Ahead of Father’s Day 2026, here are six films that reflect different sides of fatherhood…
f.e.
Every year, there is a small pause in the middle of everyday life where appreciation takes centre stage. People think of the ones who taught them how to ride a bike, how to fix things that were ‘almost working’, how to stay calm during panic situations that were not actually calm at all. Father figures often exist in that mix of discipline, protection, awkward humour and care that shows up more in actions than in words. Father’s Day arrives on June 21 this year and it brings that familiar excuse to slow down and acknowledge those relationships. Some are close, some are complicated, some are long-distance in every sense of the word. And when words fall short, films sometimes step in and say what people cannot. Ahead of Father’s Day 2026, here are six films that reflect different sides of fatherhood, each carrying its own version of love, struggle and responsibility…
By W. D.
Selfie Dad (2020)
Written and directed by Brad J. Silverman, this light-hearted drama follows a former comedian, played by Brian Herzlinger, who is struggling with a midlife identity crisis. His life takes a turn when he starts exploring social media content creation while also trying to reconnect with his family. The humour comes from how unfamiliar he is with the digital world, but the heart of the film sits in something more grounded, a father learning that being present matters more than chasing validation elsewhere. It keeps things simple, leaning into everyday parenting awkwardness rather than grand emotional moments.
The Father (2020)
Florian Zeller directs this deeply unsettling drama, adapted from his own play, with Anthony Hopkins delivering an Oscar-winning performance as a man experiencing dementia. Olivia Colman plays his daughter, who is slowly forced into the role of caregiver as reality becomes increasingly fragmented for both of them. What makes the film so powerful is its structure, scenes repeat, details change and time feels unreliable, mirroring the father’s deteriorating memory. It quietly reverses the parent-child dynamic, showing how care becomes something children eventually grow into, even when they are not ready for it. The emotional impact builds slowly, then stays with you long after.
King Richard (2021)
Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, this biographical drama stars Will Smith as Richard Williams, the determined father of tennis icons Venus and Serena Williams. From the beginning, his vision for his daughters’ future is unusually specific, structured and unwavering, even when resources are limited. Richard’s parenting style sits somewhere between discipline and obsession, but the film carefully builds his emotional logic, he is not chasing success for himself, but trying to create it for his children in a world that was not designed for them. The tension between belief and pressure runs throughout, making him both inspiring and difficult to fully read.
The Son (2022)
From director Florian Zeller again, this follow-up to ‘The Father’ shifts focus to Hugh Jackman as a father dealing with his teenage son’s mental health struggles. Laura Dern plays his ex-partner and the story moves between strained co-parenting and emotional miscommunication. What stands out is how disconnected everyone feels, even when they are in the same room. The father is not absent, but overwhelmed, trying to solve something that cannot be fixed through logic or structure alone. The film stays uncomfortable on purpose, showing how easily emotional needs can go unrecognised inside families.
Dog Gone (2023)
Based on a true story and directed by Stephen Herek, the film stars Rob Lowe as a father whose carefully controlled life gets thrown into chaos when his son’s dog goes missing during a hike on the Appalachian Trail. What could have been a simple search quickly turns into a long, exhausting journey neither of them were emotionally prepared for. The physical search becomes a backdrop for something more personal, a father trying, slightly awkwardly, to reconnect with a son he has drifted away from. The film doesn’t over-dramatise the emotion; instead, it lets frustration, silence and small gestures do most of the work. The bond doesn’t magically heal, but it does shift in subtle ways.
You’re Cordially
Invited (2025)
For something lighthearted, directed by Nicholas Stoller, ‘You’re Cordially Invited’ stars Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon and builds its chaos around a classic wedding disaster. Two families accidentally end up double-booked at the same venue and what should have been a joyful celebration quickly turns into a full-blown clash of egos, emotions and different wedding expectations. At the centre of all the mess is a protective father trying to make his daughter’s big day perfect, even as everything around him spirals out of control. The film leans into humour through misunderstandings, clashing personalities and escalating wedding chaos but it also slips in those softer moments where the father’s real motivation shows, he just wants his daughter to have a day she’ll remember for the right reasons.
