There’s nothing like watching a movie with your mother as a bonding Mother’s Day activity. Movies have the power to set the mood to laugh, cry, connect, and appreciate each other. By taking a trip to your local library, you can explore your library shelves to see which movies can bring you and your mom together.
Terms of Endearment (1983)
James L. Brooks’ Oscar-winning masterpiece is absolutely a tear-jerker. The film showcases how a mother has with her daughter is like no other. Shirley MacClaine and Debra Winger play a mother and daughter who don’t seem to understand each other all the time, but the love between them remains— especially when a cancer diagnosis comes between them.
This movie is a powerful lesson that two people may want different things from each other, but time is very precious and those moments should be spent always on good terms. Terms of Endearment ended up being the second-highest-grossing film of the year and won five Oscars including Best Picture.
Lady Bird (2017)
Greta Gerwig’s comedy-drama is about a free-spirited high school senior, Lady Bird who butts heads with her mother. They tend to have strong, differing opinions about where she should go to college, money, and attitudes toward life in general. But even though it’s not always sunshine and roses between this mother/daughter pairing, Lady Bird shows us with the bad, there’s also the good. They enjoy listening to audiobooks and looking at house showings. And, Lady Bird still relies on her mother when she needs comfort.
Freaky Friday (2003)
This Disney film program stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan as a mother and daughter who couldn’t be more different from each other. Anna is a rebellious rocker who wishes her mother would be more understanding of her musical ambitions. Tess is a psychologist who wants her daughter to be more disciplined in school. When these two switch bodies due to a magic fortune cookie, they start to understand each other more than ever before. Anna and Tess realize the “perfect” lives they each thought they lived were far from that. Freaky Friday will teach viewers watching that by putting themselves into the other person’s shoes, patience and understanding is key to growing closer.
The Blind Side (2008)
The Oscar-nominated sports drama The Blind Side is another to add to your Mother’s Day movie collection. It is based on the true story of Michael Oher who was adopted by Leigh Anne Tuohy and her family. They inspire him to play offensive tackle for his high school football team and eventually play for the Baltimore Ravens. Leigh Anne dedicates herself to making sure Michael gets a good high school education through tutoring and helps him choose what college to attend. Her love and devotion to giving Michael is a very inspiring.
The Sound of Music (1965)
In The Sound of Music, the novice nun Maria decides to be a governess to a captain’s seven children, and they try to scare her away. However, music becomes the saving grace that the Von Trapp Family needs. Through each song and learning about what makes each child stand out, Maria is welcomed with open arms by the children and the Captain himself into the family.
Ice Princess (2005)
Another movie that falls under the Disney film archive is Ice Princess about brainy physics wiz Casey who uses ice skating as a physics project to help get accepted into Harvard, but her mother wants her to focus on academics. On the other hand, Gen's mother pressures her daughter to become a figure skater. Ice Princess shows how effective communication and heart-to-hearts are important in staying connected to your kids.
Mother’s Day is a beautiful time to connect. Sitting down and watching a movie will give you a break from the real world and allow you to absorb yourself into a heartwarming adventure. Maybe you can have more movie nights with your mom!