13 movies for Mother’s Day

For the movies that feature moms, or the movies mom’s love, here’s a list of 13 picks for Mother’s Day:

1. Madea’s Family Reunion

She may not be the most maternal figure in cinema, but Madea movies are undoubtedly a favourite with moms. This one in particular features a jaw dropping speech by the mother of all mothers, Cicely Tyson, as she speaks to generations of her family, about the legacy they owe respect. I dedicate it to my mother, Carol Levy.

2. Tarzan

Whether you were raised in your typical nuclear family, or you were adopted by the kindest ape in the jungle, there’s nothing like a mother’s love. For Tarzan, that love came from Glenn Close’s Kala, who floors the audience with the tender and emotional rendition of You’ll Be In My Heart.

3. Freaky Friday

As long as mothers and daughters are squabbling, there will be movies made about them (See choices 6, 8 and 9). This classic body swap comedy with Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis is all about walking a mile in another’s shoes, and is naturally hilarious.

4. Bad Moms

It takes a lot to be a mom, and sometimes, they just need to be able to let loose. That fantasy comes to life in Bad Moms, which features some of the most irreverent depictions of mom-mania ever put to cinema. For a double feature, check out A Bad Moms Christmas.

5. Mamma Mia

Before she became a mother, Donna had a few adventures of her own. Mamma Mia takes a musical approach to that history, with an ABBA-centric soundtrack and a magical performance by the incomparable Meryl Streep.

6. Brave

They only want the best for their children, but mothers don’t always know how to show it. According to Brave, it takes getting turned into a bear to really smooth over those communication issues. With stunning animation, Brave is a magical adventure.

7. Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump is mostly about the antics of Forrest himself, but Sally Field makes an indelible mark as one of cinema’s finest moms.

8. Turning Red

As if growing up wasn’t hard enough, Turning Red throws a generational curse into the mix. This film shows the constant battle of tradition in an immigrant family, and shows the gift of accepting your family as they are, not how you’d like them to be.

9. Everything Everywhere All At Once

This year’s Best Picture winner is a multiversal odyssey with magnetic performances by Michelle Yeoh and Stephanie Hsu, who explore their mother-daughter relationship across all manner of dimensions.

10. Home Alone

They say being a mother is the hardest job in the world, so a mother of seven is clearly working overtime. With that in mind, it’s easy to see why Catherine O’Hara’s Kate McCallister loses her son (twice). Regardless of her errors, the love of her son is powerful enough to reunite them across continents.

11. The Woman King

She’s most definitely seen it already, but something tells me your mother wouldn’t mind a rewatch. Aside from its compelling and empowering depiction of women warriors, The Woman King features the epic tale of mothers and their daughters that’s as emotional as it is thrilling.

12. Chamber of Secrets

The titular character Harry Potter might be an orphan, but his best friend Ron Weasley has a powerhouse of a mother who is at her wits’ end. Julie Walters delivers one of the most severe tongue-lashings in cinema history for Ron’s idiotic theft of his father’s car. It’s sure to resonate with mothers who’ve dealt with the frustrating actions of their own children.

13. Creed III

As far as fictional moms go, Phylicia Rashad really takes the cake. Whether it’s her television roles in This is Us and The Cosby Show, or in animation in Pixar’s Soul, she has the firm tenderness that makes her the very best choice for motherhood. Her most recent role in Creed III is no exception.

Damian Levy is a film critic and podcaster for Damian Michael Movies.