*First published on FathersofMultiples.com
Any talk about movies is incomplete unless it includes "best movie moms". Today we're helping you get ready for a fantastic Mother's Day, and sharing our favorite movie moms with you to make your weekend complete!
Some of the movies here will make you cry.
Some will make you laugh.
Others will make you cheer.
But, all will allow you to bond with your mom. Most of these mothers, even the ones in the comedies, go to bat for their kids no matter the situation. Whether they’re protecting them from being made fun of, trying things way out of their comfort zone so they can connect with their kids, or saving their kids from maniacal bad guys, the “Mama Bear” role really comes out in all these moms. And, isn’t that what a mother is supposed to do? Go above and beyond for her kids? Remember, your mom may not have had to fight a Terminator, but she's been there for you. So, find your inner “Mama Bear” or thank your mom for hers as you bond together watching some of these awesome movie moms do their thing!
Wonder
Auggie, who has facial deformities, is about to enter public school for the first time. He’s faced with bullies, and the sadness that comes from being different. The moral of the movie is that no matter how different you are, you can still be a wonder. Everyone is different, and it should be accepted and celebrated. Auggie’s positive attitude allows him to persevere. And his mom, played by Julia Roberts, is one of the main reasons Auggie was prepared to face the world. Even we were tearing up at the scene where Auggie walks past his mom with his newly made friend like it’s no big deal.
*Not only is this viewable by all ages…all ages SHOULD watch it for its message.
Incredibles
Elastigirl is a tough superhero that takes time to discipline her kids and make them eat their vegetables. When her husband gets in trouble with a supervillain? She rushes off to save the day. Talk about girl power! Mothers are a great support for not only their children, but for their spouse as well. This fact needs to be remembered all year long, and not just on Mother's Day. There are "superheroes" that walk among us all of the time. They just don't always need a cape to help save our day!
*This one can be enjoyed over and over by all ages.
Mermaids
Cher and Wynona Ryder play a mother and daughter in the 60’s. Wynona wants to be nothing like her unconventional mom. After making some life changing decisions of her own (that involve a scene that probably shouldn’t be viewed by younger audiences), she finds out that she is more like her mom than she’d care to admit. It’s a bittersweet and complex mother-daughter relationship…because for much of the movie, Cher isn’t a great mom. But, she improves.
*Older kids
Mother’s Day
This is a cool movie with an ensemble cast. The movie follows a number of families as Mother’s Day approaches. Each family is different, with different mother relationships ranging from a new moms and a mom with grown kids who disagrees with her daughters’ decisions to a single father whose wife passed away a year earlier and a divorcee who is struggling with the fact her kids have a new stepmom. It’s interesting to see how each deals with Mother’s Day as it relates to their situations.
*Most ages
Stepmom
Susan Sarandon doesn’t like that her ex-husband, Ed Harris, has moved on and re-married Julia Roberts. Sarandon especially doesn’t like that Roberts wants to bond with her children. She feels this younger, cooler mom is trying to replace her. She goes out of her way to make life difficult for Roberts as the stepmom. Roberts doubles-down and tries twice as hard to get the kids to like her. Tragedy, unfortunately, has to happen for these two to come to terms with one-another and see that neither is so bad. So…you know, tearjerker alert.
*Older kids
Brave
Take one of those overbearing movie moms that expects her daughter to be something she doesn’t want to be. Add one daughter who is rebellious and refuses to become what her mom wants. This is normally a recipe for disaster that ends in a bad relationship between mom and daughter. But remember, this is a Disney’s Pixar film. The land of fairy tales and happy endings. That disaster turns out to be funny as mom gets turned into a BEAR! Hilarity ensues and life lessons are learned.
*All Ages
Steel Magnolias
This is a great movie about the bonds of mother and daughter as well as the bonds of friendship. Much more about this movie would count as spoilers…and if you don’t already know, you shouldn’t know before watching. Sally Field and Julia Roberts’ mother/daughter relationship in this movie is really cute and fun to watch. A mother's pure love for her daughter can be seen while watching those not to be talked about spoiler moments. Plus, Tom Skerritt is hilarious in this movie as Julia’s dad.
*Most ages could watch this, but younger audiences will likely be bored and uninterested.
Dumbo
Little Dumbo with the giant ears is made fun of virtually from birth. Later, he discovers that his differences make him special and learns to celebrate those differences. But, before he gets to that point, when people are making fun of him? His mom goes wild in his defense and gets locked up for her outbreak in one of Disney’s saddest scenes ever. The fact that you can actually feel the love between Dumbo's mother and her son in the movie makes her one of our favorite movie moms.
*All ages.
Room
So, a girl is taken captive by a sicko and kept in an inescapable room…for years. She has a child while in this captivity. Since she can’t leave, neither can the child, so, this room is the whole world to the boy. Depressing, right? Well, yeah, it is. But, the mom does everything in her power to keep the boy happy, entertained, safe, and as normal as possible in such an abnormal reality. Just one more movie that shows the lengths that mothers go to protect and shelter their children.
*Based on content, this isn’t for younger viewers.
Troop Beverly Hills
There's no sadness in this one. Just the wacky humor you would expect from one of the funniest movie moms on our list! Shelley Long is at her snobby best and completely out of touch with anything other than being rich. Her daughter is a girl scout. As Shelley is going through a divorce, she decides to deepen her connection with her daughter, She does this by going completely into unfamiliar territory and becoming her daughter’s den leader. Shelley’s comfort level obviously does not include camping!
*All ages.
Freaky Friday
A magic spell makes a mom and daughter, who do NOT get along, switch bodies. Ever heard the expression, “If you could walk a mile in my shoes”? Consider it a mother and daughter's version of the Tom Hanks movie "Big". That’s what happens here. As the daughter experiences the mom’s life from her perspective and the mom experiences the daughters, a mutual understanding helps repair their relationship. One of the movie moms that i'm sure many with teens can relate to.
*All ages
Terminator 2
If there was an award for toughest of all movie moms, Sarah Connor would be at the top of the list, hands down. She actually goes beyond tough, and tries VERY hard to be a great mom. Everything she does, she does for her son. Guns, bombs, if it can help her son, John, be more prepared for his future battling the terminator robots, she learns it and teaches him. Totally not what you would expect from an action flick, much less a Schwarzenegger movie. This one gives new meaning to the term "mama bear".
*Most ages…there are some violent scenes.
Home Alone
Let’s go ahead and put it out on the table. This mom leaves her kid at home…alone. And she does it more than once! (There is a sequel after all.) So, while you’re thinking “she can’t be a great mom”, you’d be wrong. The movie shows a really plausible way that Kevin was mistakenly left at home by himself (both times). The thing to remember is that after they realized that he wasn't with them, absolutely NOTHING could keep this mother from getting home to her son!
*All ages.
Terms of Endearment
This movie is the ultimate mother-daughter bonding movie. Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger are polar opposites in this movie. They often don’t get along, but their bond is so great that, no matter what, they’re always there for each other. The part in the movie when Shirley MacLaine is demanding the medicine for her daughter will leave you cheering. It's a scene that will make you feel strong and energized afterwards. Another great testament to movie moms.
*Teens
No matter what you have planned for Mother's Day weekend, we hope you find a little time to share these movie moms with your mom. If you can't sit and watch one with her, at least send her the list! Julia Roberts wins as one of our favorite movie moms with 4 movies in our collection, but we know that you're the true winner. Now you have a complete list of great movies to watch with someone special in your life!
Which of these is your favorite Mother's Day movie?
Better yet, which is your Mom's favorite?