Parenthood is a magical milestone in many people’s lives. From planning and conception through to empty nest syndrome and beyond, it's nothing short of a wonderful rollercoaster ride. It is, at once, the most challenging job that life can offer and the most rewarding. While many are eager to congratulate new parents and wish them well, few will honestly be able to understand just how much of a challenge parenthood can be. Films are the perfect way in which to bridge the knowledge gap.

Movies about adulthood aren't just vehicles for representation on screen. They allow parents and non-parents alike to sympathize with their plight, no matter how trivial or existential their experiences may seem. Films can be a great outlet for new parents, reminding them that they are not alone. No matter the stage of their parenting journey, from unborn to infant, to toddlers, teenagers, and even full-grown adults, it's helpful to have these movie moments as reminders of the joy and sacrifice of parenthood.

Whether they take a moment for quiet reflection or find the humor in situations, there's no shortage of top-notch films about parenting. Here are some films that thoughtfully depict the troubles and triumphs of parenthood in all its forms.

Update January 21, 2023: This article has been updated by Amanda Minchin with more great films about parenthood.

12 What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012)

Many films about parenthood start right at the beginning, and What To Expect When You're Expecting is no exception. Based loosely on the popular 1984 pregnancy guide by the same name, the film follows an ensemble cast of expectant mothers on the brink of the biggest change of their lives. The film boasts a star-studded ensemble cast that includes, but by far not limited to, Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Brooklyn Decker, Anna Kendrick, and more.

Why Is It A Good Example Of Parenthood?

From adoptions to miscarriages, this film deftly covers many parental situations in ways that are both comedic and dramatic. The humor comes mostly from the mothers and fathers to be. For example, Elizabeth Banks plays perfect mother to be Wendy, owner of "The Breast Choice", a boutique for breastfeeding mothers. Her difficult pregnancy puts her otherwise maternal outward appearance to the test. Cameron Diaz, meanwhile, plays Jules, a fitness guru with a bun in the oven. These women and their partners are already up in arms just nine months in! Rent on AppleTV+

Related: Best Movies About Adoption, Ranked

11 Raising Arizona (1987)

Raising Arizona is a crazy, quirky ride through instant parenthood. The film features Holly Hunter and Nicholas Cage as a former police officer and an ex-con, respectively. This odd couple is desperate for a child but cannot have one by natural means themselves. Upon learning about a pair of local quintuplets, they decide to steal just one, with hilarious consequences. A second feature film for the Coen brothers, this movie took on a distinctly more comedic turn with this film, proving that their wheelhouse was nothing but genre.

Why Is It A Good Example Of Parenthood?

Other than being about a family made (albeit illegally), Raising Arizona is otherwise an outrageous metaphor for just how crazy parenthood can be. Simple tasks like diaper shopping can quickly turn on a dime, though hopefully, the average parent doesn't have a bounty-hungry posse after them as if infertility issues weren't enough to deal with! Rent on AppleTV+

10 She’s Having a Baby (1988)

The 80s classic romantic comedy She's Having a Baby follows Jake and Kristy Briggs (Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth McGovern, respectively) from their wedding day through to the birth of their first child. Feeling pressure to have children but not really sure if he is up to the task, Jake begins to act like a child himself. The truth is he is discontent with himself and his lot in life. After trying to conceive unsuccessfully for years, the couple begins fertility treatments and eventually conceives a child. When things take a turn in the delivery room, Jake is hit with the devastating realization that he might lose the woman he loves. He throws all his machismo out the window and finally embraces fatherhood and partnership the way he should have from the beginning.

Why Is It A Good Example Of Parenthood?

She’s Having a Baby is one of the best movies about parenthood, because it deals with real issues couples face when planning a family. From communication breakdowns to societal pressures, doubts, and fertility issues, this film covers it all, albeit in a John Hughes type of way. The dichotomy between wanting a baby and wanting a family is obvious from the title alone. Rent on AppleTV+

9 Somewhere (2010)

Directed by Sofia Coppola, Somewhere is a drama about celebrity Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff) who, despite his fame, notoriety, and success, has become disillusioned with life. When he unexpectedly becomes the primary caregiver to his 11-year-old daughter Cleo (Elle Fanning), her influence changes his life for the better. Her influence allows him to mature into a more responsible person.

