15 Best Movies About Fatherhood That Will Make Your Dad Cry (2024)

More often than not, dads are tougher than a two-dollar steak. With a tight-lipped expression, they withstand every flat tire, busted pipe, and broken appliance that comes their way. And when it comes to emotional moments? Well, it seems next to impossible to even see the hint of a tear. Then again, maybe a powerful film can do the trick – especially a film that’s about what fathers do.

Cinematic history is filled with many tributes to the beauty of motherhood, but on the flipside, there are several films about dads that might, just might, move good ol’ Pops to shed buckets. Get those tissues ready and pick from any of these well-crafted fatherhood movies that will have even the toughest parent fighting back tears.

15 'On Golden Pond' (1981)

Directed by Mark Rydell

With star power like Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn, this 1981 film was already slated to be a masterful piece of work. However, On Golden Pond doesn’t just coast on the iconic status of its big names; it presents a moving story about an 80-year-old father trying to come to terms with his place in the world.

Fonda’s Norman Thayer grapples with both an estranged daughter (played by his real-life daughter Jane Fonda) and his worsening physical and mental condition. In the end, even as he struggles to recover from debilitating heart pain, he finally makes peace with the fact that his only child is happily living a life of her own.

On Golden Pond

PG

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Release Date

December 1, 1981

Director

Mark Rydell

Cast

Katharine Hepburn , Henry Fonda , Jane Fonda , Doug McKeon , Dabney Coleman , William Lanteau

Runtime

109

Main Genre

Drama

14 'Dad' (1989)

Directed by Gary David Goldberg

A film that’s simply entitled Dad would actually have much pressure to succeed as a tale of fatherhood. Thankfully, this 1989 film rises to the occasion. With deft versatility, Dad spotlights hardworking executive John Tremont (Ted Danson) in his roles as a son and as a father in his own right.

Jack Lemmon went on to receive a Golden Globe nod for his portrayal of John’s dad Jake, whose health takes major blows throughout the course of the film. A young Ethan Hawke also holds his own as Billy Tremont, who could have used a bit more attention from his dad John during his formative years. John’s interactions with Jack and Billy in this film eventually help him become a better man – and, yes, a better dad.

Rent on Apple TV

13 'Father of the Bride' (1991)

Directed by Charles Shyer

How clingy can a father be to his one and only daughter? In the 1991 classic Father of the Bride, Steve Martin hilariously showcases the highs and lows of a dad dealing with his baby girl’s forthcoming wedding. After many twists and turns that compromise his very sanity, Martin’s George Banks comes to accept his daughter’s marriage (son-in-law and all).

The success of this rom-com spawned a 1995 sequel, in which Martin, Diane Keaton, and Kimberly Williams reprised their roles as the Banks family. It's the original that'll still get even the toughest dads a bit misty-eyed, especially for those with beloved daughters they just can't imagine walking down the aisle (just yet).

Father of the Bride

PG

Comedy

Romance

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Release Date

December 20, 1991

Director

Charles Shyer

Cast

Steve Martin , Diane Keaton , Kimberly Williams-Paisley , Kieran Culkin , George Newbern , Martin Short

Runtime

105

12 'The Lion King' (1994)

Directed by Rob Minkoff and Roger Allers

Want a surefire way to see your dad ugly crying? Play him that scene where Simba helplessly tries to revive Mufasa after the wildebeest stampede. In 1994, when The Lion King first came out, there was nary a dry eye in cinemas every time this harrowing sequence played out.

As painful as that scene was, it was the turning point in the growth of a son who would eventually carry on his father’s legacy of genuine leadership. The Shakespearean drama it's based on is palpable in this Disney masterpiece, but Lion King is no tragedy. Expect your dad to shed more tears (of joy, this time around) when Simba triumphs in the end.

The Lion King (1994)

G

Animation

Adventure

Drama

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Release Date

June 24, 1994

Director

Rob Minkoff , Roger Allers

Cast

Matthew Broderick , Jeremy Irons , James Earl Jones

Runtime

88 minutes

11 'He Got Game' (1998)

Directed by Spike Lee

This film's premise is as good as any: a convicted felon (Denzel Washington) can get his prison sentence reduced if he can convince his basketball stalwart of a son (NBA sharpshooter Ray Allen) to play for the governor's alma mater. On top of it, the crime that landed the felon in jail was his accidental shooting of his wife (Lonette McKee), depriving his son of a mother.

In basketball parlance, director Spike Lee was straight up hooping in He Got Game. His visual presentation gives an excellent backdrop for the acting performances of both Washington and Allen. This underrated must-see basketball film is for every father-son tandem that has ever played ball to strengthen their bond.

