Father’s Day is right around the corner, and you might be expecting to surprise your superhero and thank him for everything he is right. As it comes down, you might be looking to keep the whole day planned. Let it be a big party, an outside lunch, probably a visit to his favorite place. Well, there is so much you could do. Another laid-back thing you could do at the end of a fun day would be hit that TV and play a 1-2 hour video reminiscing how special this relationship is. That’s what we are here about as we bring you the best Father’s day movies picked up by us for this time around.
Well, the list contains a number of classic hits that you may or may have not watched. Mostly the movies comprise right from the 1980s-90s, where the family-oriented movies were kind of the much-needed relief we needed. But that doesn’t turn us back to the sci-fi and action movies that too get away from the main subject for a while. Thus giving us the much-needed emotional depth to understand the relationship. So with no further adieu, let’s begin with our first entry in the list.
1. The Pursuit of Happyness
The 2006 biographical drama The Pursuit of Happyness tells a story taking cues from Chris Garnder’s best-selling 2006 memoir of the same name. It tells the story of Gardner as he struggled for one year being homeless. Gabriele Muccino directed the film with Steven Conrad on the writing team. Will Smith stars in the film as Chris Garnder. Will Smith’s son Jaden Smith joins the film making his official debut in the role of Gardner’s son, Christopher Jr.
The Pursuit of Happyness sees Chris Gardner, who for a while has been struggling in their professional life. This failure in his professional life sees a crack in his personal life as well. This leads his wife to separate from him. He spends his life with no money in his pocket and fights for the custody of his son Chrsitopher Jr. The heartfelt performance of Will Smith received utmost praise. Plus, the melodramatic setting of the movie was another perfect tone to see. It later led Smith to be nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Actor.
2. Father Of The Bride
The 1991 comedy film Father Of The Bride sees a businessman who doesn’t want to give away his daughter after marriage. Father of The Bride is the remake of a 1950s classic of the same name. Charles Shyer directed the film with Nancy Meyers joining him on the writing team. The movie stars Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, Kimberly Williams, George Newbern, Martin Short, B. D. Wong, and Kieran Culkin. Despite not being on the par of the original, the movie turned out to be an enjoyable family watch. All thanks for praiseworthy performances. Most Importantly of Steve Martin.
Father Of Bride tells the story of George Banks. A wealthy businessman and owner of a successful athletic shoe company called Side Kicks. Banks leads a happy life with his wife, daughter, and son. Until he finds out his daughter Annie who freshly graduated from college, is engaged to a boy named Bryan McKenzie. Despite knowing him for three months, the love was in the air. While everyone in the family sees Brayn as a potential son-in-law, Banks has a hard time accepting him and letting go of his daughter with marriage.
3. Logan
A superhero movie joining the ranks. But not quite a superhero movie as Logan was more about a father-daughter relationship. James Mangold directed the film telling the story of the titular character in an alternate future where he defends his daughter Laura from a group called Reavers. The film is the tenth one in the X-Man franchise and the third in the Wolverine Trilogy. Taking a cue from the comic Old Man Logan, the movie became the first superhero film to be nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 90th Academy Awards. It was applauded for its gritty and violent nature and also for its emotional take on parenthood.
Logan follows a story in an alternate future in 2029, where no new mutants have been born for the last 25 years. Logan is struggling as he is growing old and losing his ability to heal. He and Caliban take care of an old Charles Xavier who has been suffering from dementia. The one causes to have destructive seizures. The one that even caused the X-men to die. Amidst this, Logan works as a cab driver until he is forced out of retirement to escort a young mutant named Laura. A girl was hunted by Donald Pierce and Zander Rice for experimenting with mutants.
4. Mr. Mom
So keeping the dark nature of Logan behind, we have a more fun relief in the form of Mr. Mom. It blazes in as a fun, comical watch. The 1983 film directed by Stan Dragoti and John Huges on the writing team tells the story of an automotive engineer. He gets fired and turns into a stay-at-home dad. The movie stars Michael Keaton, Teri Garr, Jeffrey Tambor, Ann Jillian, Christopher Lloyd, and Martin Mull in the lead roles. Mr. Mom was regarded as a fun watch bringing us back to the age-old 1960s sitcom. The movie was later also adapted into a sitcom by VUDU in 2019.
Mr. Mom tells the story of Jack Butler, an automotive engineer living a happy life with his wife Caroline. Plus his three children Alex, Kenny, and Megan. Due to the 1980s recession, Jack, along with his friends loses his job at the Ford Motors Company. So to compensate, Carlonie decides to put her college degree and experience in advertising into use. Thus embarking on a job as both husband and wife switch roles. As Caroline ventures into her career after being a housewife for years, Jack learns the ways of a homemaker and caretaker.
5. Finding Nemo
Okay, we are talking about father’s day, as in a family film. It means Disney definitely needs to make its presence felt right. That’s what they did when they distributed Finding Nemo in 2003. The computer-animated film tells the story of a clownfish looking for his missing son embarking on a journey into the seas and the world above. Andrew Stanton directed the film with Bob Peterson and David Reynolds joining him on the writing team. The film was applauded globally and achieved several accolades. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, becoming the first Pixar movie to win it.
Finding Nemo follows the story of the overprotective clownfish Marlin and his son Nemo who has lame right fin living in the Great Barrier Reef. Despite having a small fin, it doesn’t stop Nemo from exploring possibilities. One such bravery act causes him to be abducted by a scuba diver, dropping him in an aquarium in a dentist’s office in Sydney, Australia. Marlin on the other hand, travels the depths of the ocean joined by a blue tang named Dory. Only with one goal in mind, that is to reunite with his only son.
6. Interstellar
Let’s add a science fiction and Christopher Nolan magic to the light-hearted list by bringing in Interstellar. The 2014 film written and directed by Nolan with Jonathan Nolan on the writing team tells the story of a group of astronauts traveling through the wormhole. All in the hope to find a new home for humanity. Upon its release, Interstellar soon become the tenth-highest-grossing film of 2014. The movie was applauded for almost everything. Let it be the direction, the screenplay, the visuals, the acting, music, and emotional depth. The movie later won n the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. It was nominated for four more academy awards, including the Best Original Score, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Production Design.
Interstellar takes us to the dystopian future in 2067. Humanity is in danger from crop blights and dust storms. Amidst this, former NASA pilot turned farmer Joseph Cooper has to go back in the game. He joins a team of researchers who believe crossing through a wormhole near Saturn will lead to a distant galaxy where twelve potentially habitable worlds exist. The researchers embark on this journey to find a potential home to save humanity. Interstellar stars an ensemble cast of Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Bill Irwin, Ellen Burstyn, John Lithgow, Michael Caine, and Matt Damon in the lead roles.
7. Somewhere
The recipient of a Golden Lion Award, Somewhere came in 2010, exploring a father-daughter relationship amidst the world of Hollywood and star-making show business. Sofia Coppola wrote and directed the film with Mac Brown and Roman Coppola producing it with her. Somewhere tells the story of the new star of Hollywood cinema for whom life may be great on-screen. But not off-screen. The film was applauded for the family territory it went through. Plus, at the same time giving an in-depth look into the celebrity lifestyle. All thanks to the performances of Stephen Dorff and Elle Fanning.
Somewhere follows the story of Johnny Marco, a bright young Hollywood star who recently went through a divorce. Although he sees much success ahead, partying, drinking, and hanging out with star friends. But still, at the end of the day, he is all alone. He still feels there is no meaning to his life. Until his 11-year-old daughter, Cleo pays him an unexpected visit which leads him to change his life upside down.
8. Three Men and A Baby
The 1987 film was directed by Leonard Nimoy with Jim Cruickshank and James Orr on the writing team. Three Men and A Baby is based on the 1985 French film Trois Hommes et un couffin. The movie tells the story of three bachelors who learn what is fatherhood when one of them unexpectedly welcomes a baby. The movie stars Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg, and Ted Danson in the lead. At that time, the movie was the biggest box office hit of the year grossing over $240 million worldwide.
Three Men And A Baby sees Architect Peter Mitchell, satirist Michael Kellam, and actor Jack Holden living a happy bachelor life. Until a baby arrives at their doorstep with a note. It says it’s the result of Jack’s romance with an actress named Sylvia. There was a time when the three bachelors had daily parties and romance with several women on daily basis. But now their lives have turned upside down with the baby as they learn what it means to be a father together.
9. Parenthood
Another Steve Martin classic over here. Also, another ensemble cast to look at. Parenthood took cues from the parenting experience of the director of the film Ron Howard and writers Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel. A story about the ones who have 17 children among a family of four. With the number of characters it demand, Parenthood did have an ensemble cast. It starred Steve Martin, Tom Hulce, Rick Moranis, Martha Plimpton, Joaquin Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, Jason Robards, Mary Steenburgen, and Dianne Wiest in the lead roles. The film met with acclaim thanks to its beautiful cast performances. The movie spawned two TV series, one in the 1990s and one in the 2010s, but both didn’t live up to the piece Parenthood is.
Parenthood tells the story of Sales Executive Gill Buckman, who is trying his best to balance his personal as well as professional life. Buckman’s elder son has emotional problems, plus his two other kids also have problems of their own. He tries to help them solve them, but when his wife gets pregnant. Well, it scares him even more as another child might add in financial burden and question of him being a good father or not.
10. Big Fish
The last on our list is the 2003 fantasy film Big Fish which takes cues from a 1998 novel of the same name by Daniel Wallace. A Tim Burton Directorial, Big Fish, tells the story of a son who breaks down if the stories told by his dying father were true or not. The movie received positive thumbs-up upon its release. Grossing $122.9 million, the film later received nominations for four Golden Globe Award nominations. Then seven from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Two Saturn Award Nominations, An Oscar nomination, and lastly, a Grammy Award nomination for Danny Elfman’s original score.
Big Fish follows the story beginning at Will Bloom’s wedding, where his father Edward tells a story of Will catching a fish with his wedding ring. Well, sure, it might be entertaining, but Will has heard this kind of story from him for years. Plus he doesn’t believe them. Three years into the future, Edward is suffering from cancer, and when Will and his wife visits him, he still doesn’t stop with these stories. This leads him to set out on the journey to figure out how much truth does this stories.
Also Read: 10 Animated Movies To Watch If You Liked Toy Story
