Top 10 Movies To Watch For Father's Day

10. Rain Man

This might be cheating considering that this is more of a “sibling” film rather than a film about a dad. However, the reason I included it is because Tom Cruise character (Charlie Babbitt) does possess daddy issues that still bother him in the present. Premise: “When car dealer Charlie Babbitt learns that his estranged father has died, he returns home to Cincinnati, where he discovers that he has a savant older brother named Raymond and that his father's $3 million fortune is being left to the mental institution in which Raymond lives. Motivated by his father's money, Charlie checks Raymond out of the facility in order to return with him to Los Angeles. The brothers' cross-country trip ends up changing both their lives.”

9. Fences

I still stand by the fact that Denzel Washington should have won an Academy Award for this film over Casey Affleck. None the less, Fences tells the story of Troy Maxson living in 1950s Pittsburgh who tries fighting his inner demons while trying to raise his family. One of my favorite scenes in this film is when Troy's son Cory ask him why he doesn't like him and he goes into this whole speech about, “I’m your father I don't have to like you. Don’t go into life worrying about rather or not someone likes you or not.”

This is a great story about generational trauma and trying your best to break that. I wouldn't say Troy is a bad dad, however, his drinking is a cause of being too old to play baseball. You can also tell that Troy may be a little envious of his own son because he may have a bright future in sports something that Troy never had the opportunity to pursue due to his age.

8. The Incredibles

Can you believe it's been 22 years since we got one of the best Pixar films ever? ‘Til this very day The Incredibles is regarded as the, “greatest Fantastic Four movie” by comic book fans. This incredible (no pun attended) film about a retired superhero turned suburb dad is forced back into his former life as a crime fighter when he is recruited by an unknown woman for a mysterious assignment.

One thing that this film is great at displaying is the importance of family and even midlife crisis. Instead, of living in the present and being a dad/husband Bob is chasing the high of what it was like to be a hero again and that puts his family in danger.

7. Creed

Before Creed I knew absolutely nothing about boxing or in the Rocky franchise. I watched the first three Rocky films before watching Creed just to get an overall sense of the franchise. Creed is one of the greatest legacy sequels in which Michael B. Jordan plays Adonis Creed (the long lost son of Apollo Creed) who moves to Philadelphia to be trained by his fathers former rival/best friend Rocky Balboa.

While Adonis didn't grow up with a father seeing how his died at a young age, he forms a great father/son relationship with Rocky who is the closest connection he has left to his father. Ryan Coogler crafted an amazing sports drama about a 2nd generation boxer trying so desperately to create his own legacy while also trying to maintain his fathers as well.

6. A Quiet Place

When A Quiet Place first came out in 2018 a lot of people's first reaction was: “Jim Halpert from The Office wrote/directed a horror movie?” The synopsis for this goes: “a family is forced to live in silence in a post apocalypse world where creatures hunt by sound.” I absolutely love this film because this taught me sign language and using an actual deaf actor in Millicent Simmonds adds a sense of realism. The opening sequence to this film tells you everything about the film without a single ounce of dialogue.

This film is less about the creatures/aliens and more about a father willing to do anything to protect his family. Possibly one of the best movies that has very little dialogue in it.

5. King Richard

Not a lot of people were too happy when they found out that the Williams Sisters biopic film was going to be about their father and not themselves. I was on the fence but once I heard Serena/Venus were producers on the film and how much they praise their father for helping there careers it wasn't that big of a deal anymore. Too many movies depict black fathers as a deadbeat or being abusive and neither of those things are true at all.

King Richard is one of the best sports films but also does a fantastic job at changing the narrative of the, “deadbeat father” trope. I actually think the sports aspect of the film isn't even the best part of the film. To me the best part of the film is Richard Williams relationship with Serena/Venus and despite how hard he was on them about tennis he just wanted the best out of them.

4. A Goofy Movie

While A Goofy Movie wasn't a hit when it was initially released it is now considered a cult classic in the black community. The mega star called Powerline is modeled after Bobby Brown, Michael Jackson and Prince. I think watching this as a teenager everyone can relate to Max because when you are his age you just want to hang out with your friends and your public image actually matters to you. Re-watching this as an adult your perspective changes because now Goofy is more relatable especially if you're a parent or even a uncle/aunt. If you're a teenager I would cherish the moments with your parents but as a parent you should also remember that sometimes your kids just want to have fun and that's okay too.

3. John Q

“I am not going to bury my son my son is going to bury me!” If you aren't prepared to cry then I suggest you watch something else. In John Q Denzel Washington plays a husband/father who finds out that his son needs a heart transplant. When John is informed his HMO won't cover his son's heart transplant he decides to hold several patients and doctors in the hospital hostage until his son gets on a donors list.

You will be shedding massive tears with this film which is why I haven't watched it in a while. When you put a gun in a desperate father’s hands what exactly is he capable of? Denzel Washington is what I like to describe as, “your favorite actors favorite actor” and John Q is an underrated classic that doesn't get enough credit.

2. Logan

When it comes to dad's a lot of people wouldn't expect Logan from X-Men to be a father at all but there's a first time for everything. 2017's Logan is based on the Old Man Logan story from the comics and is easily one of the best comic book adaptations put to screen. Logan isn't exactly overcome with “happiness” when he finds out that he is a father. Even though I wouldn't necessarily give him a “father of the year award” Logan does try his hardest to protect Laura when she is targeted by evil forces. Not only is this peak X-Men but this film will also tug on your heart strings as well.

1. Lion King

Now how could I possibly be leave off one of the greatest Disney animated films ever? I Can't Wait To Be King perfectly sums up everything about this film. When Simba's uncle Scar kills his brother Mufasa, Scar gaslights a terrified/young Simba into thinking he was responsible for his father's death. Rather Simba earned the title of king or not he was always going to become the ruler of the pride lands despite Scar's inner hatred towards his own brother.