10 Movies to Watch for Mother's Day
Mother's Day is just around the corner and I've gathered 10 movies that celebrate the complexity that is contained in "motherhood"
It’s almost Mother’s Day. I think as people are more honest about their relationships with their parents and parents are able to be more honest about what parenting means to them, these kinds of celebrations can have a wide range of emotions. Maybe I’m an outlier, but I do find that movies can help me sort through some complicated feelings, including the way I feel about parenting. So for this week, I’d like to offer a wide range of movies that explore mothering and mothers and all of the complicated and beautiful ways those relationships can play out.
The Babadook (2014) - When I was pregnant, I had pretty intense pre-natal depression. I didn’t even know that was a thing, but yeah, it’s definitely a thing. And then it just morphed into postpartum depression that has left me with off and on bouts of just regular depression. The sheer exhaustion that Essie Davis portrays in this movie is really brilliant. Plus, even if you don’t want to look at anything deeper, this is just a really creepy movie. (watch on AMC+, tubi with ads, or free on kanopy through your local library)
Turning Red (2022) - While this is largely a movie about growing up, it recognizes that an important part of that is learning how to separate from your parents. The relationship between Mei and Ming is far more complex than we generally see in a movie geared toward kids, and I appreciate that it shows not just their relationship, but it goes further back, examining how generations perpetuate various ways of being. I wrote a more in depth piece about this movie here. (watch on Disney+)
Cocaine Bear (2023) - Look. It’s hard raising kids. And if some drug runner accidentally leaves duffle bags full of coke around your home, can we really blame a mom for trying it out? Okay, this one is a bit of a stretch, but hey. Cocaine bear is a mom and it’s a fun movie and the truth is, sometimes we need to stop taking everything so seriously. There is literally nothing serious about this movie, so enjoy. (watch on Peacock Premium)
Tully (2018) - Charlize Theron feels like one of the most underrated actors to me. I know she works all the time, but it feels like she gets overlooked whenever awards season rolls around. And Tully is a movie that feels like it got overlooked when it came out. Marlo is an amazing character and Theron plays her beautifully and with so much compassion. An interesting look at what it means to be a mother and losing yourself in that role. (watch on Netflix)
Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) - Did you think it would be possible for me to write a list about films featuring mothers and not include one of my favorite movies of all time? I have written so many times about this movie, and I feel like I have barely scratched the surface of what I want to say about it, but truly, I love the mother-daughter relationship between Evelyn and Joy. It is so beautiful and tense and loving and hateful and perfect. I love it. Watch it with your mom and weep together. (watch it on Showtime or come by my house and I’ll take a break from whatever I’m doing to watch it with you)
The Lost Daughter (2021) - Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directorial debut is one of the most honest looks at the expectations of mothering that I’ve ever seen. Leda is not a sympathetic character, except that if you’ve ever felt like you have completely lost yourself as a mom, she’s kind of one of the most sympathetic characters ever. I want to be really clear, this is not an easy movie to watch. But Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckman are stunning in this, and I related to Leda more than I would care to admit. (watch on Netflix)
Steel Magnolias (1989) - One of the most powerhouse casts put together, this movie is a mother-movie staple. I love that it shows that moms continue to need friends, and highlights the ways that these relationships can sustain us through difficult parenting moments. Bring an entire box of tissues with you to watch this one. (watch on Netflix)
Room (2015) - What if motherhood is something that you didn’t choose at all, but is instead something you’re forced into? Brie Larson gives a stunning performance as Joy (“Ma”) in this movie, balancing this brilliant tightrope of someone who had to grow up entirely too fast in lots of ways, but who is completely stunted in others. It is a gorgeous movie. (watch on HBO Max)
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) - Child loss is something many mothers are familiar with. Three Billboards looks at what the loss of a child to violence can do to a mother. Frances McDormand is stunning in this (as always) and Martin McDonagh delivers a truly fantastic script. Is revenge a fair substitute for love? This movie explores that in a unique and powerful way. (watch on fubo)
The Joy Luck Club (1993) - This is my go-to Mother’s Day movie. It is a beautiful adaptation of the amazing book by Amy Tan, and it follows mothers and daughters through a far more patriarchal China into modern day America. It looks at the ways that we pass on our fears and strengths to our children. It is deeply feminist and is one of the most beautiful movies I’ve ever watched. Also, my mom didn’t watch a lot of movies, that’s always been my dad’s thing. But she loved this movie and was the person who introduced it to me, so I always connect this movie to memories of her.
Do you have any particular movies that remind you of your mother or that are about mothering that resonate with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts!