The 10 Best Movies About Fatherhood

Comingsoon.net is honoring all the fathers and father figures out there with a compilation of the best movies about being a dad. Check out our picks in the gallery below!

Fatherhood is a very complex thing, especially in the 21st century. Family structures of the past are not always prevalent in the lives of many people not just in America, but around the world. For some, a dad isn’t always the man they share half of their chromosomes with. For most, the honor of being called “dad” lies on the shoulders of the one who filled the role of the father figure—whether that’s a dad, a granddad, a mentor, or whatever. No matter what, though, one thing remains certain: Father’s Day is a holiday worth celebrating.

It’s a thankless job, and one that comes with all kinds of expectations and standards and responsibilities to the child or children. Naturally, it’s a gold mine of cinematic potential. From bad dads to great dads to lost and found dads, these are the ten best movies about fatherhood.

fatherhood films

Big Daddy (1999)

Adam Sandler's movies are often met with all kinds of different takes, ranging anywhere from hot to cool. We'd like to think his comedy about unconventional parenting, Big Daddy, is heartwarming enough to transcend any sort of serious critique.
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

The Star Wars series has always been about family, for better or worse. The heart and soul of that family dynamic is rooted in the events of the second film, The Empire Strikes Back.
Father of the Bride (1950)

Vincente Minnelli's comedy about the trials and tribulations a father faces over the course of planning his daughter's wedding is about as sweet as can be. Nancy Meyers's 1991 remake of the same name is practically just as good, trading Spencer Tracy for the equally charming Steve Martin.
Finding Nemo (2003)

Disney/Pixar's Finding Nemo arrived during the studio's heyday in the early 2000s. Following a clown fish in search of his son Nemo, the movie is genuinely touching in its portrayal of the lengths a father would go to to ensure his child's safety.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

The Indiana Jones movies have always radiated a sense of homeyness and warmth, from the way Spielberg lights the films to the way Harrison Ford portrays the titular character. Naturally, the addition of Indy's father in the third installment, The Last Crusade, is a welcome (and inspired) inclusion.
Mr. Mom (1983)

Michael Keaton remains a profoundly charming and instantly appealing lead. This was especially true back in the early 80s, when he showed off his comedic chops in the John Hughes-helmed hit Mr. Mom.
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

Robin Williams gave every single role his all, no matter how ridiculous. Mrs. Doubtfire, a comedy about a dad who dresses as a housekeeper in order to see his kids in the wake of his divorce, is evidence of this.
Paper Moon (1973)

Peter Bogdanovich is both an actor and a director, which means his films always carry a sort of lived-in feel that comes from a filmmaker who understands his leads. Paper Moon, a period piece about an unconventional father-daughter pairing, shows off Bogdanovich's immense talent.
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

Easily one of Wes Anderson's best, The Royal Tenenbaums is a movie about multiple generations of fathers as they come together to honor the patriarch of the Tenenbaum family. Ben Stiller, Gene Hackman, Danny Glover, and a plethora of other performers make this one of the best movies about fathers to date.
Taken (2008)

Like Finding Nemo, Liam Neeson's Taken shows the lengths a father will go to to make sure their child's okay. However, this action-thriller takes the missing child narrative to its most extreme.