Watch on Fubo

10 'We Bought a Zoo' (2011)

Directed by Cameron Crowe

Speaking of films inspired by real-life events, 2011's We Bought a Zoo tugs at the heartstrings of fathers who are coping with loss. Wanting to start anew following the death of his wife Katherine (Stéphanie Szostak), Benjamin (Matt Damon) buys a house as part of an unusual package deal. Aside from the place of residence, he also has to purchase the zoo located on the property!

The challenge of reopening the zoo to the public is daunting, but along the way, Benjamin manages to strengthen his relationship with his son Dylan (Colin Ford). At the end of the film, the zoo's triumphant relaunching mirrors Benjamin's resurgence as a father and as an individual.

We Bought a Zoo

PG

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Release Date

December 8, 2011

Director

Cameron Crowe

Cast

Matt Damon , Scarlett Johansson , Thomas Haden Church , Colin Ford , Maggie Elizabeth Jones , Angus Macfadyen

Runtime

124

Main Genre

Drama

9 'Onward' (2020)

Directed by Dan Scanlon

2020's Onward reminds us that big brothers – no matter how annoying they can be – are father figures in their own right. While the determination of Ian (Tom Holland) to revive his deceased dad Wilden (Kyle Bornheimer) is touching, he realizes that he actually had a father all along, in the person of his brother Barley (Chris Pratt).

Though Wilden could only be revived for a limited period of time, the ending of the film makes it clear that Ian will be in good hands as long as Barley is around. In all likelihood, their final hug in the emotional Pixar movie moved fathers, sons, and brothers alike to tears. It's an often-overlooked film from the studio that fans may want to seek out.

Onward

PG

Animation

Adventure

Family

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Release Date

March 6, 2020

Director

Dan Scanlon

Cast

Tom Holland , ​Chris Pratt2 , Octavia Spencer , Julia Louis-Dreyfus , Ali Wong , John Ratzenberger

Runtime

102 Minutes

8 'Black Panther' (2018)

Directed by Ryan Coogler

There's no doubt that 2018's Black Panther is a crown jewel of the comic book hero genre. But, underneath the layers of shiny vibranium and colorful Marvel fanfare, Black Panther is essentially a tale of two father-son tandems. On the one hand, the loss of N'Jobu (Sterling K. Brown) leads his child N'Jadaka (Michael B. Jordan) down a violent path filled with bitter ideology – culminating in the notorious Killmonger identity.

On the other hand, newly crowned king T'Challa (the late Chadwick Boseman) is initially driven by his desire to honor the legacy of his father T'Chaka (John Kani). However, when he discovers the exact toll of the isolationism that his father and other past Wakandan monarchs espoused, T'Challa has no choice but to leave his father's legacy behind in order to move his nation forward.

Black Panther

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

Sci-Fi

Superhero

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See Also

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Release Date

February 16, 2018

Director

Ryan Coogler

Cast

Chadwick Boseman , Michael B. Jordan , Lupita Nyong'O , Danai Gurira , Martin Freeman , Daniel Kaluuya

Runtime

134 minutes

7 'The Judge' (2014)

Directed by David Dobkin

Do legal and professional boundaries outweigh the bond between father and son? This tricky question is tackled in 2014's The Judge. Robert Downey, Jr. – fresh off three solo outings as the MCU's Tony Stark – takes on the role of Hank Palmer, a Chicago attorney faced with monumental choices concerning his family.

Palmer discovers two bombshells about his estranged father, Judge Joseph Palmer (Robert Duvall). First, the Judge happens to be a suspect in a hit-and-run accident that led to the victim's death. As if this weren't enough, the Judge apparently has cancer in the terminal stage. Hank's decision to become his dad's defense attorney was admirable enough, but it was his openness to reconciliation in the end that hit us right in the feels.

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6 'Boyhood' (2014)

Directed by Richard Linklater

Directed by the Before trilogy's Richard Linklater, Boyhood was filmed over the course of 12 years with the same cast, with the intention of feeling like an authentic coming-of-age tale. It tells the life story of Mason, played by Ellar Coltrane, from early childhood to his first day at college. Furthermore, the film stars Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette as the father and mother.

Considering how incredibly realistic Boyhood is — and the complicated father-son relationship at its center — it is only natural that Richard Linklater's incredible movie is emotionally charged. In addition to its moving moments, Boyhood is a well-crafted and masterfully directed picture that offers audiences, even those who may not relate to its characters, comfort, and understanding of the universal themes it tackles.

