“Mr. Robot” is a popular American drama thriller TV series created by Sam Esmail for USA Network. The show stars Rami Malek as Elliot Alderson, a cybersecurity engineer and hacker. Elliot has many mental health issues, including social anxiety disorder, clinical depression, and dissociative identity disorder. He is recruited by a mysterious man called “Mr. Robot,” played by Christian Slater, to join a group of hackers called “fsociety.” Their goal is to destroy all debt records by hacking and encrypting the financial data of a huge corporation called E Corp.
“Mr. Robot” has been praised for its story, visual presentation, and the performances of Rami Malek and Christian Slater. The series has won several awards, including Golden Globe Awards, Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Peabody Award. The show has also developed a strong fan base.
Where was “Mr. Robot” Season 1 filmed?
The entire first season of “Mr. Robot” was filmed in New York City. The city provided a gritty and realistic backdrop for the story. Some of the key locations include Silvercup Studios, Queens College, and Coney Island. Coney Island is especially important as it is shown as the base of operations for the hacking group fsociety.
New York City, New York
Ron’s Coffee: The opening scene of the series takes place in a coffee shop called “Ron’s Coffee.” In reality, this location is Think Coffee on 4th Avenue, between 12th and 13th Street. This is where Elliot first shows his hacking skills by uncovering that the coffee shop owner, Ron (whose real name is Rohit Mehta), is running a child pornography site. The scene ends with Ron getting arrested by the police.
Church Avenue Subway Station: Elliot meets Mr. Robot for the first time at the Church Avenue Subway Station in Flatbush, Brooklyn. Mr. Robot, who looks like a homeless man, starts talking to Elliot, and they both get off at the F/G Church Avenue platform. Even though Mr. Robot says they’re “going to Brooklyn,” they are already in Brooklyn. This scene highlights the confusion and mystery surrounding Mr. Robot’s character.
Allsafe Security: Elliot works at a company called Allsafe Security. The exterior shots of Allsafe are actually of the Trump Soho, but the interior scenes in the pilot episode were filmed in an office near Grand Central Terminal in Midtown East. The building’s exterior is recognizable by the distinctive facade of the Mobil Building at 150 East 42nd Street. The location later changes in the series, with the interior shots possibly being filmed on a set.
Elliot’s Apartment Building: Elliot lives in an apartment building at 217 E. Broadway in the Lower East Side/Chinatown area. He shares this place with his drug dealer turned lover turned girlfriend. The building has a few posters of E Corp, the big corporation Elliot works against, on a closed dumpling shop next door. The entire building was sold in June 2023 for 3.3 million dollars.
Times Square: Times Square is a significant location in the first season, especially in the finale. Elliot is shown celebrating a victory in the middle of Times Square, surrounded by people, lights, and advertisements. However, his joy is short-lived as he is soon picked up by men in black suits and taken away. Later in the season, Elliot returns to an empty Times Square while struggling with his mental health. The production team filmed these scenes late at night to capture Times Square at its emptiest.
E Corp Headquarters: The curved building at 135 E. 57th Street in New York City serves as the exterior of E Corp’s headquarters in the series. The building stands out with its unique temple-like structure at the entrance. This building was also used in the original Spider-Man film as the offices of the villain Norman Osborn.
Trump Soho: E Corp Boardroom: Inside the E Corp headquarters, Elliot meets Tyrell Wellick, the new interim CTO of E Corp. The boardroom scenes were filmed inside the Trump Soho, a hotel owned by Donald Trump. The room offers a stunning view of the city, adding to the tension between Elliot and Tyrell during their confrontation.
Queens Plaza: In one scene, Tyrell Wellick pays a homeless man to beat him up. This disturbing act takes place between Queens Plaza South and 13th Street. The scene highlights Tyrell’s dark side and his need to release tension in a twisted way.
