates at the "Umpire State Building". Bugs ascends to the top of the building by elevator and catches the ball for the third out, winning the game. In the Tom and Jerry cartoon Mouse in Manhattan, Jerry walks by and views the Empire State Building, along with other landmarks, including the Statue of Atlas at Rockefeller Center and Grand Central Terminal. Andy Warhol's 1964 silent film Empire is one continuous, eight-hour black-and-white shot of the Empire State Building at night. In 2004, the National Film Registry deemed its cultural significance worthy of preservation in the Library of Congress. In Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010), Mount Olympus is located over the Empire State Building, and there is a special elevator in the building to the "600th floor", which is supposed to be Olympus, just like in the book series. The building is chosen as Ground Zero for the target of a hydrogen bomb that is dropped on New York in Fail-Safe (1964). Both Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder go to the Observation Deck of the building in the original Mel Brooks film The Producers. In The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984), after all of his friends have left the city, Kermit the Frog rides to the top of the building, and staring out from the observation deck, defiantly rants that he's not giving up on their Broadway dream. Miss Piggy, his last friend in town, hears Kermit's closing line from the street: "Y'hear that, New York? The Frog is staying!" In One Fine Day (1996) the Empire State Building can be spotted in the background. In the 1998 disaster film Earthquake in New York, the Empire State Building is damaged and partially collapsed during an earthquake. However, it remains standing once the earthquake finishes. The Empire State Building has an appearance in the 1999 movie, Aftershock: Earthquake in New York. It can be seen when a news reporter in a helicopter describes the damage. The reporter says, "Empire State Building looks good..." it can be seen again when Mayor Bruce Lincoln is making a speech, and lastly the building can be seen in the background when the Statue of Liberty is shown to be under reconstruction. On the film's poster, the building is seen to have collapsed and the top of the building and its damaged antenna are resting on a nearby skyscraper, but in the actual film it remains standing. In Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), the building is seen many times. In the 1996 film Independence Day, the Empire State Building is destroyed in an explosion caused by a UFO which destroys much of the city. The Empire State Building can be seen in the 1998 disaster film Armageddon, when a meteor shower hits New York. It can be spotted in some scenes such as when a meteor is heading toward the Chrysler Building the Empire State Buildings mooring mast can be seen. The building is damaged after the seas swamp New York City, in the 1998 film Deep Impact. The Empire State Building can be seen three times in the 1999 drama film Cruel Intentions. The first time it is seen is when Sebastian is driving toward Manhattan, the second time it is seen is when Sebastian makes a phone call on the Queensboro bridge, and the third time it is seen is when Annette drives away from Manhattan with the midtown Manhattan skyline in the background. In the 2001 film Zoolander, The Empire State Building can be seen in most scenes. Such as the funeral scene, the Chrysler Building, United Nations Building, Empire State Building, and MetLife building can be seen in the background. It can also be seen in the background when the "Mugato" headquarters is shown. In the ending of the 2002 film Gangs of New York, when gravestones are shown to be under the Brooklyn Bridge in a time lapse. The Empire State Building can be seen to the far right of the screen. In The Time Machine (2002), the Empire State Building is still standing in the year 2030, but dwarfed by several larger skyscrapers around it. It is not visible in later scenes set in a post-apocalyptic New York. The building can be seen in the 2002 comedy movie, Mr. Deeds. It can be seen when the Midtown Manhattan skyline is shown when the time turns from night to morning. It can be seen again when Deed is playing Tennis with Chuck, a part of the Midtown Manhattan skyline can be clearly seen in the background. The building is seen in the 2003 film Elf and serves as the workplace of Buddy's father. Several interior shots of the building can be seen. In one scene in which Buddy rides the elevator with an unknown man, Buddy pushes all of the floor destination buttons to resemble a Christmas tree. In the 2003 action film Daredevil, the Empire State Building can be seen when Kingpin's (the villain) tower is shown and it can be seen out the window when Daredevil is face to face with Kingpin. It can also be seen in the background when Daredevil is on the top of a church. The Empire State Building is seen in most Spider-Man films since it mostly takes place in New York. In Spider-Man (2002) when Spider-Man is fighting the Green Goblin by the Queensboro Bridge the building can be spotted next to the Chrysler Building. It can also be seen in Spider-Man 2 (2004) and Spider-Man 3 (2007) when a building is hit by a crane the Empire State Building can be spotted in the distance. In Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004), in an alternate 1939, the top of the building serves its original purpose of being a docking station for dirigibles, and the Hindenburg III docks at it on its maiden voyage. In the 2004 mockumentary film CSA: The Confederate States of America, the Empire State Building appears in the film in a news broadcast. The building is also mentioned on the film's website.Confederate Legacy Presents: C.S.A. A Historical Timeline In the 2005 disaster film End Day, a fictional scientist travels from London to New York. At one point in the film the camera shows the Empire State Building and a police helicopter flying in front of it. In the 2006 film Click, the building can be seen in numerous shots, specifically through an office window and other parts of the movie. In the 2006 movie, The Hoax, the Empire State Building can be seen in between the Chrysler Building and the MetLife Building when a helicopter is landing on top of a building. The building is seen in the background in Enchanted (2007). Many films have opened with the Empire State Building, such as West Side Story (1961), Honey (2003), The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009), Step Up 3D, The Other Guys (both 2010), The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, A Case Of You (both 2013), Left Behind (2014), Manhattan Night (2016), and Otherhood (2019). In the film How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008), the Empire State Building can be seen in parts of the movies specifically can be seen throughout the window. In the 2008 romantic comedy drama film Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, the Empire State Building can be seen in many parts of the movie. Such as when Nick is driving toward Manhattan, the midtown Manhattan skyline is shown. It is seen again in a shot of the Manhattan skyline shown from the George Washington Bridge. Lastly it is seen in the background at night when Nick and Tris are in a car where she tries to seduce him and dances in front of the car. The 2008 film Meet Dave, a spaceship shaped like a human lands on Liberty Island and walks around Manhattan. In a scene where Dave is coming out the subway the Empire State Building can be seen in the background. In the 2009 film Watchmen, the building can be spotted in most parts. It can be seen through an office window with the World Trade Center behind it. In the 2009 film Knowing, the building is destroyed by a solar flare along with the rest of the world at the end of the film. In the Disney film The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010), the Empire State Building can be seen in the background when one of the movies characters walks on one of the Chrysler Building's gargoyle eagles. In The Divide (2011), the building is destroyed by a nuclear bomb detonated on New York. It was heavily featured on posters promoting the film. In the 2011 film The Smurfs, in a scene where Gargamel escapes from prison the Manhattan skyline can be seen in the background including the Empire State Building. The Empire State Building can be seen many times in the 2011 comedy film Mr. Popper's Penguins. It can be seen in the background when Tom Popper is on the phone in Madison Square Park. It can be seen again through the window when Tom is at his office in the Bank of America Tower. The Empire State Building can be seen in the 2012 film The Dark Knight Rises as a skyscraper in the Gotham City skyline. In the romance comedy Lola Versus (2012), when Lola talks to her friends in Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Empire State Building can be seen sticking out in the background.