Are you looking for some movies to watch with your mom this Mother’s Day? The following list of movies should help you pick something that you can both enjoy.
Mother’s Day activities don’t have to be expensive and elaborate.
Simply getting some popcorn and a glass of wine with mom in front of the television can be a fun and bonding experience that she won’t forget it either if you pick the right movie.
Below, I’ve picked out a list of movies that show mother and child relationships that you and mom will find entertaining, funny, heart-warming or even touching.
These are great movies to watch with your mom on Mother’s Day if you decide to stay in and watch some flicks. Obviously, you cant watch them all so go through the list, pick one or two and go stream them on your favorite streaming provider.
All the titles here are available on Amazon Prime Video so if you don’t already have a subscription, you can get one and stream away on your streaming device of choice (Smart TV, Roku, PC etc.)
1. Because I Said So
Diane Keaton stars as an overprotective mom who worries about her daughters relationships. She tries to set up her youngest daughter (played by Mandy Moore) with a man hoping it would lead to marriage but it ends up backfiring when her daughter begins dating another man.
It’s not the greatest movie but it is entertaining and does have it’s heart-warming moments.
2. Mamma Mia!
As Sophie prepares for her wedding she invites three of her mother’s former lovers with the hopes that one of them is her father.
This adaptation of a Broadway musical based on the songs of ABBA, features a singing Pierce Brosnan who critics roasted for his singing abilities. That aside, Mamma Mia! is a fun and sometimes campy ride which you may enjoy, along with it’s 2018 sequel featuring much of the same cast.
3. Room
Held captive in a shed for 7 years along with her 5 year old son who was born in captivity, Joy manages to escape and Jack experiences the outside world for the first time.
This independent drama stars Brie Larson who won the 2016 Academy Award for Best Actress. It is a great film, which garnered commercial and critical success on it’s release. It takes the viewer through a range of emotions, from heartbreaking at times to inspiring and is a touching exploration of the boundless love between a mother and her child.
4. Mr. Mom
Michael Keaton stars as the titular character in this fun 80’s comedy film from John Hughes.
Jack is laid off from his job during a recession so his wife finds a job and they both end up switching roles. Jack becomes the stay at home guy who takes care of the house and children while trying to deal with the impact of his new, unfamiliar role on his and his wife’s relationship.
This movie’s premise does not get old even through we may be more used to stay-at-home dads now than we were when this movie came out.
5. Stepmom
Get the Kleenex for this movie starring Susan Sarandon as terminally-ill ex-wife Jackie who must deal with her ex-husband’s new lover Isabel (Julia Roberts), the future stepmother of her children.
Stepmom is a worthwhile tearjerker filled with themes of acceptance, family struggles, love, challenges and unlikely friendship as one mom must bond with another for the sake of her kids.
6. Akeelah & the Bee
11 year old Akeelah discovers that she has a talent for spelling and hopes to compete in the National Spelling Bee although her mother objects. Akeelah however doesn’t give up and finds encouragement in a mysterious teacher and the support of her community.
This is an inspiring movie with well played roles by Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne and Keke Palmer who played Akeelah.
7. Lion
Lion is the true story of an Indian boy who got separated from his family at the age of 5 and ends up getting adopted by an Australian couple. 25 years later, with the help of Google Maps, he reconnects with his family.
The movie is based on an autobiographical account by Saroo Brierly called A Long Way Home and is one of the finest movies to be released in 2016, garnering several Academy Award nominations including Best Picture.
8. Crooklyn
Troy (played by Zelda Harris) is the focal character in Spike Lee’s semi-autobiographical tale of life growing up in the ’70s. While her mom and dad struggle with the bills, Troy bonds with her four brothers until she is forced to suddenly deal with some grown-up facts about life and loss after her mother is diagnosed with cancer.
Crooklyn is a very touching story that is presented in an honest and candid perspective, with a soundtrack filled with ’70s hits by the likes of The Jackson Five, Sly and the Family Stone, Curtis Mayfield and many others.
9. The Parent Trap
Hallie and Annie are identical twins (played by Lindsay Lohan) who get separated after their parents divorce. After reuniting years later at a summer camp, they decide to switch places in an attempt to reunite their parents.
This is a delightful remake of a 1961 comedy classic and is a very fun movie that can be enjoyed by the entire family.
10. Mermaids
Set in the early ’60s, a single mother and her two daughters relocate to a small town in Massachusetts where their familial bond is both challenged and strengthened by a series of events including the sexual awakening of 15 year old Charlotte.
All three female leads give very strong performances especially Winona Ryder as Charlotte. Cher and a young Christina Ricci in her first role, also star.
11. Life As We Know It
Eric and Holly, introduced to each other by common friends, go on a date and end up hating each other. After their friends die in an accident, they’re tasked with taking care of the orphaned baby girl they left behind.
Life As We Know It is a dark, romantic comedy that is funny and feel-goodish, but can also make you cry as it realistically shows you how tough life can be at times.
12. The Blind Side
This real life sports drama is more than just a movie about football. It’s an inspiring lesson in humanity as an act of kindness by a white family to take in and later adopt a down and out African-American teenager helps him to beat learning difficulties and become a star NFL player.
This is definitely one of those movies to watch with mom despite it being about sports because of Michael’s situation with his own family and his unlikely inclusion into a white family.
Sandra Bullock gives a great performance which got her an Academy Award for Best Actress.
