Movies have been shot in Central Park for just about a century now and we thought it would be a great idea to pick the ten best of all time. The criteria used in the selection process were admittedly biased, but we did use the results of the best Central Park movie poll that we've been running for the past two months.  Other factors in judging the results were how the park was depicted in the movie, and, of course, the quality of the film itself. Let us know what you think of our choices.

10. A Troll in Central Park

In terms of pure fantasy the best example of the park in cinema would be “A Troll in Central Park”, Don Bluth director, 1994. It's an animated fairytale about a troll, named Stanley, that is banished to New York City for having a green thumb, the punishment being the assumption that there is no greenery to be found amidst Manhattan's concrete canyons. Much to his delight, however, little Stanley finds himself dropped in Central Park, in mid-spring. The park is drawn beautifully, with remarkable respect given to geographic detail. The park becomes a final battle ground between powerful forces for good and evil. Of course the forces of good prevail and the park becomes an Eden-like garden in the process.

9. Hannah And Her Sisters

It is difficult to imagine a Woody Allen movie shot in New York that doesn't include scenes in Central Park. From his very first film - "Take The Money And Run" to the more recent "Anything Else" it seems that every one of Mr. Allen's films contains scenes shot around the park. While it never quite seems that the locale is essential to the action taking place (they are almost always scenes of exposition between characters) it does become apparent that the park is a crucial element in the urban landscape as imagined by the director. So we've picked "Hannah And Her Sisters" as the Woody Allen entry in the Central Park Top Ten. One of his best movies, it is also representative of six decades of cinematic work featuring Central Park as a movie sound stage.

8. The Muppets Take Manhattan

In the 1980's Central Park was just beginning to go through the transformation that has produced the pastoral gem we have today. After years of neglect the grime and graffiti of misuse and under funding was scraped off and the beautiful park we now enjoy every day began to re-emerge. The first movie to really celebrate this transformation was "The Muppets Take Manhattan" There are gorgeously pastoral scenes of Kermit and Miss Piggy in Central Park that convey a sense of bright optimism as the two share a sunny day around the brightly lit landscape. The park is once again proudly portrayed as the lovely center of the city that we know today.