Movies Fathers Would Want To Watch With Their Children

First and most importantly, Happy Father’s Day to fathers everywhere. Spending time with your children with a movie is a great idea and, frankly, watching just about any age-appropriate film is worthwhile.

With that said, movie lists are always subjective. Results can differ wildly among people’s movie tastes. I’m a father and grandfather, so my comments on the listed movies below as being “Father’s Day movies” might differ greatly from yours. This makes for good conversation, so evaluate the lists yourself and use the comments to make your case if/when you agree or disagree. That’s part of the fun of what we do here.

So, I’m cracking up this morning over some of the movies being recommended for me to watch with my children. Are people that make these lists actually fathers themselves? Do they even know any fathers besides their own? Are they choosing movies fathers might actually want to see with their children or just movies that men in general might/could/would enjoy?

This Father’s Day give your dad what he really wants: a movie night with his favorite child (hey, it’s better than another tie). Even if you’re miles apart this year, the magic of the internet has made co-viewing parties — whether through the use of fancy apps or good, old-fashioned text messaging — possible no matter where you are. Now all you need to do is pick a film to watch.

14 Great Movies Streaming On Hulu For Fathers Day 2020

The sentiment sounds good, now let’s see what these recommended movies are, because some services are getting it closer to right than others.

The 14 “great” movies on Hulu to watch with dads

1. A Quiet Place ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ – Fantastic movie, but no. My sons aren’t into horror movies like I am, so terrible choice. And your kids better be adults to even entertain this one, because it will scare the bejesus out of little ones.
2. Field of Dreams – Excellent movie, good choice. Wholesome enough for all ages and baseball, America’s past time (and something we’ve been tragically without during the pandemic).
3. He Got Game – haven’t seen this one, yet, so maybe a decent choice for those with adult children. Spike Lee can be a bit adult-oriented with his subject matter, so my guess not kid-oriented.
4. Definitely, Maybe – rom-coms aren’t a terrible choice, especially those that deal with children. I’m thinking Sleepless in Seattle would be a better choice, but maybe that isn’t available on Hulu. Have seen this one and liked it. Not sure any of my children would care for it. None of them are into rom-coms.
5. Big Fish – another that I haven’t seen, but the story sounds fatherly-oriented. Maybe a good selection. Added to my watchlist.
6. Prospect – sci-fi starring Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian!), yeah this might work for adult children and dad as something both might be interested in watching.
7. Instant Family – haven’t seen. Mark Walberg and Rose Byrne are both good actors and the topic seems a bit too message-oriented to watch with older kids and younger kids would likely be bored. Not sure I care for this choice … sons probably wouldn’t care, daughters? Maybe.
8. Beginners – Ewan Mcgregor in a true father-son movie. This one I haven’t seen either, but like this recommendation. Looks like it might be a bit slow, but sometimes dads like me like dramas. Added to watch list.
9. Boyz in the Hood – The great Laurence Fishburne in this 90s film has a father-son substory. Not a bad recommendation, but a MAYBE for me.
10. A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood ⭐️⭐️⭐️½ – a recommended movie that’s not enough about Mister Rogers. Pretty much any movie starring Tom Hanks is a lock for Father’s Day. I’m thinking better choices though like: Big and Sleepless in Seattle (again!), but maybe those aren’t available on Hulu. Consider those two among my recommendations if you can watch them with your children.
11. Bumblebee ⭐️⭐️½ – an OK, at best, movie. Even for a Transformer’s movie. Not even sure children of any age would care for this and Dad’s? Um, no. The first Transformers movie was the best. Good action, Megan Fox looking super fine and not too Michael Bay annoying. Substandard choice.
12. Hunt for The Wilderpeople – a lot of people enjoy Taika Waititi’s work it seems, but I’ve not been quite as enamored by his talent to date. Maybe this would be a good choice, as the synopsis sounds promising. Marking as a maybe.
13. Father of the Bride – Steve Martin, great choice. Fits the holiday like a glove, even though I’m not a huge Steve Martin fan.
14. Interstellar – Christopher Nolan film that is a little too dense and broody sci-fi for an enjoyable Father’s Day watch. Pass.

Hulu Father’s Day recommendation recap: Yes – 5, Maybe – 6, No – 3. Overall, this list is an average to below average recommendation list. They should have stuck with the 5 and it would have been a great list. A little lean on movies for younger children with only Bumblebee maybe being young enough, so a big fail there.

