Maps of Movies

The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Where The Pursuit of Happyness says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

A father with nowhere to sleep rode the same BART stations he once ran through, and the station was partly a movie set

Scenes and places

The cramped home Chris and Linda are losing (1981)

Chris has sunk his savings into bone-density scanners he cannot sell fast enough. Linda, working as a hotel maid, argues about the overdue rent, and the marriage starts to give way.

Set in Chris and Linda's apartment — The family apartment in 1981 San Francisco where unpaid rent and unsold scanners strain the marriage.

A home address in the Mission District that a film-location blog names as the couple's home.

The Rubik's Cube taxi ride and the BART chase (1981)

Chris solves a Rubik's Cube in a taxi and wins the attention of Dean Witter manager Jay Twistle. With no money for the fare, he bolts, the driver chasing him into a BART station, and he escapes on a train but leaves a scanner behind.

Set in A BART station — Chris skips a taxi fare and runs into a BART station with the driver on his heels.

BART is the Bay Area's rapid transit system; this is the station Chris later returns to.

Filmed at Glen Park BART Station (San Francisco, United States) — A film-location blog says the chase was shot here and that the entrance was built specially for filming. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The interview in paint-splattered clothes (1981)

Chris arrives on time after a night in jail, still in shabby, paint-splattered clothes. He impresses the interviewers and wins a six-month unpaid internship, one of 20 places chasing a single paid job.

Set in Dean Witter Reynolds office — The brokerage office where Chris interviews for an unpaid internship.

A brokerage firm office in downtown San Francisco in the film.

Christopher's daycare and the misspelled word (1981)

The daycare is where Chris leaves his son while he chases a job; the misspelling on its wall is where the title comes from.

Set in Christopher's daycare — The daycare whose outside wall carries the mural that gave the film its misspelled title.

A narrow alley in San Francisco's Chinatown.

Filmed at 20 Ross Alley, Chinatown (Chinatown, San Francisco, United States) — A film-location blog says the daycare scenes were filmed at a residence at this address; the coordinate is for the alley, not the building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The line for a bed at the shelter (1981)

Evicted and nearly broke, Chris queues with his son for a shelter bed. The days run on between sales calls, the internship and finding somewhere to sleep.

Set in A homeless shelter — One of the places Chris and his son sleep once they are evicted.

A church in downtown San Francisco that a film-location blog lists as a filming spot.

Filmed at Glide Memorial Church, 330 Ellis Street (San Francisco, United States) — A film-location blog lists this church among filming spots without naming the scene; whether it is the shelter is an inference. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Nights in the BART station (1981)

With the motel locks changed, Chris and his son spend a night in a BART station restroom. It is one of the lowest points of their months without a home.

Set in A BART station restroom — Chris and his son take shelter in the transit system and, once, in a station restroom.

BART stations around the Bay Area stood in for the one in the film.

Filmed at Powell Street BART Station (San Francisco, United States) — Named in a BART history page. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Filmed at Balboa Park BART Station (San Francisco, United States) — Named in the same BART history page. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Filmed at 12th St. / Oakland City Center BART Station (San Francisco, United States) — Named in the same BART history page. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Filmed at 19th St. Oakland BART Station (San Francisco, United States) — Named in the same BART history page. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The playground with no roof overhead (1981)

Between sales calls Chris keeps his son close and keeps up a normal day. A playground becomes a place to be when there is nowhere else.

Set in A children's playground — Chris takes his son to a park because they have no roof over their heads.

A shaded children's playground on the west side of Golden Gate Park.

Filmed at Golden Gate Park Children's Playground (45th Avenue) (Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, United States) — A film-location blog says the park scene was recorded here; the coordinate is the park centre, not the playground. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The 49ers game with a client (1981)

Prospect Walter Ribbon takes Chris and his son to a 49ers game, where Chris meets friends who are potential clients. Chris hides how hard life is while he works the room.

Set in A San Francisco 49ers game — A pension-fund manager takes Chris and his son to a 49ers game.

Candlestick Park was the 49ers' home stadium until it closed.

Filmed at Candlestick Park (San Francisco, United States) — A film-location blog says the game was taped at this former stadium. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Filmed at Grand Lake Theatre, Oakland — Scene not identified Google Maps · Apple Maps

Characters

• Chris Gardner — A San Francisco salesman who stakes his savings on bone-density scanners, then fights for a stockbroker internship while homeless.
• Christopher Jr. — Chris's five-year-old son, who goes with him through the nights without a home.
• Linda — Chris's wife, a hotel maid, whose patience gives out as money runs short.

Questions answered on the map

• Where did Will Smith run from the taxi in The Pursuit of Happyness?