Father's Day Movies

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

When eccentric single-dad Caractacus Potts invents a revolutionary car, a foreign government becomes interested and will do anything to get their hands on it.

MPAA Rating: G

Runtime: 44 mins.

Details: Directed by Ken Hughes and written by Ian Fleming, Roald Dahl, Ken Hughes and Richard Malbaum, this movie stars Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes and Lionel Jeffries. Was released in theaters Dec. 18, 1968; on DVD Nov. 10, 1998.

Why It Goes Down In Daddy History: Caractacus may not be the most organized father, but he sure is fun! Especially when he’s making breakfast with one of his wacky inventions.

 

Father of the Bride

George and Nina Banks are the parents of young Annie, whose journey from girlhood to womanhood has seemed oh so short. She’s just about ready to head down the aisle, which has George shaking in his sneakers.

MPAA Rating: PG

Runtime: 1 hr. 45 mins.

Details: Directed by Charles Shyer and written by Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Nancy Meyers and Charles Shyer, this movie stars Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, and Kimberly Williams. Was released in theaters Dec. 20, 1991; on DVD June 7, 2005.

Why It Goes Down In Daddy History: Steve Martin shines as the bumbling, nervous pop who’ll do anything for his little girl, even if it means letting her go.

 

Mr. Mom

When Jack loses his job, he and wife Caroline decide that he’ll stay home with the kids while she goes off to work. Oh, if he only knew what he was getting into…

MPAA Rating: PG (though possibly more appropriate for ages 13 and over)

Runtime: 1 hr. 31 mins.

Details: Directed by Stan Dragoti and written by John Hughes, this movie stars Michael Keaton, Teri Garr, and Martin Mull. Was released in theaters July 22, 1983; on DVD April 25, 2000.

Why It Goes Down In Daddy History: Even sporting a scruffy beard and wearing the same shirt day after day, Michael Keaton still rocks the house as Mr. Mom.

 

National Lampoon's Vacation

Chaos ensues when the Griswold family embarks on a cross-country road trip to the Wally World theme park.

MPAA Rating: R

Runtime: 1 hr. 38 mins.

Details: Directed by Harold Ramis and written by John Hughes, this movie stars Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid, and Anthony Michael Hall. Was released in theaters July 29, 1983; on DVD Aug. 19, 2003.

Why It Goes Down In Daddy History: Remember those family vacations when dad would pack up the kids in the station wagon and head out for parts unknown? If not, here’s your chance to be part of the fun, led by big lug of a dad Chevy Chase.

 

Field of Dreams

An Iowa corn farmer hears voices in his head commanding him to build a baseball diamond in his fields. Once he does the Chicago Black Sox show up to play, including one very special player.

MPAA Rating: PG

Runtime: 1 hr. 47 mins.

Details: Directed and written by Phil Alden Robinson, this movie stars Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, Ray Liotta, and James Earl Jones. Was released in theaters April 21, 1989; 2-Disc Anniversary Edition DVD on June 8, 2004.

Why It Goes Down In Daddy History: “Hey, Dad, you wanna have a catch?” I think that’s all that needs to be said here.

 

About a Boy

Hugh Grant plays a London hipster who passes himself off as a single dad to meet women—sure of his ability to say buh-bye when they talk commitment. But his bachelorhood is in jeopardy when he meets 12-year-old Marcus (Nicholas Hoult) and his hippie mom (Toni Collette).

MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for brief strong language and some thematic elements.

Runtime: 1 hr. 42 mins.

Details: Directed by Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz, and written by Nick Hornby and Peter Hedges, this movie stars Hugh Grant, Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, and Rachel Weisz. Was released in theaters May 17, 2002; on DVD Jan. 14, 2003.

Why It Goes Down In Daddy History: Nothing says surrogate-dad bonding like a self-absorbed slacker, an unhappy 12-year-old, and a truly awkward version of “Killing Me Softly” in a school auditorium.

 

Three Men and a Baby

Three bachelors find themselves forced to take care of a baby left at their door by one of the guy’s girlfriends.

MPAA Rating: PG

Runtime: 1 hr. 42 mins.

Details: Directed by Leonard Nimoy and written by Coline Serreau, James Orr, and Jim Cruickshank, this movie stars Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg, Ted Danson, and Nancy Travis. Was released in theaters Nov. 25, 1987; on DVD April 2, 2002.

Why It Goes Down In Daddy History: What’s cooler than three handsome guys teaming together to raise a baby girl? They do everything from change diapers to protect the baby from drug dealers hot on their trail. Ah, good times.

 

Parenthood

Gil and Karen Buckmans are your average Midwestern couple, dealing with high-stress jobs and estranged relatives, all the while raising their kids to be good people. And somehow, they never lose their sense of humor – especially Gil.

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 2 hrs. 4 mins.

Details: Directed by Ron Howard and written by Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel and Ron Howard, this movie stars Steve Martin, Dianne Wiest, and Mary Steenburgen. Was released in theaters Aug. 2, 1989; Special Edition DVD on April 24, 2007.

Why It Goes Down In Daddy History: Steve Martin effortlessly juggles desperation and humor, whether he’s trying to explain his sister’s…uh…personal device or turning bathmats into cowboy chaps for his son’s birthday party.

 

Lion King

Now a classic animated blockbuster, this story takes place in Africa in a place called the Pride Lands. The powerful King Mufasa is a lion trying to teach his young cub, Simba, the secrets to being a good leader so that one day he may inherit the throne. However, Simba’s jealous uncle has other plans and soon Simba’s whole life is turned upside down.

MPAA Rating: G

Runtime: 1 hr. 29 mins.

Details: Directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff. Written by Irene Mecchi and Jonathan Roberts, this movie stars Jonathan Taylor Thomas as the voice of Simba and James Earl Jones as the voice of Mufasa. Was released in theaters June 1994.

Why It Goes Down In Daddy History: This is a classic tale of the lasting bond between a father and son. Mufasa is a source of inspiration for Simba, even after things go terribly wrong.

 

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Fantastic Mr. Fox is a stop motion animated feature based on Roald Dahl’s children’s novel of the same name. Mr. Fox retires from a life of stealing from local farmers when he discovers Mrs. Fox is pregnant. Two years later we find Mr. Fox struggling to relate to his son’s unique personality and plotting new adventures to spice up his life.

MPAA Rating: Rated PG for action, smoking and slang humor

Runtime: 1 hr. 27 mins.

Details: Directed by Wes Anderson and written by Roald Dahl and Wes Anderson, this movie features the voice talent of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, and Jason Schwartzman. Was released in theaters Nov. 2009; on DVD March 27, 2007.

Why It Goes Down In Daddy History: This story of a father searching for one last adventure and a son searching for his father’s approval, spiced with Wes Anderson’s signature dry wit, is surprisingly easy to relate to. Dads may see a little of themselves in the lovably impulsive Mr. Fox.

Written by Jane Louise Boursaw and Bethany Porter.