The ultimate guide to Mother’s Day movies

Mother’s Day doesn’t need to be complicated. It could mean a homemade card with three different glitter glues, a plate of pancakes drowned in syrup brought to your bedside, or just a rare chance to sit on the couch with a hot cup of tea (or glass of wine) and not be interrupted.

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Whatever the vibe, one thing that always hits the spot is a great film that reflects the madness, love, humour, and messiness of motherhood. These Mother’s Day movies are the perfect selection for celebrating mothers on their special day.

Some are laugh-out-loud funny, others will have you crying into your doona, but all of them capture something real about what it means to be a mum, or to have one.

Classic Mother’s Day movies

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Terms of Endearment (1983)

This film is old-school in the best way. It follows a mother-daughter duo across three decades of love, fights, life decisions, and loss. Shirley MacLaine plays the overbearing (but well-meaning) mum to Debra Winger’s free-spirited daughter.

It doesn’t sugarcoat the complexity of mother-daughter relationships. They argue, disappoint each other, and push boundaries, but at the core, there’s a deep and unwavering connection.

If you’ve ever had one of those weirdly intense phone calls with your mum where you’re both annoyed and loving at the same time, you’ll get it.

Stream it on Netflix.

Steel Magnolias (1989)

Yes, it’s a tearjerker, but it’s also genuinely funny and full of strong female characters that inspire your own life.

The heart of the film is the relationship between M’Lynn (Sally Field) and Shelby (Julia Roberts). It’s a film about mums trying to let go, daughters doing things their way, and the sense of emotional and psychological struggles they face while reconnecting with their inner selves. The importance of a good group of women around you to get through the rough bits is also highlighted.

Rent it on Prime Video.

Imitation of Life (1959)

This one’s a classic with a capital C. It tells the parallel stories of two mothers (one white, one Black) navigating motherhood, sacrifice, and social identity in 1950s America. It’s not an easy watch in parts, but it gives a powerful look at how complex motherhood can be when love runs up against societal expectations.

Rent it on Prime Video.

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Heartwarming and inspirational films

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The Joy Luck Club (1993)

The Joy Club presents the lives of four families, weaving together past and present. It’s rich in cultural nuance, but its emotional core is universal: mums who gave up everything for their kids, kids who didn’t quite understand the weight of those sacrifices until much later.

Buy it on Prime Video.

Little Women (2019)

You might have read it in high school, but Greta Gerwig’s version brings the March sisters and their mum to life in a modern, relevant way. Marmee is a steady hand in a chaotic world, guiding three children through heartbreak, ambition, sibling drama, and social pressures while barely taking a moment for herself.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re the emotional glue holding your household together while trying to stay calm through dinner prep tantrums, you’ll find a kindred spirit in her.

Stream it on Netflix.

Hidden Figures (2016)

This one’s less about motherhood per se and more about women who happen to be mothers, breaking barriers while also making dinner and helping with homework. It’s a reminder that being a mum doesn’t mean giving up your ambition – it means constantly juggling about 19 roles at once, sometimes with no recognition. Inspiring, but also deeply relatable – and it was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.

Stream it on Disney+.

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Comedies for a lighter mood

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Freaky Friday (2003)

This Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis version holds up surprisingly well. It’s silly, yes, but also smart in how it handles generational misunderstandings.

If you’ve got tweens or teens, this is a great one to watch together. You’ll both walk away with a bit more empathy (and maybe laugh at each other’s outfits and taste in music).

Stream it on Disney+.

Mamma Mia! (2008)

If you’re after something with less plot and more dancing, this is the one. Set on a Greek island, packed with ABBA hits, and starring Meryl Streep as a single mother who raised her daughter solo while running a crumbling hotel – what’s not to love? It’s fun, it’s chaotic, and underneath the disco vibes, there’s a lovely message about letting your kids find their way while still being their safe place.

(Bonus: the sun-drenched, mismatched tiles and breezy curtains might inspire a home decor mood board while you watch.)

Stream it on Stan.

Bad Moms (2016)

Bad Moms is like therapy in movie form. Overworked, underappreciated mums who decide to give up trying to be perfect? Yes, please. It’s irreverent and over-the-top, but also brutally honest about how modern parenting (and early motherhood) can feel like a never-ending to-do list you’re constantly failing at.

Watch it with your mum friends and have a good laugh about how none of us are nailing it, and that’s okay.

Steam it on Stan.

Because I Said So (2007)

Mandy Moore plays the youngest of three daughters lovingly (and a little chaotically) micromanaged by her mum, played by Diane Keaton.

It’s a classic case of a mother meaning well, meddling too much, and having to learn how to let her only daughter make her own mistakes and maybe even fall in love in the process.

Stream on Apple TV.

