With all the hustle and bustle of the Bay, sometimes you just want to hang at home. Netflix and Chill. Hulu and Hang. Amazon Plus and... Whatever. You get the idea. So, throw on your cozy clothes, order takeout, pour yourself a drink and Do The Bay from the comfort of your own home with these films and shows set in our beautiful backyard.
Updated on March 21, 2024
Fremont (2023)
Fremont — The East Bay suburb of Fremont has once again been named the Happiest City in the Country, according to a poll that recently received a lot of play in the local press. Considering how well we know Fremont, we'd be curious to learn more about the pollsters' methodology. Nevertheless, Fremont most certainly is a sleepy little town with well-manicured streets and it makes the perfect backdrop to the 2023 film, Fremont. The movie follows a young Afghan woman attempting to start a new life in the Bay Area. Shot in black-and-white and laced with dry humor, it's a must watch for anyone who grew up in any of the Bay Area's quieter suburbs.
I'm A Virgo (2023)
Created by Boots Riley, a filmmaker and musician known for his stellar 2018 film Sorry to Bother You and his work with Oakland hip-hop band The Coup, is the brains behind this absurdist coming-of-age tale set in Oakland. It follows Cootie, a Black boy who grows to be come a 13-foot-tall teen. His family tries to shelter him from the world, but that all comes undone when he is discovered by a group of young activists.
Woke (2020 & 2022)
San Francisco — Starring Lamorne Morris — you know, Winston, from New Girl — and based on the work of comic strip author and artist Keith Knight (a.k.a. "Keef"), Woke is a two-season comedy series from Hulu centered around the life of the fictional "Keef Knight." The character is loosely based on the real-life Knight who got his start penning comics in San Francisco and the show grapples with Knight's twin frustrations: The institutional racism that works against him and the overzealous white Bay Area liberals who continually trip over themselves while trying to live virtuously in a broken world.
Venom — Double Feature
Venom (2018) | Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)
San Francisco — Is it weird to hear Tom Hardy doing a California accent? Sure. Do we believe Eddie Brock (Hardy) and Anne Weying (Michelle Williams) would have ever had a thing IRL? Not a chance! But willful suspension of disbelief is the price of admission for all Marvel movies, so hey... who cares?! Plus, both installments in the Venom franchise are set in San Francisco — which makes watching even more fun for us locals. Oh... and good news, Venom fans, Hardy is reprising his role yet again in Venom: The Last Dance, which is scheduled to drop this fall.
Sorry To Bother You (2018)
Oakland — This sci-fi dark comedy will give you a taste of the new age of Afro-surrealism, creating a narrative that expresses issues like capitalism and false consciousness. The film follows a young black telemarketer from Oakland who adopts a “white voice” in hopes of climbing the corporate ladder. He is faced with a moral dilemma, left to choose wealth or activism and rebellion.
Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978)
San Francisco — If you thought SF was already weird, well this sci-fi thriller takes weird to another level! When people in the city start acting unusual, a health inspector is quick to notice this new pattern of behavior and discovers that aliens are to blame. The film follows a series of events endured by a man that has been possessed by an alien!
The Stanford Prison Experiment (2015)
Palo Alto — Based on the Zimbardo Prison Experiment in 1971, this film reenacts the chaos produced by an experiment where 24 Stanford students take on the roles of prisoners or guards in a mock prison set in the basement of the Psychology building. By the time the credits roll, you'll more reason to root for the Golden Bears!
Always Be My Maybe (2019)
San Francisco — Ali Wong’s film takes rom-coms to a new level, basing the love story of Sasha and Marcus in San Francisco. The film follows Wong’s character, Sasha, from her roots as a latch-key kid in SF, eventually growing up and moving away from home to become a popular celebrity chef. Sasha visits her hometown and is surprisingly reconnected with her childhood best friend, Marcus, as they embrace their love for the culture of SF (and each other).
Milk (2008)
San Francisco — Harvey Milk has become an iconic figure of San Francisco history. This film displays the struggles Milk undergoes as an American gay activist who fought for gay rights and became California’s first openly gay elected official.
Zodiac (2007)
San Francisco — Who is the Zodiac Killer?! Join a San Francisco cartoonist as he puts down his pencils and becomes an amateur detective in hopes of tracking down the Zodiac Killer. This film is based off a true story of the infamous serial killer that roamed Northern California in the '70s.
The Force (2017)
Oakland — This documentary gives you a glimpse into a major issue in Oakland: police brutality. The film follows Oakland police as they have no choice but to reform and face the issues of corruption, commitment, and cataclysmic change.
Ant-Man — Triple Play
Ant-Man (2015) | Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) | Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
San Francisco — If you really want to be couch potato, we suggest shutting the blinds, slipping into your comfiest pair of PJs and queueing up all three films in the Ant-Man trilogy. The city may only be 7 by 7 miles wide, but it seems a lot bigger if you're Ant-Man. Scott Lang, aka Ant-Man, gets drafted for an urgent rescue mission on the streets of San Francisco — and visits the Berkeley campus in the process, too!
Steve Jobs (2015)
Silicon Valley — Let’s be real, the Bay Area wouldn’t be loaded with “techies” if it wasn’t for people like Steve Jobs. This film follows the founder of Apple as he faces professional struggles as well as personal choices. This film shows us behind the scenes of the digital revolution, while displaying the iconic city it was built upon.
Homeward Bound:
The Incredible Journey (1993)
San Francisco — There are a bunch of films with different types of perspectives, but try seeing San Francisco from the perspectives of animals. This film follows three pets from a ranch in California who escape in hopes of finding their owners in the city.
Blindspotting (2018)
Oakland — Ex-con Collin, is just three days from the end of his probation. However, an innocent night takes a surprising turn into violence. While Collin is on probation, he spends these three days re-evaluating his relationship with his volatile best friend.
The Princess Diaries (2001)
San Francisco — Follow Mia Thermopolis through the hills of San Francisco as she looks for a way to balance high school and the responsibilities of being the heir to the Genovian throne. This family comedy is a classic coming of age story that also gives us insight to what a San Francisco teenager’s life may be like … excluding the part about being royalty.
Godzilla (2014)
San Francisco — The Godzilla series portrays our beautiful SF in a more ... destructive way than you might expect! The city of San Francisco is turning into a battleground as wee humans take on the King of Monsters, Godzilla. Godzilla destroying the Golden Gat Bridge = the best way to take in the wonders of SF.
The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019)
San Francisco — This film connects SF's past and present through the eyes of Jimmie, as he and his best friend attempt to reclaim the house built by his grandpa. This film is centered around the theme of gentrification in the Bay Area and is based on co-screenwriter Jimmie Fails’ own experiences growing up in the Fillmore district.
The Graduate (1967)
Berkeley — Queue up Simon and Garfunkel! This classic will have you humming along to "Mrs. Robinson" like no one's listening. This coming of age story is filmed all over Berkeley, so you can take a tour of the college's iconic spots from the comfort of your couch — see everything from the fountain on UC Berkeley’s campus to the book store right on Telegraph Avenue.
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
San Francisco — The late Robin Williams disguises himself as a female housekeeper in hopes of spending time with his children. Mrs. Doubtfire has become a San Francisco favorite — the iconic house in the film can still be seen on Steiner Street.
Written by Jackie Greenberg & Nick Veronin
Did we miss your favorite Bay Area flick? Let us know at [email protected]!
