Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Culture

The 9 best movies to watch over Father’s Day weekend

Watch these films together and bond with your dad or father figure

By
Family watching TV together
pikselstock / Shutterstock

In between grilling burgers and brats and checking sports scores, celebrating fatherhood presents a chance for men (and masculine-identifying people) to enjoy the people who appreciate and support them. Bonding over a great story on the big screen that both dads and children can relate to brings the entire family together for some fun!

Sure, they’ll still have to take out the garbage and clean the garage. But when the paternal figures in your life get an opportunity to rest on their day, the best Father’s Day gift you can give is quality time. If his favorite hobby is watching movies, then you’re in luck! Here are some Father’s Day movies to watch with dear old Dad (Gramps, or Freat Grandpa). 

Recommended Videos

Daddy's Home (2015)

Daddy's Home
42%
6.1/10
pg-13
96m
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini
Directed by
Sean Anders
Watch on Amazon
This comedy from director Sean Anders cashes in on the hilarious bromance actor Will Farrell shares with co-star Mark Wahlberg. Farrell stars as a mild-mannered radio executive who is the proud stepfather to his wife Sara’s two kids. Once the children’s biological father Dusty (Wahlberg) comes back into the picture, it becomes an all-out war for the hearts of Sara and the children.

Fences (2016)

Fences
79%
7.2/10
pg-13
139m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Stephen McKinley Henderson
Directed by
Denzel Washington
Watch on Amazon
Based on August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1985 play of the same name, this Oscar-nominated film centers on the story of a Black working-class man dealing with his past demons while raising a family in the 1950s. With film icon Denzel Washington in the director’s seat, Fences was praised by critics for how it blended impeccable cinematography into the storytelling while invoking a compelling emotional tone.

Bad Boys for Life (2020)

Bad Boys for Life
59%
6.5/10
r
124m
Genre
Thriller, Action, Crime
Stars
Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Paola Nuñez
Directed by
Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah
Watch on Amazon
Action flicks are big on any male-inspired holiday. Bad Boys For Life combines all the bravado and over-the-top car chases that men clamor for. This time around, Miami cops Mike Lowery (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) square off against a mother-son duo of destructive drug dealers that show a questionable interest in one of the Bad Boys.

He Got Game (1998)

He Got Game
64%
6.9/10
136m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Denzel Washington, Ray Allen, Rosario Dawson
Directed by
Spike Lee
Watch on Amazon
NBA legend Ray Allen is a major success in his acting debut as a preps basketball phenom set on a path to stardom. Though the film has just a few action sports sequences, He Got Game dazzles in its portrayal of the ups and downs of a prodigious, rising athlete. While Jesus Shuttlesworth (Allen) may seem to have the world at his feet, his family issues bring him just as much pressure as scoring against double teams on the hardwood.

Taken (2008)

Taken
51%
7.8/10
pg-13
94m
Genre
Action, Thriller
Stars
Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Leland Orser
Directed by
Pierre Morel
Watch on Amazon
Over the years, Taken has become a cultural staple. The film is often depicted in memes and other digital media on the web. But when it was first released, it set a new precedent for action-thrillers. Retired CIA agent Bryan Mills traverses across Europe to save his daughter from the hands of nefarious traffickers with a particular set of skills. What film better showcases how far a father is willing to go to protect his child? Liam Neeson is phenomenal as the kick-ass dad taking down the bad guys!

Big Daddy (1999)

Big Daddy
41%
6.4/10
pg-13
93m
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Adam Sandler, Joey Lauren Adams, Jon Stewart
Directed by
Dennis Dugan
Watch on Amazon
When an aloof law school student adopts a wise-cracking boy to impress his girlfriend, he learns that fatherhood is nothing to be taken lightly. The boy warms up to his new foster parent and the two develop a heart-warming relationship that highlights one of Adam Sandler’s most beloved films to date.

