Maps of Movies

Birdman (2014)

Where Birdman says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

A film made to look like one unbroken shot, mostly built on a studio set in Queens, with a real walk through Times Square

Scenes and places

Locked out by the fire escape door (2014)

Riggan slips out for a smoke after catching his daughter with another actor, and his robe snags in the fire escape door as it shuts behind him. He is locked out in his underwear with his scene about to start.

Set in Backstage fire escape door — A stage door and fire escape outside the theatre where Riggan steps out for a smoke.

A back door and fire escape that opens onto the street behind the theatre.

The walk through Times Square in his briefs (2014)

Riggan has no way back in except through the street, so he crosses Times Square in his briefs. Strangers film him, and he still has to get to the stage in time.

Set in Times Square — The crowded Midtown junction Riggan crosses in his underwear to get back into the theatre. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The brightly lit Midtown crossroads of Broadway and Seventh Avenue.

Filmed at Times Square, Manhattan (Midtown Manhattan · Times Square, New York, United States) — The film's Times Square walk was shot live among the crowds, in only two takes. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Back through the audience to the stage (2014)

Still in his briefs, Riggan walks down the aisle and through the audience to begin the final scene. The preview crowd watches him play it out.

Set in Broadway theatre — The Broadway house where Riggan's play is previewing and where he comes in through the audience. Google Maps · Apple Maps

A historic Broadway theatre on West 44th Street.

Filmed at St. James Theatre, 246 W 44th St (Midtown Manhattan · Theater District, New York, United States) — The French Wikipedia names the St. James Theatre as the theatre used as the film's setting; some theatre scenes were built on a studio stage instead. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The dressing room after the show (2014)

Sam is waiting for him after the show and finds the performance odd but interesting. She shows him the Times Square clip going viral and tells him it helps him.

Set in Riggan's dressing room — The dressing room backstage where Sam waits for her father after the preview.

A studio set in Queens standing in for a Broadway backstage.

Filmed at Kaufman Astoria Studios, Astoria (Queens · Astoria, New York, United States) — The production hired Kaufman Astoria Studios for the camera-heavy backstage scenes, so the dressing room is a studio set rather than the real theatre. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The bar and the critic (2014)

Riggan goes to a bar for a drink and walks up to the critic Tabitha Dickinson. She tells him she hates what he stands for and will kill the play without even seeing it.

Set in Midtown bar — A bar where Riggan sits down with the most powerful critic in New York theatre.

A hotel bar just off Times Square.

Filmed at The Rum House, Hotel Edison, W 47th St (Midtown Manhattan · W 47th St, New York, United States) — The film's bar segments were shot in the Rum House, the bar of the Hotel Edison on 47th Street. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The stoop with a pint of whiskey (2014)

On the walk back from the bar, Riggan buys a pint of whiskey, drinks it and passes out on a stoop. It is the lowest he sinks before opening night.

Set in A Manhattan stoop — A residential stoop on his way back from the bar.

An ordinary stoop in Manhattan.

Characters

• Riggan Thomson — A faded actor famous for playing a superhero, now staging a Broadway play he wrote, directs and stars in.
• Sam — Riggan's daughter, a recovering drug addict who works as his assistant.
• Tabitha Dickinson — A cynical and highly influential theatre critic.

Questions answered on the map

• Where did Riggan really walk in his briefs in Birdman?
• Which bar is the critic's bar in Birdman?