The connection between a father and his child can be a transformative force, inspiring mighty acts of love, sacrifice, and protection – while often revealing vulnerability and our truest selves
Here’s a few movies that bring these themes to life on screen!
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
My all-time favourite film, let alone father-and-son flick, is without doubt: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
I first saw The Last Crusade when I was a young lad, and frankly I don’t recall if I watched it alone or with my dad, but it had a lasting effect on me all the same. Those themes of two experienced adventurers finally exploring the one adventure they’d missed out on through misunderstandings and competitiveness: knowing each other.
So of course, the film is a wild rollercoaster of Indy setting out to rescue his dad – but as dad quips at one point, “oh yeah? And who’s going to save you?” Love that.
🚨 May I suggest that if you choose to watch this one with your kid, it might be worth getting yourself prepared with an honest but careful explanation on the role of Nazi Germany in 20th century history. They might not ask, but you might as well be ready!
Back to the Future
A father in need of being saved from himself, and a whacky father figure to kick it all off? Let’s rock.
I mean, this is an all-timer, right? Marty McFly is effectively a teenager raising himself, and probably not quite nailing it – but thankfully, he’s about to set off an adventure that’ll open his eyes to the importance of family.
The main piece of father-son bonding in BTTF happens when Marty’s dad George has no idea “Calvin Klein” is his own son, but the role the younger McFly plays in building his old man’s confidence is indisputable.
Back in 1985, Marty’s relationship with Doc Brown serves as a unique and unconventional father figure dynamic. Despite Brown’s eccentricities, he provides Marty with guidance, wisdom, and support that his own father lacks (for now). Doc’s inventive spirit and belief in Marty’s potential help Marty navigate various challenges, while Marty’s loyalty and bravery complement Doc’s scientific brilliance.
There probably aren’t many real-world lessons to be applied from the core plot of BTTF (unless you’ve “built a time machine… out of a DeLorean?!”), but it does show that a child’s efforts can be impactful in guiding their dad’s future – so let them in and see what you can learn from the benefit of their innocent perspective.
“Wisdom oft comes from the mouth of babes”, as author George RR Martin is often quoted – but we’ll quietly ignore that he swiped that one from the bible… 😉
Finding Nemo
- Overprotectiveness: Marlin loses his wife and becomes overly protective, leading to consequences when his son reacts to feeling trapped.
- Growth: With Dory’s help, Marlin learns trust and balance while searching for Nemo.
- Confidence: Trapped in a fish tank, Nemo gains confidence and uses his small fin to his advantage, highlighting resilience and growth.
Speaking of dads learning about themselves, is there any better example than the incredible Finding Nemo?
Struggling with the loss of his wife and most of their eggs, Marlin has become an overprotective dad – a helicopter parent, if you will. Marlin’s son, Nemo – ‘crippled’ with a damaged fin – runs swims off on a forbidden adventure and is predictably captured by a diver.
And so the adventure begins, the stage set for both characters to embark on their own journeys of growth!
For Marlin, the search for his missing son forces him to confront his deepest fears and insecurities. He meets Dory, a forgetful yet painfully optimistic fish (we’ve all got that mate) who helps him learn the importance of trust, friendship, and letting go.
Along the way, Marlin is transformed into a dad who understands the balance between protecting his child and allowing him to experience life. Sound familiar?
As for Nemo, stuck in a fish tank with a motley crew of other captured fish, starts out scared and helpless – but he slowly gains confidence and learns to use his small fin to his advantage.
Although undertaken mostly apart, Marlin and Nemo’s journeys highlight the importance of resilience, trust, and personal growth, ultimately bringing them closer together with a deeper understanding of one another. Bring on the sequels!
Trivia: Nemo is a boy’s name of Greek origin, meaning “nobody.” It’s an unusual name, but one of the best-known examples in fiction was the captain in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.
The Pursuit of Happyness
- Perseverance: A relentless pursuit of stable income amidst homelessness highlights the power of resilience and setting a positive example.
- Being present: The value of being present and supportive, prioritising his son’s emotional well-being and maintaining a positive atmosphere despite hardships.
- Instilling hope: Chris encourages his son to dream big and believe in his potential, teaching the importance of goals, persistence, and effort for achieving success and developing resilience.
Profound parenting lessons on perseverance, presence, and instilling hope. But get the tissues out, because this one wreck you with tears of sadness and joy!
