Life

still from the movie "murder mystery" with jennifer aniston and adam sandler
Philippe Bosse/Netflix
Settle In For Movie Night With Dad With These Choice Netflix Gems

by Esme Mazzeo
Updated: 
Originally Published: 

If you prefer to avoid restaurant crowds on holidays a night at home on Father's Day is a great idea. But it presents challenges. After you decide on the dinner menu there's the matter of the movie to settle. Dads have diverse tastes, so I compiled a list of the best movies to watch with dad on Netflix on Father's day. Of course you are going to let him choose but you need to know which direction to nudge him. I have them all covered.

Before you dive in, it might be best to decide on dad's probable movie flavor of choice. Let me give you some examples. If young kids are joining the festivities, there's the Disney Dad, the Superhero Dad and maybe even Pet Lover Dad.

If everyone at movie night is an adult, the decision gets harder but there are still ways to narrow it down. Is your dad a documentary kind of guy? Does he love to laugh or is he more appreciative of the dramatic side of Hollywood? There are fathers who love a good cry at the movies and fathers who love a good sports story. I'm also familiar with the romcom enthusiast. This list leaves no dad behind.

1

Despicable Me

What happens when a supervillain adopts three little girls to (unknowingly) help him execute his plot to steal the moon? Heartwarming hilarity. Steve Carrell voices Gru, a career bad-guy who surprises even himself when he takes on the role of dad to the girls. It’s some dad-cinema gold. Plus, there are minions.

2

About Time

Some people have family genetics to thank for their bad knees, funny-looking pinky toes, or constant ear infections, Tim Lake, the protagonist in About Time, got his ability to time travel from his dad’s side of the family (which seems totally unfair to those of us whose dads gave us disproportionately short legs, but whatever). Throughout the movie Tim and his dad bond over this gift as he learns how to use it without changing the present. It’s a sweet story, but keep the tissues handy because you will probably shed some tears.

3

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse

This animated movie is great for kids and adults, and you don’t have to know all of the origins of Spider-Man to enjoy it. There are the classic Spider-Man adventures throughout the film, but there’s an underlying story between the movie’s main character, Miles Morales, and his dad that turns out to be very sweet. It’s kid-friendly, entertaining, and perfect for the superhero-loving dad.

4

Murder Mystery

Scott Yamano/Netflix

Moving on to the more adult titles, Murder Mystery starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston as a married couple trying to solve a murder on their vacation aboard is now available to stream. You might already know there are plenty of other Sandler movies at your fingertips on Netflix. If your dad is more a fan of the classics, The Waterboy is a perfect choice.

5

Always Be My Maybe

Ed Araquel / Netflix

I'm going to tell you a secret that I know from covering a lot of Hallmark movies — dads love romantic comedies and there is absolutely no same in that. So introduce yours to Always Be My Maybe about childhood best friends with very different careers who run into each other again after 15 years. If your dad likes Keanu Reeves, that's a bonus here.

6

The Pursuit of Happyness

It may be over a decade old, but you’re going to be hard-pressed to find a newer movie with a more gut-wrenchingly real and inspirational father/son story. It stars Will Smith (as Chris) and his real-life son, Jaden Smith. The pair are evicted from their apartment and Chris works with everything he has to find success to build a better life for himself and his son. It’s a tear-jerker, but still a feel-good story.

7

The Rolling Stones: Olé, Olé, Olé

If dad is more of the rock & roll type (who also loves documentaries) The Rolling Stones: Olé, Olé, Olé is the perfect choice. It follows the iconic band as they make more history by becoming the first rock band ever to play in Cuba.

8

Like Father

Looking to bond over something heartwarming? Like Father stars Kristen Bell as a jilted bride who goes on her honeymoon with her estranged father.

9

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

If you’re really not sure what your dad likes, throw out this title because there’s a good chance he’d be into watching the movie (if for no other reason than because it’s probably been a while since he last saw it). It’s the third installment of the Indiana Jones franchise, and Indiana is on a hunt to find his father who disappeared during one of his own adventures. There’s nothing like a classic movie, or the Holy Grail in Indiana Jones’ case, to bring a family together.

10

Incredibles 2

The first Incredibles movie centered around the dad’s secret superhero adventures that left him in need of his own rescuing by his family. In the follow-up movie, Mom is getting all of the superhero attention while dad stays home with the kids. He deals with homework, humiliates his teenage daughter in front of the boy she likes, and tries his best to keep up with the baby (who also happens to have some wacky superpowers of his own). It’s a fun movie for kids and parents.

No matter what title you choose, it's always fun to bond with dad over a movie, or two if time permits. Also, just a pro-tip, the bonding is even more fun when there are popcorn and snacks.

This article was originally published on