Mother’s Day Movies To Watch With Your Family

You have had an exciting day celebrating Mother’s Day with your family. What did you do? Did you go for a spa day, or maybe had a meal out? Now you want to settle down in front of the TV and enjoy a great film with your folks. But what should you watch? An animation, romantic comedy, or a terribly sad drama to make you all cry? Here are some ideas for Mother’s Day movies to watch with your family.

Animation Mother’s Day Movies

This collection of movies is perfect for the whole family to enjoy. Who doesn’t love an animation? These films all feature awesome mothers who go above and beyond for their children. Some of the films are funny and some cover more serious topics, but we think you’ll love them.

Brave

This is the ultimate mother-daughter film. It’s full of valuable lessons. For example, if your mother drives you crazy, DON’T TURN HER INTO A BEAR! For that is exactly what Merida did to her own mother. And you thought you had problems? But fear not, after a fun action action-packed adventure Merida bonds with her mother bear.

Wonder Park

This film had a lot of potential to be really fun, but it is very sad. June has an awesome relationship with her mother. Together, they have built a huge play ‘theme park’ in their house full of fascinating characters. But when June’s mother becomes sick and has to go away for treatment, June is left feeling depressed. Little does she know that the theme park she designed was actually created in an alternative universe, and all the characters in that world are relying on her to CHEER UP!

The Incredibles 2

Both the Incredibles films highlight the importance of family life. The second film acknowledges the unique skills of Mrs Incredible, which takes her away from the family. It’s not long before her husband and children learn how valuable she is as a wife and mother in their family and not just a fabulous superhero.

Turning Red

In Brave, Merida accidentally turns her mother into a bear. In Turning Red, Mei accidentally turns herself into a bear, and not just any bear, but a huge, adorable red panda. This is another mother-daughter bonding film. It covers common issues facing tween girls and unique cultural issues of Canadian Asians, as well as the unique problem of turning into a red panda bear.

How To Train Your Dragon 2

All the ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ films are fabulous and worth watching. However, the 2nd film explains what happened to Hiccup’s mother, and we finally meet her. It’s a great film to watch for all the family. Not only is it filled with adventure, humour and cute dragons, but we also watch a beautiful family reunion.

Meet the Robinsons

This film is massively underrated. If you have not watched it yet, Mother’s Day is a perfect time to indulge yourself. Orphan and inventor Lewis travels to the future to meet the eccentric Robinson family where he feels he belongs. If you think your family is a little unconventional, ask yourself this: ‘Has my mother ever trained frogs to play music?’

Home

You may not know how much you appreciate your mother until she is deported to Australia by aliens who have invaded planet Earth. Tip Tucci had a strong bond with her mother, but when the Boov conquered Earth, they were separated. Together with the haphazard Boov Oh, Tip travels the world in search of her mother. Now, if this is not the perfect film for Mother’s Day, I don’t know what is?

Comedy Mother’s Day Movies To Watch With Your Family

Lighten up your Mothering Sunday by watching a jolly family comedy. Watch other families work through common struggles that we can all relate to, such as discovering you are from a long line of royals or your child’s nanny is their father in disguise.

The Princess Diaries

Every girl thinks she is a princess. Perhaps in their younger years they were told they are a princess? Well, in this story, Mia Thermopolis discovers she is really is a bona fide princess, and she is not too happy about it. She already has a strong relationship with her mother, but now she needs to bond with her absent grandmother, Queen Clarisse Renaldi. It’s a typical make-over story, but it is easy to watch and enjoy at the end of a busy Mother’s Day.

Freaky Friday

Can you remember being a teenage girl? Can you imagine being a mother? Often, when there is strife in relationships, it is because people cannot understand what the other person is experiencing. Tess and Anna Coleman have a fractious mother-daughter relationship. When they visit a Chinese restaurant, a well-meaning grandmother places a ‘spell’ on them whereby the change places. Tess experiences what her daughter has to struggle with in school, and Anna learns how challenging motherhood can be. This is a funny, thought-provoking film which will remind us to walk in another’s shoes.