13. The Guilt Trip
Andy let’s his mom tag along with him on an 8 day road trip to sell his latest invention. The further they travel, the closer they get.
This mother and son road trip comedy is the perfect way to spend Mother’s Day and enjoy some wholesome laughs courtesy Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand who are perfect together as the two main characters.
14. Mask
Cher and an unrecognizable Eric Stoltz star in this 1985 drama about an intelligent and outgoing teenager with a face deformity called “lionitis”. His mother struggles for his acceptance in the school system while Rocky proves himself to be a highly accomplished student.
Love, respect and acceptance are major themes in this highly entertaining drama that will steal your heart.
15. Serial Mom
Kathleen Turner plays the mom of this perfect suburban family who suddenly acquires a taste for homicide after a teacher mocks her son during a parent-teacher conference. Don’t mess with her family.
This is a very dark but also humorous comedy which you may want more of when its over.
16. Baby Boom
When a relative suddenly dies, business-woman J.C. Wiatt (played by Diane Keaton) unexpectedly becomes the caretaker for a baby girl. The baby’s arrival causes her to lose her boyfriend and then her job but it also causes a few life-changing events.
Some genuinely laugh-out-loud moments makes for an entertaining watch in this romantic comedy anchored by great performances by Keaton and the cute baby girl.
17. Dolores Claiborne
Stephen King wrote the book that this film was adapted from and is about the strained relationship between a mother and her daughter told mostly through flashbacks. The mother (played brilliantly by Kathy Bates), has been accused of murdering an elderly woman in her care and her daughter, a successful journalist arrives to investigate.
An apt psychological thriller about the horrors of abuse, domestic violence and incest and the effect it can have on all family members involved. Kathy Bates is often praised for her performance in this role.
18. Bird Box
If you still have not seen Netflix’s Bird Box then you’ve surely heard about it as it was unavoidable to do so due to the numerous memes and internet chatter it generated when it was first released in December 2018.
An apocalyptic film starring Sandra Bullock who tries to survive an unseen entity which manifests itself in the form of your worst fears, after which you see it, you die. She is tasked with escaping to a safe place with her two children completely blindfolded. Along the way, they battle more than just the monsters with hope of a new start pushing them on.
The sci-fi horror-thriller is often criticized but is an exciting watch from beginning to end.
19. Freaky Friday
Here’s another Disney remake of an older classic. Watching either one is good but we’ll recommend the updated version with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan.
This sweet and funny comedy involves a mother and a daughter who do not get along. For one freaky Friday they switch bodies after a freak accident and are forced to live each other’s lives.
20. Soul Food
When “Big Mama” goes into a coma during an operation to amputate her leg, the lives of her family becomes chaotic. Young Ahmad, who narrates the story throughout, watches as his mother and aunts struggle to adjust to the matriarch’s sudden absence, fall into old rivalries, share memories and work to maintain the tradition of the Sunday family dinners.
This story of a tight-knit African-American family is warm-hearted and cheerful with some laughs. It is the quintessential Mother’s Day movie. The soundtrack also features the song, “A Song for Mama” performed by Boyz II Men which you also can’t miss if you happen to turn on the radio on this special day.
21. Terms of Endearment
If you’re looking for something somewhat soapy to watch on Mother’s Day, then try Terms of Endearment. The movie covers three decades in the life of Aurora (Shirley McClaine) and her daughter Emma (Debra Winger) as they navigate life and love.
The critically acclaimed movie won 5 Academy Awards in 1984 including Best Picture and Best Actress for McClaine. There is enough humor mixed into this classic tearjerker, along with great performances for you to thoroughly enjoy this film.
22. Brave
Brave tells the story of a princess who disobeys and ancient custom which unleashes a dark force. She goes on an adventure to reverse the curse, discovering the true meaning of bravery.
A Pixar animated film that the entire family can enjoy, it may be a little dark for children under the age of 7. The mother-daughter story here makes it a great watch as a Mother’s Day film.
23. The Kids Are All Right
Lesbian couple Nic and Jules have a perfect family raising their two teenage children Joni and Laser. The kids, who were conceived from the same donor, want to find their biological father.
The film takes an interesting look on the family dynamic and with the arrival of the father, how does it affect the kids? It’s a good watch with strong performances especially from Bening who won the Oscar for Best Actress for her role.
24. Look Who’s Talking
Mollie has an affair with a married man, Albert and gets pregnant. She’s left alone to have the child since Albert has no intention of keeping his promise of leaving his wife for her.
After giving birth she finds a romantic chance with a cab driver while the newborn baby hilariously comments on everything and narrates the story from his point of view.
This charming and hilarious romantic-comedy is the perfect Mother’s Day film if you want some laughs courtesy a cute baby voiced by Bruce Willis.
25. Riding In Cars With Boys
After a rebellious phase, Beverly becomes pregnant at the age of 15 and struggles to overcome numerous difficulties to fulfill her dream of becoming a writer.
Beverly Donofrio is the writer of this biographical film based on her life and struggle to become a writer so we know how that story ended. It’s worth watching this mother and son relationship play out over the course of 20 years in this touching comedy-drama starring Drew Barrymore as Beverly.
There are many options here for a movie that you can watch with mom on Mother’s Day. Just pick one, stream from your favorite device and enjoy some laughs, a good cry or some thrills together.