Ten Best Films Set in San Francisco

Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks the ten best films set in San Francisco from crime and thrillers like Dirty Harry to classics like Hitchcock’s Vertigo.

San Francisco Skyline

San Francisco's iconic hills, fog-kissed bridges, and distinct architecture have long made it a compelling backdrop for filmmakers.

The city itself often feels like a character, contributing to the mood and narrative of countless stories. Here are ten of the best films set in the City by the Bay, each offering a unique glimpse into its multifaceted personality.

Ten Best Films Set in San Francisco

Vertigo (1958)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Stars: James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes

Summary: This classic psychological thriller follows retired police detective John "Scottie" Ferguson, who suffers from acrophobia and vertigo. Hired to follow a friend's wife, Madeleine, who is seemingly possessed by the spirit of her dead grandmother, Scottie becomes obsessed with her. His investigation leads him through a series of strange and unsettling events across San Francisco, blurring the lines between reality, illusion, and obsession.

The film is a masterclass in suspense and explores themes of identity, manipulation, and the power of the past.

Locations to visit: Mission Dolores (for the cemetery scene), Fort Point (beneath the Golden Gate Bridge).

Watch it here: https://amzn.to/4m8lRUe

Bullitt (1968)

Director: Peter Yates

Stars: Steve McQueen, Jacqueline Bisset, Robert Vaughn

Summary: Lieutenant Frank Bullitt is a no-nonsense San Francisco police detective tasked with protecting a key witness in a mob trial. When the witness is murdered, Bullitt goes on a relentless hunt for the killers, navigating the city's underworld and engaging in one of cinema's most legendary car chases.

The film is renowned for its gritty realism, cool style, and authentic portrayal of police work, cementing Steve McQueen's image as the king of cool and showcasing San Francisco's steep streets and diverse neighborhoods.

Locations to visit: Taylor Street (for the start of the car chase), Various streets in Potrero Hill.

Watch it here: https://amzn.to/3Z9zatw

Dirty Harry (1971)

Director: Don Siegel

Stars: Clint Eastwood, Harry Guardino, Reni Santoni

Summary: "Dirty" Harry Callahan is a tough, unconventional San Francisco police inspector known for his controversial methods. He is assigned to catch a sadistic serial killer known as Scorpio, who is terrorizing the city. As Scorpio continues his spree, Harry is forced to bend the rules and confront the limitations of the justice system to bring the killer to justice.

The film established Clint Eastwood as an anti-hero icon and sparked debate about police brutality and civil rights, all against the backdrop of a grimy, urban San Francisco.

Locations to visit: City Hall (used for the Mayor's office), Kezar Stadium (where Scorpio holds a victim).

Watch it here: https://amzn.to/3RSSg3p

The Conversation (1974)

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Stars: Gene Hackman, John Cazale, Allen Garfield

Summary: Harry Caul is a surveillance expert in San Francisco, hired for a routine job to record a seemingly innocuous conversation between two lovers in Union Square. However, as he meticulously analyzes the tapes, Harry begins to believe he has stumbled upon a potential murder plot. Plagued by guilt from a past case, he becomes increasingly paranoid and isolated, descending into a moral and psychological crisis.

The film is a tense, atmospheric study of privacy, technology, and the weight of conscience.

Locations to visit: Union Square (where the initial conversation is recorded), Portsmouth Square.

Watch it here: https://amzn.to/4jN9cEM

Escape from Alcatraz (1979)

Director: Don Siegel

Stars: Clint Eastwood, Patrick McGoohan, Fred Ward

Summary: Based on a true story, this gripping thriller follows Frank Morris, a cunning bank robber transferred to the seemingly inescapable Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in San Francisco Bay. Determined to regain his freedom, Morris begins meticulously planning an elaborate escape with the help of a few fellow inmates.

The film details their painstaking efforts to tunnel out of their cells and navigate the treacherous waters surrounding the island, highlighting the psychological toll of incarceration and the enduring human desire for liberty.

