Law & Order
The longest-running drama franchise in television history, filmed almost entirely on the streets of New York City since 1990.
New York's Longest-Running Production
No television show has used New York City as extensively or as authentically as Law & Order. Since Dick Wolf's creation premiered on NBC in 1990, the franchise has filmed thousands of episodes across all five boroughs, turning real NYC locations into some of the most recognizable settings in television history. The iconic "chung chung" sound effect is as synonymous with New York as taxi horns.
Law & Order's commitment to location shooting has shaped how millions of viewers around the world perceive New York City. The show's gritty, realistic portrayal of the city — from courthouse steps to crime scenes in Central Park — created an indelible image of NYC as a place where justice is pursued through the streets and courtrooms of a living, breathing metropolis.
The franchise's economic impact on NYC is enormous. Decades of continuous production have employed thousands of local actors, crew members, and extras. The show's presence has become so routine in certain neighborhoods that longtime New Yorkers barely notice the filming signs anymore — Law & Order is simply part of the fabric of the city.
Iconic Filming Locations
100 Centre Street Courthouse
The New York County Courthouse at 100 Centre Street is the most iconic Law & Order location. Its Corinthian columns have appeared in thousands of establishing shots, making it one of the most filmed buildings in television history.
One Hogan Place — DA's Office
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office at One Hogan Place serves as the exterior for Jack McCoy's (and subsequent DAs') office. The building has become shorthand for prosecutorial power in American television.
Central Park Crime Scenes
Central Park has served as the discovery location for countless Law & Order victims. The show's frequent use of the park for opening crime scenes has made "body found in Central Park" a cultural trope.
27th Precinct (Various Locations)
While the fictional 27th Precinct doesn't exist, the show has used various real NYPD buildings for exterior shots. The precinct scenes represent the "Law" half of the show's signature split structure.
Rikers Island & The Tombs
The Manhattan Detention Complex ("The Tombs") and references to Rikers Island feature prominently. These locations ground the show in the realities of NYC's criminal justice system.
Related
Frequently Asked Questions
Law & Order films across all five boroughs. Key locations include 100 Centre Street courthouse, various NYPD precinct buildings, Central Park, One Hogan Place, and countless street locations throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.
Over 500 episodes of the original series alone, with thousands more across the franchise including SVU, Criminal Intent, and Organized Crime. The franchise has filmed continuously in NYC since 1990.
Yes, the exterior of 100 Centre Street — the New York County Courthouse — is the building most frequently shown in Law & Order's trial scenes. It's become one of the most recognizable structures in television.