The big screen has always been a great medium for depicting mothers in all their beauty and intensity. To be fair, Hollywood has never been shy about praising mothers, and some of the most iconic films focus on motherhood and its many complexities and tribulations.
Now that Mother’s Day is just around the corner, it’s the perfect time of year to take a look at the best movies that celebrate all aspects of motherhood, even the challenging and uncomfortable ones.
From laugh-out-loud comedies to devastating tearjerkers, we’ve put together a definitive guide to movies that deal realistically and unabashedly with the subject of motherhood.
So make a date with mom as soon as possible, and get ready for an intensely therapeutic movie night. Here, are some of our favorite films that showcase the mothers of the world with boldness and authenticity.
The Farewell (2019)
Directed by: Lulu Wang.
Written by: Lulu Wang.
Starring: Awkwafina, Tzi Ma, Diana Lin, Zhao Shu-zhen.
Lulu Wang’s beautiful comedy drama The Farewell centers on a Chinese family coping with the impending loss of a loved one. In this story, Billi (Awkwafina), a New York-based writer, returns to China for the purpose of visiting her grandmother, Nai Na (Zhao Shuzhen), who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The unfortunate news is kept secret from the matriarch herself and an impromptu wedding is arranged as an excuse to reunite the clan before her passing. In such circumstances, the family members, many of whom have not met for years, must find a way to express their emotions and say goodbye to her without revealing her true condition.
Packed with realistic and insightful observations about family and motherhood, The Farewell will make you want to call your mother (and grandmother), immediately. One of the most notable aspects of this feature is its exploration of the differences between Eastern and Western philosophies of life, manifested most prominently in the day-to-day interactions of the clan members.
Tully (2018)
Directed by: Jason Reitman.
Written by: Diablo Cody.
Starring: Charlize Theron, Mackenzie Davis, Mark Duplass, Ron Livingston.
Directed by Jason Reitman, Tully presents an honest and unflinching portrayal of the difficulties inherent in motherhood. The film tells the story of friendship between Marlo (Charlize Theron), a mother of three who finds herself in a state of exhaustion, and Tully (Mackenzie Davis), a night nanny who has the power to transform her life.
Tully brings to the table sensitive issues such as the complexities of postpartum and the psychosis that can be associated with it.
Reitman’s incisive drama marks his third collaboration with screenwriter Diablo Cody (Juno, Young Adult) and brims with the acidic wit of its predecessors.
Lady Bird (2017)
Directed by: Greta Gerwig.
Written by: Greta Gerwig.
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges, Timothée Chalamet, Beanie Feldstein, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Lois Smith.
Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut is a love letter to mothers and daughters everywhere, depicting the difficulties of growing up to be 17 years old. The story chronicles the lives of young Christine (Saoirse Ronan), who goes by the name Lady Bird and her mother, Marion (Laurie Metcalf), and explores the dynamics of their relationship, characterized by tension but also love.
Lady Bird hits close to home for anyone who has had a rebellious phase during their teenage years, and exposes how similar mothers and daughters can be even if they feel worlds apart.
In this regard, the feature focuses on growing family tensions as, to her parents’ dismay, Christine desperately wants to escape her hometown of Sacramento to attend college on the East Coast and become an artist. Anyone who has chosen a path with which her parents disagreed can identify with the arguments, and the ups and downs that are reflected in this story.
With her performance in Lady Bird, actress Ronan earned Golden Globe recognition in the category of Best Performance in a Musical or Comedy Role.
Bad Moms (2016)
Directed by: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore.
Written by: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore.
Starring: Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Annie Mumolo, Jada Pinkett Smith, Christina Applegate
Featuring an outstanding and funny cast, including Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn, Bad Moms tells the story of three very different mothers who reach their breaking point. The film follows the trio as they form an unlikely friendship and decide to reclaim their lives and be seen as more than just someone’s caregiver.
Bad Moms tackles the issue of unrealistic expectations associated with motherhood and challenges the prevailing idea that women should be omnipresent and always available to meet the needs of others.
Bad Moms is somewhat zany and features hilarious performances from its leads. The film’s success spawned a sequel, 2017’s A Bad Moms Christmas.
What To Expect When You’re Expecting (2012)
Directed by: Kirk Jones.
Screenplay by: Shauna Cross, Heather Hach.
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Chace Crawford, Brooklyn Decker, Anna Kendrick, Matthew Morrison, Dennis Quaid, Chris Rock, Rodrigo Santoro.
Based on Heidi Murkoff’s pregnancy guide of the same name, this romantic comedy follows the lives of five couples who find their lives turned upside down by the difficulties and surprises of parenthood.
In What to Expect When You’re Expecting Elizabeth Banks quickly learns that being pregnant is not all about natural glow and baby showers.
The feature film shows just how unglamorous pregnancy can be, especially for first-time mothers.
The Kids Are Alright (2010)
Directed by: Lisa Cholodenko.
Written by: Lisa Cholodenko, Stuart Blumberg.
Starring: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson.
In Lisa Cholodenko’s charming family drama, Julianne Moore and Annette Bening play Jules and Nic, respectively. The couple, seemingly leading a happy, affluent life, experience an unexpected turnaround when their children (Josh Hutcherson and Mia Wasikowska) track down their biological father (Mark Ruffalo), a sperm donor they never expected to meet.
The Kids Are Alright addresses the issues that non-traditional families can face and delves into topics such as motherhood, marriage, the LGBTQ+ experience and the search for happiness and belonging.
Stepmom (1998)
Directed by: Chris Columbus.
Screenplay by: Gigi Levangie, Jessie Nelson, Steven Rogers, Karen Leigh Hopkins, Ron Bass.
Starring: Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, Ed Harris, Jena Malone.
The plot of Stepmom follows a terminally ill woman who must accept her ex-husband’s new girlfriend taking on the role of the family matriarch.
Three years after divorcing Jackie (Susan Sarandon), the mother of his children, Luke Harrison (Ed Harris) decides to take the next step with his much younger girlfriend, fashion photographer Isabel Kelly (Julia Roberts). But, when Isabel meets Harrison’s children for the first time, it’s pretty obvious that she’s not welcome in the family.
Unlike other stepmother movies, Isabelle is not mean. She wants the children to like her and have a good relationship with them. However, despite her efforts, Isabelle fails to generate a connection with her stepchildren.
It all seems in vain, but when Jackie discovers that she is gravely ill, the two women decide to come together despite their differences and celebrate the family they share.
Stepmom examines the complexities of stepfamilies, the challenges of motherhood, the dynamics between step-relatives, and grief.