Mamma Mia, our holiday is almost here! Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 13, and if your plans include kicking your feet up and watching a movie with your family, we have a few feel-good flicks to put in the queue! Read on for our list of mom-centric movies (like Freaky Friday!) that will make you laugh, make you cry and make you celebrate being a mom.
Freaky Friday
Ever wonder what it would be like to swap places with your teenage daughter? Chaos ensues when mom Tess and daughter Anna wake up to discover they have switched bodies. We especially love the modern-day spin on the 1976 original film, starring Jaime Lee-Curtis and Lindsey Lohan.
Age Range: 8+
Rated: PG
Mamma Mia!
Inspired by the music of the 1970's hit Swedish girl group ABBA, Mamma Mia! follows a mother-daughter duo as they prep for the latter's upcoming wedding, along with the help of two friends. This one will be a crowdpleaser among moms with teenage daughters!
Age Range: 13+
Rated: PG-13
The Blind Side
Thanks to this football film, everyone now knows the story of Michael Oher (a once homeless teen turned Baltimore Ravens player) and his adoptive family, the Tuohys, who both find their lives utterly transformed by having met each other. Sandra Bullock's fierce performance as matriarch Leigh Anne makes this feel-good flick a great pick.
Age Range: 12+
Rated: PG-13
Akeelah and the Bee
Despite her mother's objections, avid speller Akeelah has a goal of making it to the National Spelling Bee, and she'll stop at nothing to get there! With compelling performances by Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne, this movie is a crowd pleaser.
Age Range: 8+
Rated: PG
The Odd Life of Timothy Green
All Cindy and Jim want is to have a child of their own, but their wish comes true in the most unlikely of scenarios when the box of dreams they bury in the backyard comes to life as their new son, Timothy.
Age Range: 8+
Rated: PG
Brave
Not your average princess tale! Skilled archer Merida is determined to blaze her own trail, defying an age-old tradition. Moms and daughters will love the inspiring message as it's ultimately up to her to discover the meaning of courage and stop a curse before it's too late!
Age Range: 6+
Rated: PG
Mars Needs Moms
When Milo gets tired of his mom nagging him to do his homework, clean his room, and eat his vegetables, Martians kidnap her and take her back to their home planet. This touching adventure is all about Milo's mission to get Mom back!
Age Range: 7+
Rated: PG
Now and Then
This classic '90s film is a fun flashback to four friends' memories of the summer of 1970—after they arrive in their hometown to help welcome their pal's new baby.
Age Range: 12+
Rated: PG-13
The Incredibles
Husband and wife superhero duo Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl assume ordinary lives as Bob and Helen Parr after crime-fighting activities are banned. But you can't keep this family down for long—they must spring back into action to save the world!
Age Range: 7+
Rated: PG
Troop Beverly Hills
Even though Wildness Girls troop leader Phyllis (Shelley Long) and her pack would rather "rough it" at the Beverly Hills Hotel, they must prove their outdoor skills at the annual jamboree or risk having their group dismantled. A cult-classic '80s film with a lovely message, this one will be fun to share with your own troops!
Age Range: 12+
Rated: PG
Juno
This teen pregnancy comedy follows an expecting Juno who sets out on a quest to find the "perfect" parents (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner) to adopt her unborn child.
Age Range: 14+
Rated: PG-13
Moana
The fate of Moana's people rests on her shoulders, and so she must set out to find demi-god Maui in order to restore the livelihood of the land. The girl power message in this animated flick will stick with you—and so will the songs!
Age Range: 6+
Rated: PG
Wonder
A true tale of compassion and acceptance! Auggie may look different than everyone else, but when he enters a mainstream school for the first time, it is his winding journey that shows everyone it's better to stand out than blend in.
Age Range: 10+
Rated: PG
Mary Poppins
You likely loved this movie as a child, so introduce your kids to the magical world of the nanny who arrived from the sky, her pal Bert, and the lessons (and musical numbers!) she teaches kids Jane and Michael.
Age Range: 6+
Rated: G
The Sound of Music
Your little ones will love the songs in this heart-warming film based on the real-life Von Trapp Family. Studying to become a nun, young Austrian woman Maria arrives at the home of a retired naval captain with seven kids who need a little structure and a lot of love.
Age Range: 6+
Rated: G
The Parent Trap
You can't go wrong with the 1961 original or the remake! The switcharoo these separated-at-birth twins pull on their parents will have your little ones laughing! It's good fun for the whole family.
Age Range: 6+
Rated: G
Mrs. Doubtfire
Determined to spend more time with his kids after a divorce, Daniel Hillard (Robin Williams) morphs into British nanny Mrs. Doubtfire and convinces his ex-wife (Sally Field) to hire him in this funny flick. But what happens when both Daniel and Mrs. Doubtfire must meet different people at the same restaurant? Hilarity.
Age Range: 12+
Rated: PG-13
Terms of Endearment
Shirley MacLaine shares a dynamic relationship with daughter Emma (Debra Winger) in this classic film. It's funny, mildly sappy and a serious emotional rollercoaster that will have you hooked.
Age Range: 15+
Rated: PG
Soul Food
It's all about the family matriarch in this feel-good flick! After she falls ill, the family bands together to continue her tradition of Sunday dinners, sharing memories, and finding a little bit of drama along the way.
Age Range: 16+
Rated: R
The Joy Luck Club
Sharing the rocky relationships of Chinese-American moms and their daughters, this '90s movie will take you across the world and several generations to explore culture, conflict and love.
Age Range: 16+
Rated: R
What movie are you looking forward to watching this Mother’s Day? Tell us about it in a comment below.
—Kaitlyn Kirby
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Feature photo: Netflix
