Entertainment

644 voters

The Best Mother-Daughter Movies Ever Made

Updated May 7, 2021 4.1k votes 644 voters 50.9k views61 items

Good movies that mothers can watch with their daughters can be important for bonding time. The best mother-daughter movies come in many forms. Some mother daughter relationship movies are about struggle while other movies about mothers and daughters are comedies. A few of the greatest movies about mothers and daughters are even a bit on the creepy side. Some mother-daughter movies are even great movies to watch on Mother's day.

What films will you find on this best mother-daughter movie list? Grab the tissues before putting on the great mother daughter film, Terms of Endearment. Shirley MacLaine took home an Oscar for her role as a mother whose love for her daughter is eternal. Stepmom, starring Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon, is another one of the greatest mother-daughter movies.

Cher captivated audiences as a single mother raising two girls in the 1990 movie, Mermaids. Other good films that appear on this top mother-daughter movie list include Mommy Dearest, Freaky Friday, and The Joy Luck Club.

Do you have a favorite films about moms and daughters? Give the best mom-daughter films a thumbs up and share some of your favorite scenes in the comments section.

Photo:

...more

1
237
65
Mamma Mia!
Amanda Seyfried, Meryl Streep
Released: 2008
Directed by: Phyllida Lloyd
Mamma Mia! is a 2008 British/American/Swedish musical/romantic comedy film adapted from the 1999 West End/2001 Broadway musical of the same name, based on the songs of successful pop group ABBA, with... more
More Mamma Mia!
#193 of 362 The Best Musical Movies Of All Time#56 of 207 Musical Movies With The Best Songs
2
185
50
Freaky Friday
Lindsay Lohan, Jamie Lee Curtis
Released: 2003
Directed by: Mark Waters
Freaky Friday is a 2003 comedy film based on the novel of the same name by Mary Rodgers. It stars Lindsay Lohan as Anna Coleman and Jamie Lee Curtis as her mother. In the film their souls are... more
More Freaky Friday
#46 of 95 The Funniest Movies About Family#55 of 140 The Greatest Movie Remakes of All Time
3
166
41
Stepmom
Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon
Released: 1998
Directed by: Chris Columbus
Stepmom is a 1998 comedy-drama directed by Chris Columbus and starring Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, and Ed Harris. Sarandon won the San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress and Harris... more
More Stepmom
#49 of 277 The Top Tearjerker Movies That Make Men Cry#2 of 83 Great Movies That Take Place In Autumn
4
143
40
Terms of Endearment
Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito
Released: 1983
Directed by: James L. Brooks
Terms of Endearment is a 1983 comedy-drama film adapted from the novel of the same name by Larry McMurtry, directed, written, and produced by James L. Brooks and starring Shirley MacLaine, Debra... more
More Terms of Endearment
#23 of 46 Movies That Won Best Picture at the Oscars and Golden Globes#226 of 512 The Greatest Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
5
134
38
Mermaids
Cher, Christina Ricci
Released: 1990
Directed by: Richard Benjamin
Mermaids is a 1990 American comedy-drama film directed by Richard Benjamin and starring Cher, Bob Hoskins, Winona Ryder, and Christina Ricci in her first film role. The film is based on the 1986... more
More Mermaids
People From History Who Claimed To Have Encountered Mermaids (And Their Evidence)#113 of 252 The Funniest '90s Movies
6
143
45
Freaky Friday
Jodie Foster, Dick Van Patten
Released: 1976
Directed by: Gary Nelson
Freaky Friday is a 1976 American fantasy comedy film directed by Gary Nelson and starring Barbara Harris as Ellen Andrews, Jodie Foster as her daughter Annabel, and John Astin as her husband, Bill... more
More Freaky Friday
#197 of 552 The Best '70s Movies#7 of 27 20+ Great Movies Where Characters Swap Ages or Bodies
7
133
41
My Sister's Keeper
Cameron Diaz, Alec Baldwin
Released: 2009
Directed by: Nick Cassavetes
My Sisters's Keeper is a 2009 American drama film directed by Nick Cassavetes and starring Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Sofia Vassilieva, and Alec Baldwin. Based on Jodi Picoult's novel of the same... more
More My Sister's Keeper
#15 of 176 The Most Utterly Depressing Movies Ever Made#1 of 29 Powerful Movies About Sick & Dying Children
8
108
25
Sense and Sensibility
Kate Winslet, Hugh Laurie
Released: 1995
Directed by: Ang Lee
Sense and Sensibility is a 1995 British–American period drama film directed by Ang Lee and based on Jane Austen's 1811 novel of the same name. Actress Emma Thompson wrote the script and stars as... more
More Sense and Sensibility
#289 of 373 The Best Movies Based On Books#33 of 105 The Best Valentine's Day Movies
9
105
24
The Joy Luck Club
Ming-Na Wen, Andrew McCarthy
Released: 1993
Directed by: Wayne Wang
The Joy Luck Club is a 1993 American film about the relationships between Chinese-American women and their Chinese mothers. Directed by Wayne Wang, the film is based on the eponymous 1989 novel by... more
More The Joy Luck Club
#134 of 139 The Best Movies You Never Want to Watch Again#492 of 675 The Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
10
108
27
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
Sandra Bullock, Ashley Judd
Released: 2002
Directed by: Callie Khouri
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood is a 2002 American comedy-drama film starring an ensemble cast headed by Sandra Bullock, directed and written by Callie Khouri. It is based on Rebecca Wells'... more
More Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
#12 of 30 Great Movies About Old Ladies#19 of 97 The Best Southern Movies

