If you’re reading this you’re probably a fan of movies. Maybe hanging out and watching a movie together is a long-time family tradition, or maybe you’re looking for something fun to do this Mother’s Day with your mom. This is a collection of great movies to watch with mom while you spend some quality time together. Some are light and sweet, some are a little more emotional. All are great choices. Check out the trailers and grab some popcorn for you and mom!
This post is split into a few sections to help you find the movie that best matches the vibe you, and more importantly, your mom, likes best.
The movie categories are:
Heartwarming Mother’s Day Movies
There’s a little overlap with the vibe of all these movies, but some are more on the emotional side, and others are a little more in-your-face funny. I hope you and mom have a great Mother’s Day!
Funny Mother’s Day Movies
1) Mother’s Day (2016)
This just seems like the obvious pick to start out our list of movies to watch with your mom this Mother’s Day. A cast of famous faces stars in this super on-point Mother’s Day movie. You probably won’t be surprised that it’s all about moms and their relationships.
2) Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Crazy Rich Asians is a romantic comedy and the main story is about a couple in love, but the story is also about family. In particular, is the relationship between a mother and son and the importance of that relationship. The ending of this one is one of my favorites because of the emphasis placed on the relationship between the mother, son, and the woman her son loves.
3) The Princess Diaries (2001)
Starring Anne Hatheway and the iconic Julie Andrews (Sound of Music) this is the first in 3 movies that tell the story of an awkward high schooler who finds out she’s set to inherit a crown. Mia, her grandmother, and her mother navigate the challenges of royal expectations together in this funny and endearing trilogy.
4) The Parent Trap (1998)
Starring Lindsay Lohan, this family-friendly film is about twin sisters who are separated at birth and reunite at a summer camp, scheming to bring their parents back together. This is probably a movie that is a popular choice for kids of divorce. The idea that your parents could get back together with a little bit of scheming between you and your long-lost sibling is a happy one. But whether or not a real-life parent trap is possible, the movie is always a fun ride and a testimony to the importance of a mother’s relationship with her children.
5) Mamma Mia! (2008)
Starring Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, and Pierce Brosnan, this musical film features catchy ABBA songs and a fun storyline about a mother and daughter preparing for a wedding.
6) Freaky Friday (2003)
Starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, this comedic film follows a mother and daughter who switch bodies and learn to appreciate each other’s lives.
Heartwarming Mother’s Day Movies
7) Steel Magnolias (1989)
Starring Sally Field, Julia Roberts, and Dolly Parton, this film follows the lives of a group of women in Louisiana and explores themes of friendship, love, and loss.
8) Terms of Endearment (1983)
Starring Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger, this film is a touching story of a mother and daughter’s relationship over the years.
9) The Blind Side (2009)
This is a movie about overcoming extreme obstacles and how family can help lift you up like no one else. At the center of this story is a mother-and-son relationship between a young man who is more or less adopted into a family. The mother figure in this movie has unrelenting love for their newest family member it’s both heartwarming and funny.
10) Stepmom (1998)
Starring Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon, this film explores the complex relationship between a mother and a stepmother as they navigate the challenges of co-parenting. This one is a tear-jerker so come prepared with tissues.
11) Little Women (2019)
Starring Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, and Meryl Streep, this film adaptation of the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott celebrates the bond between sisters and the importance of family.
12) The Joy Luck Club (1993)
Starring Ming-Na Wen and Tamlyn Tomita, this film tells the stories of four Chinese-American women and their relationships with their mothers.
13) The Help (2011)
Starring Emma Stone and Viola Davis, this film is a powerful story about race and class in the 1960s South and the unlikely friendships that form between women from different backgrounds. Amidst the story are relationships between mothers and daughters, and themes of forgiveness, support, and writing your own story.
Feel-Good Mother’s Day Movies
14) Julie & Julia (2009)
Starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams, this film tells the true story of Julia Child and a young woman who decides to cook all of the recipes in her famous cookbook.
If you’re a movie foodie, check out this list for more watchlist ideas!
15) The Sound of Music (1965)
Starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, this classic musical tells the story of a governess who falls in love with a widower and his seven children.
16) The Notebook (2004)
Starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, this romantic drama tells the story of a couple’s lifelong love and the sacrifices they make for each other. There’s something everlasting about this movie. It’s sweet, and sincere, and leaves us with the message that love overcomes all.
17) Chocolat (2000)
Starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp, this film is a heartwarming story of a woman who opens a chocolate shop in a small French town and helps to bring the community together. There’s something magical about this movie, the setting and the characters. It’s also a great Mother’s Day pick because of the relationship between the mother and daughter, who are the movie’s central characters.
18) Waitress (2007)
Starring Keri Russell, this film follows a young waitress who finds solace in baking pies and dreams of starting a new life for herself and her unborn child. Most of the movie follows a waitress who is miserable in her abusive relationship with her husband. She finds some happiness with her doctor after finding out she’s expecting a baby. In the end (spoilers) she is able to choose the best life for her and her new baby over anything else.
