How San Francisco Became the Backdrop of Every Millennial’s Childhood (2024)

From 'Full House' to 'Mrs. Doubtfire' to 'Charmed', San Francisco is a beacon for nostalgic Millennials revisiting their favorite movies and shows.

Imagine bicycling through Chrissy Fields in Mrs. Doubtfire while the titular character bonds with the Hillard children or singing hymns with Sister Act’s Deloris and her choir among the stained glass and organs of St. Paul’s. It’s easy to do, and that’s because the best nostalgic movies set in San Francisco treat the City by the Bay as another character.

Beloved characters of many Millennials’ favorite movies and television shows get to interact with the landmarks, which means there are a ton of activities for visitors who want to plan a trip themed around memory lane.

Why San Francisco?

Stunning natural vistas, iconic buildings, and predictable, consistent weather make San Francisco an ideal filming location. This is partly why so many family-friendly movies and TV shows from the 1980s and ’90s were set in The City by the Bay.

“San Francisco has never been camera shy,” Manijeh Fata, the executive director of FilmSF and the Film Commission, explains. “The City is its own character that captivates and charms.”

It’s also the chosen home of industry giants, including George Lucas of Star Wars fame and Francis Ford Coppola, The Godfather director. These titans could have chosen Los Angeles, but instead, both settled on the “oh-so-Californian-yet-totally-alien” locales of the Bay Area, where friendly fog and crisp winds remind visitors that they’re not on a Hollywood studio set.

San Francisco has always been home to the peculiar. It offers a unique refuge for artists and visionaries who want the fun of West Coast life with the warmth of a community-oriented neighborhood. It’s part of why the late actor Robin Williams made it his home. Experts say that’s a big reason so many family-oriented and coming-of-age flicks were shot here.

“In the 90s, our beloved Robin Williams drew countless productions to the city,” Fata explains. The actor used his star power to bring productions closer to home so that he could raise his family while still working. “Since then,” she continues, “people from around the globe have continued to get to know and fall in love with the most cinematic city in the world.”

For modern visitors who want to pay homage to the late actor, SF Travel has put together a Mrs. Doubtfire itinerary. Fans of Flubber and Patch Adams can visit different set locations. There’s also the Robin Williams Tunnel on Highway 101, adorned with rainbows, and the Robin Williams Meadow in Golden Gate Park.

The City’s architecture is also a leading factor in the film wave of the ’80s and ’90s. For millennials who fell in love with Mia’s quirky, colorful firehouse-turned-living space in The Princess Diaries, they can visit the exteriors of many such old firehouses and even play billiards and watch a band in Kilowatt, a former firehouse turned dive bar. But if the night’s music happens to feature a keyboard player, please don’t put any M&Ms on the keys (or on your pizza from any of the six pizzerias within a block).

And who could forget the distressed tiger who threatens to jump off Coit Tower in Eddie Murphy’s Dr. Dolittle? If you’re hoping to hear a talking animal, a visit to the tower promises frescos, sculptures, and maybe even an encounter with the parrots of Telegraph Hill.

Many of these movies were filmed in a time before tax incentives drove the industry, so there was little competition from other states. It didn’t hurt that other cities across America were undergoing their own economic and sociopolitical transformations; San Francisco was able to skate by where others could not. But big film productions aren’t the only reason The City represents core memories for millennials.

Prime Time: Classic Television in S.F.

Full House. Charmed. That’s So Raven. Although all three of these famous S.F. television shows were filmed in a Hollywood studio, they rely heavily on establishing shots of the Art Deco Golden Gate Bridge, the charming Postcard Row of Alamo Hill, and panning around Coit Tower. By using these visual references, producers provide context so that the audience can use their imagination to fill in the background about a character’s life.

In Full House, heartthrob Jesse meets his future wife through its fictional television show Wake Up, San Francisco, which his brother-in-law co-hosts. From the show’s theme song through its eight seasons, SF served as the backdrop to the unconventional family’s antics. Millennial visitor Rhianna Casey-Diem says, “The last time I visited San Francisco, my friend took me to a picnic at Alamo Square Park, and I was surprised to see the Full House home looking back at me! This park has the most beautiful view of the city.”

Just like in the title sequence, visitors can play ball and roughhouse in Alamo Square, ride bikes around Lombard Street, or fish near Fisherman’s Wharf. They can even rent a convertible to drive across the (very windy) Golden Gate Bridge.

Charmed’s Halliwell Manor is built on top of a spiritual nexus, and the city itself serves as a cover for the secret witch sisters, who are able to go undetected because everyone is odd here. Would-be witches can find a scrying crystal at Crystal Way in the Castro, repair a cursed grandfather clock at the Antique & Art Exchange showroom in SoMa, or look for the Encyclopedia of Demons at a classic library like the Mechanics’ Institute or a rare books purveyor like Bolerium.

That’s So Raven won several awards for its groundbreaking representation of Black teendom. It stars teen psychic Raven, a fashion lover who also happens to be a master of disguise. Visitors hunting for their own costumes and disguises should head to a shop like Piedmont Boutique, which is a recognizable Haight-Ashbury landmark with a giant fishnet-stocking-covered leg sticking out of the window. Those craving a Baxter family diner experience like the family’s fictional Chill Grill have a ton of amazing Black-owned legacy restaurants to choose from. And if you “like music, drama, and possibly wrestling,” to quote the episode entitled “A Fight at the Opera” check out the SF International Arts Festival.

Why Visitors Love Reminiscing

Visiting San Francisco gives travelers a chance to play pretend. They can reenact their favorite scenes, quotes, and all. “I don’t know a millennial woman who doesn’t know plenty of lines from Princess Diaries, and her house from the film was cool to see,” says sightseer Casey-Diem. Beyond Princess Mia’s house, there’s also her school, the cable cars, and plenty of other locations where you can act out your royal dreams. Beaches in San Francisco are a bit colder and windier than they look in the film, but you can build a bonfire at Ocean Beach in one of the fire pits during the warm season of March 1 through October 31.

And who could forget the scheming twins of The Parent Trap? Since Millennials are all about the photo moment when we travel, finding an aesthetic hotel a la The Strafford or walking amongst the campy rowboats at the Dolphin Club can bring to life the summer camp vibes of the film. You can even visit the location of father Nick Parker’s winery. A jaunt up to Napa Valley is totally doable, but if you want to stay within city limits, grab some grown-up natural wine drinks at Fool’s Errand or Fig & Thistle. Pair it with store-bought Oreos dipped in peanut butter from one of the cute grocery stores, or get special treats delivered from Hot Cookie to complete the theme.

What’s Next

It’s likely that generations to come will think of San Francisco as a significant character in their favorite movies. Films and television shows continue to be set in the romantic, exciting City by the Bay. Marvel instant-classics like Ant-Man and Shang-Chi, along with their sequels, are drawing crowds to the set locations. Their fan bases are primarily Millennials. If you’re traveling to recreate scenes from those movies, no car or Muni chases, please. Try pretending to be an extra enjoying Ghirardelli chocolate instead.

No matter your reason for visiting San Francisco (or your generation), take lots of photos and videos. The City feels like it’s made to be seen on film.