Recommended Video
Father’s Day is a celebration of the man of the family who serves as a rock for many. It’s a time to thank all the loving, caring, and thoughtful fathers out there, and if you are looking to spend some quality time with your dad, a few things present themselves as good a time as much as a movie marathon.
Dads, after all, come in all forms, from the biological to the father figures who stepped up. If there’s one thing films have taught us, it’s that fatherhood isn’t limited to just one idea or image. In cinema, there are many movies out there showcasing the often intricate and misunderstood world of fatherhood as told through different stories and narratives. So, if you’re looking for what to do with your dad for Father’s Day, we recommend the following films to watch with your big man.
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Interstellar – A Christopher Nolan Space Masterpiece
No matter how far you are from Earth, the bond between father and child will always be there, as seen in Christopher Nolan’s space opera Interstellar. While most of the story centers on Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) and Brand (Anne Hathaway) traveling through space in order to save the world, the relationship between Cooper and his daughter Murph (Jessica Chastain) is one of the main emotional pillars of the narrative. From beginning to end, it’s clear that Cooper and Murph’s relationship is central to the story. And that scene where Cooper learns just how much time has passed, seeing his children all grown up, hits too close to the heart.
Logan – Wolverine Learns How to Be a Dad
Even superheroes have to deal with fatherhood from time to time. Originally serving as Hugh Jackman’s final outing as Wolverine, this dad-daughter adventure follows the titular X-man at the tail-end of his life, far gone from his youthful days. But his final mission is yet to come, as when he comes across a young mutant named Laura being hunted by a mysterious group, he must bring her to safety.
While their relationship starts cold in the beginning, over time, the two warm up to each other, with Logan even becoming a father figure of sorts to Laura. The ending in particular is going to hit you in the feels as their father-daughter-like bond solidifies, something we see continue in Deadpool & Wolverine.
Taken – Don’t Mess With This Dad
Liam Neeson showcases his very specific set of skills in this modern classic in the action-thriller genre. Retired CIA operative Bryan Mills faces a dad’s worst nightmare when his daughter Kim is kidnapped in Paris. This leads him on a mission across the city to rescue his daughter before it’s too late. Aside from the fact that the gripping film checks all of the boxes for an action popcorn flick, Taken also features one of the most relentless protagonists in cinema.
Finding Nemo – An Unforgettable Adventure to Rescue a Son
Pixar is known for placing timeless lessons into its filmography. And one of their most legendary is Finding Nemo. This classic about Marlin and Dory traveling all the way to Australia just to save Nemo is a classic and relatable, no matter what age you watch it.
Not only is it a genuinely fun film, but it is also one of the best examples in movies of what lengths fathers will go to just for their kids. If you are looking for a more modern take on this theme from Pixar, we suggest you check out Onward and its magical tale of two brothers trying to bring back their father through a spell.
Ang Nanay Kong Tatay – Fatherhood in All Its Forms
These days, we know that fatherhood isn’t just defined as the typical straight and masculine depiction it is often seen as. Fatherhood can come in a variety of backgrounds, from single fathers to LGBTQIA+ families. And this Lino Brocka classic was a trailblazer in depicting fatherhood in a different light while challenging stereotypes. Released in 1978, the movie follows Coring (played by the late and great Dolphy), a gay beautician who one day learns that he has a son with a woman whom he needs to take care of.
While things start awkwardly at first, the film takes its time to show how Coring learns to become a good father while his son learns to accept his father’s identity. Even as far back as the 70s, cinema has always reminded us that anyone can be a father, regardless of where they come from, so long as they have the heart, love, and care for it.
The Pursuit of Happyness – Striving Through the Hardships
Based on a true story, the film follows Chris Gardner (Will Smith in one of his best performances), a salesman struggling to make ends meet while taking care of his son Christopher (Jaden Smith). Through challenge after challenge, the viewer follows Chris as he tries to make it out of poverty with his talent, determination, and unwavering love for his son. The film doesn’t shy away from how tough their lives are, but also showcases how Chris won’t give up so easily and will try any option to give his son a good life.
