Plenty of famous sports arenas double up as movie sets. We could cite venues like the Boston Red Sox’s Fenway Park, which has been used for movies like Ted, Field of Dreams, and The Town, and Dodger Stadium in LA, which has been used for Superman Returns and The Naked Gun, among many others.
Yet, the absolute king among sports venues appearing in movies is clearly New York’s Madison Square Garden. It’s no surprise, given the venue’s status and longevity at the heart of New York sports and culture. It has appeared as a backdrop in numerous movies down the years, almost too many to mention.
In the next couple of weeks, MSG will come alive in real-life, as the New York Knicks have reached the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years. While the Knicks are underdogs in the NBA Finals betting odds, the atmosphere is sure to be electric come what may.
But which movies does the iconic arena pop-up in? Here are some of the most memorable:
Rocky III
The Rocky franchise has and always will be a love letter to Philadelphia, but the boxing match between Clubber Lang and the eponymous hero takes place at MSG. It was a deliberate choice because appearing at MSG in boxing means you have made it to the big time.
Mr. Deeds
Adam Sandler is a Knicks fanatic, and you’ll definitely spot him at the NBA Finals, so it’s no surprise to see MSG play a central role in Mr. Deeds. In the movie, Deeds takes over MSG for a romantic and audacious proposal.
Finding Forrester
We’re big fans of the use of MSG in this movie, because it uses the arena as more than just a setting. Jamal takes Forrester to a game at Madison Square Garden, but the crowd and scale become overwhelming for the reclusive writer.
Highlander
MSG has often been cited as a cathedral for pro-wrestling, and the brilliant-kitsch Highlander taps into that with scenes set at a wrestling event in the venue. As is often the case, some of the action was filmed at other venues and make to look like MSG.
Godzilla
The 1998 version of Godzilla put MSG at the center of the action. Many disaster and monster movies like to put famous landmarks front and center, but the use of MSG as a de facto creche for Godzilla’s eggs was creative. MSG was later destroyed in the movie.
Trainwreck
Amy Schumer joined the New York Knicks’ Dancers for a memorable scene as part of a romantic grand gesture in 2015’s Trainwreck. Schumer would return to MSG in the flesh ten years later to recreate the scene.
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Before the renaissance of Matthew McConaughey as a serious actor, he was constant. MSG is once again a setting to drive the romantic elements of the plot, forming the setting for a date between Andie and Ben.
Space Jam
Let’s finish with one of the most famous basketball movies, though not all the MSG scenes were filmed in New York. The 1996 version with Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes frames MSG as one of the epicenters of basketball.
