Photo credit: IMDB.COM

Five classic father-daughter movies to watch with your dad on Father’s Day

Here are five movies that you can watch at home this Father's Day for a cozy movie night in.

Noreen Shazreen

Probably the coolest cat lady you’ll ever meet.

Published: 17 June 2021, 1:21 PM

As Father’s Day approaches, it can be nerve-wracking to come up with an activity that you and your dad can enjoy together as a family. 

But what better way to celebrate Father’s Day at home – especially since we can’t dine out yet – than to host a movie night?

From romance movies to comedy films, these five movies will surely bring you laughter and tears as they honour fatherhood. With stars like Ryan Reynolds, Dwayne Johnson, and Liam Neeson appearing on this list, you are set for a terrific movie night experience.

1. Definitely, Maybe (2008)

This film tells the story of Will Hayes (Ryan Reynolds), who is in the middle of a divorce when his 10-year-old daughter, Maya (Abigail Breslin), asks him to recount how he met her mother.

While recounting his love life before marriage, Will changes the names of the women he has been romantically involved with so that Maya has to guess who he finally married.

 

While most romcoms are usually narrated from a woman’s perspective, this film shows otherwise. PHOTO CREDIT: IMDB.COM

 

The refreshing father-daughter relationship in this movie makes it perfect for anyone looking to watch a heartwarming film. Moreover, Will’s daughter helps him find his true love at the end of the movie, making it a perfect film for hopeless romantics. 

2. Taken (2008)

Another classic father-daughter relationship you may be familiar with is Taken.

This action-thriller film centers around former Central Intelligence Agency officer Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson), who attempts to reconcile with his 17-year-old estranged daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace). 

Kim convinces her reluctant father to let her spend her summer vacation in Paris with her best friend Amanda, claiming that her cousins will chaperone them.

After discovering that Kim lied about her trip and was kidnapped in Paris, Bryan uses his intelligence skills and travels across the country to rescue his daughter.

 

This movie is well known for its iconic dialogues, including the phone speech and kidnapping scenes. PHOTO CREDIT: IMDB.COM

 

As I grew older, I gained true appreciation for the love of a father, which has been portrayed rightfully in this film. This movie also highlights how our fathers are willing to make huge sacrifices to protect and keep us safe, even if their lives are at risk.

3. Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)

If you think your dad is stressed out taking care of you, imagine how much more difficult it would be if he had 12 kids to look after!

Upon receiving an offer to coach his alma mater’s football team, Tom Baker (Steve Martin) and his family move from their small town in Midland, Illinois to a city in Evanston, Illinois. 

Meanwhile, his wife Kate (Bonnie Hunt) has to leave for her book tour, making Tom raise the kids all by himself. While she is away, Tom has a hard time keeping the house in order while coaching his football team, causing the once happy family to start falling apart.

 

While his wife is away on a book tour, Tom has to coach his football team while juggling 12 kids on his own. PHOTO CREDIT: IMDB.COM

 

With 12 children to manage on his own, this movie is all the more hilarious as Tom’s house ends up in total chaos. 

However, the movie also demonstrates how willing Tom is to make sacrifices as a father while juggling his role as a football coach, as he even brought his players home to train.

4. The Game Plan (2007)

This comedic movie centers around popular footballer Joe Kingman (Dwayne Johnson) who seems to have it all figured out. He’s successful, wealthy and can attract any woman that he wants.

However, his life soon changed when he received unexpected news from an eight-year-old girl (Madison Pettis), who claimed to be his daughter from his previous relationship.

 

After discovering fatherhood, Joe transforms into a better man and realises that there is more to life than money and fame. PHOTO CREDIT: IMDB.COM

 

Joe, who was once an arrogant quarterback, now has to attend to his responsibilities as a father. It was amusing to watch him try to handle and take care of his feisty daughter. There is also excellent on-screen chemistry between the father-daughter duo, making this a great family film.

5. Miracles in Cell No. 7 (2013)

This popular Korean film does not need much introduction if you’re an avid K-drama fan. 

It tells the story of a mentally handicapped father Yong-Goo (Ryoo Seung-Ryong) who has spent many years in prison after being falsely accused for the rape and murder of an elementary school girl.

His daughter Ye-Seung (Park Shin-Hye) later grows up to become a law student to prove her father’s innocence.

 

Yong-Goo yearns to meet his daughter when he was imprisoned for a crime he never even committed. PHOTO CREDIT: IMDB.COM

 

While I’m a Korean film novice, this is one of the most touching films I have ever seen. The ending of the movie definitely made me cry because it shows the true love of a father and how much Yong-Goo desperately wanted to see his daughter after spending many years behind bars.

Not only are these five movies entertaining, but they also honour the importance of fathers in our lives. We should always remember to pay tribute to our fathers for all that they’ve done for us. 

Whichever one of these five movies you choose, you are sure to have an enjoyable movie night with your family.

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