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It’s about time Mother’s Day had its own lexicon of movies. After all, is Halloween really more important to you, or to pop culture, than moms? Obviously not. While there is unfortunately a relative dearth of films that are Mother’s Day movies on purpose, there is no shortage of movies that are incidentally ideal viewing for mom’s special day.
We’ve all been there for the family holidays where nobody can agree on anything to watch. The good thing about Mother’s Day is that there’s only one person to please. Luckily, we have a good sense of what she might like. Whether your mom is a fan of movie musicals, classic literature, or chic flics, this list will give you one of each. You’re practically guaranteed to find something she’ll love, and something the rest of the family can sit through too.
'What to Expect When You're Expecting'
First off, What to Expect When You’re Expecting, for obvious reasons. If you and your mom want to wind down with a feel-good comedy, the Love Actually of Mother’s Day is the way to go. What to Expect When You’re Expecting follows five couples at various stages in their lives as they prepare to give birth to their first children. It features an all-star rom com cast, with familiar faces like Cameron Diaz, JLo, and Anna Kendrick each playing expectant mothers. One review put it perfectly, “Thankfully the film, unlike being a parent, is a fairly smooth and entertaining ride that has a universal appeal to both parents and those who ever had a father or a mother.” It may not be the most accurate picture of pregnancy or motherhood, but it sure is fun to watch.
'Instant Family'
Another heartwarming comedy to integrate into your celebration of Mom is Instant Family, starring Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne. It depicts a less-than-traditional family structure, where two parents foster three children. After being pestered by family members for not wanting children, the couples attends a fair to meet potential children. There, they meet 15-year old Lizzy, who has two younger siblings and a negligent mother plagued by substance abuse issues. While their first encounter with the children does not go as planned, Ellie (Byrne) decides to go through with fostering to spite her doubting family. Instant Family is the rare Mother’s Day movie that subverts traditional notions of motherhood and strikes the perfect balance between absurd comedy and sentimentality.
'Little Women'
This classic adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s timeless novel, Little Women, will not fail you this Sunday. If your mother is more of an Austen than Adam Sandler fan, either the 1949 or the 2019 film adaptations are well worth watching on her special day. Both are available to stream on Hulu, but Greta Gerwig’s Academy Award-winning 2019 take on the novel will require a Starz add on (cough, cough: use your free trial, but don’t forget to cancel it!). Starring Saoirse Ronan, Laura Dern, Meryl Streep, and more, Little Women chronicles the semi-autobiographical lives of the March sisters in 19th century New England. It features a breathtaking ensemble performance and is an obligatory stream for a phenomenal shot involving Florence Pugh’s apron alone. I have to admit, I’m still not over the colossal snub that was the Academy’s failure to nominate Gerwig for Best Director on this one, and you’ll quickly see why.
'The Princess Bride'
I don’t know about your mom, but my mom loves this movie. The Princess Bride doesn’t have a ton to do with motherhood in an overt way, but it’s just one of those movies that is best watched next to your mom. It is simultaneously a fantasy epic and one of the most hilarious films of all time. The cult classic is impossible to justly summarize here, but it combines all the vital aspects of a feel-good movie: transcendent love, fleeting danger, intricate revenge plots, and killer quotes. There are several emblematic scenes in The Princess Bride, but my personal favorite is Westley tumbling down a hill, yelling, “As you wish!” Your mom has absolutely seen this movie and has probably been dying to watch it with you, so here’s your excuse.
'Sex and the City'
While any day is a good day to binge the Sex and the City series, Mother’s Day seems like the perfect opportunity to watch the movie. The 2008 film is a continuation of the late 90s/early 2000s classic. It’s a little more grounded than the frenetic TV show, but only slightly, making it appropriate Mother’s Day viewing. The movie follows Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw as she embarks on her gloriously, extravagantly New York wedding to on again, off again lover, Mr. Big. Predictably, the nuptials do not go off without a hitch, leaving Carrie clamoring for her besties again in the best way. There’s also a sequel to this movie that is perhaps one of the cringiest films ever produced, so enjoy this one while you can. Here’s to hoping the revival doesn’t disappoint!
'Mamma Mia!'
If the TikTok trend to “Slipping Through My Fingers” hasn’t already spurred you to host your annual Mamma Mia! watch party, here’s your reminder. Whether you’ve seen the Broadway musical or are an ABBA fan (who isn’t?), this film is the ultimate feel-good extravaganza. If for some reason you aren’t familiar with the plot, here are the cliffnotes: a young bride-to-be (Amanda Seyfried) secretly invites three men who might be her father to her wedding, sending her mom (Meryl Streep) into a sentimental tailspin. Like Sex and the City, the sequel is skippable, so you should cherish every second of the original. Singing along is optional, but you’re officially boring if your family doesn’t know all the words to “Dancing Queen.”
'Mother's Day'
Okay, as a disclaimer, Mother’s Day is not a good movie. However, I’m still going to recommend you watch it because it’s hilariously bad and appropriately festive. It tries so hard to be Love Actually, which gives it some points for effort. The Jennifer Aniston and Julia Roberts – who clinched a Raspberry nomination for Worst Actress – rom com follows an apparently unrelated group of people in Atlanta. They all confront their complicated relationships with their mothers after periods of loss and other major life changes. There’s a lot of deus ex machina that happens to make it all come together, but Sunday is the perfect day to marvel at the shoddy screenwriting. After all, what other day of the year are you going to watch a movie called Mother’s Day?
