Staten Island has long been considered the least known of New York's five boroughs.

In contrast to the glamour of Manhattan, the trendiness of Brooklyn, and the diversity of the Bronx and Queens, Staten Island has had a strong image as a quiet residential area. However, several movies and TV shows have played a significant role in changing or clarifying the image of this island.

The work that has had the greatest impact on shaping Staten Island's image is undoubtedly HBO's long-running drama series . Airing from 1999 to 2007, this series did not directly use Staten Island as its backdrop, but it strongly shaped the associative image of Staten Island by dealing with the Italian-American mafia culture of the New York-New Jersey area.

In fact, Staten Island is the area with the highest population of Italian-Americans in New York City, and the culture and lifestyle depicted in the show overlap significantly with the actual community on the island. As a result, the image of Staten Island became associated with Italian-Americans, white middle-class residents, and conservative values in popular culture.

The 2020 film contributed to a more nuanced portrayal of the area. Based on comedian Pete Davidson's real experiences, this film tells the story of a young man who struggles after losing his firefighter father in childhood. Everyday scenes from Staten Island, such as the local firehouse culture, neighborhood pizza shops, ordinary homes, and local parks, appear throughout the film. This movie reframed Staten Island not just as a remote part of New York, but as a community with a strong sense of identity and pride in its firefighters.

The series is also inextricably linked to Staten Island's image. Some of the Italian mafia family's backgrounds depicted in Mario Puzo's original novel and Francis Ford Coppola's film are rooted in Staten Island. In fact, the Todt Hill area of Staten Island has historically been known as a wealthy neighborhood associated with organized crime figures and is considered a pilgrimage site among mafia movie fans. This historical background has intertwined with popular culture to form a unique cultural identity for Staten Island.

On the other hand, reality TV shows have sometimes cast a negative image on Staten Island. VH1's was a reality show featuring the wives and daughters of organized crime figures living in Staten Island, airing from 2011 to 2016. This program further reinforced the image of Staten Island as connected to mafia culture. Some local residents expressed discomfort, feeling that such portrayals represented the entire island unfairly.

In the sports realm, former WWE wrestlers who grew up in Staten Island have frequently appeared in the media, contributing to the island's tough and gritty image. Additionally, the rap group Wu-Tang Clan hails from Staten Island, and their reference to the island as 'Shaolin' has given Staten Island a distinct identity in hip-hop culture. Their music and cultural influence have helped convey that Staten Island is not just an Italian-American community, but a place where diverse races and cultures coexist.

Documentaries focusing on Staten Island have also influenced the changing image of the area. Especially after the 9/11 attacks, documentaries and reports highlighting the sacrifices of Staten Island firefighters gained attention, solidifying the image of the area as the hometown of New York City public servants like firefighters and police officers. In fact, the proportion of Staten Island residents among the firefighters and police who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks was higher than in other boroughs.

Recently, Staten Island has been experiencing a gradual shift in its image. The Fresh Kills landfill is transforming into a large park, and new cultural facilities and art spaces are emerging, attracting the interest of younger generations. New York media is also increasing coverage and content that shines a new light on Staten Island. The island, long referred to as the 'forgotten borough,' is in the process of rediscovering its own personality and charm.

The image formed in popular culture does not always accurately reflect reality. Staten Island is an ordinary residential area far removed from the images of mafia or gangster culture, where people from diverse backgrounds live together. However, the images created by movies and TV shows have undoubtedly influenced how many people perceive this island, and it is hard to deny that these images have contributed to Staten Island's unique cultural identity.