The Essential Guide to San Francisco Pop Culture

The city that's only seven miles by seven miles is making some major waves. Not only is it the newest Bravo locale, thanks to Million Dollar Listing San Francisco, it's also the headquarters for Google, Uber, and Facebook — just to name a few tech companies you might be familiar with. So, yeah, it's kind of a big deal. But San Francisco has been an important part of pop culture's tapestry for years. In celebration of the city by the bay, we bring you our favorite pieces of San Franciscan pop culture. 

Is there anything more San Francisco than the Tanners sitting in front of the Painted Ladies laughing it up in the sunshine and '90s denim? The answer is no. Well, maybe Danny riding down Lombard Street on a bike with Stephanie. 

There is no cooler or more iconic car chase — or one that epitomizes the terror of driving the San Francisco city streets — than Steve McQueen's epic ride in the 1968 film. 

The first band to put San Francisco on the map captures the wearing-a-flower-in-your-hair hippie movement of the '60s and '70s. Alongside Satana, Palo Alto's The Grateful Dead, and San Jose's The Doobie Brothers, these iconic Bay Area bands helped make San Francisco the place to be. 

You couldn't make a list of San Francisco pop culture without mentioning 1996'sThe Rock. Not only does this have the all-star duo of Connery and Cage literally saving the world (or just San Francisco), it also highlights one of the Bay's most historic and hella creepy elements: Alcatraz. 

Few things make us happier than the hi-larious Robin Williams as Mrs. Doubtfire in the 1993 film, set in none other than the SF streets. Prepare for "Dude Looks Like a Lady" being stuck in your head all day. #SorryNotSorry 

When thinking of San Francisco, few movies come to mind more than Hitchcock's 1958 thriller. It stars Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak, but the city is its own character entirely. In addition to Vertigo, several other Hithcock works were filmed in The Yay (though Al probably didn't call it that), including Shadow of Doubt and The Birds.

This 2008 film starring Sean Penn as Harvey Milk captures the revolutionary spirit of San Francisco. The film highlights the Castro, one of the first gay neighborhoods in America, as well as its strong and, of course, fabulous community of activists. 

Oh, you didn't know that Endor is actually the Redwood forests of Nor Cal? Yup, not only were iconic scenes from George Lucas' films made right in the Bay, but Lucas Films campuses are found throughout the San Francisco area — Yoda fountain and all.

Just in case you were worried about San Fran's future, Star Trek has assured us that there is no need to fret. San Francisco has been the franchise's futuristic headquarters throughout the series, including 1986's Star Trek Part IV: The Voyage Home (home being SF above) as well as J.J Abrams' 2009 reboot and 2013's Star Trek Into Darkness. Clearly, San Franciscans will be living long and propsering. 

Gang Up on Vicki Day

San Francisco also brought us this classic Housewives moment with Vicki Gunvalson, which will live on in Bravo history forever.

So we thank you, San Francisco. For your music, your movies, your television, and most importantly, your sourdough. 

Get your San Francisco fill every Wednesday at 10/9c with the boys of Million Dollar Listing San Francisco. The Bay has three new sharks on the hunt!