With summer in full swing, Father’s Day is right around the corner. Whether you and your old man are out watching a baseball game, grilling in the backyard, playing a game of golf or kicking it back by the poolside, here is a list of must-see and laugh-out-loud movies to cap off your celebratory Father’s Day.
1. “Big Daddy”
The 1999 comedy “Big Daddy” tells the story of 32-year-old Sonny Koufax (Adam Sandler) who gets dumped by his girlfriend for being immature and unmotivated. When 5-year-old Julian McGrath (Dylan and Cole Sprouse) falls into Sonny’s life, Sonny hatches the plan to show how responsible he is by showing off how well he is taking care of Julian. This movie reminds fathers of the change they had to go through, from a young single man into a responsible and committed new parent.
“Big Daddy” is available to watch for free on Tubi, Hulu or Amazon Prime.
2. “Night at the Museum”
Families come in all different shapes and sizes, so we shed light on divorcé Larry Daley (Ben Stiller.) Unsure if his son admires his ex-wife’s new boyfriend more than himself, Larry attempts to become a cool father and role model through the acquisition of a new job as a night guard in the Museum of Natural History in New York City. Larry soon finds out that the statues, wax historical figures, stuffed animals on display and even a fossilized Tyrannosaurus Rex come to life between the hours of sundown and sunrise, realizing that this job was much more than he bargained for. Through the course of the movie, we see Larry and his ex-wife’s relationship begin to strain as Larry tries to prove himself a worthy father to be in Nicholas’ life.
“Night at the Museum” is available to watch on Disney+, Apple TV or Amazon Prime.
3. “The Sandlot”
The baseball-themed coming-of-age movie, “The Sandlot” is the epitome of childhood summers in the 1960s — days spent at the public pool, friends camping out in each others’ backyards, getting on street amusement park rides and of course, practicing and playing baseball during all hours of the day. It all starts when the new kid on the block Scott Smalls (Tom Guiry) meets the local group of boys playing baseball, he is initially embarrassed when he can’t even catch a ball, but is still invited to join the group by Benny Rodriguez (Mike Vitar), the leader. Then, when Hamilton ‘Ham’ Porter (Patrick Renna) hits a home run with Scott’s step-father’s Babe Ruth-signed baseball over and into the backyard of an allegedly monstrous giant dog, Scott, Benny and the rest of the boys spend the movie trying to retrieve the ball and come back alive before Scott’s step-father returns from his out-of-town work trip. This movie is nostalgic and brings back memories of childhood when life was simple and the only worries one had was being back home before dark.
“The Sandlot” is available to watch for free on Tubi, Disney+ or Hulu.
4. “Daddy Day Care”
When Charlie Hinton (Eddie Murphy) is laid off during the closure of his division at work, roles are flipped when he becomes a stay-at-home dad to his young son, Ben (Khamani Griffin) while his wife Kim (Regina King) supports the family by returning to work as a lawyer. With finances tight, Charlie and Kim have to pull their preschooler out of the prestigious Chapman Academy, in search of an affordable alternative. Charlie and fellow father Phil Ryerson (Jeff Garlin) come together and form their own daycare. They spread the word about opening their “Daddy Day Care” in their neighborhood, and the two fathers are soon overrun with watching and caring for a rambunctious group of preschoolers. Tough times happen to almost every family, fathers watching this can reminisce about how they overcame their struggles as a parent, and remember the fun (and not so fun) times of raising their children during preschool years.
“Daddy Day Care” is available to watch on HBO Max or Hulu.
5. “Grown Ups”
A fun and goofy-packed movie for all ages, “Grown Ups” follows the ensemble cast and childhood friends Lenny (Adam Sandler,) Eric (Kevin James,) Kurt (Chris Rock,) Marcus (David Spade) and Rob (Rob Schneider). After the death of their childhood basketball coach, the family men reunite as adults with their families at a lakeside cabin. Having to simultaneously entertain their wives and children while honoring their coach’s last wishes, mischief and chaos ensue with the nearly dozen preteens under one roof. With the main cast consisting of comedians, you can bet the fathers have some fun, chaotic adventures themselves. This movie is wonderful to remind fathers and all parents that it’s okay to tap into your child-like qualities, reconnect with those from the past and indulge in things that make us feel young again.
“Grown Ups” is available to watch on Netflix or Amazon Prime.