Madame Tussauds New York: An Iconic Journey Between Glamour and Horror
In New York, everything is much more bombastic – and it turns out that the museums are, too. If we stick to the official definition of Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in New York, from the famous chain with branches worldwide, we should get the “largest wax museum in the world.” You can find hundreds of wax dolls from all fields here, alongside some experiential attractions, no less than taking pictures with your favorite characters. Yes, including a specific representation of the world of horror.
The first fact is that, quite traditionally, there is something scary about wax dolls, which makes horror fans who have seen movies starring them imagine that their favorite doll will come to life at any moment. Various wax museums worldwide, such as the Madrid Wax Museum or the relatively modest Wax Museum in Barcelona (which we previously reviewed on the site,) have taken it a few steps further with horror characters and sometimes scary attractions.
In the following review, we will present you with everything you need to know about the wax museum Madame Tussauds New York, which claims to offer visitors an experience that combines history, art, entertainment, pop culture, and, happily, horror. So, have we found another must-see attraction for genre lovers in the Big Apple?
What is Madame Tussauds New York?
If, for some reason, you have never heard of the name Madame Tussauds and have not yet read our review of Madame Tussauds in London, here is a brief introduction. The Madame Tussauds wax museum chain was founded by wax artist Marie in the 18th century. It started with a few single exhibitions, and following their success, wax museums opened all over the globe. Today, the chain has about 25 branches, each with hundreds of elaborate and mostly realistic dolls made using the unique technique developed by Tussauds.
The New York branch opened in late 2000 and is considered one of the chain’s most prominent. It is spread over five floors and offers more than 200 wax statues, most of which are impressively accurate. Since this is a very touristy place, you can perhaps conclude that the vast majority of the statues are celebrities that almost the entire world knows, in contrast to some of the chain’s other branches, which feature figures from local history or folklore that the average tourist may not necessarily be familiar with. But still, the vibe here is ultimately New York.
What Celebrities Are In Madame Tussauds New York?
Like other Madame Tussauds branches, the wax museum in New York is divided into several main categories (including horror, which we will focus on later). As of this writing, the museum’s impressive list of sculptures includes:
Music
The music sector in Madame Tussauds New York is an impressive and well-invested complex that combines the most essential historical musicians and some hot names. The catalog includes Elvis, Beyoncé, Harry Styles, rapper Megan Thee Stallion, Colombian singer Jerry Blevins, Dua Lipa, and Drake, one of the museum’s newest additions.
New York’s Gala Scene Glow Gala
A luxurious rooftop complex that will expose you to New York’s famous gala scene. Here you will find more celebrities, such as:
- Singer Ariana Grande, who also proved that she is a great actress (“Wicked”)
- Justin Bieber and his tattoo collection
- Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie
- Indian model, actress, and singer Priyanka Chopra which became famous after winning Miss Universe in 2000 and took part in quite a few films (“Baywatch”, “Isn’t It Romantic”)
- Several members of the Kardashian family, of course
You’ll also find a 360-degree interactive show based on advanced projection technology, in which celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and others dance to a song dressed as they perform at galas.
A Tribute To New York Seasons Of New York City
You’ll see New York’s Midtown come to life in this area. You can visit a “Christmas Wonderland” with Mariah Carey (speaking of horror movies), share a cab with Drew Barrymore, sit under the cherry tree with Selena Gomez, raise a toast with Leonardo DiCaprio, have breakfast with Audrey Hepburn, pole dance next to Jennifer Lopez, “make” wax in artist Andy Warhol’s factory and more.
You won’t do these things for real, but most visitors will pose for such photos, right?
Visiting MTNY Studios
As part of your visit to MTNY Studios, you can stay on Jimmy Fallon’s turquoise couch on The Tonight Show, join Al Roker for a forecast, or broadcast the news with Michael Strahan, the former football player turned journalist and TV host.
Marvel Heroes
In this part of the New York Madame Tussauds wax museum, you will meet some of the familiar characters from the vast Marvel cinematic universe, such as Captain America, Spider-Man, Thor, the Green Goblin, Nick Fury (played excellently by Samuel L. Jackson in the Marvel movies), Captain Marvel (recently portrayed by Brie Larson), and more.
