A good mother / daughter movie is a great way to establish a connection with your Mom on Mother’s Day. It’s also a perfect way to celebrate. It costs very little; you can crack open a bottle of wine – or make her favorite cocktail – grab some snacks, and snuggle up on the couch together to watch. I’d choose any of these movies to watch with Mom. When you get to the end of the list please tell me your favorite mom / daughter movie.
Snapshot Survey
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Please subscribe for your personalized newsletter:
1. I, Tonya
Since everything nowadays is a remake of something else, I had to start with the new movie I, Tonya. This one is awesome! It’s the story that rocked the 90s, figure skater Tonya Harding and her alleged setup to bring down competition Nancy Kerrigan. The girl did not have an easy life according to this biopic but man was it a great movie!
2. Lady Bird
What better movie to watch with your mom than the story of a mother and her teenage daughter who don’t always see eye to eye?! We’ve all been there, we all can relate, and I’m sure this movie will bring out all the feels. Go ahead, give it a try!
Frequently asked questions
3. Mamma Mia 2
So this one doesn’t come out quite yet, however, it’s definitely one you and your mama won’t want to miss together! Have yourselves a movie night watching the first Mama Mia, a story of a woman trying to discover who her real dad is and finding love along the way, and then go laugh and cry in theatres watching Mama Mia 2 with your mommy!
4. The Joy Luck Club
A sweeping generational tale about a family who have to learn to come to terms with differences of opinion regarding marriage and love lives.
5. Aliens
If you want something a bit more adventurous to get your blood pumping, then the relationship between Ripley and Newt is one of the great bonds in modern cinema.
Related Videos about
6. Stepmom
A great 90s movie that shows the audience you can arrange a family in many different ways and still have enough love for everybody.
7. Akeelah and the Bee
A touching movie about a girl who wants to achieve academic success with a mother who doesn’t quite understand her aspirations.
8. Brave
A wonderful Pixar adventure that shows the unbreakable bond between mother and daughter, no matter how strained the relationship can get.
9. Little Women
An all-time classic story that shows the value of strong relationship with your sisters and with your mother. A real heart warmer.
10. Mommie Dearest
If you and your mom have a sense of humor, why not pop in Mommie Dearest and be thankful that your relationship is much, much better!
11. Thirteen
A great movie that will help both mom and daughter learn about how their actions affect one another.
12. Bend It like Beckham
A brilliant British comedy that shows a daughter defying her mother’s traditional wishes to follow her own dreams.
13. Mamma Mia
You can sing your hearts out together whilst watching this now iconic musical based on the songs of ABBA!
14. Heartbreakers
A fun comedy that shows a mother and daughter pulling off a clever marriage scheme to get the most money they can out of wealthy men.
15. MoonstrucK
Cher’s character’s relationship with her mother in Moonstruck is strained at times but always filled with love. A great comedy.
16. Real Women Have Curves
A raw and at times gritty comedy about a young Latina’s life and the constant battles she has to have with her disapproving mother.
17. Pretty in Pink
A unique 80s coming of age story without a mother character, will make you feel even luckier to have your own by your side.
18. Hairspray
The 1980s original directed by John Walters is full of craziness, but at its heart, it has a great relationship between Tracy Turnblad and her larger than life mom!
19. Freaky Friday
A classic comedy of errors that can help to make mothers and daughters see things from the opposite side.
20. Soul Food
A touching and heartfelt movie about a family who always come together at the wishes of their matriarch.
21. Terms of Endearment
Maybe the quintessential Hollywood mother / daughter movie, full of tears, laughter and everything in between.
22. Fried Green Tomatoes
A movie you can snuggle up on the couch with mom and really enjoy, all about the strength of female relationships.
23. The Sound of Music
Another fantastic sing along that you can enjoy with your mom. You both love the songs and you both know every single word!
24. Steel Magnolias
Another classic in the Fried Green Tomatoes vein of great actresses giving great performances, especially Sally Field and Julia Roberts as mother and daughter.
25. Matilda
A magical tale from Roald Dahl about a young gifted school girl who finds a new mother in her loving teacher away from her abusive family.
26. Dirty Dancing
No explanation needed! Dirty Dancing is the quintessential chick flick, and you and your mom are a couple of awesome chicks!