The Pursuit of Happyness is one of my all-time favourite films, yet I’ve only watched it once. Believe it or not, that’s one of the ways I know it was so impactful on me – movies that leave me a blubbering mess? I can only handle that once! 😂
I grew up in government housing, and while my labourer dad always worked hard to keep the lights on and his family warm, there was a pervading feeling that we were constantly on the brink of living in the streets – so this film hits hard for me. Now, imagine how much harder it was for a single black father in the ’80s!
Starring Will Smith in an adaption of a true story, The Pursuit of Happyness offers valuable parenting lessons through the story of Chris Gardner and his unwavering dedication to his son, Christopher. The importance of perseverance in the face of adversity is a key lesson throughout this one.
With homelessness and financial instability as constant companions, Chris is determined to provide a better future for his son. His relentless pursuit of a stable income shows the power of resilience – at the same time setting a positive example for his son.
For me, I think an even more powerful piece of this film is the value of being present and supportive. I can tend towards cynicism and bitterness, so it’s a constant battle to show my kids the positivity and encouraging vibes that are so important.
In Pursuit, Chris consistently prioritises his son’s emotional well-being, providing love and a sense of security despite their dire circumstances. By engaging in meaningful conversations – ‘teachable moments’ as we so often hear these days – and maintaining a positive atmosphere amidst hardship, Chris shows that the quality of time spent with children is crucial in fostering a strong parent-child bond and nurturing their development.
Lastly, the story of Pursuit underscores the importance of instilling hope and ambition in children. Chris encourages his son to dream big and believe in his potential, regardless of their current situation. By sharing his own aspirations and demonstrating that persistence and effort can lead to success, Chris teaches Christopher the significance of having goals and working diligently to achieve them. This lesson empowers children to aspire to greater heights and develop a resilient mindset that will serve them well throughout their lives.
The real Chris Gardner grew up without a father figure, his biological dad living distant and his stepdad being physically abusive with the whole family. Being able to provide his son with the fatherly love he never received can feel like a rare story, given how common it is for abused children to grow into abusive parents. Food for thought!
Chef
- Bonding through shared activities: Carl takes a career risk to reconnect with his son Percy, showing that shared activities, like their food truck venture, can strengthen the parent-child bond and create lasting memories.
- Teaching by example: Carl’s dedication and resilience teach Percy valuable lessons about commitment, perseverance, and following one’s dreams, highlighting the importance of communication and being present in a child’s life.
Bad attitudes, overdue personal growth, loads of arrogance and superiority issues, all mashed in with the undying love of a parent for their child
Chef is a gem. There are more relatable moments and lessons here than I can possibly squeeze into these paragraphs, or care to admit to!
Firstly, the cast is outstanding, filled with popular B-list (A-minus list?) actors we all know, along with the now legendary Jon Favreau – once again writing, directing and starring in his own film. Favreau’s big-timer Avengers ScarJo and RDJ are also along for the ride.
Chef offers some solid ‘look in the mirror’ parenting lessons, charged with the importance of bonding and spending quality time together. Favreau plays Carl, a chef who takes a huge career risk to reconnect with his passion for cooking and, more importantly, with his son Percy.
Even though he has an overflowing plate (pardon the pun), Carl pulls Percy into his food truck venture, and we’re reminded that shared activities can strengthen the parent-child bond and create lasting memories.
In fact, teaching through example is probably my key takeaway here. Carl’s dedication to his craft and his resilience in the face of setbacks serve as lessons for Percy. Through his father’s hard work and passion, Percy learns about commitment, perseverance, and the importance of following a dream.
Lastly, Chef highlights the importance of communication and being present – a common theme here, I know.
Carl’s journey reveals how open, honest conversations and meaningful time together can bridge gaps to a stronger and more supportive relationship. We’re reminded that parenting is not just about providing, but also about being emotionally available and engaged in your child’s life.
Trivia from Wikipedia: The script was semi-autobiographical, incorporating parts of Favreau’s life into the main character, such as being a father while having a busy career and coming from a “broken home”. Favreau also drew a comparison between his career as a director and Carl’s career as a chef; he stepped down from directing major studio films to go “back to basics” and create Chef on a smaller budget, much like Carl’s resignation from a popular restaurant to work in a food truck.
What are your fave father-and-son films? What have I left out?
Let me know in the comments!
Mike Stevens
Mike is a dad, a motoring journalist, designer, photographer, gadgethead and erstwhile cyclist. Proudly ADHD 💪
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