The film "New York Taxi" tells the story of Belle Williams, the fastest taxi driver in New York, who dreams of participating in professional racing. She has turned her car into a real speed machine, but for now she has to transport passengers around the city, dreaming of real competitions. The film was shot primarily in the USA, with main locations in New York, and a small number of scenes were filmed in Marseille, France. Filming took place in several US cities, including New York, Los Angeles, and Avondale, where scenes at the Phoenix International Raceway oval track were shot. Real urban spaces of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Williamsburg were used to create dynamic chase scenes.
Special attention was paid to dynamic scenes involving cars, where taxi driver Belle (Queen Latifah) demonstrates virtuoso driving. For some stunt scenes, specially prepared areas and closed sections of city roads were used. An interesting fact is that actresses Queen Latifah and Gisele Bündchen underwent two months of extreme driving training for a more realistic performance of stunts. Many chase and stunt scenes were performed by Queen Latifah herself, while professional stunt doubles were used for Gisele Bündchen. The track scenes at Phoenix International Raceway allowed for spectacular shots with racing cars, which perfectly matched the film's plot about a taxi driver dreaming of becoming a professional racer.

Filming Locations:

Belle's Apartment

In the Movie

Scene where Belle returns home and sees the new car she will start working as a taxi driver. The day before, she quit her old job to start moving toward her dream of becoming a racer, and her first step is working for a taxi service, where she hopes to improve her driving skills.

In Reality

The scene was filmed in a garage space on 6th South Street in the Williamsburg neighborhood. At the time of filming, this was a typical working-class area with affordable rent, where young people with low incomes—couriers, taxi drivers, aspiring artists, and musicians—lived. The area looked unkempt, with industrial buildings and old warehouses, which perfectly reflects the status of the main character—an energetic but not very wealthy woman dreaming of professional racing. Despite the first impression, Williamsburg is currently one of the most transforming and promising places in Brooklyn and has been turning into a trendy urban neighborhood over the past 15 years.

Airport

In the Movie

Scene where the criminal gang of Vanessa (Gisele Bündchen) arrives in New York to commit a series of bank robberies. Vanessa and her accomplices leave the airport terminal and get into a taxi, expressing contempt for the driver and demanding careful handling of their luggage.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at the TWA terminal of John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. The airport building is a unique architectural structure designed by the famous architect Eero Saarinen in 1962. This terminal was considered one of the most original airport buildings in the world, embodying the "spirit of flight" and symbolizing the joy of travel. The choice of this terminal for filming "New York Taxi" was not accidental: its futuristic design with an elliptical roof supported by 32 columns created an ideal picture for dynamic Hollywood action. The TWA terminal was a true architectural landmark of New York that could add visual expressiveness to the film. The terminal was closed in 2001, but in 2019 it was transformed into a stylish premium hotel, preserving its original architectural appearance.

Deal Location with Cuban Criminals

In the Movie

Scene where police officer Andy Washburn conducts an undercover operation. He disguises himself as a Cuban dealer and arrives at a meeting with a small criminal gang to make an arrest or gather intelligence. Andy's appearance slightly confuses the criminals, but they take the bait and go with him into the building to conduct a criminal deal. Andy tries to look as natural as possible and not arouse suspicion, but he fails and the criminals quickly figure out that he is an undercover cop. A shootout ensues and they escape. This scene demonstrates Andy's willingness to take risks to solve a crime, despite previous failures that have tarnished his reputation at the police department.

In Reality

The scene was filmed in a building on 40th Avenue in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, one of the most multicultural, colorful, and urban areas of New York. It is known for its atmosphere: many street arts on the streets, small niche clubs, and antique shops, making it an ideal location for filming scenes with criminal undertones. The East Village is traditionally considered a territory with a multi-layered urban environment, where various subcultures have historically coexisted—from punks and artists to small traders and criminal groups. That is why this location looks so harmonious in the context of this scene. At the time of filming, the building was vacant, but over the years, small restaurants and eateries have opened and closed in this place.