What movies feature the Chrysler Building?

Spider-Man (2002) has the Green Goblin fly around the crown, Men in Black 3 (2012) uses it in a time-jump, Armageddon (1998) destroys it in a meteor shower, and Godzilla films have torn it down repeatedly.

Can you go inside the Chrysler Building?

The lobby is open during business hours (a stunning Art Deco marble and chrome space), but the upper floors are private offices and the crown is not accessible to the public.

Is the Chrysler Building on a movie walking tour?

Yes. It is a stop on the NYC smart-glasses movie & TV history walking tour, which starts at 19 West 50th Street, New York and ends at Grand Central Terminal right across the street.

The Chrysler Building — Hollywood’s Favorite Art Deco Target

The Chrysler Building’s gleaming stainless steel crown is the most recognized skyscraper silhouette in American cinema — partly because Hollywood keeps blowing it up. Here’s where to see it, and the movies that made it a star.

The movies that featured the Chrysler Building

Spider-Man (2002)

The Green Goblin swoops around the crown in one of the first great CGI New York aerial battles. The triangular windows and the eagle gargoyles are unmistakable.

Men in Black 3 (2012)

The time-jump sequence uses the Chrysler Building crown as a landmark for 1969 New York, right before the Apollo 11 launch.

Armageddon (1998) & the monster movies

Armageddon’s meteor shower takes out the crown, and Godzilla (1998 and 2014) has stomped and demolished it on screen multiple times. It’s the building Hollywood loves to destroy.

Where to stand to see the crown

Look up from public sidewalks around 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue for views of the Art Deco crown. Keep crossings clear and follow local access restrictions. Lobby access can change and is not included or guaranteed by the walking tour.

See it with AR — the smart-glasses tour

The Chrysler Building is a stop on our NYC smart-glasses movie & TV history walking tour, near the end of the 14-stop Midtown route. Your guide discusses Men in Black 3 and Armageddon, distinguishing the real skyline landmark from sets and visual effects. Clips are shown at viewing stops in your chosen format; exact overlay alignment is not promised.

Practical info

Address: 405 Lexington Avenue, between 42nd and 43rd Streets
Lobby hours: check current building access; not guaranteed on this tour
Subway: 4, 5, 6, 7, S to Grand Central–42nd Street
Best view: public sidewalks near 42nd & Lexington

Frequently asked questions

Is the Chrysler Building open to the public?

The tour views the building from outside. Lobby access can change and is not guaranteed. The crown is not a public observatory.

Why does Hollywood keep destroying the Chrysler Building?

Because its Art Deco crown is the most recognizable silhouette in New York — audiences instantly know it’s Manhattan, so it makes the perfect target for aliens, monsters and meteors.

How close is the Chrysler Building to Grand Central?

It is directly across 42nd Street — less than a 2-minute walk from the Grand Central entrance, which is why the smart-glasses tour visits it near the end of the walk.