One of the museum’s highlights is a four-dimensional video, “Marvel Universe 4D”, that will try to put you in a Marvel superhero movie. As part of the plot, you will meet characters such as Spider-Man, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Thor, Captain Marvel, The Black Panther, Groot, and others in their fight against Loki. Special effects, such as wind or water, are supposed to bring you into the experience.
Other Wax Figures In The New York Wax Museum Catalog
It is important to remember that Madame Tussauds Wax Museum updates its collection several times a year, and it is not always possible to know in advance who exactly will be standing in its wax version on the date of your visit. In our opinion, this is an advantage because it is essential to leave some room for surprises in places like this.
Madame Tussauds NYC list of figures also includes the following:
- Actors and Actresses – Super big names like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Matthew McConaughey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Cruise, George Clooney, Kate Winslet, Jennifer Aniston, Jodie Foster, Julia Roberts, Chris Pratt, Zac Efron, Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Zendaya
- Leaders from the United States and around the world, such as Benjamin Franklin, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris in the Purple Room (which will require an update following the results of the recent elections in the United States), Barack Obama, George Washington, Richard Nixon, the Dalai Lama, Martin Luther King, and others
- Musicians – Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Shakira, Lady Gaga, Pharrell Williams, Selena Gomez, Shawn Mendes and more
- Icons – including Albert Einstein, Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Frida Kahlo and even Mark Zuckerberg
- Athletes – Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, Usain Bolt, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Michael Phelps, Stephen Curry, Babe Ruth and more
- Characters from movies and TV series, including a particular representation of the world of horror: “The Exorcist,” “E.T,” “Terminator,” “King Kong” and more
- Fashion – mainly wax figures of top world models, such as Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks, Alessandra Ambrosio, Adriana Lima, Sofia Vergara, Kendall Jenner and others
Broadway Experience Star
You can’t talk about New York without mentioning Broadway, perhaps the most famous theater in the world. The wax museum has a special area that takes visitors behind the scenes of a Broadway show, with activities such as creating music using interactive musical instruments and costumes from the theater’s expansive repertoire. It will allow you to see yourself on set, “joining” the cast of a show.
Madame Tussauds Horror Section In NYC
Warner Bros Icons Of Horror
If you are a horror fan, this part can be the highlight of a visit here. The area is dedicated to the horror films of Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema and includes a set inspired by them, with various effects and surprises that will get you in the mood. Don’t expect too many scares in the Warner Bros Icons of Horror section because, after all, this is a wax museum and not a dungeon-style attraction, but it may be enough for horror fans.
As of this writing, you’ll meet four characters from four notable Warner Bros films here:
- The dancing clown Pennywise from the “It” films, in a wax statue based on Bill Skarsgård’s excellent portrayal of the clown in the two horror hits from 2017 and 2019
- The Nun is from the “Conjuring” cinematic universe, known as “Valak”. The Nun is a super creepy character who, in the opinion of this writer, deserves much better (and scarier) films than the two in which she was the main villain
- Regan MacNeil from William Friedkin’s masterpiece “The Exorcist” from 1993 – without a doubt one of the scariest horror characters of all time
- Annabelle from “The Conjuring” films initially appeared in a small role but later received three films of her own. Here too, the representation is of Annabelle as we know her from the movies and not the real (but more boring-looking) Raggedy Anne doll on which the movies are based
A visit to the horror icons complex is part of the wax museum’s admission ticket, but there are still a few things to remember before visiting here. The museum’s website recommends that entry be for boys and girls 13 and older because this area may scare the younger audience due to the darkness, special effects, and so on. A visit here is less recommended for people suffering from conditions such as heart and blood pressure problems, pregnant women, those with sensory sensitivities, people affected by flashing lights or loud noises, and so on.
If you are a horror fan who has already experienced attractions of this type, you will not likely have any problems here.
Clown Chaos Game In Seven Dimensions (7D)
“Clown Chaos Game” is another attraction, for an additional fee except in all-inclusive packages, that will appeal greatly to horror fans and anyone afraid of scary clowns. This is an interactive, multi-sensory experience in seven dimensions, where you have to shoot clowns at a horror fair to survive or defeat your friends.
