Father’s Day is this Sunday. Many of us will shower our dads with gifts like ties, greeting cards, and power tools. Whether you will celebrate the day with your dad in person or not, there are lots of great films about fatherhood to help observe this special day. This week, we provide a list of five great films about dads.
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Although the film is really about a legal case, it also provides of one cinema’s most memorable father figures. Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck) is a loving and devoted father. He is a man of principles who leads by example. Despite the attention he receives for defending a black man accused of raping a white woman, Atticus always has time for children, Scout and Jem. Peck received an Academy Award for his performance, while the film itself is an all-time classic that feels as relevant as ever.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
The Indiana Jones films are always lots of fun (well, okay, we won’t count The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and that whole “nuke the fridge” business). This one, however, is easily the best of the original trilogy. The relationship between Indy and his father, Henry, is great, thanks to the chemistry between Ford and Connery.
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
How far would you go to stay in touch with your kids? After a messy divorce, Daniel (Robin Williams) is heartbroken that his ex-wife, Miranda (Sally Field), is granted sole custody of their three children. Seeing that Miranda is in need of a housekeeper, he develops the persona of Mrs. Doubtfire and begins dressing and acting as a woman so that he can be close to his kids. Of course, the whole scheme eventually unravels. This is one of the best performances from the late, great Robin Williams and it is a funny film with plenty of warmth at its core.
The Lion King (1994)
An animated musical adaptation of Hamlet featuring talking animals in the African savannah doesn’t sound like a hit, but here we are. Simba (Jonathan Taylor Thomas/Matthew Broderick) and his dad, Mufasa (James Earl Jones), have a great relationship that is the heart of this film. When Mufasa is killed due to the machinations of the evil Scar (Jeremy Irons), Simba is heartbroken. Believing he was responsible, Simba runs away. Eventually, he works up the courage to confront Scar and restore peace and order to his homeland. This is a classic film the whole family will love. If you can, stick with the original and don’t bother with the unnecessary 2019 “live action” remake.
Finding Nemo (2003)
Marlin (Albert Brooks) is a doting father left to raise his son, Nemo, by himself after his wife was killed. One day, Nemo is captured by scuba divers and winds up in a fish tank in a dentist’s office. Marlin embarks on a harrowing journey to find his lost son, along with the help of a forgetful fish named Dory (Ellen DeGeneres). This is still one of Pixar’s best efforts and it is a lot of fun. It is a great film about friendship, as well as the relationship between a father and son.
Of course, you could always hang out with your dad and watch one of his favourite films, too. No matter what you do this weekend, take time to honour your dad!
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
