If it makes your dad stand in front of the TV with his hands in his pockets, know it’s a dad movie.
“Dad movies” are hard to put into words, but you know one when you see one.
Dad movies might mean a feel-good movie exploring family drama elements, or a rough, tough son-of-a-gun’s war veteran story; it’s truly open to interpretation. But when you closely look at it, every dad movie shares a set of common human values, such as false promises, selfishness, capitalism, and self-determination.
It’s fascinating to me that dads of all kinds can get on the same page about certain films. Films involving guns and technology (spy flicks), history, war, social commentary, and male friendships are pretty contagious to most dads. So, let’s go through the nine greatest dad movies of all time.
9 Iconic Dad Movies Made for Everyone to Enjoy
1. Die Hard (1988)
Die Hard follows a New York City police officer, John McClane (Bruce Willis), who arrives in L.A., in the hope of spending time with his estranged wife and kids, but instead ends up rescuing her and a bunch of hostages as his wife’s office building gets attacked by terrorists.
John McClane is the ultimate embodiment of the everyday dad who triumphs over extraordinary challenges with just sheer competence and stubbornness. John McClane is not a flashy policeman; he is a straightforward common man who gets the job done without asking for praise, and dads love it.
2. Lethal Weapon (1987)
Coming from the brains of the legend Richard Donner, who gave us classics like The Omen (1976), Superman (1978), and The Goonies (1978), Lethal Weapon’s story follows two distinct police officers, reckless and suicidal Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover), pairing up to take down a massive drug-trafficking ring.
This buddy-cop action thriller is based on the themes of family, loss, responsibility, and teamwork. As the movie progresses, their starkly opposite nature slowly transforms into a brotherhood bond. Murtaugh learns to lighten up in life from Riggs, and Riggs learns a thing or two about family from Murtaugh’s world. A classic Christmas dad movie indeed.
3. The Hunt for Red October (1990)
Before a war breaks out, CIA analyst Jack Ryan (Alec Baldwin) investigates the motives of a Soviet submarine captain, Marko Ramius (Sean Connery), who suddenly changed his submarine’s trajectory toward the East Coast of the United States.
Based on Tom Clancy’s novel, The Hunt for Red October is, without a doubt, one of the greatest dad movies ever from the director, John McTiernan, who also gave us the first Predator and Die Hard movies. Espionage stories involving political and international borders would make any dad stop by to invest his two hours.
4. Field of Dreams (1989)
Field of Dreams is one of the greatest sports movies ever made in American cinematic history. It’s about an Iowa farmer, Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner), who, upon hearing a mysterious voice one night, builds a baseball field that brings ghosts of baseball legends to life and allows him to reconnect with his deceased father.
Field of Dreams is a wonderful and sentimental tribute to father-son relationships, relatable to almost every person. It’s also about giving respect to the wonderful game of baseball, a classic American sport, important to the country’s roots. It’s truly an ultimate dad movie for ages to come.
5. Ford v Ferrari (2019)
The newest addition to the list is Ford v Ferrari by James Mangold. The story follows a fearless driver, Ken Miles (Christian Bale), and a car designer, Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon), who come together to build a revolutionary fast Ford car and compete against high-speed Ferrari cars.
You can feel the ambition, speed, danger, and sweat in Ford v Ferrari courtesy of mind-blowing cinematography and impressive recreations of classic car races. This movie actually makes you feel the glory of sports, which is almost every boy’s first interest as he takes his first steps. It is definitely worthy of being a dad movie.
6. The Godfather (1963)
When the leader of the most powerful Italian-American crime family, Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), is fatally wounded in an assassination attempt, the youngest son, Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), is forced to choose violence to protect his father and become the crime lord himself.
Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather is a multigenerational mafia drama and a benchmark in crime movies and American cinema. The chemistry between Marlon Brando and Al Pacino is outstanding. The movie carefully explores the inescapable burden of a father’s legacy, which one can deeply relate to. It is a cultural milestone and makes for a pretty good dad movie.
7. The Great Escape (1963)
A group of Allied soldiers plans their escape from the German POW camp during World War II, but as they execute the impossible task, they have to run to survive as a complete manhunt begins.
Steve McQueen’s thrilling motorcycle scene has long been the stuff of cinematic legend. This is one of the all-time great war movies that celebrates the spirit of Allied forces when their backs were against the wall. With a stellar cast and iconic action sequences, The Great Escape maintains its status as one of the best dad movies.
8. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is wrongly accused of his wife’s murder and spends 19 years in Shawshank Prison before digging his way out to freedom.
The Shawshank Redemption is not only one of the best Stephen King adaptations but also a wonderful exploration of resilience and hope. The movie is resigned, yet manages to be deeply inspirational. Andy’s perseverance and fight to preserve integrity in the face of adversity make it a movie perfect for all kinds of dads.
9. Tombstone (1993)
The tough-talking, old-fashioned Western Tombstone begins with the Earp brothers leaving their gunslinging days behind and finally reuniting with their wives in the city of Tombstone to settle. But soon, they get embroiled with a dangerous cowboy gang to save the city from the gang’s plight, and take up guns for a showdown.
With great performances by Val Kilmer, Kurtt Russel, Sam Elliott, and Bill Paxton, Tombstone is what every dad likes in a movie—real moustache, masculinity, loyalty, honor, and good old-fashioned gun violence. The movie also features some of the rowdiest one-liners and entertaining scenes, such as the moment when Doc Holiday’s character winks moments before the shootout at the OK Corral.
Summing Up
So, if you are trying to find the perfect movie to watch with your father on Father’s Day, pick one from the list. All dads will agree with me that the best gift their offspring can give them is quality time, so why not watch a great dad movie over the weekend?