“Dad Movies” are a unique subgenre that make for perfectly cozy epics. The quintessential Dad Movie can be found on something like TNT at 2:00 PM on a Saturday, a movie with enough inspirational elements, clever action, and bittersweet emotion to make even the burliest guy soften up. Historical epics, lone wolf thrillers, and sports movies are often considered the bread and butter of this genre, and for good reason.
With the likes of Rear Window (1954), National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983), Old School (2003), and Top Gun: Maverick (2022) often held up as great entries in this subgenre, others appeal to that simple joy of tucking into the right kind of movie on a couch, kicking your feet up, and diving into the specific but varied tone of a Dad Movie. Here are the best 10 Dad Movies and where you can check them out on Tubi, Netflix, HBO Max, and more.
Gladiator (2000)
One of the best ever examples of a pinnacle Dad Movie, Gladiator has a lot of the key ingredients that make up this subgenre. The historical epic, directed by Ridley Scott, focuses on a Roman battlefield commander who is betrayed by his new Emperor. Russell Crowe is pitch-perfect as the aggrieved warrior, whose anger over the loss of his family translates into a dogged and furious quest for revenge.
The film’s period setting during the height of the Roman Empire will also appeal to the inner history buff, with a fun mix of invented concepts and accurate historical recreation. Topped off with a quietly subversive undercutting of the dramatic final battle trope, Gladiator will hit that parental spot in your heart just right, and it makes for a crowd-pleaser that other similar films like Troy (2004) and Gladiator II (2024) aim for but can’t quite reach.
Master and Commander: The Far Side Of The World (2003)
Another historical epic starring Russell Crowe, the seafaring epic Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is a slower, more meticulous approach to the concept of a good Dad Movie. The globetrotting adventures of the crew of HMS Surprise serve as a surprisingly effective contrast to Ridley Scott’s Napoleon (2023), showcasing the efforts of other nations to contend with the French military’s expansive and aggressive push to control Europe.
At times, taking on elements of Moby Dick (1956) in its themes about dogged and sometimes even reckless ambition, the historical setting (brought to stunning life thanks to its Oscar-winning cinematography), and the underlying camaraderie of brothers in arms at the heart of the film make it a terrific lazy afternoon epic. Master and Commander might not be the most action-packed historical movie, but it’s a bittersweet and effective one.
The Fugitive (1993)
Harrison Ford is one of the quintessential Dad Movie stars, and The Fugitive might be one of the best examples of his charisma and star power. An adaptation of the TV show of the same name, The Fugitive follows Ford’s Dr. Kimble as he tries to avoid arrest for a murder he didn’t commit. An expansive thriller that rewards crafty wit over blunt violence, The Fugitive is a great thriller that appeals to the Dad Movie’s tendency to pit a single man against a world out to get him.
What makes this film especially effective is the chief antagonist, Samuel Gerard, a committed US Marshall who isn’t a villain but will bring Kimble to justice. Fans of this movie should also check out U.S. Marshals (1998) for the return of Tommy Lee Jones’ Gerard, or check out Ford’s other great Dad Movies like Witness (1985) and Air Force One (1997).
The Blues Brothers (1980)
Delightfully deadpan and frequently wacky, The Blues Brothers is the ultimate musical Dad Movie. John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd star in the first cinematic Saturday Night Live (1975) adaptation, bringing their titular musicians to the big screen for an adventure to reunite their old band in time to save the orphanage they grew up in.
Filled to the brim with musical interludes by the likes of Cab Calloway, Aretha Franklin, and Ray Charles, the film’s silliest moments have become synonymous with Dad humor for a decade. Alongside other SNL adaptations like Wayne’s World (1992) and Coneheads (1993), The Blues Brothers is a great example of the Dad Movie filtered through the comedy genre. While some elements haven’t aged the best, there’s an undeniable charm to the musical adventure.
