The filming of "The Greatest Showman" took place in New York City and its surroundings. New York was chosen not by chance: the city with its historical architecture and atmosphere perfectly conveys the spirit of the era in which Phineas Taylor Barnum lived. The central circus scenes were filmed in studios to recreate the unique atmosphere of the show. The choice of these locations made it possible to create an authentic and captivating visual picture that matches the time and place of the film.

Filming Locations:

Square

In the Movie

The scene where The film "The Greatest Showman" ends with a scene of a grand performance of the new, restored circus after Barnum handed over management of the show to Carlyle (Byron Jenning) and himself steps into the background to spend time with his family. Even after stepping away from business, Phineas Taylor Barnum remains a showman and effectively arrives at his daughters' performance on a huge elephant. The atmosphere on the street is lively, people stop to watch the unusual spectacle, and children wave to him with delight. His wife and children are waiting for him on the stairs. After he gets off the elephant, they go inside together and then we see footage of him watching his daughters' performance with his wife.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at Foley Square in New York City. A mechanical elephant was used for filming, which was later replaced with a computer-generated one in post-production. This location was chosen for its historical significance and architecture, perfectly conveying the atmosphere of 19th-century New York.

Opera House

In the Movie

The scene where Barnum, along with the troupe and audience, enjoy the performance of Jenny Lind (Rebecca Ferguson). Her performance delights both the public and Barnum. The audience is moved to tears and gives her a standing ovation; she saves the show. At the same time, her performance and the lyrics of the composition are dedicated to Barnum, with whom she is in love. Barnum's wife understands this and becomes desperate.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at the Howard Gilman Opera House in New York City, which was chosen for its magnificent architecture and atmosphere, perfectly suited for the performance scene. Opera houses are known for their excellent acoustics, which is important for musical scenes. The film "The Greatest Showman" has many musical numbers, and good acoustics help create high-quality sound.

Charity's Parental Home

In the Movie

The scene where Phineas Taylor Barnum, played by Hugh Jackman, returns to Charity's parents' home to ask for her hand in marriage. He is nervous but determined. When he knocks on the door, Charity's father, Mr. Hallett, opens it. Barnum politely asks for permission to marry Charity. Mr. Hallett agrees but expresses doubts that their marriage will be successful due to the possible hardships and difficulties his daughter will face living with a not very wealthy man. At that moment, a happy Charity comes out to Barnum, and they leave her home together, showing their determination to be together despite everything.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at the historic country club in Scarborough-on-Hudson in Briarcliff Manor, New York. It was founded in 1911 and occupies an area of about 338 acres. The club includes the magnificent Woodlea mansion, which was built in 1895 for Margaret Vanderbilt Shepard, a member of the famous Vanderbilt family. This mansion was chosen for the location of Charity's family home due to its grandeur and historical significance, which added extra depth and believability to the scenes. Although the mansion does not fully correspond to the historical period in which the film's events take place, its splendor and atmosphere perfectly convey the spirit of the time and emphasize the status and wealth of Charity's family.