Mother’s Day (2016)

A glossy, feel-good ensemble rom-com from the director of Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve, this one weaves together the lives of several mums (and one widowed dad, played by Jason Sudeikis) in the lead-up to (you guessed it) Mother’s Day, making it a perfect film to celebrate the holiday.

It’s sweet, a little cheesy, and filled with big names like Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, and Kate Hudson.

Stream it on Stan.

Drama and emotional rollercoasters

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3 Generations (2015)

Elle Fanning plays a trans teen navigating his transition with the help (and occasional resistance) of his single mother (Naomi Watts) and grandmother (Susan Sarandon).

It’s not a traditional Mother’s Day movie, but it’s a deeply human one.

Rent it on Prime Video.

Stepmom (1998)

Disclaimer: this one’s a little raw. It follows a terminally ill mum (Susan Sarandon) as she tries to prepare her kids, and herself, for the presence of a new stepmum (Julia Roberts). The transition isn’t neat or tidy (these things rarely are). But both women are trying in their own ways, and the film captures just how complicated blended families can be. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s incredibly moving.

Stream it on Binge.

Lady Bird (2017)

Possibly one of the best mother-daughter films ever made, if you ask us. Directed by Greta Gerwig, who also wrote the screenplay, it captures all the passive-aggressive car rides, slammed doors, and moments of unexpected tenderness that come with raising a teenage girl, especially when she’s your only daughter and you’re both still learning where the boundaries are.

Laurie Metcalf’s performance as the mum is stunningly authentic.

Stream it on Paramount+.

Junebug (2005)

Amy Adams shines as Ashley, a sweet, chatty Southern woman navigating early motherhood with heartbreaking vulnerability and optimism.

While the film’s plot centres on a family reunion, Ashley’s emotional arc as a woman trying to hold onto joy and hope while quietly shouldering so much stays with you.

Stream on Apple TV.

Movies based on true stories

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The Blind Side (2009)

This feel-good film follows the true story of Michael Oher, a homeless teen taken in by Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock). It’s about choosing family, showing up, and not giving up on someone just because life hasn’t been easy.

Stream it on Netflix.

Erin Brockovich (2000)

Erin isn’t your typical movie mum. She’s brash, broke, and barely keeping it together, but she’s also a force to reckon with. As a single mom fighting a corporate giant, she shows just how powerful maternal determination can be. Bonus: Julia Roberts is absolutely electric in this role.

Rent it on Prime Video.

Lion (2016)

This inspiring true story will take you on the emotional ride of your life. It follows Saroo, who gets separated from his birth family in India and is adopted by an Australian couple. As an adult, he sets out to find his birth mother. It’s a story about identity, longing, and the idea that love from one mum doesn’t cancel out the love from another.

Stream it on ABC iview.

The Farewell (2019)

A gentle, beautifully told story about a family keeping a secret from their grandmother, who’s terminally ill. While not about mothers directly, it speaks volumes about intergenerational relationships, cultural expectations, and the way love can be shown in ways that aren’t always loud or obvious.

Stream it on SBS.

Family-friendly flicks

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Brave (2012)

Brave is all about mother-daughter conflict, miscommunication, and eventually, understanding. Merida wants freedom, her mum wants tradition. Through a magical mishap (and some wild bear action), they come to see each other clearly for the first time, strengthening the bond between mother and child. It’s a solid watch, especially with a tween who’s testing your patience.

Stream it on Disney+.

The Parent Trap (1998)

Whether you grew up on the Lindsay Lohan version or the original, this story of long-lost twins (who meet at a summer camp) trying to reunite with their parents still holds up. It’s light, full of laughs, and a fun reminder of how kids often see through grown-up drama more clearly than adults do.

Stream it on Disney+.

Encanto (2021)

This vibrant Disney hit is packed with catchy songs and magical powers, but it’s also about the pressure mothers (and daughters) put on themselves. There’s love, guilt, and trying to live up to expectations – and it wraps all that into something kids and parents can both enjoy (and maybe even talk about afterwards).

Stream it on Disney+.

Turning Red (2021)

A refreshingly honest look at puberty, generational pressure, and the wild emotional rollercoaster of tweenhood — all through the eyes of a 13-year-old girl who literally turns into a giant red panda when overwhelmed.

At its heart, it’s about a mother and daughter learning how to navigate big changes, set boundaries, and understand each other in new ways

Stream it on Disney+.

Wrapping it up

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These Mother’s Day movies aren’t perfect, and neither are the mums in them, but that’s the point. They show motherhood in all its realness: messy, funny, heartbreaking, and endlessly full of love.

Whether you’re watching with your mum, your kids, or soaking in the peace of an empty lounge room, these films bring something that speaks to the real heart of parenting.