10 Great Movies to Celebrate Mother’s Day!
If your idea of celebrating Mother’s Day is a great movie and popcorn, then we have a treat for you! We’ve selected some terrific movies that celebrate all aspects of motherhood. Some of the movies will make you laugh, and others will make you want to keep the tissues handy. There are movies about moms with young children and also movies with moms of adult children who look back over their childhoods.
So press the “popcorn” button on the microwave and get ready to enjoy a movie that says just how special Mom is. Happy Mother’s Day!
Steel Magnolias
Sally Field plays a mother who will do anything for her diabetic daughter, played by Julia Roberts. Julia Robert’s character has serious medical problems but is determined to lead an everyday life like anyone else. Steel Magnolias is chock-full of humor, charm, and lots of lovely leading ladies, including Dolly Parton and Shirley MacLaine.
The film is over 35 years old, but it’s a classic. Moms today will be able to resonate with the emotional and heartwarming message in this film. (You’ll want your tissues handy for this one.) It’s rated PG, but definitely has mature thematic elements that might need to be explained to some younger children.
| Genre | Drama, Romance |
| Format | Multiple Formats, Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen, Closed-captioned, Special Edition, Anamorphic |
| Contributor | Ray Stark, Herbert Ross, Sally Field, Rastar Prods., Inc.; Steel Magnolias Prods., Inc. (a subsidiary of TriStar Pictures, Inc.); TriStar, Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, Dolly Parton |
| Language | English |
| Runtime | 1 hour and 58 minutes |
Freaky Friday
This classic movie has been re-made several times and the story is well-known: a mother and her teenage daughter wind up switching bodies and get to see exactly how fun – and difficult – each other’s lives truly are. Freaky Friday has lots of laughs. We especially like the 2003 version that features Jamie Lee Curtis as Mom and Lindsay Lohan as the daughter.
If you have a daughter, this might be a great movie to watch together for Mother’s Day. It’s rated PG, so pretty much everyone can join in for the fun.
![Freaky Friday [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/5110UAMJ9vL._SL500_.jpg)
Brave
This animated Disney-Pixar film is set amidst the rugged beauty of the Scottish Highlands, intricately weaves the tale of Princess Merida, voiced by Kelly Macdonald, and her formidable mother, Queen Elinor, voice by Emma Thompson. Their dynamic mother-daughter relationship forms the heart of the story as they navigate the delicate balance between tradition and individuality.
In Brave, Merida’s rebellious spirit and Elinor’s steadfast guidance collide, leading to a transformative journey where both must learn to understand and appreciate each other’s perspectives. The bond between mother and daughter is tested in this fun yet poignant tale of love, forgiveness, and the enduring power of family ties, rated PG..
| Genre | Family |
| Format | Multiple Formats, Dolby, Color, NTSC, AC-3, Dubbed, Widescreen, Subtitled |
| Contributor | Billy Connolly, Kelly MacDonald, Kevin McKidd, Emma Thompson, Robbie Coltrane, Mark Andrews, Julie Walters, Craig Ferguson |
| Language | English, Spanish, French |
| Runtime | 1 hour and 34 minutes |
Mothers and Daughters
This movie has an all-star cast, including Susan Sarandon, Sharon Stone, Courtney Cox, and Selma Blair. Mothers and Daughters features stories about motherhood, offering several different perspectives to enjoy on the topic, seen through a unique lens … literally. It’s a lovely movie to watch for Mother’s Day.
It is rated PG-13, and involves matters such as an unexpected pregnancy.
Stars an all-star cast of Susan Sarandon, Sharon Stone, Courtney Cox, Christina Ricci and Selma Blair! The story is focused on a rock photographer (Blair) who is riding a career high when an unlikely and unexpected pregnancy forces her to turn her lens inward and see her relationship with her estranged mother with fresh eyes. Through a series of photographs documenting motherhood in all its varieties, she considers what it means to be maternal.
