Gilded hotel lobby with chandeliers, marble floors, red carpets and large floral display, Boston.

Where Was American Hustle Filmed?

David O. Russell shot most of his 1970s con-artist drama in Massachusetts, using Boston, Worcester and Natick to double for New York and New Jersey.

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The Short Answer

American Hustle was filmed mainly in Massachusetts. Boston, Worcester, Natick and Woburn stood in for the New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia settings of the story, with interiors shot at the Wang Theatre and Worcester Art Museum. Limited exterior and mood-setting scenes were captured in New York City and New Jersey, including outside the Plaza Hotel.

American Hustle, released in 2013, spins a fictionalized version of the Abscam sting operation across a 1970s landscape of New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia. Almost none of it was actually shot there. Director David O. Russell brought the production home to Massachusetts, where Boston, Worcester, Natick and Woburn convincingly doubled for the tri-state area.

Principal photography ran from March 18 to May 19, 2013, with a brief pause after the Boston Marathon bombing. The result is a filmography-rich trail across eastern Massachusetts, plus a few genuine New York exteriors for atmosphere. Fans can visit most of these sites today, from a historic Boston hotel to a working dry cleaners in Natick.

Every Location At A Glance

LocationWhereWhat was filmedAccess
Fairmont Copley Plaza HotelBostonHotel lobby celebration scene with Irving and SydneyFree to see
26 Millbury StreetWorcesterRosenfeld's youth flashback breaking windows; Polito greeting constituentsFree to see
Worcester Art MuseumWorcesterIrving shows DiMaso the 'fake' Rembrandt sceneTicketed
Reliable CleanersNatickDry cleaners montage where Sydney picks outfitsOutside only
Wang TheatreBostonCarmine's ball interior/lobby scenesTicketed
Union StationWorcesterExterior of big bash/party arrival scenesFree to see
Plaza HotelNew YorkExterior shots; first meeting with PolitoFree to see
George I. Clapp Elementary SchoolWoburnSchool pickup scene with Danny at end of filmOutside only

Filming Locations Map

8 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Location By Location

Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, Boston
Location 01

Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel

Massachusetts, Boston Free to see

Filmed here: Hotel lobby celebration scene with Irving and Sydney

The hotel lobby celebration scene with Irving and Sydney was filmed here. The Fairmont Copley Plaza remains one of Boston's historic luxury hotels, and the lobby is accessible to guests and visitors. Travelers can book a stay or simply come in to dine and experience the gilded interiors that gave the film its upscale backdrop. It sits in Back Bay, easy to combine with other Boston stops.

26 Millbury Street, Worcester
Location 02

26 Millbury Street

Massachusetts, Worcester Free to see

Filmed here: Rosenfeld's youth flashback breaking windows; Polito greeting constituents

This Worcester street in the Canal District hosted two moments: Rosenfeld's youth flashback of breaking windows, and Polito greeting constituents on the street. Today it is a lively strip of businesses and bars, and it is safe to walk or drive by. There is no formal marker, so film fans simply stroll the block and match it to the storefronts visible in the movie.

Worcester Art Museum, Worcester
Location 03

Worcester Art Museum

Massachusetts, Worcester Ticketed

Filmed here: Irving shows DiMaso the 'fake' Rembrandt scene

The museum provided the setting for the scene in which Irving shows DiMaso the supposedly fake Rembrandt. In a twist, the museum's real Rembrandt was central to a scene claiming it was fake, which sparked real-world authenticity questions after release. It remains a public museum with paid admission. Check current hours and exhibits before visiting, as gallery arrangements can change.

Reliable Cleaners, Natick
Location 04

Reliable Cleaners

Massachusetts, Natick Outside only

Filmed here: Dry cleaners montage where Sydney picks outfits

The dry cleaners montage in which Sydney picks her outfits was shot at this Natick business. It is an active dry cleaner, so access is exterior only, best viewed from the street. Employees of Reliable Cleaners appeared as extras in the montage, a nice detail for fans. Be considerate of customers and staff if you stop by for photos.

Wang Theatre, Boston
Location 05

Wang Theatre

Massachusetts, Boston Ticketed

Filmed here: Carmine's ball interior/lobby scenes

The lavish party interior and lobby scenes at Carmine's ball were filmed inside Boston's Wang Theatre, while the exterior arrival shots used Worcester's Union Station. The Wang is a historic theater, and interior access comes with attending a performance, so check the schedule and turn a location visit into a night out.

