The film was made as a low-budget comedic adventure, marking the screen debut of Arnold Schwarzenegger, credited as 'Arnold Strong'. The plot follows the Greek demigod Hercules, who grows tired of his eternal life on Mount Olympus and yearns to experience the mortal world. After being accidentally hurled to Earth by one of Zeus's lightning bolts, he lands in modern-day New York City, where he must navigate everyday life with his divine strength and complete lack of understanding of human customs. Along the way, he makes friends — a pretzel vendor and a college professor's daughter — who help him adapt, while Zeus sends the goddess Nemesis to bring him back. The film was shot entirely on location in Manhattan, capturing iconic landmarks and street scenes of late-1960s New York, giving it an authentic urban backdrop despite its tiny budget.

Countries: USA
Genres: Comedy, Fantasy
Trailer
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Filming Locations

St. Patrick's Cathedral

Address: Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10022, USA
Coordinates: 40.7585128, -73.9764977
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Hercules walks past the grand facade of St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue, admiring the exquisite Gothic architecture that reminds him of the temples on Mount Olympus.

At one of the most famous neo-Gothic cathedrals in the US, located on Fifth Avenue in midtown Manhattan. Built in 1878, it serves as the seat of the Archbishop of New York and is a major tourist attraction, occupying an entire block between 50th and 51st Streets opposite Rockefeller Center.

Broadway (between West 88th and 89th Streets)

Address: Broadway & W 89th St, New York, NY 10024, USA
Coordinates: 40.7622941, -73.974469
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Hercules strolls along Broadway on the Upper West Side, soaking in the sights and sounds of Manhattan street life as he begins to explore the city after arriving from Mount Olympus.

On a stretch of Broadway on Manhattan's Upper West Side, the major north-south artery that runs through the entire borough. This block between 88th and 89th Streets is a residential and commercial area with classic pre-war buildings and local shops, typical of the neighborhood's character in the late 1960s.

Bethesda Terrace, Central Park

Address: Bethesda Terrace, Central Park, New York, NY 10024, USA
Coordinates: 40.773622, -73.970955
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Hercules visits the Bethesda Terrace area in Central Park, where he encounters New Yorkers relaxing by the fountain and begins to appreciate the pleasures of the mortal world.

At the famous two-level terrace in the heart of Central Park at 72nd Street, featuring the iconic Bethesda Fountain and the Angel of the Waters sculpture. It is one of the most photographed spots in New York and a location for dozens of films. The exquisite Minton tile ceiling in the arcade below is a famous architectural detail.