Movies About Parenting

From Directors: Pete Docter, Ronnie Del Carmen, starring Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling
Rated PG

"Inside Out" is an animated comedy-drama directed by Pete Docter and Ronnie Del Carmen, and produced by Pixar Animation Studios. The story follows 11-year-old Riley and her inner emotions as she moves to a new city and struggles to adjust. Led by Joy, the emotions – Fear, Anger, Disgust, and Sadness – work together to help her navigate the ups and downs of growing up. With help from her imaginary friend Bing Bong, Riley must find the courage to face her fears and embrace the new changes in her life. Along the way, Riley's emotions learn important lessons about the importance of understanding and accepting each other's differences.

From Robert Wise, starring Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Eleanor Parker, Richard Haydn
Rated G

The Sound of Music is a 1965 American musical film directed by Robert Wise and inspired by the real-life story of the Trapp Family Singers. Set in Austria in the 1930s, the film stars Julie Andrews as Maria, a young nun in an Austrian convent who is sent to take care of the seven children of a widowed naval captain. Through her teaching, Maria gradually begins to win over the captain and his children, and they begin to accept her presence and even come to love her. As the Nazis approach, the family must flee their home and escape to Switzerland, with Maria leading the way. Along their journey, they learn to overcome their differences and rejoice in the power of music and love. Ultimately, the family finds the courage to stand up to the Nazis and reclaim their freedom.

From Hirokazu Koreeda, starring Lily Franky, Sakura Andô, Kirin Kiki, Mayu Matsuoka
Rated R

Shoplifters is a 2018 Japanese drama film directed by Hirokazu Koreeda. The film follows a family living in poverty who rely on shoplifting to survive. The family consists of Osamu, his wife Nobuyo, their daughter Aki, and her young brother Shota, who is adopted from a distant relative. When Osamu and Shota discover a neglected young girl, Yuri, in the cold, they take her in. The family is forced to confront the true meaning of family as their secrets and pasts come to light. Ultimately, Shoplifters is an exploration of the strength of human bonds, which can be found in the unlikeliest of places.

From Robert Benton, starring Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Jane Alexander, Justin Henry
Rated PG

Kramer vs. Kramer is a 1979 American family drama film written and directed by Robert Benton and starring Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, and Justin Henry. It tells the story of a couple's divorce and its impact on everyone involved, including the couple's young son. Ted Kramer (Hoffman) is an ambitious advertising executive who has spent most of his life working long hours to climb the career ladder and neglecting his family. When his wife Joanna (Streep) suddenly decides to leave him and their six-year-old son Billy (Henry), Ted is left to care for Billy and learn to be a father for the first time. Through trial and error, he soon learns the joys and pains of caring for his son and re-discovers what is important in life. When Joanna unexpectedly returns two years later with the intention of regaining custody of Billy, a bitter legal battle for custody ensues, threatening to tear the family apart.

From Robert Stevenson, starring Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns
Rated G

Mary Poppins is a 1964 musical fantasy film directed by Robert Stevenson and starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. In Edwardian London, a kind and eccentric nanny named Mary Poppins is hired by the Banks family to care for their children, Jane and Michael. With the aid of her friend, Bert, the chimney sweep, Mary Poppins introduces the children to a magical world of fantasy and adventure. Together, they explore the joys of imagination, music, and dance. Along the way, they confront the struggles of their parents, who are struggling to make ends meet while also trying to save their home from foreclosure. Mary Poppins helps everyone to realize that life can be magical, and that with a little bit of faith and determination, anything is possible.

From Sean Baker, starring Brooklynn Prince, Bria Vinaite, Willem Dafoe, Christopher Rivera
Rated R

The Florida Project is a 2017 drama/comedy film directed by Sean Baker. Set in Florida, it follows 6-year-old Moonee and her rebellious mother Halley, who live week to week at a motel and strive to make the best of their situation. Along with Moonee's friends Jancey and Scooty, the three children explore the surrounding area, causing mischief and getting into trouble. Meanwhile, Bobby and Ashley, the motel managers, try to keep their guests in line and out of trouble. The film follows Moonee and Halley’s struggle to survive and keep a roof over their heads. As the summer winds down, Moonee's carefree lifestyle is threatened by an eviction notice, forcing Halley to make tough decisions to keep her daughter safe.

From Alfonso Cuarón, starring Liesel Matthews, Eleanor Bron, Liam Cunningham, Rusty Schwimmer
Rated G

A Little Princess is a 1995 family drama directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Set in the early 1900s, it tells the story of Sara Crewe, the daughter of a wealthy British man in India. When her father goes off to fight in WWI, he leaves her at a boarding school with a strict headmistress. When her father is declared dead, Sara is forced to take on the role of a servant in the school. Despite her difficult circumstances, Sara finds solace in her imagination, creating fantasy worlds with her beloved dolls and stories. With the help of her friends and a mysterious Indian man, Sara is able to overcome her hardships and reunite with her father. The film is a heart-warming story of courage, hope, and the power of imagination.

