The North Bay isn’t just a wine and foodie paradise—it’s a filmmaker’s dream too. From Hollywood classics to indie cult hits, this region has been a backdrop for cinematic magic for decades. And the best part? They may all be streamed from the comfort of one’s own living room.
Let’s start with the legend: American Graffiti (1973), George Lucas’ ode to teenage cruising culture, turned downtown Petaluma and San Rafael into a neon-lit nostalgia trip. The city still celebrates its cinematic history with an annual Graffiti Night, where classic cars roll down the same streets Richard Dreyfuss and Ron Howard did. One can stream this classic on Amazon Prime or Apple TV.
Francis Ford Coppola returned to Petaluma for Peggy Sue Got Married (1986), starring Kathleen Turner as a woman reliving her high school days in the town’s perfectly preserved mid-century scenery. This is available on Prime Video for a trip back in time.
In Inventing the Abbotts (1997), Petaluma (again) plays host to a tale of class divides and youthful romance starring Liv Tyler and Joaquin Phoenix. This under-the-radar drama captures small-town America in all its 1950s glory. It’s streaming on Paramount+ or Apple TV.
Hitchcock put Sonoma County on the map with The Birds (1963), turning Bodega Bay into a nightmare landscape of pecking, screeching terror. The town still draws fans retracing Tippi Hedren’s doomed visit—just mind the seagulls. One may watch it on Peacock or Prime Video.
On the horror front, Scream (1996) immortalized Healdsburg and the Sonoma Community Center as elements of the fictional town of Woodsboro (after Santa Rosa gave the production the boot due to its content). Wes Craven’s slasher classic reinvented the genre, proving Wine Country has a dark side. Scream is streaming now on Paramount+ and Max.
And speaking of things that go bump in the night, let’s talk Werewolf Serenade (2024)—Sonoma County’s latest indie feature, filmed entirely in Petaluma by our own editor, Daedalus Howell. This dark comedy follows a washed-up college professor who finds himself dealing with an unexpected case of lycanthropy. One may sink those teeth into it now on Amazon Prime and Tubi.
For something with a little less bite, Bottle Shock (2008) tells the true story of how California wine shocked the world in the 1976 Judgment of Paris. Shot in Glen Ellen and Sonoma, it captures both the beauty and the struggle of the wine business. It’s recommended that one pour a glass and stream it on Hulu or Prime.
And for some serious cinematic gravitas, look to The Godfather (1972). Francis Ford Coppola’s Academy Award-winning masterpiece may be set on the East Coast during a pivotal moment, but the emotional reconciliation between Michael Corleone and Kay Adams (Al Pacino and Diane Keaton) was actually filmed in Ross. Quite the stunning backdrop for such a heavy scene. It can be streamed on Paramount+.
Marin County also lent its waterfront charm to Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry (1971), which filmed key scenes in Sausalito. The Marin Headlands provided a Cold War atmosphere for The Killer Elite (1975), starring James Caan and Robert Duvall. And in Gattaca (1997), Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman met on set at Marin’s iconic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Civic Center. With a cast that also includes Jude Law, this sleek sci-fi gem earned an Oscar nomination for Best Art Direction. All can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.
From werewolves to wine and mobsters to mid-century modern sci-fi, the North Bay’s film legacy is as rich and varied as its landscapes. So it’s time to queue up a streaming marathon and take a cinematic tour of our backyard.
