Peter Parker's home with Aunt May and Uncle Ben is a real private house at 8839 69th Road in Forest Hills, Queens. The production used the actual exterior for neighborhood scenes, and it still looks much as it did on screen. It remains a private residence, so viewing is from the street only. Travelers should keep a respectful distance from the property and its occupants.
The Short Answer
Spider-Man (2002) was filmed mainly in New York City for exteriors and Los Angeles for interiors and action scenes. The production ran from January 8 to June 30, 2001, moving between Queens, Manhattan, downtown LA streets, Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, and Warner Bros. Burbank Studios. Key sites include Aunt May's house in Forest Hills, Columbia University, the Queensboro Bridge, and the Flatiron Building.
The story of Peter Parker unfolds in Queens and Manhattan, and the production captured plenty of the real city on camera. Scenes set at the Parker family home, the field trip where Peter is bitten, and the Green Goblin's bridge showdown were shot at genuine New York addresses that visitors can still walk past today.
The bulk of the movie, though, came together in California. Interiors, the famous upside-down kiss, and the World Unity Festival battle were filmed on LA locations and studio backlots, with downtown Los Angeles streets doubling for New York during chase and swinging sequences.
Every Location At A Glance
| Location | Where | What was filmed | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aunt May’s House | Forest Hills, Queens | Peter Parker’s home with Aunt May and Uncle Ben | Outside only |
| Columbia University | Morningside Heights, Manhattan | School field trip scene and Norman Osborn dropping off Harry | Free to see |
| Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County | Los Angeles | Columbia University lab interior where Peter is bitten by the spider | Ticketed |
| Greystone Mansion | Beverly Hills | Interior of Norman Osborn’s mansion | Ticketed |
| Dorsey High School | Los Angeles | Interiors of Midtown High School | Private property |
| Queensboro Bridge | Manhattan | Green Goblin and Spider-Man fight; Mary Jane and cable car rescue | Free to see |
| Flatiron Building | Manhattan | Daily Bugle building exterior | Outside only |
| New York Public Library | Manhattan | Uncle Ben talks with Peter; Bryant Park area | Free to see |
| Tudor City | Manhattan | Norman Osborn’s Gothic mansion block exterior | Outside only |
| Downtown Los Angeles streets (4th, 5th, Spring, Mateo, Grand) | Los Angeles | Police chase, swinging scenes, and city action sequences standing in for NYC | Free to see |
Filming Locations Map
10 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Location By Location
Location 02
Columbia University
New York, Morningside Heights, Manhattan Free to see
Filmed here: School field trip scene and Norman Osborn dropping off Harry
The Morningside Heights campus stood in for itself in the school field trip scene, and it is also where Norman Osborn drops off Harry. The campus is open to the public, and visitors can see the Low Memorial Library steps featured in the film. Reaching it is easy by subway, and the surrounding neighborhood offers plenty of cafes and bookshops for a full outing.
Location 03
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
California, Los Angeles Ticketed
Filmed here: Columbia University lab interior where Peter is bitten by the spider
The Columbia University lab interior where Peter is bitten by the spider was actually filmed inside this Los Angeles museum, with its distinctive rotunda area featured prominently. Unlike many studio shoots, the setting is fully open to the public with paid admission. The museum sits in Exposition Park and can be combined with the neighboring California Science Center for a longer visit.
Location 04
Greystone Mansion
California, Beverly Hills Ticketed
Filmed here: Interior of Norman Osborn’s mansion
The interior of Norman Osborn's mansion was shot at Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills, an estate with a dramatic stone facade that suits the Osborn family's gothic style. The gardens are free and open to the public, making them the easiest part to visit, while tours of the mansion interior itself are available. The site also appears in many other films and television shows.
Location 05
Dorsey High School
California, Los Angeles Private property
Filmed here: Interiors of Midtown High School
The interiors of Midtown High School, where Peter navigates hallways and bullies before his transformation, were filmed at Dorsey High School in Los Angeles. It is an active school, so access is restricted to private use and visitors can only view the exterior from the street. Those hoping to recreate Peter's school days will need to settle for a quick photo from the sidewalk.
Location 06
Queensboro Bridge
New York, Manhattan Free to see
Filmed here: Green Goblin and Spider-Man fight; Mary Jane and cable car rescue
The bridge hosts one of the film's biggest set pieces, the Green Goblin and Spider-Man fight, along with Mary Jane's rescue from a dangling cable car. Pedestrians and vehicles can cross it freely, and the walk offers some of the best skyline views in Manhattan. Film fans often pair it with a stroll along the East River waterfront nearby, where the bridge looms overhead.
Location 07
Flatiron Building
New York, Manhattan Outside only
Filmed here: Daily Bugle building exterior
The Flatiron Building serves as the exterior of the Daily Bugle, the newspaper where Peter Parker sells his Spider-Man photographs to J. Jonah Jameson. The wedge-shaped tower at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway is viewable from public streets, though the surrounding area is busy with foot traffic. Madison Square Park directly across the street offers a comfortable spot to linger and take photos.
