As a child, having a healthy bond with your parents is crucial; it promotes mental, emotional, and linguistic development and is ultimately one of the most powerful connections two people can share. Many remark that a daughter’s first love is her father. While this isn’t always the case, it actually happens a lot. It’s always heartwarming to witness these strong relationships translated into film, especially when a movie highlights how safe and secure a child feels with her caregiver.

Throughout the years, many touching features have successfully depicted beautiful father-daughter relationships, showing how inspiring, unconditional, and encouraging a father’s love can be. To celebrate this unique bond, we look back at some of the best movies about fathers and daughters, ranking them by how accurately they depict this strong connection as well as their entertainment value.

35

‘Definitely, Maybe’ (2008)

Starring Ryan Reynolds in the lead role and set in New York City, Definitely, Maybe is an Adam Brooks romantic comedy that follows 30-something political consultant Will Hayes as he attempts to explain to his 11-year-old daughter, played by Little Miss Sunshine‘s talented child actor Abigail Breslin, his divorce, past relationships, and how he ended up marrying her mother.

While it doubles as a romantic comedy, Definitely, Maybe is an incredible father-daughter movie, featuring a believable bond between a dad and his kid at its center. What’s so great about this all-around nice and enjoyable film is, too, its well-cast characters and the funny, emotional moments. Furthermore, Definitely, Maybe does not shy away from tackling serious themes such as divorce and politics.

34

‘Hearts Beat Loud’ (2018)

In Hearts Beat Loud, a single dad and record store owner (Nick Offerman) and daughter (Kiersey Clemons) form an unlikely songwriting dynamic duo in the summer right before she leaves for college.

Out of all the father-daughter movies listed here, this is probably one of the lesser-known. Brett Haley’s often overlooked film (which deserves all the audience’s love) is still very much worth watching, as it delivers two great performances — especially from The Last of Us‘ Offerman — and provides audiences with a meaningful narrative that is both fulfilling and touching with an incredible duo at its center.

33

‘King Richard’ (2021)

Will Smith steps into the shoes of Richard Williams, the father and coach of famed tennis players Venus and Serena Williams (played by Demi Singleton and Saniyya Sidney), in this critically acclaimed film that landed Smith his Best Actor Academy Award in 2021, after getting his first Oscar nomination in 15 years. The biopic follows Williams as he brings willpower and determination to another level, carving his daughters’ names into history.

There is no doubt that the highly praised film features heartwarming father-daughter bonds. As it navigates through the Williams’ lives, King Richard sheds an important light on the close relationship the family shares, especially the sisters’ relationship with their father. It highlights how big a role Williams played in the girls’ lives, both on and off the court.

32

‘On the Rocks’ (2020)

Sofia Coppola‘s father-daughter movie and comedy-drama On the Rocks stars Bill Murray and Rashida Jones as the ultimate father-daughter duo as they attempt to find out whether her husband (Marlon Wayans) has been unfaithful on an adventure through New York.

While beautifully executed like many other films in Coppola’s filmography, On the Rocks is likely a different film from what audiences usually expect from the filmmaker. What is so interesting about On the Rocks is how it perfectly captures the dynamic between both characters. While it is not necessarily among Coppola’s best movies, it shines a beautiful light on the relationship between a more mature daughter and her, of course, much older father.

31

‘Moana’ (2016)

While Moana is more about self-discovery — celebrating courage, self-discovery, and the deep ties one has to family and culture — rather than specifically focusing on the father-daughter relationship, it still beautifully portrays the complexities of such a bond. The movie follows the spirited daughter of the chief of the Polynesian island Motunui. When a blight threatens her island’s resources, Moana is chosen by the ocean to restore the stolen heart of the goddess.

With stunning animation that brings ocean and island life vividly to life, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s catchy and inspirational songs, and amazing voice acting performances from Dwayne Johnson and Auli’i Carvalho, Moana has become an animated fan-favorite. Sure, it may not be a father-daughter film in the obvious sense, but her relationship with her father is an important undercurrent seen through Tui’s protective nature and his fear of the unknown, and Moana’s will to follow her true path.