The Incredibles – Super Father and Super Family
In this Pixar classic, Bob Parr is the superhero Mr. Incredible. After an incident that puts supers in a bad light, Parr hangs up his costume, settles down with his wife, and becomes a father. Years later, Parr works an office job he clearly doesn’t like and sees a return to greatness when an opportunity to suit up once more presents itself. However, that offer soon spirals into a bigger conspiracy. The extremely enjoyable movie has one of the most memorable fictional families in all of cinema while capturing the essence of fatherhood in a man who means well for the people he loves.
Seven Sundays – A Tearjerker of a Family Reunion
As children grow up, it’s understandable and even expected that they leave the roost to do their own thing. But just because they are busy with their own lives, that doesn’t mean they should be forgetting their parents so easily. This is what Cathy Garcia-Sampana’s Seven Sundays is all about. Featuring an all-star cast that includes Aga Muhlach, Dingdong Dantes, and Cristine Reyes, the movie follows a widowed father and family patriarch named Manuel Bonifacio (Ronaldo Valdez).
One day, he discovers that he has cancer and informs his family of the diagnosis and that he has only seven weeks to live. Because of this, his children return home and reunite in order to be with their dad during his final days. This film’s touching message on forgiveness and reconciliation may just make you appreciate your father that much more and realize that time with him is something you can never get back.
A Goofy Movie – Summer Trip With Dad
This childhood classic follows Goofy and his son Max as they go on a cross-country fishing trip as a way for Goofy to get closer to his son. But in Max’s eyes, his dad is ruining his summer vacation and preventing him from seeing the girl of his dreams, Roxanne.
Throughout most of the film, the two constantly get into arguments as the all-too relatable feeling of your dad not understanding you comes into focus. But at its heart is a tale of what it means for a father and son to connect despite their differences and misunderstandings. Its sequel, An Extremely Goofy Movie, is also worth watching, as it explores an older Max going to college and how Goofy copes with the move.
Doll House – A Father’s Redemption Arc
No father is perfect. But what makes for a great dad is their willingness to learn and grow from their mistakes to not only be a better father, but a better person. That’s the thesis of this film that served as Baron Geisler’s comeback performance of sorts.
Rustin (Geisler) is the lead vocalist of a rock band who struggles with drug addiction. His life begins to change, though, when he reconnects with his long-lost daughter, Yumi, while trying to get sober following the unexpected death of a friend. This tender and heartbreaking film tugs at the heartstrings with its father-daughter story and central character learning how to be responsible for himself and his child.
Rental Family – The Father She Never Had
This underrated gem from 2025 features Brendan Fraser as Phillip, an American living and working in Tokyo as an actor. One day, he is offered a job working in a Japanese rental family agency, where actors are rented by individuals to play stand-in roles. As he immerses himself in his clients’ worlds, he begins to form genuine bonds that blur the lines between performance and reality.
One of those worlds is that of being the pretend father of Mia after her mother hired him to play the part so that she could get into a good school. Over the course of the movie, Mia and Phillip’s relationship grows as Mia finds a father she never had, while Phillip grapples with the lie he has to keep up. It makes for a heartfelt exploration of human connection, belonging, and modern relationships across cultures.
Featured Image: IMDb (via Website)
Frequently Asked Questions
Films like Interstellar, Logan, Finding Nemo, The Pursuit of Happyness, and The Incredibles are among the most recommended Father’s Day watches. They span action, animation, and drama while centering the father-child bond as a core narrative theme.
Two Filipino films stand out: Ang Nanay Kong Tatay (1978), Lino Brocka’s landmark film starring Dolphy as a gay father navigating identity and parenthood, and Seven Sundays, a contemporary family drama about adult children reuniting with a terminally ill father, featuring Ronaldo Valdez and Aga Muhlach.
Interstellar positions the father-daughter bond as the film’s central emotional force. Cooper’s separation from Murph across time and space, and the moment he watches decades of her life pass in minutes, frames fatherhood as a love that transcends distance, time, and even physics.
The Pursuit of Happyness is based on the true story of Chris Gardner, who navigated poverty and homelessness while raising his son alone. Will Smith’s performance grounds the film in the emotional reality of parenthood under pressure — resilience without sentimentality.
Rental Family (2025) stars Brendan Fraser as a Tokyo-based actor hired by a Japanese rental family agency to play a stand-in father. His bond with Mia, a client’s daughter who hires him for school enrollment, evolves into a genuine relationship — making the film a quiet meditation on chosen fatherhood and human connection.