HBO Max Father’s Day Recommendations

1. Wonder Woman ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ – Gal Gadot, Chris Pine. Yeah, this is an excellent movie and good to watch with daughters or son, plus Dad would enjoy. YES.
2. Space Cowboys – while offering a good cast, story and acting, this doesn’t have much of a fatherly vibe to it. Just because it deals with space and NASA doesn’t make it a good Father’s Day film. No.
3. Fast Five – I haven’t seen most of the Fast & Furious franchise. Know they are big hits so for action film dad’s this is probably a solid choice. Just guessing here. YES.
4. Fast & Furious Presents Hobbs & Shaw ⭐️⭐️⭐️½ – Saw this in the theater in 2019. Not an amazing action movie, but fun. Seems like HBO Max recommendations are leaning heavily on action films, which I guess stereotypically men enjoy, but is there any evidence this is true for all dads? Going to mark this one, because I’ve seen it and was entertained, as MAYBE.
5. Enter The Dragon ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ – one of the greatest martial arts films of all time. But is watching Bruce Lee kick ass a good fit for Father’s Day? Most dad’s will enjoy this movie (me, a lot!) but then it begins the conversation of how Bruce Lee died too soon in life and then his son, Brandon died tragically too. No father wants their children to die in the prime of their career. Definitely not for young children. For these reasons, a MAYBE.
6. Casino Royale – James Bond action films are a mixed bag. Most of them don’t handle relationships with women very well. This one is a bit more progressive with M played by the excellent Judi Dench, but it’s a dark Bond portrayal. Not as doomy as Timothy Dalton’s Bond portrayal. I don’t like this choice. No.
7. Quantum of Solace – Another James Bond from Daniel Craig era. I think the Roger Moore era was campy enough for Father’s Day fit. Sean Connery is the best Bond but those were very sexist films and not something I’d want to watch with a daughter or son on Father’s Day. No.
8. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – Here we are with Transformers films again. I’m not a fan of these films but they were very popular overall. I would have zero interest in watching with our children, but I could see some fathers being possibly interested. Would open up a good critical discussion on what makes Michael Bay’s filmmaking style controversial. MAYBE.
9. Die Hard ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ – Bruce Willis in his best action film role. Also, considered by some to be a great Christmas film. Is it a good Father’s Day film, though? I’m going to lean towards the positive on this one simply because it’s a great film. However, this isn’t for young children at all. YES.
10. Die Hard 2: Die Harder ⭐️⭐️⭐️½ – this movie is a noticeable step down from the first one, not sure how it fits with Father’s Day. No.
11. Die Hard With a Vengeance ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – better film than the second one, not as good as the first. Samuel Jackson as a foul-mouthed partner is a riot, but again not good for younger children. Adult children? Yeah, they probably would like this one. This is very much a “guy” film, so maybe not of as much interest to daughters. MAYBE
12. Alita: Battle Angel – this didn’t do as well as expected sales-wise, but I think it’s a pretty good sci-fi recommendation. YES.
13. Braveheart – Mel Gibson, what do you do with this movie? MAYBE.
14. Shooter – don’t like this Mark Wahlberg choice as being very fatherly-oriented. NO.
15. Daylight – sort of a semi-forgotten Sylvester Stallone movie about his going into rescue mode inside a tunnel about to collapse. Not a good Father’s Day movie, sorry. NO.
16. U.S Marshals – Tommy Lee Jones vs. Wesley Snipes. Good movie, plenty of action, some light-hearted humor. This has nothing to do with fathers and children, but I like this choice on the strength of the movie. YES.
17. War of the Worlds – if this was the original film, I’d say yes, but a big negative on the Tom Cruise remake. NO.
18. Armageddon – End of the world movies don’t make for good Father’s Day “let’s view this together” moments. It’s not that good a movie, either, sorry Bruce Willis. NO.

HBO Max recap totals: 5 – yes, 5 – maybe, 8 – no. This list is leaning heavily on action films, no rom-coms and no animated or classic films. HBO Max has Looney Tunes, Scooby Doo, The Jetsons and so on … I mean, a ton to recommend for Father’s Day but none are mentioned. Overall, a mediocre at best Father’s Day movie list.

What would you recommend as good Father’s Day movies?

Enough of what the streaming services and a bunch of other websites would recommend.

What movies would you recommend that would make good Father’s Day movies? Or if you’d rather, go ahead and comment on the two lists above.

A quick Google search will find several sites making Father’s Day lists today. Maybe we should build the ultimate Father’s Day list? Perhaps over the next 10 years or so, we can do that together here. Or maybe you’ve already made the perfect list or seen somebody else compile one? Let me know. What are your favorite Father’s Day movies?