27. MERMAIDS
A very young Winona Ryder, Cher, and Christina Ricci (in her first film role) star in this movie about a mother with a larger-than-life personality raising two daughters (both with different fathers) on her own. This dramedy is sure to keep you and your mom on your toes, in the way only its leading ladies can.
28. NOW and then
Another Christina Ricci classic, Now and Then, follows four best friends as they grow up and grow apart but somehow find their way back together to be there for one of the quad’s first pregnancy. This ‘90s female friendship film is perfect to watch with your mom or best friend.
29. The BLIND SIDE
Sandra Bullock won an Academy Award for playing Leigh Anne Tuohy, the real life adoptive mother of star football player Michael Oher, in this film based on the inspiring true story. Watch this one when you want to cry your eyes out and believe that there is some good left in this crazy world.
30. CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE
Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, and Ryan Gosling star in this movie that reminds us love isn’t always perfect. Vignette stories converge for the family dealing with the messy, complicated truths of love and relationships. Add in one Dirty Dancing lift, a poorly-dressed Carell, suave Gosling, and awkwardly epic fight scene, and you’ve got a movie that will make you laugh and maybe even tear up in the name of family.
31. DIVINE SECRETS of the YA-YA SISTERHOOD
Letting go isn’t an easy thing to do, especially when there are deep-seated issues between family. Sandra Bullock and Caitlin Wachs learn to understand each other after years of resentment with a little help from the unconventional friends and members of the “Ya-Ya Sisterhood.” Watch this one when you need to reconnect with mom.
32. The HEAT
Looking for a laugh? Join Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy as cops who couldn’t have more different styles forced to work together to capture a drug lord. It’s a hilarious film that’s the perfect thing to watch with your mom if she doesn’t mind a bit of cursing and all-out craziness.
33. LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
This hit 2006 movie starring a very young Abigail Breslin is out of the ordinary in the best possible way. It truly fulfills both ends of the comedy-drama spectrum touching on real issues like body image and suicide awareness all while tastefully employing comedic relief. Watch this one when you want something a little more serious than your average comedy that will still have you and your mom in stitches.
34. MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING
Anyone with a close-knight family steeped in tradition can relate to this wedding tale. When the family is driving you crazy, trying to feed your vegetarian boyfriend lamb, or teaching you how to home-remedy away a zit on your big day, pop in this movie to remind yourself that it’s all in the name of love.
35. ANYWHERE but HERE
Mom and daughter polar opposites Adele (Susan Sarandon) and Ann August (Natalie Portman) learn to support one another the hard way in this coming-of-age story. Adele is the eccentric mom without a solid plan while Ann lives for order.
36. BEACHES
Best friends are there no matter what or where life takes them. Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey star as women who’ve been close since they met as kids on vacation in Atlantic City. As they grow up, they fight and fuss but always find time to travel and see one another when they need support the most.
37. ERIN BROCKOVICH
Another movie based on a true story, this one follows the life of Erin Brockovich who was a mother hell-bent on battling the big time energy corporation, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) responsible for contaminating the drinking water in Hinkley, California. The real life Brockovich convinced more than 600 people to testify against the company and was instrumental in building the court case against the company in 1993. Watch when you and mom need to see the good guys win.
38. LOOK WHO'S TALKING
Ever think you’d find true love in a cab? Neither did Kirstie Alley’s character in this ‘80s comedy. When Mollie Jensen (Alley) gets pregnant with a married man, she spends most of her son Mikey’s (voiced by Bruce Willis) toddler years trying to find him the perfect father. But that perfect dad might just have been around all along in the form of the quirky cab driver (John Travolta) who drove her to the hospital to give birth in the first place and stuck around ever since.
39. MRS. DOUBTFIRE
Meet the funniest nanny ever to hit the big screen: Robin Williams. This classic film is perfect to watch when you want a mix of heartwarming and hilarious. Williams plays a father separated from his wife and kids who disguises himself as a nanny to be close to his kids again.
40. The Kids Are All Right
This 2010 Best Motion Picture Golden Globe winning movie follows a truly modern family of two siblings, their moms, and the sperm donor (Mark Ruffalo) who made their lives possible—and complicated. Watch with mom to appreciate her more.
What movies are yours and your moms go-to when you want to bond?
Feedback Junction
Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge