Father’s Day: Movies about fatherhood to watch with your father

It is a truth universally acknowledged that fathers love a good movie. Between introducing their kids to classics and hidden gems, their watchlist is usually stacked. While there are a lot of movies that fit the bill of “dad movies” this Father’s Day, we’re looking to celebrate fatherhood and the bonds between fathers and their kids. These bonds have found excellent representation on screen over the years. Think Father of the Bride or the core memory that is Finding Nemo.

On Father’s Day, here are some movies to watch with your father:

The Pursuit of Happyness

The Pursuit of Happyness perhaps has one of the most moving plots involving a dad, making it a Father’s Day essential. The 2006 film starring Will Smith and his real-life son Jaden Smith revolves around a homeless man who struggles to provide for his son while looking for a job. It is inspiring, uplifting and a sure-shot tear-jerker.

Finding Nemo

Pixar has some great dad characters over numerous movies but nothing beats the fatherhood arc in Finding Nemo. The film sees Marlin who stops at nothing when his son, the titular Nemo, goes missing. The clownfish is one of the most endearing characters in animation history as he leaves no coral unturned in his quest. It’s a classic your father will definitely appreciate.

Father of the Bride (1991)

Every father dreads the day their kid decides to get married and move away. Father of the Bride plays out this relatable dad trope in a delightfully wholesome rom-com. Starring Steve Martin as George Banks, the film sees an overprotective father whose 22-year-old announces that she is engaged to be married. Panic ensues in what can only be described as an all-time favourite movie about fatherhood.

The Lion King

Ask ’90s kids and they will tell you that they’re still not over Mufasa’s death in The Lion King. The animated classic follows a cub – Simba who runs away after his father and King of the Pride Mufasa is betrayed and killed by his uncle. Over the course of the film, Simba goes on a journey across the jungle and eventually acknowledges the legacy his father left behind and takes his place in the Circle of Life.

Taken

Few lines are as memorable as Liam Neeson’s protective dad character’s “I will find you and I will kill you,” in Taken. The film follows a man who will stop at nothing to save his daughter who gets abducted by sex traffickers. The film is a great action movie for fathers to enjoy and it doubles up as the perfect Father’s Day watch.

Interstellar

Christopher Nolan’s cinematic masterpiece Interstellar isn’t just a stellar sci-fi flick but also a great father-daughter story. Starring Matthew McConaughey, the film sees a widowed NASA pilot go on a dangerous space mission to save the Earth and his child’s future. The film is a heart-achingly beautiful tale of a parent’s love and sacrifice.

The Judge

After three outings as Iron Man in the MCU movies, Robert Downey Jr. played attorney Hank in The Judge. The film unleashes some family drama along with courtroom drama. Hank becomes his father’s defence attorney when he is suspected of being involved in a hit-and-run incident. His father who is a judge also has terminal cancer making the journey just bittersweet enough to hit you right in the feels.

We Bought a Zoo

In We Bought a Zoo, widowed dad Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) decides to move from Los Angeles to a rustic, rundown zoo in Southern California. Along with his two children, Benjamin must rebuild not just the zoo but the bond with his family after their tragic loss. Apart from highlighting the challenges of being a single parent, the feel-good film also deals with grief and big life changes.

Big Daddy

In Big Daddy Sonny Koufax (Adam Sandler) decides to adopt a 5-year-old boy Julian to show his ex-girlfriend that he can take on the responsibilities of being a father. When the ex-girlfriend isn’t impressed, he must come to terms with truly being a father and leave his earlier lifestyle behind.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

In the third chapter of Steven Spielberg’s Indiana Jones franchise, Seon Connery and Harrison Ford play a father-son duo. While the adventure movie is high on action (and boulder chases), the bond between the father and son shines through making this a great addition to any Father’s Day watchlist.

SEE ALSO: About My Father Movie Review