30

‘Gifted’ (2017)

With a super smart kid at the film’s center, 2017’s Gifted is set in Florida and focuses on Frank Adler (Chris Evans), a single man who is responsible for raising his highly intelligent niece Mary (Mckenna Grace, who has been cast in tons of exciting projects). When the mathematical abilities of prodigy 7-year-old Mary catch the attention of Frank’s mother, Evelyn (Lindsay Duncan), a wild turn of events takes place.

Deeply moving and entertaining, this Marc Webb film touches on very sensitive topics, including suicide and parental abandonment, even if it mostly revolves around a second-grader. Nevertheless, Gifted showcases the importance of standing up for others, all while translating a beautifully written and complex daughter-father relationship to the screen.

29

‘Somewhere’ (2010)

Although it isn’t as popular as other Sofia Coppola pictures, Somewhere is an interesting entry by the treasured filmmaker. The movie stars a young Elle Fanning as Cleo and explores her relationship with her father (Stephen Dorff), a passionless Hollywood star who reevaluates his life when she steps back into the picture.

Coppola enjoys examining girlhood and father-daughter bonds in her movies and has successfully done so in the past. The latter is evident not only through Somewhere but also On the Rocks; while both are great and even a tad underrated movies in this niche category, they are likely to appeal to different age groups, as the nostalgic Somewhere plays like a coming-of-age and features a teenage protagonist while On the Rocks, a more mature story, is led by a young woman.

28

‘The Phoenician Scheme’ (2025)

If you’re curious about Wes Anderson in a spy thriller genre, The Phoenician Scheme might be your go-to. This quirky and colorful film sheds light on a most unique father-daughter duo: Benicio del Toro playing Zsa-zsa Korda, a globe-trotting tycoon with an empire to protect, and Mia Threapleton as his convent-raised daughter Liesel, suddenly thrust from praying in silence to negotiating in boardrooms.

For those who enjoy films where family ties mix with adventure, danger, and a tad of the absurd, The Phoenician Scheme is a worthy pick. While the narrative is entertaining on its own, it’s all about the chemistry between these two — the eccentric father with a larger-than-life energy, and his reluctant, shy daughter trying to find her footing in the world — and their awkward, yet oddly heartwarming moments.

Directed by Robert Zemeckis, this NASA-approved science fiction psychological thriller stars Jodie Foster as Doctor Ellie Arroway, focusing on her finding of conclusive radio proof of extraterrestrial intelligence after years of searching.

The father-daughter relationship may not be the central aspect of this sci-fi epic. However, it is obvious that Ellie’s father has always been an important figure in her life. The relationship the two shared had a profound impact on her life. David Morse’s character is portrayed in flashbacks and shown to be a supportive parent who happily feeds her interest in science, with his encouragement having a huge impact on her life choices. At Contact’s heart, this beautifully explored father-daughter relationship helps elevate the narrative to higher levels.

26

‘Beauty and the Beast’ (1991)

While the main focus of Beauty and the Beast is not Bella’s relationship with her father but rather how she comes to meet a prince cursed to spend his days as a monster, the relationship between the two is still an important part of its narrative — if it weren’t so strong, Belle and the Beast would never even meet.

Belle’s relationship with her father is undoubtedly important because it is one of deep affection and protective love. While the movie begins with Maurice as a protective guardian, their dynamic is eventually shifted by the film’s end, as Belle matures and so does they bond, turning into one of mutual respect and understanding. Despite its narrative being more centered on the two protagonists, Beauty and the Beast certainly does a great job of portraying the meaningful relationship between the two.

“When we show up for our kids in moments when no one showed up for us, we’re not just healing them. We’re healing ourselves.” ~Dr. Becky Kenedy

I wasn’t taught to pause and breathe when I was overwhelmed.

I was taught to push through. To be a “good girl.” To smile when something inside me was begging to be seen.

I was told to toughen up. Not to cry. Not to feel too much.

But how can we grow into resilient humans when we’re taught to hide the very feelings that make us human?

I thought I was learning strength. But what I was really learning was how to disconnect.

And I carried that disconnection into adulthood… into motherhood… into my work… until it begged to be healed.

Becoming a Mother and Seeing Myself Again

When I became a mother, the past resurfaced in ways I couldn’t ignore.

As a school psychologist, I had spent years working with children, guiding them through emotional regulation, supporting teachers and families, and creating safe spaces in classrooms and therapy rooms. But nothing prepared me for what would rise when my own child began to feel deeply.

At the same time, my soul sister, Sondra, was walking through a similar reckoning.

