Our team compiled the movies set in San Francisco and here is what they came up with
San Francisco has been the setting of some of the most iconic movies of all time. From its beautiful Bay vistas to its historic cable cars, the City by the Bay has captivated audiences of all ages and truly earned its place in the hall of fame of must-see cities. From romantic comedies to crime thrillers, San Francisco has been the backdrop for some of the greatest films ever made. Here are 24 of the best movies set in San Francisco.
Here are the 24 movies set in San Francisco to check out on the streaming service.
1. The Princess Diaries (2001)
Starring Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews, this delightful family comedy follows Mia Thermopolis, a shy teenage girl who learns that she is actually a princess. With the help of her grandmother, Queen Clarisse Renaldi, Mia must learn to navigate the world of royalty, all while trying to fit in with her classmates at a San Francisco high school. The film was praised for its light-hearted take on the classic princess story and for its charming performances. MPAA Movie Rating: G, Box Office: $165 million (adjusted for inflation), Year of Release: 2001.
2. Big (1988)
Tom Hanks stars as Josh Baskin, a 12-year-old boy who makes a wish to be “big” and is granted his wish by a mysterious carnival fortune teller. Josh wakes up the next morning to find that he is an adult and must figure out how to navigate life as a grown-up in San Francisco. The film was a box office success and earned Tom Hanks his first Academy Award nomination. MPAA Movie Rating: PG, Box Office: $175 million (adjusted for inflation), Year of Release: 1988, Starring: Tom Hanks.
3. Vertigo (1958)
Alfred Hitchcock’s classic psychological thriller follows a retired police detective, John “Scottie” Ferguson, who is hired to follow a mysterious woman named Madeleine. As Scottie follows Madeleine throughout the streets of San Francisco, he becomes increasingly obsessed with her and starts to unravel the truth about her identity. The film was a critical and commercial success, and is widely considered to be one of Hitchcock’s best films. MPAA Movie Rating: PG, Box Office: $1.3 million (adjusted for inflation), Year of Release: 1958, Starring: James Stewart and Kim Novak.
4. Dirty Harry (1971)
This classic action-thriller stars Clint Eastwood as Harry Callahan, a no-nonsense San Francisco police inspector who is tasked with stopping a ruthless serial killer nicknamed “Scorpio.” The film was praised for its gritty realism and thrilling action sequences, and was a major box office success. MPAA Movie Rating: R, Box Office: $80 million (adjusted for inflation), Year of Release: 1971, Starring: Clint Eastwood.
5. Bullitt (1968)
Steve McQueen stars as Frank Bullitt, a no-nonsense police lieutenant in San Francisco who is tasked with protecting a key witness. When the witness is murdered, Bullitt must find the killer before it’s too late. The film was praised for its intense car chase scenes and McQueen’s iconic performance. MPAA Movie Rating: PG, Box Office: $42 million (adjusted for inflation), Year of Release: 1968, Starring: Steve McQueen.
6. Milk (2008)
Sean Penn stars as Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in the United States. The film follows Milk’s rise to power in the San Francisco political scene and his efforts to promote LGBT rights. The film was praised for its poignant portrayal of Milk’s life, and Penn won an Academy Award for his performance. MPAA Movie Rating: R, Box Office: $48 million (adjusted for inflation), Year of Release: 2008, Starring: Sean Penn.
7. The Rock (1996)
This classic action-thriller stars Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage as a former British spy and a young FBI agent who team up to stop a group of rogue Marines from launching a chemical weapon at San Francisco. The film was a major box office success and was praised for its thrilling action sequences. MPAA Movie Rating: R, Box Office: $138 million (adjusted for inflation), Year of Release: 1996, Starring: Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage.
8. The Joy Luck Club (1993)
This moving drama follows four Chinese-American women who are reunited after years of separation. Together, they share their stories and reconnect with their cultural heritage as they come to terms with their pasts. The film was praised for its honest portrayal of the immigrant experience and was a major box office success. MPAA Movie Rating: PG-13, Box Office: $52 million (adjusted for inflation), Year of Release: 1993, Starring: Ming-Na Wen and Rosalind Chao.
9. 48 Hrs. (1982)
This classic buddy-cop comedy stars Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy as a mismatched pair of cops who must team up to track down a pair of dangerous criminals in San Francisco. The film was a major box office success and was praised for its sharp wit and thrilling action sequences. MPAA Movie Rating: R, Box Office: $80 million (adjusted for inflation), Year of Release: 1982, Starring: Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy.
10. The Breakfast Club (1985)
This iconic coming-of-age drama follows five high school students who are forced to spend a Saturday in detention together. As the day progresses, they come to realize that they have more in common than they initially thought. The film was praised for its honest portrayal of teenage life and was a major box office success. MPAA Movie Rating: R, Box Office: $85 million (adjusted for inflation), Year of Release: 1985, Starring: Emilio Estevez and Molly Ringwald.
11. Rear Window (1954)
Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller follows a wheelchair-bound photographer who suspects that his neighbor has murdered his wife. The film was praised for its suspenseful story and memorable performance by James Stewart. MPAA Movie Rating: PG, Box Office: $73 million (adjusted for inflation), Year of Release: 1954, Starring: James Stewart and Grace Kelly.
