The Top 5 Inspirational “Dad” Movies of All Time!

I just finished watching “17 Again”.  I thought I was in for a light comedy/chick flick (I was watching it for my wife… yeah, that’s the ticket…) but it turned out to be a pretty good movie with a strong “Dad loves his kids and will do anything for them” vibe!

So that got me thinking, what are the top “Dad” movies of all time?  Based on my research and chatting with a bunch of Dads, here’s the list of inspirational movies that, as a Dad, you need to check out!

Movie # 5 – Star Wars Trilogy

From the famous “Luke, I am your father!” to the redemption scene where Darth Vader picks up the Emperor and kills him to save his son… now that’s involved parenting!  Ok fine, this movie made it onto the list because of the lightsaber battles… sue me!

Movie # 4 – Life is Beautiful (La vita è bella)

I remember first watching this movie, not knowing what to expect, then being floored by the beauty and tragedy of it by the end.  A movie every Dad should watch that redefines the love of a father as he does everything in his power to spare his son the horror of their situation in a Nazi internment camp.

Movie # 3 – Finding Nemo

There are other Dad-centric Disney films (Lion King, The Incredibles) but none of them quite reach the love that Marlin displays for Nemo as he travels the ocean to rescue his only son.

Movie # 2 – Pursuit of Happyness

A film where the boy in the film is played by Will Smith’s actual son, the part that really touched me was when he had to sleep in a subway station washroom just to protect his son, all the while trying to make it a fun game so his son wouldn’t get scared.

Movie # 1 – Father of the Bride

Now that Ballet Girl is in my life, this movie is how I see our relationship going… minus the exorbitantly expensive wedding.  The only movie on the list that brought me close to tears… I said close…

Other Dad Movies to Check Out

Here are some other great movies to make sure you check out where “Dads” play a central role!

Mrs. Doubtfire, Back to the Future, John Q, Gladiator, Big Fish, Kramer Vs. Kramer, Mr. Mom, Frequency (never saw this one…), American Beauty (a bit creepy), Three Men and a Baby, National Lampoon’s Vacation, The Birdcage, Parenthood

I’m sure there are other movies I’ve missed so if you know any, share them with the community by leaving a comment below!

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3. Review of “Best Things Fathers Do” by Will Glennon