Call Me by Your Name (2017)

Call Me by Your Name
132m
Genre
Romance, Drama
Stars
Armie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg
Directed by
Luca Guadagnino
Watch on Amazon
Not only is Call Me By Your Name a Pride Month staple, the queer drama represents the pinnacle of father/gay son relationships. When a 17-year-old sees his burgeoning romance with an older man come to a close at the end of summer, his father steps in at the end of the film with one of the most powerful speeches in film. Michael Stuhlbarg is phenomenal as the dad who lets his son know to hold on to every emotion and stay true to himself through challenging changes in life.

Return of the Jedi (1983)

Return of the Jedi
132m
Genre
Adventure, Action, Science Fiction
Stars
Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher
Directed by
Richard Marquand
Watch on Amazon
The entire original Star Wars trilogy possesses great father and son themes, but Return of the Jedi culminates with a great redemption arc for Darth Vader. Luke Skywalker must understand that his destiny differs from his evil dad’s while also grappling with the similarities between the two men. The movie is a great way to wind down with Dad at the end of a summer night!

Life Is Beautiful (1997)

Life Is Beautiful
116m
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Cantarini
Directed by
Roberto Benigni
Watch on Amazon
Whether you’re a World War II historian or a casual movie fan who wants a poignant, heartbreaking comedy-drama this Father’s Day, Life is Beautiful is sure to make you think, laugh, and cry. Roberto Benigni gives an Academy Award-winning performance as a Jewish dad who leverages his optimism and sense of humor during the Holocaust to protect his young son. The film will make you marvel at how a simple change in perspective and attitude can bring levity to even the horrifying scenarios in human history.

Editors’ Recommendations

Movie images and data from:
Topics
DeMario Phipps-Smith
DeMario Phipps-Smith
Former Digital Trends Contributor
DeMario Phipps-Smith is a Chicago native passionate about working to uplift marginalized communities. He previously worked as…
The best thrillers on Netflix to watch right now
These thrillers on Netflix are perfect for a night in
best thrillers on netflix leave the world behind movie 2

Many of the best movies on Netflix are also thrillers. But did you know that thrillers contain multiple subgenres? Netflix's selection is so robust that it's easy to pick a thriller from almost every popular subgenre and not repeat ourselves once.

That's exactly what we did for this list of the best thrillers on Netflix, which range from classic theatrical thrillers to movies that were created as Netflix originals. All eight of our selections are very different from one another, but they're united by the thrills they provide you, the viewer.
Fatal Attraction

Read more
The best ’80s action movies on Netflix to stream now
From action comedies to more serious fare, these are the best '80s action movies Netflix has to offer
Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop

Over the decades of its existence, the action movie has continued to evolve and change. In today's blockbuster landscape, action movies are almost relentless, but that wasn't always the case. The modern action movie first emerged in full force in the 1980s, when everything was bigger, including both the car chases and the explosions. We all know that Netflix has an excellent selection of action movies that span decades throughout the genre's long history.

When it comes to '80s movies, though, what kind of films does Netflix have available? There are a number of great 1980s action movies that you can watch on Netflix, including the titles below. Across these six titles, we have a wide array of different types of action movies to choose from. Some are much more political and historical, while others are based purely in fantasy or in some heightened version of reality. We also have an excellent combination of fun, light movies and heavier, darker material. Whatever type of '80s action movie you're looking for, though, you're almost guaranteed to find it among these selections. These are the best '80s action movies on Netflix.

Read more
These binge-worthy shows are perfect for a lazy weekend
The best binge worthy shows of all time
Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul in Breaking Bad.

For most of TV's history, binge-watching wasn't really a thing. You watched one episode of your favorite show every week, and if you really loved it, you eagerly awaited the next one. With the advent first of home video, though, and then of streaming, and of Netflix in particular, binging became the default way many viewers consume TV.

While binging a show is great for many, not all shows are meant to be consumed that way. Sometimes, you want to let an episode breathe so that you can fully understand it before moving on to the next. For the shows on this list, though, binging is the way to go. These are the 10 most binge-worthy shows of all time.

Read more