Today I want to share my guide to movies set in San Francisco with you. There are lots of famous films that take place in the City by the Bay, and plenty of iconic San Francisco movie locations where they were filmed. Whether you’re looking to find where your favorite film was shot or just want to watch movies that take place in San Francisco, this list will help you. There’s a bonus at the end, too.
Movies Set in San Francisco
From classic films to Hollywood blockbusters, the best movies set in San Francisco span time and genre. Edge-of-your-seat thrillers, romantic comedies, and serious dramas have all been filmed in my home city.
From Alcatraz to Pacific Heights, steep hills to cable cars, they’ve been set in lots of great San Francisco movie locations.
Whether you’re looking for classic car chase scenes or houses from your favorite San Francisco movies, this post will show you where to find them.
1. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
First on my list of movies set in San Francisco is Mrs. Doubtfire. This classic Robin Williams comedy is about a divorced man who assumes a fake identity as an elderly woman in order to spend more time with his children.
Mrs. Doubtfire was shot in multiple locations in and around San Francisco, including Pacific Heights, Danville, and Berkeley.
The house from the movie is located at 2640 Steiner Street on the corner of Broadway in Pacific Heights. There are great views of the bay from outside of it.
The restaurant scene was filmed at Bridges Restaurant and Bar in Danville, and the country club scene was filmed at the Claremont Club and Spa near Oakland.
If you want to watch Mrs. Doubtfire, you can get it on Amazon here.
2. The Rock (1996)
Next on my list of movies set in San Francisco is The Rock. Many scenes from this 1996 film starring Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage were shot on and around Alcatraz, and there’s great footage of the island and prison throughout.
Other scenes from The Rock were shot at the Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina, The Fairmont San Francisco hotel in Nob Hill, and Jones Street. If you’re looking for films set in San Francisco, this one packs a lot of great locations in.
If you want to watch The Rock, you can get it on Amazon here.
3. The Princess Diaries (2001)
The Princess Diaries is another of the best movies set in San Francisco. The story of Mia, an awkward teenage girl who discovers she’s a princess, is a fun film starring Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews.
Filming locations for The Princess Diaries span the city. The house where Mia lives with her mother is on Brazil Avenue in the Excelsior.
The exterior of the school Mia attends is on 2601 Lyon Street (at Green Street), and the basketball courts with amazing views of the San Francisco Bay were filmed on the rooftop of The Hamlin School in Pacific Heights.
Mia’s best friend’s house is in Russian Hill, as is the scene where Mia gets in a car accident. The intersection of “Rose and Branch” is actually the junction of Broadway and Taylor. The scenes from the arcade were filmed at Land’s End.
If you want to watch The Princess Diaries, you can get it on Amazon here.
4. Bullitt (1968)
Next on my list of movies set in San Francisco is Bullitt. This Steve McQueen thriller is about a policeman who investigates a case after the witness he was assigned to protect is killed.
Bullitt is one of the most classic movies set in San Francisco, not least because of its car chase scenes. Most of the filming took place in the city, and locations include Grace Cathedral, Taylor Street, Union Street, and Marina Green.
If you want to watch Bullitt, you can get it on Amazon here.
5. So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993)
So I Married an Axe Murderer is next on my list of movies set in San Francisco. Starring Mike Meyers and Nancy Travis, it’s about a man named Charlie who falls in love with a woman he later suspects is guilty of killing her husbands.
This comedy is one of my favorite romantic movies set in San Francisco. Filming locations include iconic spots like the Palace of Fine Arts and Alcatraz.
The butcher shop is located on the corner of Union and Grant in North Beach (it’s now a pizza place), Charlie’s parents’ house is at 327a Hugo Street in the Inner Sunset, and the cafe where Charlie hangs out is the iconic Vesuvio Cafe on Columbus Avenue.
If you want to watch So I Married an Axe Murderer, you can get it on Amazon here.
6. Dirty Harry (1971)
Dirty Harry is another of the best movies set in San Francisco. This neo-noir action-thriller is about a police inspector who teams up with an inexperienced cop to track down the “Scorpio Killer”, a rooftop sniper who’s been murdering innocent people.
Starring Clint Eastwood, Dirty Harry is one of the most famous movies filmed in San Francisco.
Scenes were shot in places like the skyscraper at 555 California Street (where I used to work!), City Hall in the Civic Center, the Hall of Justice at 850 Bryant Street in SoMa, the Fort Mason Tunnel, and the area around the Aquatic Park.
If you want to watch Dirty Harry, you can get it on Amazon here.
7. Milk (2008)
Next on my list of movies set in San Francisco is Milk. A biopic about the life and tragic death of gay rights activist and politician Harvey Milk, this film starring Sean Penn is a truly local story.
San Francisco filming locations for Milk include Duboce Park, San Francisco Fire Department, City Hall, the Golden Gate Bridge, Noe Valley, Chinatown, Grace Cathedral, Market Street, and Castro Street.
If you want to watch Milk, you can get it on Amazon in the UK here and in the US here.
8. Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
As the name implies, Escape from Alcatraz is another of the best movies set in San Francisco. This film is a thriller about a convict who is sent to the prison on Alcatraz Island and decides to break out.
Like Dirty Harry, this film stars Clint Eastwood. There are lots of great San Francisco filming locations in this movie, including Alcatraz itself.
If you want to watch Escape from Alcatraz, you can get it on Amazon here.
9. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
Last on my list of movies set in San Francisco is The Pursuit of Happyness. Starring Will Smith, this film is about a struggling salesman who takes custody of his son after his wife decides to separate from him.
The Pursuit of Happyness features classic San Francisco filming locations like Golden Gate Park, the old Pacific Coast Stock Exchange at 301 Pine Street in the Financial District, and the skyscraper at 555 California Street.
The family home is set in a house at 1161 York Street in the Mission, too.
If you want to watch The Pursuit of Happyness, you can get it on Amazon in the UK here and in the US here.
BONUS: Full House
Okay, so it’s not a movie, but Full House is one of the most famous TV shows filmed in San Francisco. The story of a widowed father who raises three girls with the help of his brother-in-law and his best friend, it was a popular 1980s sitcom.
The house from Full House is located at 1709 Broderick Street in Lower Pac Heights. Scenes were shot throughout the city, including places like Alamo Square, the Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, and the San Francisco Bay.
If you want to watch Full House, you can get it on Amazon here.
Movies Set in San Francisco
I hope this guide to movies set in San Francisco has helped you discover some great new films to watch.
There are so many cinematic classics set in the City by the Bay, and I’m sure you’ll have fun viewing them. I hope they inspire you to visit the places they were set, too.
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