Locations to visit: Alcatraz Island (the actual former prison, now a National Park site).

Watch it here: https://amzn.to/4d84lvf

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

Director: Chris Columbus

Stars: Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan

Summary: After a messy divorce, voice actor Daniel Hillard is devastated when he loses custody of his children. In a desperate attempt to see them every day, he disguises himself as a kindly Scottish nanny, Mrs. Doubtfire, and applies for the job as his ex-wife's housekeeper.

Hilarity and heartwarming moments ensue as Daniel navigates his dual life, learning valuable lessons about parenthood, responsibility, and the importance of family. The film beautifully showcases the residential charm of San Francisco.

Locations to visit: The 'Mrs. Doubtfire' house (2640 Steiner Street), Alamo Square Park (with views of the Painted Ladies).

Watch it here: https://amzn.to/4k9jDlA

The Rock (1996)

Director: Michael Bay

Stars: Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, Ed Harris

Summary: A rogue group of U.S. Force Recon Marines, led by Brigadier General Frank Hummel, seizes control of Alcatraz Island and threatens to launch missiles armed with a deadly nerve gas at San Francisco unless their demands are met. The FBI sends a young, unconventional chemical weapons expert, Dr. Stanley Goodspeed, and a legendary former Alcatraz inmate, John Mason, onto the island to neutralize the threat.

This action-packed thriller features explosive sequences and utilizes Alcatraz and various San Francisco landmarks to great effect.

Locations to visit: Alcatraz Island, The Fairmont San Francisco hotel (where some scenes were filmed).

Watch it here: https://amzn.to/4k2W8uo

Zodiac (2007)

Director: David Fincher

Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr.

Summary: Based on the true story of the Zodiac Killer, a cryptic serial killer who terrorized Northern California in the late 1960s and 1970s, this crime thriller follows the investigators and journalists obsessed with identifying and capturing him. A San Francisco Chronicle cartoonist, Robert Graysmith, becomes particularly engrossed in the case, using his puzzle-solving skills to decipher the killer's letters and codes.

The film is a meticulous and atmospheric portrayal of the frustrating, years-long investigation that consumed the lives of many.

Locations to visit: The former offices of the San Francisco Chronicle (901 Mission Street - exterior), Many street locations throughout the city.

Watch it here: https://amzn.to/3SrDnVP

Milk (2008)

Director: Gus Van Sant

Stars: Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin

Summary: This biographical drama tells the story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California, serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. The film chronicles his activism in the Castro district, his political campaigns, and his fight for LGBTQ+ rights in the face of discrimination and prejudice.

Sean Penn's transformative performance brings Milk's passion and charisma to life, capturing the spirit of a pivotal era in San Francisco's history.

Locations to visit: Harvey Milk Plaza (at the Castro Muni station), The Castro Theatre.

Watch it here: https://amzn.to/4iZD3Zp

Pacific Heights (1990)

Director: John Schlesinger

Stars: Melanie Griffith, Matthew Modine, Michael Keaton

Summary: A young couple, Patty and Drake, buy a beautiful Victorian home in the affluent Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco and renovate it with their savings. To help with expenses, they rent out the downstairs apartment to a seemingly charming man named Carter Hayes. However, Hayes turns out to be a manipulative and predatory tenant who exploits legal loopholes to torment them and ultimately try to steal their home.

This psychological thriller taps into the anxieties of homeownership and showcases the grandeur and vulnerability of San Francisco's Victorian houses.

Locations to visit: The exterior of the house used in the film is a private residence (exact address often debated or not publicly disclosed for privacy, but exploring the Pacific Heights neighborhood offers a sense of the setting).

Watch it here: https://amzn.to/3GNoR8k

These ten films represent a diverse collection that not only tell compelling stories but also utilize the unique character of San Francisco to enhance their narratives.

From thrilling car chases on its steep streets to intimate character studies within its iconic buildings, these movies offer viewers a cinematic tour of one of America's most beloved cities.

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