11
107
28
Troop Beverly Hills
Carla Gugino, Tori Spelling
Released: 1989
Directed by: Jeff Kanew
This film is a 1989 adventure comedy film. Produced by Weintraub Entertainment Group and directed by Jeff Kanew, it starred Shelley Long, Craig T. Nelson, Betty Thomas, Mary Gross, Stephanie Beacham... more
12
131
46
Little Miss Sunshine
Steve Carell, Bryan Cranston
Released: 2006
Directed by: Valerie Faris, Jonathan Dayton
Little Miss Sunshine is a 2006 American comedy-drama road film and the directorial film debut of the husband-wife team of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris. The screenplay was written by first-time... more
More Little Miss Sunshine
#348 of 1,195 Every Oscar Winning Film Ever#655 of 1,506 The Most Rewatchable Movies
13
102
27
Panic Room
Kristen Stewart, Nicole Kidman
Released: 2002
Directed by: David Fincher
Panic Room is a 2002 American thriller film directed by David Fincher and written by David Koepp. The film stars Jodie Foster and Kristen Stewart as a mother and daughter whose new home is invaded.... more
More Panic Room
#63 of 245 The Best Psychological Thrillers of All Time#44 of 175 The Best and Scariest Psychological Thrillers of All Time
14
101
28
Moonstruck
Nicolas Cage, Cher
Released: 1987
Directed by: Norman Jewison
Moonstruck is a 1987 American romantic comedy film directed by Norman Jewison and written by John Patrick Shanley. It stars Cher, Nicolas Cage, Danny Aiello, Vincent Gardenia, and Olympia... more
More Moonstruck
#112 of 305 The Funniest '80s Movies#262 of 375 'Old' Movies Every Young Person Needs To Watch In Their Lifetime
15
104
34
Thirteen
Vanessa Hudgens, Evan Rachel Wood
Released: 2003
Directed by: Catherine Hardwicke
Thirteen is a 2003 semi-autobiographical American drama film directed by Catherine Hardwicke, and written by Hardwicke and Nikki Reed based on events in Reed's life at age twelve and thirteen. It... more
More Thirteen
#309 of 315 Movies with the Best Soundtracks#12 of 36 30+ Great Movies About Juvenile Delinquents
16
85
22
A Patch of Blue
Sidney Poitier, Shelley Winters
Released: 1965
Directed by: Guy Green
A Patch of Blue is a 1965 American drama film directed by Guy Green about the relationship between a black man, Gordon, and a blind white female teenager, Selina, and the problems that plague their... more
More A Patch of Blue
#91 of 175 The Best Movies Of The '60s#195 of 225 The Best Black And White Movies Ever Made
17
98
34
Georgia Rule
Lindsay Lohan, Jane Fonda
Released: 2007
Directed by: Garry Marshall
Georgia Rule is a 2007 American comedy-drama film directed by Garry Marshall and starring Jane Fonda, Lindsay Lohan, Felicity Huffman, Dermot Mulroney, Garrett Hedlund, and Cary Elwes. The original... more
More
#7 of 25 The Best Felicity Huffman Shows & Movies, Ranked#138 of 160 The Best Family Drama Movies Of All Time
18
91
29
White Oleander
Michelle Pfeiffer, Renée Zellweger
Released: 2002
Directed by: Peter Kosminsky
White Oleander is a 2002 American drama film directed by Peter Kosminsky. The cast features Alison Lohman in the central role of Astrid Magnussen, and Michelle Pfeiffer as her temperamental mother... more
19
84
26
This Is My Life
Carrie Fisher, Dan Aykroyd
Released: 1992
Directed by: Nora Ephron
This Is My Life is a 1992 film that marked the directorial debut of screenwriter Nora Ephron. The screenplay, written by Ephron and her sister, Delia Ephron, is based on the book, This Is Your Life,... more
20
93
34
Coraline
Teri Hatcher, Dakota Fanning
Released: 2009
Directed by: Henry Selick
Coraline is a 2009 American stop-motion animated 3D dark fantasy film based on Neil Gaiman's 2002 novel of the same name. It was produced by Laika and distributed by Focus Features. Written and... more
More Coraline
‘Coraline’ Is Even More Horrifying As A Book Than A Movie#31 of 545 The Best Animated Films Ever

