FATHERLY LOVE
10 movie dads who went the extra mile for their young:
Mufasa
James Earl Jones in The Lion King (1994)
Even after his jerk brother pushes him to his untimely death, Mufasa is a guiding light for his dear boy Simba (Matthew Broderick).
Bryan Mills
Liam Neeson in Taken (2008) Retired CIA operative Bryan would literally kill to rescue his teenage daughter from a sex trafficking ring in this thriller that sparked two sequels.
Bob Parr
Craig T. Nelson in Incredibles 2 (2018)
He’s used to moonlighting as a brawny vigilante, but in the sequel he’s even more endearing as he takes on the role of stay-at-home-superhero-dad.
Chris Gardner
Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
In this biographical drama, homeless single dad Chris makes his son (played by Smith’s real-life son Jaden) proud by landing a huge sales gig.
Daniel Hillard
Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
Sure, this quirky voice-actor dad didn’t take the most honest approach to connect with his kids (by posing as their elderly female housekeeper), but it all worked out in the end.
Clark Griswold
Chevy Chase in National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)/National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985)/Christmas Vacation (1989)/ Vegas Vacation (1997), Hotel Hell Vacation (2010)/Vacation (2015)
He’s a little bit temperamental, but Clark is always willing to go out on a limb — or a rickety old ladder — for his family.
Stanley T. Banks/george Banks
Spencer Tracy and Steve Martin in Father of the Bride (1950/1991)
Whether you go the original or the remake route, Daddy Banks is about as endearing as a stressed-out, financially taxed father-in-law to be can be.
Man
Viggo Mortensen in The Road (2009)
Man fearlessly protects his son
Boy (Kodi Smit-mcphee) on a journey through a hopeless post-apocalyptic wasteland.
Atticus Finch
Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
This widowed dad is a lawyer who fights the good fight — and, by example, teaches his children to do the same.
Captain Von Trapp
Christopher Plummer in
The Sound of Music (1965)
This strict and loving dad of seven (yes, seven!) puts his life on the line to remove his children from a dangerous situation (a.k.a. Austria during the Nazi era).