The Best Single Mom Movies

Updated July 13, 2020 3.4k votes 480 voters 25.9k views39 items

This list contains information about single mom movies, ranked from best to worst by user votes. The best single mom movies come in many forms. Some single mother relationship movies are about struggle while other movies about single mothers are comedies. A few of the greatest single mom movies are even a bit on the creepy side.

What films will you find on this best single mother movies list? The mother-daughter relationship at the heart of the 1976 film Carrie is one of the most dysfunctional to ever be explored on the big screen. Piper Laurie was terrifying as the Jesus-obsessed single-mother who sheltered Carrie White to the point of destruction. Erin Brokovich is another great movie with a single mother as the central character.

One of the toughest single mothers of all-time has to be Sarah Conner from Terminator 2. Other good movies that appear on this top single mom movies list include As Good As It Gets, Jerry Maguire, and Little Man Tate.

Which single mom movie do you think deserves the top spot on this list? Help us decide by voting your favorites to the top and get in on the conversation in the comments section.

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Forrest Gump
Tom Hanks, Sally Field
Released: 1994
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Forrest Gump is a 1994 American epic romantic-comedy-drama film based on the 1986 novel of the... more
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Mildred Pierce
Joan Crawford, Eve Arden
Released: 1945
Directed by: Michael Curtiz
Mildred Pierce is a 1945 American drama film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Joan... more
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Changeling
Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich
Released: 2008
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Changeling is a 2008 American drama film, written by J. Michael Straczynski and directed,... more
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Almost Famous
Zooey Deschanel, Kate Hudson
Released: 2000
Directed by: Cameron Crowe
Almost Famous is a 2000 comedy-drama film written and directed by Cameron Crowe and starring... more
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This Boy's Life
Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro
Released: 1993
Directed by: Michael Caton-Jones
This Boy's Life is a 1993 film adaptation of the memoir of the same name by American author... more
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Been So Long
Michaela Coel, Arinzé Kene
Released: 2018
Directed by: Tinge Krishnan
Been So Long is a 2018 musical film directed by Tinge Krishnan based on the musical by Arthur... more
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Erin Brockovich
Julia Roberts, Marg Helgenberger
Released: 2000
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Erin Brockovich is a 2000 biographical film directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by... more
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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... more
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The Hole in the Ground
Seána Kerslake, James Cosmo
Released: 2019
Directed by: Lee Cronin
The Hole in the Ground is a 2019 Irish horror thriller film, directed by Lee Cronin. An... more
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The Karate Kid
Elisabeth Shue, Ralph Macchio
Released: 1984
Directed by: John G. Avildsen
The Karate Kid is a 1984 American martial arts romantic drama film directed by John G.... more
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E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Drew Barrymore, Erika Eleniak
Released: 1982
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a 1982 American science fiction-family film co-produced and... more
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Spanglish
Adam Sandler, Sarah Hyland
Released: 2004
Directed by: James L. Brooks
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Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Edward Furlong
Released: 1991
Directed by: James Cameron
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Cinderella
June Foray, Mike Douglas
Released: 1950
Directed by: Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi
Cinderella is a 1950 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney and... more
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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... more
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One Fine Day
George Clooney, Michelle Pfeiffer
Released: 1996
Directed by: Michael Hoffman
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Kindergarten Cop
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Odette Annable
Released: 1990
Directed by: Ivan Reitman
Kindergarten Cop is a 1990 American comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman and starring Arnold... more
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The Secret of NIMH
Shannen Doherty, Wil Wheaton
Released: 1982
Directed by: Don Bluth
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Baby Boom
Diane Keaton, James Spader
Released: 1987
Directed by: Charles Shyer
Baby Boom is a 1987 comedy film starring Diane Keaton. The film also launched a subsequent... more
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Little Man Tate
Jodie Foster, Harry Connick
Released: 1991
Directed by: Jodie Foster
Little Man Tate is a 1991 drama film directed by and starring Jodie Foster. The film marked... more
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Raising Helen
Paris Hilton, Hayden Panettiere
Released: 2004
Directed by: Garry Marshall
Raising Helen is a 2004 American comedy-drama film directed by Garry Marshall and written by... more
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Carrie
John Travolta, Sissy Spacek
Released: 1976
Directed by: Brian De Palma
Carrie is a 1976 American supernatural horror film based on Stephen King's first major 1974... more
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St. Vincent
Naomi Watts, Bill Murray
Released: 2014
Directed by: Theodore Melfi
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The Iron Giant
Jennifer Aniston, Vin Diesel
Released: 1999
Directed by: Brad Bird
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About a Boy
Rachel Weisz, Hugh Grant
Released: 2002
Directed by: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz
About a Boy is a 2002 British-American comedy-drama film co-written and directed by brothers... more
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Been So Long

Little Man Tate