If you’re trying to find the perfect movie to watch for Father’s Day, look no further. Plenty of dads will find the best gift their offspring can give them is some quality time together, and watching a great movie – especially one the dads are inclined to love – hits that sweet spot. Below, we’ve put together a curated list of some of the best dad movies currently streaming. These range from movies about being a father to films that dads tend to like. You know the type.
So take your pick and rest assured you’ll be in for a high five (or a hug, depending on your choice) once the credits roll.
“The Hunt for Red October”
Streaming on Paramount+, AMC+ and Fubo
One of the “Daddest” movies to ever “Dad,” 1990’s “The Hunt for Red October” kicked off the Jack Ryan franchise with possibly the best submarine movie ever made. Set during the late Cold War, Sean Connery is a rogue Soviet naval captain who wishes to defect, but must keep his intentions secret all while navigating tensions under the sea. Alec Baldwin is the young CIA analyst Jack Ryan dispatched to the ship to find out if Connery’s character is for real, and boy does this thing hum.
“Top Gun: Maverick”
Streaming on Paramount+ and Fubo
Fathers and sons. Old dogs learning new tricks. Contemplating legacy. “Top Gun: Maverick” checks all the boxes for the best kind of “Dad movie,” and is also completely thrilling to boot. Tom Cruise reprises his role as Maverick in the film, which is at turns emotional, exciting, funny and triumphant. Miles Teller is terrific as Goose’s son, now a pilot all his own, while Glen Powell nearly steals the show as an Iceman-esque cadet. Laughs, tears and fist pumps – you can’t get much better than this.
“Ford v. Ferrari”
Streaming on Prime Video and Fubo
The Oscar-winning “Ford v. Ferrari” is the best pick if your dad’s a car guy. The 2019 film is based on the true story of Ford’s bid to build a race car that would rival Ferrari, with Christian Bale as the prickly English driver hired to drive the car and Matt Damon as the auto designer tasked with getting things in shape. James Mangold, the filmmaker behind “A Complete Unknown,” “Logan” and “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” brings a muscular touch to this historical racing drama that makes it hum.
The “Mission: Impossible” Franchise
Streaming on Paramount+
Dads love spy movies. That’s just a fact. And there are few spy franchises better than “Mission: Impossible.” Brian De Palma’s first “Mission: Impossible” is a paranoid spy thriller, John Woo’s “M:I 2” is an over-the-top action ballet, J.J. Abrams’ “Mission: Impossible III” is a domestic (and pretty romantic) spy romp and “Ghost Protocol” is where the franchise took its stunts to a whole other level. All four are streaming on Prime Video, while Christopher McQuarrie’s excellent further entries “Rogue Nation” and “Fallout” are additionally on Paramount+. Take your pick and give it a spin.
“Sicario”
Streaming on Hulu
If you want to try something new and your dad hasn’t seen “Sicario,” do yourself a favor and fire this one up. Directed by “Dune” and “Blade Runner 2049” filmmaker Denis Villeneuve and written by “Yellowstone” creator Taylor Sheridan, the film stars Emily Blunt as an FBI agent who joins an FBI task force to help bring down a cartel. Josh Brolin is the morally questionable CIA agent steering the ship, and Benicio Del Toro is chilling as a mysterious man helping with the mission. Incredible tense, this thing will have you white-knuckling from start to finish, and leaves a lot to be discussed after the credits roll.
“Black Bag”
Streaming on Prime Video
Here’s a newer film that hits the “dad” sweet spot. Steven Soderbergh’s spy film “Black Bag” is one part domestic drama, one part espionage thriller. Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett are two married spies who work for the same company, but their marriage is thrown into question when Fassbender is tasked with finding a mole who may or may not be his wife. It’s fun and sexy, but also keeps you guessing until the thrilling final scene.
“Father of the Bride”
Streaming on Netflix, Hulu and Disney+
If you’re looking for something more sentimental, “Father of the Bride” is a classic. The 1991 film (itself a remake of a 1950 film) stars Steve Martin as the titular patriarch, preparing for his daughter’s wedding when everything that can go wrong does go wrong. The movie’s incredibly funny – Martin Short has a scene-stealing supporting role – but it’s also something of a tearjerker. You’ve been warned.
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“John Q”
Rent on Prime Video
John Quincy Archibald goes to extreme lengths to provide his 9-year-old son with a life-saving transplant after learning financial assistance from the government isn’t available, and his medical insurance won’t cover the cost. He takes over a hospital emergency room out of desperation in this taut thriller that’s as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking.
“Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World”
Streaming on Peacock
A nautical epic whose opening title card will make the dad in your life positively giddy, “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” takes place during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 1800s and follows the British frigate the HMS Surprise and its captain Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe) as it navigates sneak attacks, inclement weather and a detour into the Galapagos. Paul Bettany is a joy as the ship’s surgeon and Aubrey’s close friend, and when the 2003 film ends you’ll be wondering why we didn’t get five more sequels.
“The Pursuit of Happyness”
Rent on Prime Video
Just go ahead and break out the tissue box – this is going to be a tough one, but a good one. In Gabriele Muccino’s heartwarming family drama “The Pursuit of Happyness,” Will Smith portrays the real life story of businessman and motivational speaker Christopher Gardner. Despite a series of trials and tribulations, and an endless amount of roadblocks and setbacks that are absolutely crushing to watch, Christopher never wavers in his mission to gain a better life for his son (Jaden Smith) and start his career as a stockbroker. Even when the homeless salesman is at his lowest, he always keeps his son’s spirits high. The special that comes with this is that Smith filmed this with his actual son.
“Big Daddy”
Streaming on Hulu and Fubo
Adam Sandler is Sonny Koufax in his 1999 film “Big Daddy.” The comedy is about a 32-year-old lazy lawyer who adopts 5-year-old Julian (Cole and Dylan Sprouse) to prove to his girlfriend that he knows how to be responsible, an effort he hopes will prompt her to drop her new older boyfriend and return to him. Once he sees she’s not impressed by his stunt, he tries to place Julian back into foster care only to be told it’s not an option. However, over time, Sonny and Julian start to develop a warm bond that resembles that of a father and son. But when a new home becomes available for Julian, and as Sonny is just now getting into the swing of things as a parent, he’ll have to prove – this time in court – why Julian should remain under his care. “Big Daddy” is for all the men who may not have children of their own, but have risen to the occasion with love.