Why Is It A Good Example Of Parenthood?

Somewhere is a tender depiction of father-daughter relationships. Loosely based on Coppola’s experiences growing up with her famous father, Francis Ford Coppola, this film has all the trappings of the famous pair while also depicting a rather personal story. This movie wonderfully blends the ennui of fame with a human, albeit flawed, antagonist. Rent on AppleTV+

8 The Kids Are All Right (2010)

In The Kids Are All Right, Julianne Moore and Annette Bening star as a lesbian couple who must come to terms with the fact that their two teenage children would like to have a relationship with their biological father/sperm donor, Paul (Mark Ruffalo). Things get even more complicated when one of the pair enters into an affair with Paul.

Why Is It A Good Example Of Parenthood?

This touching family drama is one of the best movies about parenthood because it is a hilarious and heartfelt masterpiece that eloquently explores the complexities of non-traditional families and the natural yearning children have to know where they come from. Finding one's place in the world, whether that be with family found or bred, is a deeply important key to understanding oneself. This film is also a wonderful demonstration of flawed characters as parental units. Stream on PlutoTV or rent on AppleTV+ and Prime Video.

7 Fatherhood (2021)

Based on the 2011 memoir Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss and Love by Matthew Logelin, Fatherhood stars Kevin Hart as Logelin, a new father who struggles to raise his daughter after the sudden death of his wife. Kevin Hart gives a really powerful dramatic performance, a nice change of pace from the comedic actor. He is also supported by an incredible cast, including Alfre Woodard, Lil Ronny Howard, Anthony Carrigan, and DeWanda Rise. Yet the standout might be Melody Hurd, who plays Maddy Logelin, Matthew's daughter, and is a truly great performance by someone so young.

Why It Is A Good Example of Parenthood

Fatherhood deals with the difficult topic of single parenthood, especially single fatherhood. Featuring a father and a daughter makes for an interesting gap that is rarely explored in cinema but common in real life, as the gender and social differences that often form between child and parent are broken away when there is only one caregiver. Matthew needs to do the roles most people expect from a mother, but Maddy also ends up picking habits from her father and his friends that other kids might mock her for, but she finds normal. Even if the movie is a little predictable, the emotional weight is real and the film is both humorous but heartfelt in a way that feels genuine to real life and not overly indulgent. Stream on Netflix.

6 Tully (2018)

Charlize Theron stars as an exhausted mom of three, Marlo, in Tully. Dealing with the unexpected pregnancy of her third child, along with two other children, one of which has special needs, has become downright unbearable for her. She takes on a night nanny named Tully (Mackenzie Davis), who finally helps to lessen her load. Tully allows Marlo to be more free, but there is more to this babysitter than meets the eye.

Why Is It A Good Example Of Parenthood?

Tully is one of the best parenting movies because of its raw and unflinching yet empathetic depiction of motherhood, the loss of identity that follows, and the toll it takes on intimate relationships. Its twist reveals Tully's actual relationship with Marlo reveals the unseen stresses of motherhood. ​This 3rd collab between Jason Reitman and screenwriter Diablo Cody of Juno fame. Cody has since said she wrote the script as a way to deal with her own issues during pregnancy. It is a perfect threequel entry when compared to Juno (about a young mother thrust into adulthood) and Young Adult (about a woman trying to stay young). Rent on AppleTV+

Related: 10 Movie Villains Who Were Actually Loving Parents

5 Riding in Cars With Boys (2001)

Riding in Cars With Boys, based on Beverly Donofrio’s autobiography of the same name, chronicles Donofrio’s struggles as a teen mom, single mother, and aspiring writer. Drew Barrymore stars as Donofrio in the film, which shows her from ages 15-to 35. So much can happen in the span of twenty-odd years, and this film is no exception. Directed by Penny Marshall, this film also features Steve Zahn, Brittany Murphy, and James Woods.

Why Is It A Good Example Of Parenthood?