Union Station, Worcester
Location 06

Union Station

Massachusetts, Worcester Free to see

Filmed here: Exterior of big bash/party arrival scenes

Worcester's Union Station stood in for the exterior of the big bash, with party arrivals filmed outside its grand facade. It remains an active train station, and the exterior plus some interior public areas are accessible to anyone. The ornate front entrance photographs well and is a short drive from the other Worcester locations in this guide.

Plaza Hotel, New York
Location 07

Plaza Hotel

New York Free to see

Filmed here: Exterior shots; first meeting with Polito

One of the few real New York locations, the Plaza appears in exterior shots and hosts the first meeting with Polito. Some interiors were filmed elsewhere in Massachusetts. The hotel's public areas, dining rooms and exterior are accessible to visitors. Fans of screen appearances across many productions will recognize it instantly from Fifth Avenue.

George I. Clapp Elementary School, Woburn
Location 08

George I. Clapp Elementary School

Massachusetts, Woburn Outside only

Filmed here: School pickup scene with Danny at end of film

The school pickup scene with Danny at the end of the film used this Woburn elementary school. As a public school, it is exterior only viewing, best done from the street. Respect the site during school hours, since classes are in session on weekdays. It is a quick stop for completists working through the Massachusetts filming trail.

Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed

The story is set in 1970s New York, New Jersey and the Philadelphia area, following a fictionalized version of the Abscam investigation. Production stayed almost entirely in Massachusetts, with Boston, Worcester, Natick and Woburn doubling for the tri-state region. Only minimal scene-setting exteriors were shot in actual New York and New Jersey to establish mood and geography.

The Studio Side

The production also used studio facilities in Woburn, Massachusetts. These are working facilities and not open to the public, so there is nothing for travelers to visit there beyond the nearby school location used in the finale.

Tours That Visit These Locations

There is no dedicated American Hustle tour, but travelers can pair the Massachusetts trail with a general screen locations tour in New York City that passes one site from the film.

Guided NYC Bus Tour

NYC TV & Movie Locations Bus Tour: Friends, Seinfeld & More

This guided bus tour of New York TV and movie locations, covering titles from Friends to Seinfeld, includes a stop at the Plaza Hotel, whose exterior appears in American Hustle. It carries a 4.5 rating from 1,293 reviews.

4.5 out of 5 · 1,293 reviewsNew York City

PriceLive on listingCheck availability

USD 70 NYC Bus Tour

NYC TV & Movie Locations Bus Tour: Friends, Seinfeld & More

A 70 USD per person bus tour of New York filming locations that passes luxury Fifth Avenue hotels, including the Plaza Hotel seen in American Hustle. It runs in English and offers a broader look at the city's screen history.

116 reviews

From$70Check availability

Frequently Asked Questions

Was American Hustle actually filmed in New York?

Only partially. A few exterior and mood-setting scenes were shot in New York City and New Jersey, including outside the Plaza Hotel, but the bulk of the film was made in Massachusetts.

Why does Boston look like New York in the film?

Director David O. Russell shot mainly in Massachusetts, using Boston, Worcester, Natick and Woburn to double for the New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia settings of the 1970s story.

Can you visit the Worcester Art Museum location?

Yes. It is a public museum with paid admission. It supplied the gallery where Irving shows DiMaso the supposedly fake Rembrandt, a scene built around the museum's real painting.

Is the dry cleaners from the montage a real business?

Yes. Reliable Cleaners in Natick is an active dry cleaner, and its employees appeared as extras in the montage. Viewing is exterior only from the street.

Where was the big party scene filmed?

The interior and lobby scenes were shot at Boston's Wang Theatre, while the exterior arrival shots used Worcester's Union Station. Theater interiors are accessible when attending performances.

When was American Hustle filmed?

Principal photography ran from March 18 to May 19, 2013, with a brief pause after the Boston Marathon bombing. The film was released later that year.

American Hustle offers one of the more unusual location trails in American cinema, since nearly every New York and New Jersey address on screen is actually Massachusetts. Worcester alone supplies three stops within a short drive, and Boston adds the Copley Plaza hotel and the Wang Theatre. Finish in Manhattan with the Plaza Hotel exterior, or join a general New York screen locations bus tour to see it alongside sites from other famous productions.

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