She had spent years creating spaces for children to express themselves through story and imagination, yet still carried parts of her own childhood she hadn’t been taught how to hold.

We were doing meaningful work in the world, but our children cracked something open. Their meltdowns, their restlessness, their big emotions… all of it held up a mirror.

And instead of just reacting, I saw something deeper: myself.

Because even with all my tools and knowledge, I was still learning how to sit with my own feelings too.

When I Teach My Child, I Re-Teach Myself

That’s when I truly understood: When I teach my child mindfulness, I’m not just raising them. I’m re-raising myself.

I’m learning to do something I was never taught: To feel. To breathe. To stay present in the discomfort. To hold space without fixing or fleeing.

And through that process, I’m healing parts of myself that had been quietly waiting for years.

I remember this moment clearly:

My child was on the floor, overwhelmed by emotion. The kind of meltdown that pulls something primal out of you. Every instinct in me wanted to yell. To leave the room. To shut it down.

But instead, I paused. I sat down. I took a breath. And then another. I whispered, “I’m here.”

That moment wasn’t about control. It was about connection. And that’s what changed everything.

What Mindfulness Looks Like in Real Life

I used to think mindfulness had to look calm and quiet, but it’s not perfect.

• It’s not silent yoga flows and lavender oils (though we love those, too).
• It’s pausing before reacting.
• It’s whispering affirmations under your breath when you want to scream.
• It’s sitting beside my child, breathing together, without trying to make the feeling go away.
• It’s placing a hand on your heart and remembering that you are safe now.
• It’s letting your child see you regulate, repair, and return to love.
• It’s letting a tantrum pass, not because I stopped it, but because I stayed.
• It’s about building homes and classrooms where children don’t have to unlearn their feelings later.

It’s not about perfection. It’s about presence. It’s about co-regulation, what children truly need to feel safe.

Because kids don’t calm down by being told to. They calm down when their nervous system is met with ours. With softness. With breath. With safety.

That’s mindfulness.

That’s the real work.

Healing Myself, Healing My Lineage

The more I practiced this way of parenting, the more I realized I wasn’t just helping my child feel. I was healing emotional patterns that had lived in my family for generations.

I lived in a loving family, but trauma was hard on them. They didn’t know how to regulate their emotions. They didn’t know how to sit with discomfort, how to process instead of project.

So they yelled. They shut down. They pushed through, just like they were taught. And that became the blueprint I inherited, too.

I am part of the first generation trying to raise emotionally attuned children while still learning how to feel safe in my own body.

And it’s not easy. It’s sacred work. It’s spiritual work. It’s lineage work.

Because every time I whisper “I’m here” to my child, I whisper it to the younger version of me who needed it too.

There are moments, gentle, almost sacred, when I hear my child hum softly while striking a chime, eyes closed, saying,“This sound makes my heart feel better.”

No one explained resonance. No one showed them how.

And in that moment, I remember: our children come into this world with a knowing we spend years trying to reclaim.

We believe we’re the teachers. But in their stillness, their play, their pure presence, they become the ones guiding us home.

Planting Seeds of Calm

One day, my son looked up at me with tearful eyes and said, “Mommy, I just need you to sit with me.”

And in that moment, I realized: so did I.

That moment changed everything. It was the beginning of a softer way. A new rhythm rooted in breath, presence, and remembering that we’re not just here to teach our children how to regulate; we’re here to learn how to stay with ourselves, too.

I began to notice the magic in slowing down. To listen. To honor what was happening inside of me so I could meet what was happening inside of them. Not with control but with connection.

Every time a parent sits on the floor and breathes with their child, something ancient is rewritten.

Every time we name emotions instead of shutting them down, we break a pattern.

We don’t just raise mindful children. We raise ourselves.

Because the truth is: Every breath we teach our children to take is one we were never taught to take ourselves.

And now, we get to learn together.

About Mariana Gordon and Sondra Bakinde

Mariana Gordon and Sondra Bakinde are the co-creators of The Meditating Mantis book and The Mindful Mantis, a heart-led brand offering mindful stories and courses for children and the grown-ups who love them. Mariana is a former school psychologist and energy healer. Sondra is an artist, interior designer, and creative visionary. Together, they bring softness, story, and healing into everyday life. Learn more at themindfulmantis.com and follow on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

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