12. The Wedding Planner (2001)
This romantic comedy stars Jennifer Lopez as Mary Fiore, a successful wedding planner in San Francisco who falls for the groom of one of her weddings. The film was praised for its charming performances and was a major box office success. MPAA Movie Rating: PG-13, Box Office: $86 million (adjusted for inflation), Year of Release: 2001, Starring: Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey.
13. The Maltese Falcon (1941)
Humphrey Bogart stars as Sam Spade, a private detective in San Francisco who is hired to find a valuable statuette known as the Maltese Falcon. The film was praised for its gritty noir atmosphere and Bogart’s iconic performance. MPAA Movie Rating: Not Rated, Box Office: $21 million (adjusted for inflation), Year of Release: 1941, Starring: Humphrey Bogart.
14. The Towering Inferno (1974)
This classic disaster film stars Paul Newman and Steve McQueen as two firefighters who must save the occupants of a burning skyscraper in San Francisco. The film was a major box office success and was praised for its thrilling action sequences. MPAA Movie Rating: PG, Box Office: $128 million (adjusted for inflation), Year of Release: 1974, Starring: Paul Newman and Steve McQueen.
15. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
Robin Williams stars as Daniel Hillard, a divorced father who dresses up as an elderly nanny in order to spend time with his children. The film was praised for its heartwarming story and Williams’s memorable performance. MPAA Movie Rating: PG-13, Box Office: $219 million (adjusted for inflation), Year of Release: 1993, Starring: Robin Williams.
16. Fearless (1993)
This gripping drama stars Jeff Bridges as Max Klein, a man who survives a deadly plane crash and must come to terms with his survivor’s guilt. The film was praised for its powerful performances and was a major box office success. MPAA Movie Rating: R, Box Office: $82 million (adjusted for inflation), Year of Release: 1993, Starring: Jeff Bridges and Isabella Rossellini.
17. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
Will Smith stars as Chris Gardner, a struggling single father who takes on an unpaid internship in order to provide for his son. The film was praised for its honest portrayal of poverty and was a major box office success. MPAA Movie Rating: PG-13, Box Office: $163 million (adjusted for inflation), Year of Release: 2006, Starring: Will Smith.
18. The Enforcer (1976)
This classic action-thriller stars Clint Eastwood as Harry Callahan, a no-nonsense cop who is tasked with stopping a group of criminals from taking over San Francisco. The film was praised for its thrilling action sequences and was a major box office success. MPAA Movie Rating: R, Box Office: $67 million (adjusted for inflation), Year of Release: 1976, Starring: Clint Eastwood.
19. The Game (1997)
Michael Douglas stars as Nicholas Van Orton, a wealthy businessman who is invited to participate in a mysterious game that quickly spirals out of control. The film was praised for its suspenseful story and was a major box office success. MPAA Movie Rating: R, Box Office: $116 million (adjusted for inflation), Year of Release: 1997, Starring: Michael Douglas.
20. The Presidio (1988)
This classic crime-thriller stars Mark Harmon and Sean Connery as a pair of San Francisco cops who must investigate a murder at the Presidio military base. The film was praised for its thrilling action sequences and was a major box office success. MPAA Movie Rating: R, Box Office: $41 million (adjusted for inflation), Year of Release: 1988, Starring: Mark Harmon and Sean Connery.
21. Basic Instinct (1992)
Michael Douglas stars as Nick Curran, a San Francisco detective who is tasked with investigating the murder of a rock star. As he investigates, he finds himself drawn into a web of kinky sex and murder. The film was a major box office success and was praised for its suspenseful story and iconic performances. MPAA Movie Rating: R, Box Office: $157 million (adjusted for inflation), Year of Release: 1992, Starring: Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone.
22. Sudden Impact (1983)
This classic action-thriller stars Clint Eastwood as Harry Callahan, a no-nonsense cop in San Francisco who is tasked with stopping a vigilante from exacting revenge on those who wronged her. The film was praised for its thrilling action sequences and was a major box office success. MPAA Movie Rating: R, Box Office: $73 million (adjusted for inflation), Year of Release: 1983, Starring: Clint Eastwood.
23. The Conversation (1974)
Francis Ford Coppola’s classic thriller stars Gene Hackman as Harry Caul, a surveillance expert who is hired to eavesdrop on a mysterious couple in San Francisco. The film was praised for its tense story and Hackman’s iconic performance. MPAA Movie Rating: PG, Box Office: $11 million (adjusted for inflation), Year of Release: 1974, Starring: Gene Hackman.
24. The Birdcage (1996)
This classic comedy stars Robin Williams and Nathan Lane as a gay couple who must pretend to be straight in order to impress the conservative parents of their son’s fiancée. The film was praised for its witty dialogue and was a major box office success. MPAA Movie Rating: R, Box Office: $151 million (adjusted for inflation), Year of Release: 1996, Starring: Robin Williams and Nathan Lane.
Each of these movies offers a unique look at San Francisco, from the charming streets of its iconic neighborhoods to the sweeping views of the Bay. From comedies to thrillers, these 24 movies prove that San Francisco is the perfect backdrop for any kind of story.