By: Mario Mancini

New York City is stepping back in time this fall as two high-profile film productions turn city streets into vintage sets. Josh Safdie’s “Marty Supreme,” starring Timothée Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow, and Darren Aronofsky’s “Caught Stealing” with Austin Butler, are using iconic city locations to transport viewers to past decades. As the New York Post reported, the vibrant shoots bring classic NYC back to life, reviving familiar places from the 1950s and the gritty 1990s.

In “Marty Supreme,” Timothée Chalamet portrays a ping-pong champion in 1950s New York, reportedly inspired by real-life table tennis star Marty Reisman. Gwyneth Paltrow plays his romantic interest, adding a touch of old Hollywood glamour to the streets. Filming has taken over parts of the Lower and Upper East Side, complete with period-specific cars and signage that recall the look and feel of mid-century New York.

Meanwhile, “Caught Stealing” takes place in the ‘90s and brings director Darren Aronofsky’s unique style to NYC’s darker corners. Austin Butler stars as an alcoholic former baseball player who becomes embroiled in the East Village’s criminal underworld. The New York Post highlights how familiar sights like Kim’s Video and Benny’s Burritos, iconic businesses of the ‘90s, have been revived for authenticity. The film also stars Griffin Dunne, Liev Schreiber, and Zoë Kravitz, rounding out a cast that adds a star-studded edge to this period piece.

In the East Village, “Caught Stealing” transformed the exterior of 443 E. 6th St. to resemble “Neno’s Pizza,” an homage to Nino’s Pizza, a beloved pizzeria that served slices nearby for years until it closed in 2012. Though the location was actually home to the cocktail bar Amor y Amargo until late 2023, it now serves as a fictional slice of 90s NYC nostalgia. Soon, a new bar, All Hands, will open there, carrying on the space’s legacy. The New York Post also notes that the production briefly brought back the much-loved Benny’s Burritos, a staple Mexican joint that occupied a corner on Avenue A until 2014. The shoot was both a trip down memory lane and a minor inconvenience for residents grabbing their morning coffee, as some noted disruptions in their usual routines.

Another filming location included 14 Ave. A., currently home to the Double Down Saloon, a dive bar known for its punk-rock vibe and frequent appearances in music videos and commercials. For the movie, the production team went all out, even removing a television and lotto machine to re-create the bar’s 90s atmosphere. “They took away our technology,” a bartender quipped to the New York Post, underlining the film’s commitment to authenticity.

The re-creation of Kim’s Video, an East Village staple in the 90s, was particularly touching for former staff members. “[I] was delighted and surprised when photos of it began popping up,” shared Alex Ross Perry, a former employee who now runs Kim’s Instagram account, according to the New York Post. The storefront is now occupied by the Moscot eyewear flagship store, but for “Caught Stealing” it was transformed to its former life as a video rental spot.

Other notable transformations took place in the Upper East Side, where “Marty Supreme” utilized the well-preserved Orsay restaurant. Since its founding in 2000, Orsay’s classic French bistro design has been largely untouched, making it the perfect fit for the 1950s setting. An employee of Orsay told the New York Post that only a few period cars and some signage changes were needed. “