I love movies, a love which was passed down by my dad. When I was growing up, quotes from our favorite films were almost a second language for us. They often served as a conversational shorthand or an inside joke.
And even now, when we’re together, the odds are good that we’ll drop a movie quote or two. (Or three or four or … you get the idea.)
So, when it came time to put together a Father’s Day movie list, I knew just who to call. Similar to what I did with last month’s Mother’s Day movie list, I asked my dad what he enjoys seeing in a movie. Here’s what he told me:
- He enjoys watching a character being courageous for a greater cause, such as providing for or protecting their family.
- A movie will be high on his list when its characters exhibit strong bonds of friendship and dedication, honoring and fighting for one another.
- Whether it be in terms of concept or situations or both, a film with a clever (and clean) sense of humor makes for a good watch.
- Finally, a movie where a character shows tenacity and perseverance in pursuit of a goal will usually get high marks from my dad.
So, with those four points in mind, let’s highlight some stories that would make for good Father’s Day movies.
Courageous for a Greater Cause: Cinderella Man
If you’re looking for a story featuring a character chock-full of courage, look no farther than 2005’s Cinderella Man. Russell Crowe plays James J. Braddock, a past-his-prime boxer struggling to support his wife and three young children amid the Great Depression. When he gets a chance to return to the ring, he finds himself fighting for much more than personal glory.
This based-on-a-true-story biopic is a great sports movie. But it’s so much more than that. The film delivers a powerful portrayal of family, love, honor and sacrifice as Jim and his devoted wife, Mae, strive to keep their family together.
Despite some PG-13 grittiness in this tale (mostly language and some wince-inducing pugilism), Cinderella Man contains “both tear-jerking and heart-swelling moments” and tells a story “as powerful as its hero’s punches,” as Plugged In reviewer Marcus Yoars originally wrote.
Ah, The Lord of the Rings.
The adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved trilogy of fantasy books were brought to vivid life by Peter Jackson and Co. in the early 2000s. And though the story takes place in fictional Middle-earth, the bonds of friendship and dedication found within this story could not have felt more real.
The core group of characters, Frodo, Sam, Gandalf, Aragorn and the rest—the titular “Fellowship of the Ring”—buoy each other throughout their seemingly doomed mission to destroy the Dark Lord Sauron’s wicked One Ring. Even after the fellowship is broken and their paths branch off into wildly different directions, the friends never stop fighting for one another.
Among the endless stream of incredible moments in these films, the dying Boromir’s oath of fealty to Aragorn during The Fellowship of the Ring, as well as Sam’s “There’s Some Good in This World” speech near the end of The Two Towers are two of my dad’s favorites. For my part, Aragorn’s simple statement “For Frodo” before charging into the final battle always gives me goosebumps.
Ultimately, Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy “is a surprisingly faithful adaptation of a story that reflects [Tolkien’s] Christian worldview,” said Plugged In’s Bob Smithouser.
The concept of a family of superheroes has been around for decades, but it had never been fully realized like it was in 2004’s The Incredibles. Pixar’s take on a world full of superpowered do-gooders and ne’er-do-wells introduced us to the Parr family, who must hide their extraordinary gifts after the government put a blanket ban on superheroes. But Bob, the Parr family’s pater familias, still longs for his spandex-clad glory days, often sneaking out at night to do some anonymous hero work.
That promising premise is delivered on by Pixar’s charming characters and clever writing, earning laughs by mining both the superhero genre and typical family dysfunction in equal measure. Most importantly, this funny tale communicates a message that is undeniably pro-family—an critical part of any good Father’s Day movie.
“While illustrating the value of an intact family or the beauty of individuality or the negative results of pride, The Incredibles is, well, incredible,” Steve Isaac said in our original review.
Tenacity & Perseverance: Unbroken
For my dad’s sake, I couldn’t get through this list without including a war movie. And when considering options that would exemplify tenacity and perseverance, Unbroken is a tough one to beat.
The film recounts the remarkable life of Louis Zamperini, the son of Italian immigrants who competed in the 1936 Olympics and served in World War II. During the war, his plane crashed in the Pacific and he was captured by the Japanese. He was then held in a POW camp, enduring torment and mistreatment at the hands of his captors. But Zamperini endures and overcomes his excruciating trials through incredible perseverance, driven by his own personal grit, memories of family and hints at a burgeoning faith in God.
Though much of Zamperini’s real-life spiritual conversion is reserved for the movie’s postscript, Unbroken is, as Plugged In’s Adam Holz said at the time, “hard to watch but easy to praise. The horror of the inhumanity it depicts is wrenching. The triumph of one man’s spirit and heart is both astounding and deeply inspiring.”
What are your favorite Father’s Day movies? Let us know in the comments below—and we wish you a Happy Father’s Day!
