10 Most Memorable Movie Father-Son Duos

Although entertainment has multiple fathers and sons, few films make it the core of their plot. The greatest are these. The bond between fathers and sons is complex, but for the men that these sons become, it has real repercussions. While the concept of the role of masculinity in society is changing, fathers also have the layered challenge of caring for their family while being around as an engaged adult and imposing sanctions while attempting to form strong bonds. These duelling fatherhood factions have made complex and mostly very three-dimensional characters for movie fathers. As parents, the fathers on this list vary in their vulnerabilities, while some are overprotective and others are not interested or even indifferent. These films each depict a special dynamic father/son as they experience life's challenges and learn about each other in the process. Pick one out and enjoy it this weekend with the old guy.

Posted On December 24th, 2020

Mufasa and Simba, The Lion King

The journey of Simba from exile to the king of the Pridelands is essentially a life primer. So how about Mufasa, then? Best dad at Disney of all time? The lion trains his cub with the truth bomb after the truth bomb, like the one below that, effectively says you're the son of your parent.

David and Nic, Beautiful Boy

A series of best-selling memoirs written by a father and son is based on Beautiful Kid, detailing their struggles with addiction and how they cope with it within their families. Timothée Chalamet plays Nic Sheff, a boy who, as his father David, played by Steve Carell, does everything possible to support him, becomes dependent on drugs and his eventual battle with rehab. The movie is a stark and raw look at the frustrating essence of addiction and how it affects not only the user but others close to them.

Armand and Val, The Birdcage

What is better than just one father? Two. Two. Notably, when you are so unconditionally embraced by those dads that they are able to rearrange their whole lives to satisfy your ultra-conservative future father-in-law.

Willie T Soke and Thurman, Bad Santa

Proof that latent fatherly impulses continue to ever grace God's green world, even in the most unforgivable bits of soil. The vehement, alcohol-fueled status quo of Soke makes it all the more shocking as he tries to find a thread of decency in digging for the chubby, parentless charge that was only supposed to serve as his shield. And that parental pearl, too: "The world is not fair." When you can have it, you have to take what you need. You've got to learn to get up on your own. You're going to have to give up being 'a pussy and knock the kids in the ass or somehow.

Marlin and Nemo, Finding Nemo

The ocean, especially when you're a nervous, overprotective clownfish, is a scary spot. It's young Nemo, after a harrowing rescue attempt, that saves the day. And sometimes, as a parent, you just have to let go and believe that your kid can get a whole school of fish to swim down to freedom together. Only manage to dive.

Hal and Oliver, The Beginners

What happens to your own personality when you are told by an adult, "I am not who you always thought I was"? This is the issue that Oliver deals with in Newcomers after his elderly (and terminally ill) father comes out to him. Uncomfortable moments and debates follow, but one thing never wavers the love of Oliver for his dad.

Jim and Noah, American Pie

There are fathers of experience. Experience creates insight. Perspective breeds instruction. And no fatherly wisdom beats Noah's short, "We're just going to tell your mother we ate it," to the mark.

Adam and Cal, East of Eden

After this Elia Kazan via John Steinbeck retelling of Cain and Abel, you won't be hugging your pops. These two spend the whole film exchanging psychological punches, Cal fighting for love and Adam misguidedly steering his son to a "good life." But it is on these religious words that viewers experience their own relationships between father and son, and Cal and Adam show that no matter the injustices, say, lying about your mother's death or goading your brother off to fight, redemption is still pos-pos-reconciliation.

Vito and Michael, The Godfather

In a traditionally towering time of American cinema, The Godfather is the most towering portrait of fathers and sons, the storey of any immigrant: one generation struggles for the next and can only hope it can take off. Not long before his death, Vito tells Michael, "I never wanted this for you." "Wasn't enough time." They got there, but not like they would have wanted any of them.

Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker, The Return of The Jedi

We later discover the horrific backstory. But admire the father-son dynamic here that is undisclosed. Problems of abandonment cause intergalactic Rebel to want tobe Luke a whiny loner ("But I was going to pick up some power converters at Toshi Station!"). The rage and strength of Darth, channelled into an actual mask, only subsides when he experiences the mental and physical creation of his progeny ("The force is strong with this one").