Location 08
New York Public Library
New York, Manhattan Free to see
Filmed here: Uncle Ben talks with Peter; Bryant Park area
The library and adjacent Bryant Park appear in the scene where Uncle Ben talks with Peter, one of the film's key emotional moments. Both the library and the park are open to visitors at no charge, and the main reading rooms are worth entering even apart from their film connection. The location sits midtown, within easy walking distance of the Flatiron Building and other Manhattan sites.
Location 09
Tudor City
New York, Manhattan Outside only
Filmed here: Norman Osborn’s Gothic mansion block exterior
This Gothic Revival complex on Manhattan's East Side provided the exterior for Norman Osborn's mansion block. Its arched brick facades gave the Osborn residence its brooding appearance without the filmmakers needing to build a set. The streets and small park area of Tudor City are public, so anyone can wander through and recognize the architecture instantly. It sits close to the United Nations headquarters.
Location 10
Downtown Los Angeles streets (4th, 5th, Spring, Mateo, Grand)
California, Los Angeles Free to see
Filmed here: Police chase, swinging scenes, and city action sequences standing in for NYC
Several downtown LA streets, including 4th, 5th, Spring, Mateo, and Grand, stood in for New York during the police chase, swinging scenes, and other city action sequences. All are ordinary public streets that anyone can walk today. The area is busy and urban, so daytime visits are the safer choice for photography and exploring on foot.
Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed
The film's story is set entirely in New York City, spanning Queens neighborhoods and Manhattan landmarks. The production honored that setting by shooting many exteriors on real NYC streets, but the majority of interiors and action scenes were filmed in the Los Angeles area on soundstages and at California locations. Filming ran from January 8 to June 30, 2001, split between the two coasts. After 9/11, certain sequences were re-filmed and Twin Towers images were digitally removed from the finished movie.
The Studio Side
Two major studios can be visited in person. Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, which offers the Sony Pictures Studio Tour, contributed to the production, and Warner Bros. Burbank Studios in Burbank is home to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour and the backlot set where the upside-down kiss scene was filmed. The Times Square World Unity Festival battle was mostly shot on a replica set at an old Rockwell/Boeing plant in Downey, California, rather than in Times Square itself.
Tours That Visit These Locations
Guided tours make it easier to connect the film's scattered locations, especially for travelers who want context and stories along with the sights. Options range from private guides who can tailor a route around specific scenes to affordable group walking tours and bus tours covering multiple superhero film sites in one outing.
Private Guide Location Tour
Spider-Man Filming Locations in New York Tour with Private Guide
A dedicated filming locations tour with a private guide at 249 USD, rated 4.5 from 5,458 reviews, ideal for fans who want the movie's sites without route planning.
From$249Check availability
Budget Superhero Walking Tour
NYC: The Superhero Walking Tour of New York
At 55 USD with a 4.6 rating from 75 reviews, this group walking tour covers superhero film locations across New York on foot at a lower price point.
From$55Check availability
Group Superhero Walk
The Superhero Walking Tour of New York
A group walking tour of superhero New York for travelers who prefer joining others rather than booking privately.
From$55Check availability
Superhero Bus Tour
NYC: Bus Tour to Superhero Film Locations
A bus tour at 319.5 USD with a 4.5 rating from 66 reviews that reaches multiple superhero film locations across the city, covering more ground than walking options.
From$320Check availability
Private Walking Tour, Custom Route
Superheroes in New York City Private Walking Tour
A private walking tour at 192.9 USD with a customizable route for travelers who want to focus on specific scenes.
From$193Check availability
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Spider-Man actually filmed in New York?
Yes, many exteriors were shot in New York City, including Forest Hills in Queens, Columbia University, the Queensboro Bridge, the Flatiron Building, the New York Public Library, and Tudor City. However, most interiors and major action scenes were filmed in Los Angeles and at studios in Culver City and Burbank.
Can you visit Aunt May's house?
The house at 8839 69th Road in Forest Hills, Queens is a real private residence. You can view and photograph it from the street, but you should keep a respectful distance since people live there.
Where was the upside-down kiss filmed?
Despite its New York setting, the upside-down kiss scene was filmed on a Warner Bros. backlot set in Burbank, California. Visitors can explore the studio through the Warner Bros. Studio Tour.
Which studio tours relate to the film?
The Sony Pictures Studio Tour in Culver City and the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in Burbank both connect to the production. Both studios are open to visitors through their respective tours.
How long did filming take?
Filming ran from January 8 to June 30, 2001, split between New York and Los Angeles. The film was released in 2002.
Why does the Times Square scene not look like real Times Square?
The World Unity Festival battle was mostly shot on a replica set built at an old Rockwell/Boeing plant in Downey, California, rather than in the actual location.
Whether tracing Peter Parker's Queens roots on foot or touring the LA studios where the spectacle came together, fans have plenty of real-world ground to cover. A guided tour simplifies the map, but independent travelers can reach nearly every public location with a subway card and a good pair of shoes.