Additional (Non-Scary) Experiences
Behind The Scenes Tour
If you want to get more into the making of such impressive Wax figures, you can do so on a half-hour guided tour, which will explain the process in detail (in English, of course). In this behind-the-scenes tour, you will learn about the sculpting, design, and painting process, see the museum’s wardrobe, and learn how each character is reduced to the smallest resolution, for example, by using human hair.
The tour departs daily at 12:00 and 14:00, and those who book must arrive at Madame Tussauds at least half an hour before their scheduled time.
The tour involves an additional entrance fee, which you will have to pay anyway (in other words, you cannot take a tour without entering the museum itself). Please note that you can’t take photos during the tour.
Creating A Wax Mold Of Your Hand
If you want to see what your hand looks like in wax, the next attraction is for you. For an additional fee – again, regardless of the entrance fee to the museum, which you will have to pay anyway – you can create a wax mold of your palm (only one alm), which can be a nice souvenir from the event. It is possible to customize the palm to your preferences, for example, in color or pattern.
The activity is for ages five and up. The museum website doesn’t recommend it for people with sensitive skin or allergies, people with heart problems, and pregnant women.
Everything You Need To Know Before Visiting Madame Tussauds New York
Madame Tussauds NYC Opening Hours
Madame Tussauds New York’s opening hours vary throughout the year, and we advise you to check the hours on your specific date before your visit (you can see this information on the museum’s official website).
The museum is generally open from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM or 10:00 PM to 9:00 PM during busier times of the tourist calendar. Please note that the last entry is at closing time.
How Long Does It Take To See Madame Tussauds New York?
For most visitors, a stroll through the waxworks at the museum—with plenty of photos to take—should be enough. The tour is self-guided and usually takes about 60-90 minutes. You may want to stay longer to participate in the museum’s activities.
Is Madame Tussauds NYC Worth It?
According to our impression, yes. The reviews of Madame Tussauds New York are primarily positive, with a 4.5 Rating on Google Maps and a 4 out of 5 rating on Tripadvisor.
Madame Tussauds New York Tickets And Combinations
Like other Madame Tussauds branches, the New York Wax Museum also offers several types of tickets, as well as the option to combine the attraction with others from the (very!) wide variety of New York attractions:
🎫 Standard Tickets, which include admission to the museum and the 4D Marvel superhero video
🎫 A ticket that combines admission to the museum, the 4D Marvel video, the 7D Clownds video, and a digital photo strip
🎫 The All Inclusive package, which includes, in addition to the attractions from the previous section, the preparation of a wax mold of the visitor’s palm
🎫 Guided tour – requires advance booking, in addition to each type of ticket, through the museum’s website
🎫 The New York Explorer Pass, which allows you to choose between 2 and 10 attractions and pay a discounted price of tens of percent
How Can You Buy Tickets?
We recommend you buy an entrance ticket in advance, depending on your favorite option, which can save you the queues at the ticket office (which can be very tiring) and, in some cases, save you money compared to booking on the spot.
The primary ticket websites offer the option of free changes or cancellations up to 24 hours before the attraction, which is a huge advantage when traveling in New York, which almost always requires flexibility.
You can buy tickets for Madame Tussauds New York on the following websites:
Where Is Madame Tussauds New York?
Madame Tussauds is located on 42nd Street in the Times Square neighborhood of Manhattan, New York, so it is a very accessible area, within easy reach of some of New York’s most critical must-see sites.
You can get to the wax museum by subway, bus, taxi, and even car if you rent a car in New York. You can find detailed information on how to get there here.
Some Important Points To Note Before Visiting:
🍔 It is not allowed to eat or drink inside the museum. If you bring food, you will need to finish it before entering the museum
📷 It is allowed to take pictures in the museum, except as part of the guided tour
🐕 Pets are not allowed in the museum, although it would have been amusing to see dogs barking at wax figures and not understanding why they are not moving
♿ The entire museum is wheelchair accessible, which is excellent news that, unfortunately, is not taken for granted. The museum does not provide wheelchairs