From Brad Bird, starring Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Huck Milner
Rated PG

Incredibles 2 is a 2018 animated superhero film written and directed by Brad Bird, the sequel to 2004's The Incredibles. The film follows the Parr family as they face a new enemy, Screenslaver, while Elastigirl is out fighting crime and campaigning to bring back the glory of supers. Meanwhile, Mr. Incredible is left to manage the difficult task of caring for the family's three children and a baby who has superpowers of his own. With the help of old and new friends, the Incredibles take on Screenslaver and his mind-controlling powers to restore the public's faith in superheroes. Ultimately, the family come together to save the day and prove that family is the ultimate superpower.

From Directors: Michael Rianda, Jeff Rowe, starring Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Michael Rianda
Rated PG

"The Mitchells vs the Machines" is a 2021 animated comedy film directed by Michael Rianda and Jeff Rowe. It follows the Mitchells, an eccentric family whose planned road trip is interrupted by a robotic uprising that threatens the world. Led by Katie Mitchell, the family must put their differences aside and work together to save humanity. Along the way, they learn to appreciate each other more and discover that being together as a family is the most important thing of all. As they battle the robots and their evil creator, the Mitchells must use their unique skills and ingenuity to outsmart the machines and save the world.

From Lynne Ramsay, starring Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, Ezra Miller, Jasper Newell
Rated R

We Need to Talk About Kevin tells the story of Eva Khatchadourian, played by Tilda Swinton, and her son Kevin, played by Ezra Miller. Eva is struggling to cope with the aftermath of her son's horrific teenage rampage that resulted in the deaths of seven of his high school classmates, a cafeteria worker, and a teacher. As she revisits her past and struggles to come to terms with her son's actions, she examines the circumstances that may have led to the tragedy, including the strained relationship she had with Kevin since his birth. In a series of flashbacks, Eva reflects on her experiences as a mother and on Kevin's difficult upbringing and his increasingly violent behavior. Ultimately, Eva is forced to confront her own potential role in her son's actions, and her own sense of guilt and responsibility.

From Richard Donner, starring Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, Harvey Stephens, David Warner
Rated R

The Omen follows the story of Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck), an American politician who discovers his adopted son Damien (Harvey Stephens) is in fact the Antichrist. As Robert and his wife Katherine (Lee Remick) soon find out, Damien is responsible for a series of horrific and increasingly dangerous events that are linked to the apocalypse. As Robert desperately attempts to save his family from the Antichrist’s evil influence, he is aided by an American photographer (David Warner) and a priest (Patrick Troughton). The ensuing battle between good and evil eventually leads to a final confrontation at a church in Rome, where Robert must make the ultimate sacrifice in order to save the world from Damien’s malevolent plans.

From David Lynch, starring Jack Nance, Charlotte Stewart, Allen Joseph, Jeanne Bates
Rated Not Rated

From Directors: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, starring Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, Trey Wilson, John Goodman
Rated PG-13

From Sean Anders, starring Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Isabela Merced, Gustavo Escobar
Rated PG-13

From Marc Forster, starring Ewan McGregor, Hayley Atwell, Bronte Carmichael, Mark Gatiss
Rated PG

From Isao Takahata, starring Yukiji Asaoka, Tôru Masuoka, Masako Araki, Hayato Isohata
Rated PG

From Chris Columbus, starring Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, Harvey Fierstein
Rated PG-13

From Nancy Meyers, starring Robert De Niro, Anne Hathaway, Rene Russo, Anders Holm
Rated PG-13

From Thor Freudenthal, starring Charlie Plummer, Andy Garcia, Taylor Russell, AnnaSophia Robb
Rated PG-13

From Mamoru Hosoda, starring Rebecca Hall, John Cho, Daniel Dae Kim, Crispin Freeman
Rated PG

From Lisa Cholodenko, starring Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska
Rated R

From Ron Howard, starring Steve Martin, Mary Steenburgen, Dianne Wiest, Jason Robards
Rated PG-13

From John Hughes, starring John Candy, Macaulay Culkin, Jean Louisa Kelly, Gaby Hoffmann
Rated PG

From Jaume Collet-Serra, starring Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Isabelle Fuhrman, CCH Pounder
Rated R

From Lone Scherfig, starring Anne Hathaway, Jim Sturgess, Patricia Clarkson, Tom Mison
Rated PG-13