The 7 Best Movies About Parenting, From ‘Finding Nemo’ To ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’
Let’s face it: parenting isn’t always easy.
In addition to the set amount of love and dedication it requires, it also takes plenty of personal sacrifice to put your child’s safety and well-being well ahead of your own. But as most parents can surely attest, for all the headaches that might come about with raising your kids, the joy of seeing a child flourish into a fully functional human being is more than worth the extra effort.
From classic Pixar films to fan-favorite Disney movies, here are some of the greatest movies ever made about parenthood, ranked in order from worst to best.
7. Finding Nemo (2003)
A parent’s love knows no bounds, spanning hundreds of miles or, in the case of Finding Nemo, entire oceans. Providing viewers a vibrant and colorful odyssey across the Pacific, Finding Nemo also succeeds in showing off the anxiety-riddled Marlin’s growth from an overprotective helicopter parent into a more realistic, supportive father who’s able to let his son live out his own life. Like all the best Pixar movies, it’s a movie capable of winning over even the most hard-hearted members of the audience, causing us all to laugh, cry, and fondly applaud the movie’s emotional narrative.
6. 20th Century Women (2016)
Most of us are likely familiar with the phrase, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Well, in the case of 20th Century Women, that age-old adage is taken quite literally. A nostalgic depiction of 1970s Santa Barbara, 20th Century Women covers numerous themes in the course of its fast-moving two-hour runtime, from the burgeoning feminist movement of its historical era to the complicated relationship among teenage friends. Throughout it all, though, the film does an excellent job showing how our specific surroundings shape who we are and the type of person we all grow to become.
5. Parenthood (1989)
Most parents struggle to come up with a solid “approach” to raising their kids, often leading them to improvise their way through their kids’ emotional, intellectual, and personal education. Nowhere is this idea more accurately depicted than 1989’s Parenthood. Featuring a star-studded cast that includes the likes of Steve Martin, Dianne Wiest, Rick Moranis, Keanu Reeves, and a young Joaquin Phoenix, Parenthood is the ultimate illustration of just how difficult raising kids might be at times – but also how undeniably rewarding it is watching your child grow and change before your very eyes.
4. Captain Fantastic (2016)
As with the aforementioned Parenthood, Captain Fantastic shows that there’s no altogether “right way” to raise your kids. But that’s not to say how we go about educating and raising our children doesn’t have a profound effect on their personal upbringing, influencing everything from their behavior and attitude to their personal outlook on the world around them. In what can almost be described as Cheaper by the Dozen as reimagined by Wes Anderson, Captain Fantastic serves as a unique family drama elevated by an all-star cast, sharp writing, and plenty of relatable themes, establishing itself as a guaranteed cult classic in the making.
3. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
It’s hard to think of an actor more universally beloved than the late Robin Williams. Bringing a childlike sense of enthusiasm to each and every one of his on-screen roles, Williams dedicated himself heart and soul to each movie he signed on to appear within, be it Aladdin, Dead Poets Society, or Good Will Hunting. With Mrs. Doubtfire, the legendary comedian channels his infectious brand of comedy into a wholly chameleon-like performance, focusing on a father’s unwavering dedication to spend time with his kids without their even realizing it.
2. Boyhood (2014)
Yes, yes, we can go on and on about Boyhood‘s experimental filmmaking techniques, which saw the cast and crew film the movie in real time over the course of 12 years. But through its lengthy shooting process, Boyhood also manages to explore the intricacies of both childhood and young adulthood, as well as depicting how our relationship with our parents change over time. Though we see slivers of their “real” personalities with each passing year, Boyhood shows off how most parents are living, breathing, inherently flawed people just trying to do their best in life, which usually involves casting their children’s interests as their foremost priority.
1. Mary Poppins (1964)
It’s ironic to think that one of the best movies about parenting features a magical nanny acting more like a parent than either of her two wards’ actual mother or father. But as Mary Poppins overarchingly illustrates, the time we have with our children is incredibly finite, with every day a tiny miracle we should never overlook or take for granted. While life can be hard and distracting, Mary Poppins shows that we always need to be present and actively engaged with our children whenever we come home from work, allowing us all to enjoy the little moments that matter most, be it feeding some pigeons on the way to the office or flying a kite with our kids in the park.
