Which New York City neighborhood is the setting of the 2021 film musical In the Heights?

The 2021 film musical In the Heights is set in Washington Heights, a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City.

The story follows Usnavi and the residents of a largely Dominican and Latino community as they pursue their “sueñitos,” or little dreams. The neighborhood is not merely a backdrop: its streets, businesses, music, family ties, and changing identity drive the film’s central themes.

In the Heights began as a stage musical created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, with a book by Quiara Alegría Hudes. After an Off-Broadway run in 2007, it opened on Broadway in 2008 and won four Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Jon M. Chu directed the 2021 film adaptation.

A common mix-up is Jackson Heights, another well-known New York neighborhood with a large immigrant population. Despite the similar name, Jackson Heights is in Queens, while Washington Heights is in northern Manhattan. The film’s production also used locations across New York City, but its fictional community is firmly rooted in Washington Heights.