21
93
41
Black Swan
Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis
Released: 2010
Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
Black Swan is a 2010 American psychological thriller-horror film directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel, and Mila Kunis. The plot revolves around a production of... more
More Black Swan
#18 of 111 The Best Dance Movies Ever Made#51 of 123 The Best Intelligent Horror Movies
22
36
15
Lady Bird
Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf
Released: 2017
Directed by: Greta Gerwig
Lady Bird is a 2017 American comedy-drama film directed by Greta Gerwig. The adventures of a young woman (Saoirse Ronan) living in Northern California for a year.... more
More Lady Bird
#24 of 126 The Greatest Directorial Debuts Of All Time#56 of 116 The Funniest Movies About High School
23
20
0
Paper Spiders
Peyton List, Stefania LaVie Owen
Released: 2021
Directed by: Inon Shampanier
Paper Spiders is a 2021 American drama film directed by Inon Shampanier. A teen makes a series of tough choices as her mother's paranoid delusions threaten to destroy their loving relationship.... more
More Paper Spiders
#25 of 92 The Best New Teen Movies of the Last Few Years#30 of 86 The Best Teen Drama Movies
24
8
2
Little Women
Kirsten Dunst, Christian Bale
Released: 1994
Directed by: Gillian Armstrong
Little Women is a 1994 American drama film directed by Gillian Armstrong. The screenplay by Robin Swicord is based on the Louisa May Alcott novel of the same name. It is the fifth feature film... more
More Little Women
How Greta Gerwig’s ‘Little Women’ Handled Important Moments Compared To The 1994 Film And The Novel#256 of 440 The Best Movies Of The 1990s
25
7
1
Hope Floats
Sandra Bullock, Harry Connick
Released: 1998
Directed by: Forest Whitaker
Hope Floats is a 1998 American romantic drama film directed by Forest Whitaker and starring Sandra Bullock, Harry Connick, Jr., and Gena Rowlands. Birdee is an unassuming housewife whose life is... more
More Hope Floats
#46 of 89 The Greatest Guilty Pleasure Romance Movies#16 of 43 The Best Sandra Bullock Movies

Georgia Rule