Terms of Endearment
This is a classic movie and also a poignant one. It’s another one where you’ll want to be sure you have the tissues handy. In Terms of Endearment, Shirley MacLaine portrays the mother and Debra Winger plays the daughter. They have a complicated relationship but love each other deeply.
This film actually has some funny moments too, alongside the sentimental ones. A great movie that demonstrates how your mother stays with you through every moment. It is rated PG.
Little Women
If you haven’t watched the 2019 version of Little Women, you might be thinking to yourself, another one? After all, they’ve made half a dozen or more adaptations of the 1868 classic by Louisa May Alcott. This version, however, is a masterpiece. The acting is superb, casting the relationships between sisters, and between the mother and her four daughters in a realistic and moving way.
There is drama, humor, and romance, and any girl who grew up reading this classic novel will find this one of the best book-to-movie adaptations they’ve seen. Rated PG, it’s a terrific Mother’s Day movie to watch with the whole family.
Louisa May Alcott’s classic tale of four sisters in a deluxe hardcover edition, with beautiful cover illustrations by Anna Bond, the artist behind world-renowned stationery brand Rifle Paper Co.
Grown-up Meg, tomboyish Jo, timid Beth, and precocious Amy. The four March sisters couldn’t be more different. But with their father away at war, and their mother working to support the family, they have to rely on one another. Whether they’re putting on a play, forming a secret society, or celebrating Christmas, there’s one thing they can’t help wondering: Will Father return home safely?
Mother’s Day
This movie was created by the director of Pretty Woman, so you know it’s going to be terrific and funny too! Mother’s Day features Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, and other stars you’ll instantly recognize. It’s about four families preparing for Mother’s Day.
This film portrays a variety of relationship dynamics and is not appropriate for all ages. It is rated PG-13.
![Mother's Day [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51SmvCIW4xS._SL500_.jpg)
Stepmom
Julia Roberts plays a soon-to-be stepmom and is trying to get comfortable with her future husband and his children, but she does not know that their mother is dying. At first, Julia Roberts is conflicted about being a stepmom, but she grows into being a devoted mom for the children.
Stepmom is a touching movie about blended families and how everyone has to make an effort to make things work well. It’s rated PG-13.
The Joy Luck Club
In The Joy Luck Club, four young women discover how their relationships with their mothers have affected their lives. Each has a different perspective. This is a lovely, heartwarming movie to see for Mother’s Day, especially with your adult children.
It is based on the best-selling novel by Amy Tan, and is rated R, so it’s not something you’ll want to watch with children.
| Genre | Drama |
| Format | Multiple Formats, Closed-captioned, NTSC, Widescreen, Color |
| Contributor | Amy Tan, Tamlyn Tomita, Tsai Chin, Ming-Na Wen, Lisa Lu, Wayne Wang, France Nuyen, Rosalind Chao, Kieu Chinh, Lauren Tom |
| Language | English |
| Runtime | 2 hours and 19 minutes |
The Blind Side
This heartwarming film, based on a true story, shines as an excellent choice for Mother’s Day. With its touching portrayal of compassion, resilience, and the power of love, it celebrates the remarkable bond between Leigh Anne Tuohy, portrayed by Sandra Bullock, and Michael Oher, played by Quinton Aaron. Through Leigh Anne’s unwavering support and guidance, Michael discovers his true potential both on and off the football field.
The Blind Side not only showcases a mother’s unconditional love and determination but also highlights the transformative impact of nurturing and acceptance in a variety of family contexts, including foster families and adoptive families.
Do you have a special movie you enjoy watching for Mother’s Day? If not, what do you like to do with your family to celebrate the mothers in your life?
You Might Also Enjoy
- Children’s Books Especially for Mother’s Day
- Mother’s Day Printables
- How to Make Cute Mother’s Day Cards
- Dainty Strawberry Tulip Cookies
