The Staten Island Ferry has been the backdrop of many movies, tv shows, and music videos.
The Best: I Love Lucy — “Staten Island Ferry”
The classic of course is the 1956 I Love Lucy episode, “Staten Island Ferry”, where Lucy takes Fred on the Staten Island Ferry to cure him of seasickness — for an upcoming cruise the Riccardo’s and Mertz’s are soon to go on.
Instead, Lucy gets sea sick.
When I asked Grok AI for a list of movies and TV shows that used the Staten Island Ferry as a backdrop — it did not list this episode. When I asked it specifically for TV Shows from the 50’s, it said “TV shows in the 1950s were mostly live broadcasts or anthology series, and none were identified with significant Staten Island Ferry scenes driving the narrative.”
So much for AI — the I Love Lucy show was the most popular tv sitcom of the 1950’s and this episode was TITLED “Staten Island Ferry.”
It is an absolute classic episode and a rare starring role for the Ferry — where the Ferry itself plays a main character, vs being a backdrop. Imagine taking the Ferry to cure someone of seasickness — that in itself is very funny as NY harbor is extremely tranquil, it being a harbor.
The Worst: Batman, Dark Knight
As a person who commuted on the Staten Island Ferry daily for many years, the worst portrayal of the Ferry commute I ever saw was the insult provided by director Christopher Nolan in 2008’s Batman, Dark Knight. Nolan clearly never rode the Ferry during a commute in his life.
It was pure fakery of what it is like to ride the ferry.
The Stupidist: Spiderman, Homecoming
The winner of the stupidist Staten Island Ferry scene is 2017’s Spiderman, Homecoming, directed by Jon Watts. The filming of the Ferry was at first realistic — they filmed on a Marchi-class boat, the Spirit of America.
But the CGI splitting of the boat and then re-attachment of it by Spiderman web (with help at the end from Ironman) was unrealistic and stupid.
Working Girl
Working Girl is a movie forever synonymous with the Staten Island Ferry, as Meg Griffin’s character is that of a typical Staten Islander who works in Manhattan, and commutes on the Ferry each day. The movie opens up with The Staten Island Ferry and that morning commute that so many Staten Islanders have known through the years.
Madonna — Pappa Don’t Preach
And the most famous music video that is synonymous with the Staten Island Ferry is Madonna’s Papa Don’t Preach, which kicks off with Ferry scenes, and includes scenes on the Ferry within.
Other Movies
Other movies that include The Staten Island Ferry as a backdrop are:
- How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) — Banter between Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey on deck, advancing their bet
- Manhattan (1979) — Brief but poignant ride where Woody Allen’s neurotic protagonist reflects on his life amid the harbor views.
- Who’s That Knocking at My Door? (1967) — Martin Scorsese’s debut feature; scenes shot on the ferry and at the St. George terminal, capturing gritty 1960s NYC life.
- That Kind of Woman (1959) — Sophia Loren and Jack Warden. A romance comedy where the ferry’s deck becomes a stage for budding affection.
- Ferry Tales (2003) — a documentary wherein women commuters of the ferry provide their post-9-11-2001 stories.
- The King of Staten Island (2020) — Main character Scott (Pete Davidson) kisses his girlfriend on the ferry.
Other TV Shows
- Sex and the City (2001, season 4, episode 6: “Boy, Interrupted”) — The girls take a bachelorette-style ferry ride, gossiping about love and life as Manhattan recedes.
There are many others. We’ll add more here going into the future.
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