Yes Day

Are you a helicopter parent? Is your house covered in health and safety devices to protect your one and only precious child? Do you say ‘no’ to their every request as you play out a thousand imaginary catastrophes in your mind? Have you become a bit of a killjoy? What’s the cure? Have a ‘Yes Day’. Let your child decide what you will all do as a family, no matter how crazy it is. Sure, set out some rules, but give your child real creative freedom. Let this film be your guide. It will show the pros and cons of having a ‘Yes Day’ in a hilarious series of crazy escapades.

Mrs Doubtfire

This is a hilarious, much-loved family film, not least because it stars Robin Williams. Voice actor Daniel Hillard adores his children but is not the most responsible father in the world. In order to see them regularly, he disguises himself as a female nanny, much to the shock and disgust of his ex-wife, Miranda Hillard. Arguably, this is a great film to watch on Father’s Day, but the success of Mrs Doubtfire falls to Daniel’s ability to nurture the children maternally.

Paddington

I have chosen to add this film into the mix because of the maternal figures of Aunt Lucy and Mary Brown. Granted, we don’t see Aunt Lucy in her function as adoptive aunt to Paddington in the first film, but Paddington makes plenty of references to her to know that she raised him. Mary Brown pitied him from the moment her eyes fell upon his pathetic figure at Paddington station. She is always defending him from Mr Brown, and using her fabulous feminine powers, she convinces Mr Bown not only to accept Paddington but to risk his life to protect the little bear.

Drama Mother’s Day Movies To Watch With Your Family

Get your tissues out for these epic weepies. All of these drama films feature fantastic mothers who show determination, compassion and even self-sacrifice for their children and others. They are an inspiration for us all.

Little Women

Admittedly, this film could be considered a Christmas film. The first scene is set at Christmas time, setting the theme of family love throughout the movie. There are many versions of Alcott’s popular novel series, but I think Armstrong’s 1994 version starring Susan Sarandon is the best. Clearly, Mrs March is a resourceful woman and a deeply compassionate mother. So many people depend on her time, energy and resources, and she does not disappoint. Not only does she support her daughters, but she helps her husband when he is wounded, and she also cares for the poor in her community. Mrs March is a great role model for any mother to resemble.

The Sound of Music

Why become a nun when you can marry a naval captain with seven children? This was the dilemma that Maria Augusta Kutschera faced when she was sent to be a governess of the Von Trapp family. She is an impressive figure not because she taught the children to sing, or fled over the alps from the Nazis, but because she could make 7 ‘play costumes’ from her curtains!

Maleficent

Fun fact: No babies could play the role of baby Aurora without being afraid of Angelina Jolie as Maleficent. They had to use Jolie’s own baby to play the role because she could recognise her own mother even with a fiercesome headpiece. For this reason alone, Maleficent is a perfect Mother’s Day movie to watch with your family. It is an interesting twist on the original tale, portraying Maleficent as the true victim and a truly maternal figure.

Queen of Katwe

Based on a true story, Queen of Katwe is about a girl from the slums in Katwe, Uganda, who becomes an international chess champion. Taught by a missionary teacher Phiona Mutesi soon demonstrates her tactical skills on the chess board. Whilst protecting her own honour, Phiona’s mother navigates through many obstacles and makes many sacrifices to help her daughter compete in international championships. Another inspiring role model for mothers around the world no matter their economic background.

Your Thoughts

So what do you think of these choices? Are they the perfect Mother’s Day movies to watch with your family? Are you going to watch any of them this Mothering Sunday? Have you got any ideas for better films to include on this list? Let us know in our Facebook group.

NB: If you are reading this to plan for Mother’s Day in advance, don’t forget to read our post 14 Ways to celebrate Mother’s Day in England.