Movies for Mom

Mother’s Day is that special time to celebrate and honor our mothers. Children and families take the day to show gratitude for mothers by giving them presents, making their favorite meal and spending quality time with them. And what better way to spend the day than to have a movie marathon with mom? Here’s a list of some feel-good movies that are perfect to watch on Mother’s Day, whether you’re looking for a rom-com, comedy, drama or action-packed flick.

Thelma & Louise

Starring Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis, Thelma & Louise is a must-see. The film follows two friends who, in an attempt to escape the mundaneness of life, go on a road trip. Their weekend getaway goes sideways when Thelma is almost assaulted and Louise kills the attacker in self-defense. Afraid that no one will believe their innocence, the two women go on the lam and flee to Mexico, with the police hot on their trail. They have several adventures along the way, meet various characters, and ponder the societal expectations of women. Find out where to stream it here.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

This may be the perfect romantic comedy to watch on Mother’s Day. The film centers on Toula (Nia Vardalos), a Greek-American woman who falls in love with Ian (John Corbett), who isn’t Greek. Her family has always been hell-bent that she marry someone of their culture, and Toula is conflicted between being independent and remaining loyal to her kin. Will her family come to accept Ian regardless? Find out where to stream it here.

Little Women

This 2019 release starring Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen and Saoirse Ronan was actually the seventh film adaptation of the classic Louisa May Alcott novel. It’s both a period piece and a coming of age film that follows four sisters in the post-Civil War era, focusing on their everyday lives as they experience joys and heartache, and go after their dreams. One is an aspiring writer; another, an artist. A third sister hopes to marry and have a family, while the fourth one deals with illness. Ultimately, the sisters support one another and sustain their family bond. Find out where to stream it here.

Akeelah and the Bee

This is a moving tale of self-discovery and the power of community. Set in South Los Angeles, it tells the story of a precocious 11-year-old who has a flair for spelling but is hesitant to participate in spelling bees because she feels competing comes with too much pressure. Still, she is urged to enter the National Spelling Bee — something she’s been dreaming of winning, though in order to do so, she must move past personal and cultural barriers. Find out where to stream it here.

Mrs. Doubtfire

This heartwarming comedy is all about family and love. Robin Williams has the lead role here, playing Daniel Hillard, a struggling actor who is divorcing his wife, Miranda. Frustrated, he concocts a way to spend more time with his children by becoming their British housekeeper, Mrs. Doubtfire. Miranda hires him and he soon wins his children’s affection, though it’s difficult to keep up the pretense. Find out where to stream it here.

The Blind Side

The Blind Side is based on the true story of Michael Oher, a homeless Black teenager who is welcomed into the home of a wealthy family, the Tuohys. It portrays the dynamic between Michael and Leigh Anne Tuohy as they advocate for and guide the teen as he pursues his goal of becoming an NFL player. To get there, he has to conquer his past traumas and a lack of education, while maneuvering through the difficulties of high school and college football. Starring Sandra Bullock and Quinton Aaron, the film dives into tougher subjects like family, race, privilege and love. Find out where to stream it here.

Mamma Mia!

This musical romantic comedy stars Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgård. It’s light-hearted fare, centered around a young woman named Sophie, who is about to get married on a Greek island. She never knew her father, but after finding her mother’s old diary and coming across the names of three men, she invites them to her wedding. When they show up, Sophie’s mother is forced to resolve situations from her past that she hasn’t really dealt with, all to the rollicking soundtrack from ABBA, which features songs such as “Dancing Queen,” “Mamma Mia” and “Super Trouper.” Find out where to stream it here.

Freaky Friday

The 2003 remake of Freaky Friday is almost as iconic as the original 1976 film. It follows Tess Coleman (Jamie Lee Curtis), a widowed psychiatrist who is butting heads with her teen daughter, Anna (Lindsay Lohan). After an argument in a Chinese restaurant, they somehow end up switching bodies and having to live as each other for a day. Tess sees firsthand what it’s like to be a teenager once again, while Anna has to navigate her mother’s professional and personal life … and in the process, they both learn to appreciate one another. Find out where to stream it here.

The Joy Luck Club

Based on the book by Amy Tan, this engrossing film skillfully weaves themes of cultural conflict and mother-daughter relationships. It tells the story of four Chinese-American women and their Chinese-born mothers, who describe their experiences assimilating while trying to maintain their culture. The women come together to form a “joy luck” club, where they learn and teach one another valuable lessons about family, providing the viewer with a relevant perspective from a different culture. Find out where to stream it here.

Serial Mom

This dark comedy satirizes American suburbia and is an entertaining slant on the pathological killer genre. The “serial mom” in the title is Beverly Sutphin (Kathleen Turner), a housewife who hides her homicidal personality. Her inclinations for violence are set off by small annoyances like people not recycling or those who wear white after Labor Day. She ends up going off the rails and commits a handful of grisly murders while her family and neighbors are none the wiser. Not exactly a laugh-fest, but mom will certainly get a few chuckles from this offbeat film! Find out where to stream it here.