Riding in Cars With Boys highlights the sacrifices mothers make for their children. The challenges of being a teen mom are on full display alongside the triumphs, from the pressure to marry to missed job and educational opportunities. The cyclical nature of parenthood makes for a true Cats in the Cradle moment. Rent on AppleTV+

4 Knocked Up (2007)

The romantic comedy Knocked Up tells the story of Alison Scott (Katherine Heigl) and Ben Stone (Seth Rogen), two very different strangers who meet in a bar one night and go home together afterward. After their brief affair, Allison discovers she is pregnant and decides to keep the baby. The unlikely pair try to foster a relationship for their child to be. They are for a time, that is until it becomes glaringly obvious to Allison that Ben is not 100% committed to the idea of fatherhood. The Judd Apatow original begs the question - is it worth it for two true strangers to keep a relationship alive for the sake of their unborn child?

Why Is It A Good Example Of Parenthood?

Knocked Up deals with just how complicated adult relationships can get, particularly when sex, marriage, and children are involved. In particular, this film compares two sets of parents, one a tired couple with two kids in tow, the other the expectant pair. Each is dealing with different ages of parenthood, but can still commiserate together. Raunchy humor aside, the candidness with which this film highlights these struggles makes it one of the best movies dealing with parenthood. Stream on Max

3 The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

The Pursuit of Happyness is yet another autobiographical account of the struggles of homeless single father Christopher Gardner (Will Smith) as he bounces from shelter to shelter trying to find work to make a better life for himself and his son. Gardner takes on an unpaid internship with a stock brokerage, hoping it will lead to paid employment, all while continuing to sell bone density scanners to physicians to make ends meet on the side.

Why Is It A Good Example Of Parenthood?

The Pursuit of Happyness thoughtfully depicts the lengths parents will go to give their children a better life. From heartbreaking lows like locking themselves in a public rest area for the night, to the highs of his hard-earned career accomplishments, this flick is one dramatically driven rollercoaster from start to finish. The finale feels well-fought and hard-earned by the film's end and the fact that it features Will Smith and his own son Jaden in the lead roles helps sell the emotional realness. Rent on AppleTV+

2 Stepmom (1998)

Stepmom follows divorced couple Luke and Jackie Harrison (Ed Harris and Susan Sarandon), who closely co-parent their shared children (Jena Malone and Liam Aiken). Their happy, non-nuclear family is interrupted by the introduction of Luke’s new partner, Isabel (Julia Roberts), into the family unit. Jackie continues to secretly battle cancer as her children struggle to terms with their new stepmom.

Why Is It A Good Example Of Parenthood?

Stepmom is a heartwrenching film, one that poignantly deals with real-world parenting issues. From divorce to co-parenting to illness and the passing of the parental torch, this film is a socially conscious tear-jerker that's not for the faint of heart. Have the tissues at the ready as the torch of motherhood is passed from one woman to another. Rent on AppleTV+

1 Parenthood

Parenthood follows the parenting journeys of Gil Buckman (Steve Martin) and his three siblings. Each faces their own challenges, from Gil, the perfectionist who wants to be a better father to his kids than his own father was, to his sister (Dianne Wiest), who is dealing with teenage pregnancy. Gil's older sister, Helen, is a divorced bank manager whose ex spends more time with his new family than his old one. The ensemble cast is absolutely stacked and includes Steve Martin, Rick Moranis, Martha Plimpton, Keanu Reeves, Mary Steenburgen, and Dianne Wiest. Directed by Ron Howard, the film became the basis for both a 1990 and a 2010 TV series.

Why Is It A Good Example Of Parenthood?

This honest yet comedic look at intergenerational family relationships is easily one of the best parenting movies around in part because of its emphasis on character development. It's easy to see how this film inspired not just one but two TV offshoots. Truly ahead of its time in 1989, the vast age range of characters allows for a look at parenthood from both a child's and a parent's perspective. And, if that wasn't enough to convince prospective viewers, take into account that the acclaimed critic Roger Ebert gave Parenthood a 4-star rating when it first came out. Rent on AppleTV+

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