Field of Dreams (1989)
Plenty of sports movies can be described as Dad Movies, although none of them quite reach the same emotional heights as Field of Dreams. Kevin Costner, who is also the star of other classic movies in this subgenre, like Bull Durham (1988) and Dances With Wolves (1990), is terrific as a farmer who builds a baseball field in his cornfield for a mysterious purpose he doesn’t quite understand.
Openly emotional about the quiet, often unspoken emotional connection between fathers and their children, Field of Dreams has the same bittersweet emotional core that makes The Shawshank Redemption (1994) and The Green Mile (1999) so effective and memorably heartbreaking. A good blend of the emotional heartwrencher and the feel-good sports story, Field of Dreams is peak Dad Movie.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
While the whole series probably qualifies for this list, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is the best example of the series as a Dad Movie. The third film in the larger Indiana Jones franchise, Last Crusade forces Harrison Ford’s Indy to team up with his father, a crusty but clever archeologist played by Sean Connery.
Years after he became an icon of Dad Movies by playing James Bond in Dr. No (1962) and Goldfinger (1964), Connery is perfectly cast as Indy’s prickly father, especially when they can’t help but bicker. With an adventurous spirit, World War II setting, and a surprisingly strong emotional core as two men wrestle with everything unsaid in their relationship in the face of the unknown and impossible, Last Crusade is a terrific adventure Dad Movie.
Dunkirk (2017)
Plenty of war movies could be accurately described as Dad Movies, but Dunkirk might be the most effective. While The Dirty Dozen (1967), Saving Private Ryan (1998), and Fury (2014) might have their champions, Dunkirk’s fusion of several storylines is what makes it so uniquely compelling. Telling the story of the British evacuation from German-occupied France, the film hops between various characters and their own parts to play in the chaos.
Ranging from intense aerial battles to stirring sea rescues, Dunkirk is awe-inspiring in its depiction of the event, all without ever losing the human core of the concept that makes the story so inspirational decades later. One of Christopher Nolan’s most technically impressive films, Dunkirk is a must-watch for anyone who loved Band of Brothers (2001).
Miracle (2004)
An inspirational sports story like Miracle is perfect fodder for Dad Movies, as it speaks to the sort of dogged determination that the subgenre often embodies. Miracle adapts the story of the 1980 American hockey team, which pulled off one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history by defeating the favored Russian team. With a similar emotional arc to Rudy (1993) and a fun US vs. USSR element that can also be found in Rocky IV (1985), Miracle borders on schmaltzy but retains just enough grounded grit thanks to performances from stars like Kurt Russell.
If you want your sports films gritty, this isn’t the movie for you. However, anyone who loves an emotionally stirring and effectively staged drama will find that Miracle is a great example of why sports movies are perfect for this subgenre.
Blazing Saddles (1974)
Westerns are a staple of the Dad Movie, and one of the best, Blazing Saddles, also happens to be the funniest. The brainchild of Mel Brooks, Blazing Saddles is a satirical, cutting, and uproariously silly film that is never afraid to rip into prejudice. Focusing on a suave Black sheriff forced to protect a town that doesn’t want him around, Blazing Saddles has all the elements that make for compelling Westerns like Rio Bravo (1959), but with the goofy wit that makes stuff like Young Frankenstein (1974) so good.
Bolstered by charming lead performances that never let up on the comedy but also never feel like pure caricature, Blazing Saddles is a great example of the kind of Westerns and comedies that make for good Dad Movies.
Cast Away (2000)
Although he hasn’t been featured yet on this list, Tom Hanks might be the king of Dad Movies, with Cast Away standing out as the best example of his star power. Road to Perdition (2002), Catch Me If You Can (2002), and even his earlier films like Big (1988) and Splash (1984) have the proper mix of cinematic whimsy and existential dread that makes for an ideal Dad Movie.
Cast Away is the best example, though, a film that only survives because of Hanks’ likability. He overcomes an impossible situation, finds companionship in unlikely places, and is faced with the bittersweet realities of life in short order. Cast Away is a terrific film that takes a simple premise and stretches it out in some seriously effective ways, as any great Dad Movie should.