Pierre Loti Wine Bar: Elliot uses his hacking skills for good, such as when he hacks the man his therapist is dating. He discovers that the man is married and has been lying to his therapist. The scene where Elliot waits for his therapist and her date to leave Pierre Loti, a wine bar and tapas restaurant, was filmed at the location on 301 E. 52nd Street. The bar appears again in a later episode when the therapist is tricked into meeting the cheating man again.
Brooklyn Night Bazaar: F Society, the hacking group, is a diverse team that includes people of different genders and ethnicities. Two female members, Trenton and Darlene, meet with another hacking group called The Dark Army at the Brooklyn Night Bazaar. This location was a mixture of a performance space, game room, and market. The property at 15 Banker Street in Williamsburg was bought by BMW, causing the Bazaar to move to a new location. As of 2019, the building has been demolished.
Coney Island Boardwalk: One of the most important scenes in the first season takes place on the Coney Island Boardwalk. Elliot and Mr. Robot have a deep conversation on the boardwalk, which is a popular destination for beachgoers and tourists. The boardwalk is usually shown as sunny and cheerful in movies, but in “Mr. Robot,” it is depicted in a more serious and dramatic way.
Queens Museum: When Elliot goes missing, Darlene convinces Angela to help her search for him. They meet at the Queens Museum, a place where Elliot always went when he was in trouble. The girls search for him in the room with the model of New York City, known as the Panorama of the City of New York. However, they are unable to find him there.
Brooklyn College: Darlene meets Cisco, her ex-boyfriend and a liaison to The Dark Army, at Brooklyn College. They have a tense conversation where Cisco tells her that he never wants to see her again. However, he also informs her that The Dark Army has agreed to help F Society.
F Society Headquarters: The headquarters of F Society is shown as an abandoned arcade in Coney Island. In reality, the exterior shots were filmed at the Eldorado Arcade on Surf Avenue and The Bowery. The arcade is still operating and has been a fixture in Coney Island for decades. The interior scenes of the headquarters were filmed on a set at Silvercup Studios in Long Island City.
Nick Walker’s Love Vandal Street Art: Elliot wakes up after two days in Tyrell Wellick’s SUV in a parking lot below Nick Walker’s Love Vandal street art piece. This artwork is located on 17th Street and 6th Avenue in Chelsea. Elliot is completely confused and spends the next few episodes trying to figure out what happened to him.
Gotham Hall: Angela, who joins E Corp later in the season, witnesses the suicide of one of the top leaders of the company. The press announcement that follows takes place at Gotham Hall, a former bank near Herald Square that is now used as an event space.
Newtown Creek: Elliot’s life is in danger when the brother of Shayla’s drug dealer, Fernando Vila, takes him to Newtown Creek on the border of Queens and Brooklyn to execute him. Elliot realizes that the brother is trying to take over Vila’s network and betray him. This scene adds to the intense and dangerous atmosphere of the show.
The first season of “Mr. Robot” made excellent use of New York City’s diverse locations to create a gripping and realistic atmosphere. From the busy streets of Times Square to the quiet corners of Coney Island, each location added depth and authenticity to the story. The series not only tells a compelling story but also showcases the vibrant and varied landscape of New York City.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Mr. Robot Season 1
Q: Where was “Mr. Robot” Season 1 filmed?
A: “Mr. Robot” Season 1 was primarily filmed in New York City, with key locations including Coney Island, Times Square, and various spots in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Q: When was “Mr. Robot” Season 1 filmed?
A: Filming for “Mr. Robot” Season 1 took place from mid-2014 to early 2015.
Q: When was “Mr. Robot” Season 1 released?
A; “Mr. Robot” Season 1 premiered on June 24, 2015, on USA Network.
Q: Which locations in New York were prominently featured in “Mr. Robot” Season 1?
A: Some prominent New York locations featured include Ron’s Coffee (Think Coffee), Church Avenue Subway Station, and the Coney Island Boardwalk.
Q: How were the filming locations chosen for “Mr. Robot” Season 1?
A; The locations were chosen to reflect the gritty, urban atmosphere of the series, capturing the essence of New York City’s diverse neighborhoods and landmarks.