Boyhood

R

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Release Date

June 5, 2014

Director

Richard Linklater

Cast

Ellar Coltrane , Patricia Arquette , Ethan Hawke , Elijah Smith , Lorelei Linklater , Steven Chester Prince

Runtime

164

Main Genre

Drama

5 'Big Fish' (2003)

Directed by Tim Burton

Although Tim Burton is known for his dark films, this Southern Gothic movie ranks among his best, though an oftentimes overlooked movie in his body of work. The story follows a frustrated son, played by Ewan McGregor, who tries to differentiate fact from fiction in the seemingly fabricated life of his terminally ill father (AlbertFinney), who is a tall tale teller.

With poignant themes such as trauma and familial reconciliation, the fantastic magical realist filmBig Fish is an incredible pick for those looking to watch movies about fatherhood, as its storyline is both emotional and fun. Anchored by great central performances, the Tim Burton movie is a great meditation about the search for meaning and a solid father-son story that some may find themselves relating to.

Big Fish

PG-13

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Not available

Release Date

December 25, 2003

Director

Tim Burton

Cast

Ewan McGregor , Albert Finney , Billy Crudup , Jessica Lange , Helena Bonham Carter , Alison Lohman

Runtime

125

Main Genre

Adventure

4 'The Pursuit of Happyness' (2006)

Directed by Gabriele Muccino

The true-to-life story of salesman Christopher Gardner is beautifully rendered in 2006's The Pursuit of Happyness. Gardner's perseverance and dedication to his son Christopher Jr. pop out of the screen thanks to the authenticity of Will Smith working with his own child Jaden.

There are many "cryable" moments in this film. There's the drama between Gardner and his frustrated wife Linda (Thandiwe Newton), the tension leading up to Gardner's interview for the internship, and his eviction and subsequent homelessness. Through it all, Gardner's determination to provide for his son never wavered. After all the woes he had to endure, he finally revels in the success of getting a full-time position. Hooray!

The Pursuit of Happyness

PG-13

Biography

Drama

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Not available

Release Date

December 15, 2006

Director

Gabriele Muccino

Cast

Will Smith , Todd Black , Jason Blumenthal , James Lassiter , Steve Tisch , DeVon Franklin

Runtime

117 Minutes

3 'Beautiful Boy' (2018)

Directed by Felix Van Groeningen

Timothée Chalamet astounds as a drug addict in Felix Van Groeningen's Beautiful Boy, a soul-crushing coming-of-age drama based on the best-selling pair of memoirs from father and son, David and Nic Sheff. The movie chronicles an inspiring story of survival, relapse, and recovery in a family that attempts to deal with addiction over many years. Steve Carrell is fantastic in a dramatic role as the protagonist's father.

Considering that it deals with sensitive themes of substance use and addiction as well as mental health, the touching, at times even disturbing Beautiful Boy is not for the faint-hearted. The fact that it is based on a real-life story is part of what makes it so special with many audiences drawn to the film. However, it also helps that Beautiful Boy's storytelling is genuinely convincing, with both Chalamet and Carrell doing a fantastic job of depicting a struggling father-son duo.

Watch on Amazon Prime

2 'Aftersun' (2022)

Directed by Charlotte Wells

Another tear-jerking movie is Charlotte Wells's critically acclaimed directorial debut, which meditates about loss, grief, and memory while following Sophie (played by both FrankieCorio and Celia Rowlson-Hall) on a holiday that she took with her father twenty years before the present day. Sophia tries to make sense of the man she knew through touching, at times even haunting flashbacks.

With stunning cinematography and astounding acting performances — Paul Mescal rightfully earned his first Oscar nomination for his amazing efforts — Aftersun is one of the best movies about fatherhood and a love letter to all the dads who always try to do their best, even when they're struggling. It's impossible to remain indifferent to Wells's heartfelt movie, whether because of the way it deals with mental health or the touching father-daughter duo at its center.

Aftersun

R

Where to Watch

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Release Date

October 21, 2022

Director

Charlotte Wells

Cast

Paul Mescal , Frankie Corio

Runtime

101 min.

Main Genre

Drama

1 'The Father' (2020)

Directed by Florian Zeller

Two astounding actors, Olivia Colman and Anthony Hopkins, star in this Florian Zeller drama about an elderly man who refuses all assistance from his daughter as he grows older. As he tries to understand his changing situation, he starts to question his loved ones, his own mind, and even his grasp on reality.

Meditating on the human condition, The Father depicts the realistic struggles of elderly fathers who find it hard to accept a helping hand even when they should. It is also an extremely touching movie for sons and daughters who find themselves in a similar situation as its lead character while attempting to help their loved ones. If viewers are looking for sad dad movies that will reduce them to tears, this is the right pick.

The Father

PG-13

Drama

Psychological

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Release Date

February 26, 2021

Director

Florian Zeller

Cast

Anthony Hopkins , Olivia Colman , Olivia Williams , Rufus Sewell , Evie Wray , Mark Gatiss

Runtime

97 minutes

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