In honor of Father’s Day, we’re sharing some of our favorite fictional fathers. Bonus: we also compiled a list of dud dads at the end. All recs are currently available in the Philippines.
Daniel Hillard, Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
Mrs. Doubtfire is one of the most beloved comedies of the early ‘90s and one of Robin Williams’ most memorable roles. In the film, Daniel (Williams) is divorced so he disguises himself as Mrs. Doubtfire to work as a nanny for his own kids. While the movie’s slapstick comedy shines, it does not gloss over the painful reality of divorce. Daniel sums it up at the end: “sometimes they get back together and sometimes they don’t.”
Memorable Line: “My first day as a woman and I’m getting hot flashes.”
Where to watch: YouTube Movies
Mufasa, Lion King (1994)
The fact that we bawled at Mufasa’s death—in 1994 and 25 years later in 2019—is the only reason we need to put him on this list.
Memorable Line: “Believe in yourself and there will come a day when others will have no choice but to believe with you.”
Where to watch: YouTube Movies
Marlin, Finding Nemo (2003)
There are so many Disney characters with dead parents so we’re extremely grateful to have Marlin, an overprotective neurotic fish dad. He has reasons for being such a worrywart: he’s been through A LOT. His wife dies, along with hundreds of their children. Nemo is the only one left and no sharks, jellyfish, or braced 8-year-olds can stop Marlin from bringing his son home.
Memorable Lines: “Is this some kind of practical joke? It’s not funny and I know funny. I’m a clownfish!”
Where to watch: HBO Go
Mac MacGuff, Juno (2007)
There is probably no father who would be thrilled about his teenage daughter’s unintended pregnancy, but Mac MacGuff (played by J.K. Simmons) handles it like a champ. Sure, there are times he couldn’t hide his disappointment and exasperation (like when he wanted to punch Paul Bleeker in the wiener), but he never fails to support his beloved “Junebug” when she needs him most.
Sidenote: If you want to see J.K. Simmons play a paternal figure who’s stern, intense, and almost psychopathic (so basically everything the gentle and loving Mac MacGuff isn’t), check out Whiplash.
Memorable Lines: “Look, in my opinion, the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what have you, the right person is still going to think the sun shines out your ass. That’s the kind of person that’s worth sticking with.”
Where to watch: AppleTV
Bryan Mills, Taken (2008)
Take Finding Nemo out of the water and give Marlin a very particular set of skills and what do you get? Taken. AKA Finding Nemo on steroids. These two movies are basically the same: an overprotective father travels through foreign lands (and waters) to rescue a child.
Memorable AF Lines: “I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don’t have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career, skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that’ll be the end of it. I will not look for you. I will not pursue you. But if you don’t, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.”
Where to watch: Netflix
Lee Abbott, A Quiet Place (2018)
Lee (John Krasinski) is the father figure fighting for his family’s survival in a post-apocalyptic world in which the slightest sound can bring certain death.
Memorable Lines: “I love you. I have always loved you.”
Tony Stark, Avengers: Endgame (2019)
“Father” is not the word that comes to mind when we think about Iron Man. After all, the genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist only became a doting father in Avengers: Endgame. While Thanos sacrificed his daughters in pursuit of his twisted vision of the universe, Tony Stark sacrificed himself so that others—including his daughter—could live.
Memorable Line: “I love you, 3000.”
Where to watch: YouTube Movies
Bonus: Dud Dads
Here we list some of the ~worst dads in movie history.
Darth Vader, The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Great villain, terrible dad.
Where to watch: YouTube Movies
Thanos, Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Another great villain, terrible dad.
Where to watch: YouTube Movies
Charlie, Marriage Story (2019)
He’s a selfish prick.
Where to watch: Netflix
Peter McAllister, Home Alone (1990)
How could you accidentally forget an entire living breathing child?
Where to watch: Netflix
Patriz Biliran and Regina Peñarroyo co-run The Ampersand and write blog articles in their free time.
