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Top 20 Best Movies About Mothers That Celebrate Motherhood

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Ignacio Weil

Entertainment - May 16th 2025, 18:55 GMT+2

Cropped Tully — 20. Tully (2018)

Motherhood: beautiful, messy, and sometimes requiring a night nanny who mysteriously turns your life upside down. *Tully* dives deep into postpartum exhaustion with a darkly funny and honest look at what happens when “having it all” starts to look a lot like having a breakdown. Charlize Theron fully commits to the role of Marlo, a mother of three teetering on the edge, with Mackenzie Davis showing up as the enigmatic Tully, who’s more than just free babysitting. This is not your typical “mom learns a lesson” movie—it’s raw, surreal, and just a bit magical. If you've ever fantasized about cloning yourself just to get a decent night’s sleep, this film gets you. | © Focus Features

Cropped freaky friday — 19. Freaky Friday (2003)

What happens when a rebellious teenage daughter and her high-strung mom literally switch bodies? Pure Disney chaos—and we love every second of it. *Freaky Friday* (the Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis version, because yes, there are others) is a masterclass in empathy, comedic timing, and eyebrow-raising fashion choices from the early 2000s. Curtis absolutely *owns* her inner teenager, and Lohan plays the uptight mom with hilarious conviction. Their forced role reversal brings more than laughs—it’s a surprisingly sweet reminder that moms and teens might not be as different as they think (well... sometimes). Bonus points for that epic band performance at the end. | © Walt Disney Pictures

Cropped juno — 18. Juno (2007)

Quirky teen? Check. Unplanned pregnancy? Check. A script so witty you kind of want to quote it at dinner parties? Double check. In *Juno*, Ellen Page (now Elliot Page) plays a smug high-schooler who gets pregnant and decides to give the baby up for adoption, setting off a journey filled with offbeat charm and very real emotion. But at its core, this is a film about mothers—future mothers, adoptive mothers, and biological ones—navigating love, identity, and what it really means to parent. Allison Janney as Juno’s stepmom is the quiet MVP, bringing warmth, wisdom, and a surprisingly detailed knowledge of dog behavior. It’s indie gold with a big heart. | © Fox Searchlight Pictures

Cropped turning red — 17. Turning Red (2022)

Puberty turns you into a monster—sometimes literally. *Turning Red* is Pixar’s vibrant, fuzzy, and unapologetically awkward celebration of girlhood and maternal expectations. When 13-year-old Mei discovers she turns into a giant red panda every time she gets too emotional (which is... often), it becomes a metaphor for all things hormonal and complicated. Sandra Oh voices the overbearing but well-meaning mom, Ming, whose love comes with a healthy dose of helicoptering. This film doesn’t shy away from cultural specificity or the generational tensions between mothers and daughters—and it’s all the better for it. Plus, there’s a boy band. Because of course there is. | © Pixar Animation Studios

Cropped the secret of nimh — 16. The Secret of NIMH (1982)

Don’t be fooled by the talking mice—*The Secret of NIMH* is no lightweight. This haunting animated classic tells the story of Mrs. Brisby, a timid field mouse who must find the courage to save her sick child from a plow (yes, a plow). It’s basically a mouse-sized epic about maternal bravery, genetic experimentation, and, somehow, sword fights. With a voice cast that includes the great Derek Jacobi and Elizabeth Hartman, and direction by animation legend Don Bluth, this film goes harder than you'd expect for something featuring rodents in capes. Mrs. Brisby may be small, but her maternal instincts are mighty. | © Don Bluth Productions / United Artists

Cropped the joy luck club — 15. The Joy Luck Club (1993)

If you’ve ever cried while thinking about your mom, your grandma, and every woman who came before you—*The Joy Luck Club* is here to make you cry harder. Based on Amy Tan’s beloved novel, this sweeping intergenerational drama follows four Chinese-American women and their mothers as they navigate love, sacrifice, and the messy beauty of cultural identity. It’s packed with emotional gut punches and gorgeous performances from Ming-Na Wen, Tamlyn Tomita, and Rosalind Chao. This film doesn’t just talk about mothers—it dissects their legacies, their secrets, and their regrets with surgical precision (and tears). Tissues. So many tissues. | © Hollywood Pictures

Cropped the lost daughter — 14. The Lost Daughter (2021)

Here’s a film that takes the motherly ideal, cracks it open, and lets all the uncomfortable truths spill out. In *The Lost Daughter*, Olivia Colman gives a brilliantly unsettling performance as Leda, a woman on vacation whose encounter with a young mother (played by Dakota Johnson) unearths her own complicated history with motherhood. Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directorial debut isn’t interested in sugarcoating anything—it’s about the guilt, the freedom, the resentment, and yes, the mysterious missing doll. This isn’t your feel-good mom movie, but it might be the most honest. Plus, Olivia Colman in beachwear judging people? A vibe. | © Netflix

Cropped hereditary — 13. Hereditary (2018)

Nothing says “Happy Mother’s Day” like a slow descent into psychological horror and demonic possession. *Hereditary* is Ari Aster’s nightmare-fueled family drama in which Toni Collette plays Annie, a mother grieving her own mother’s death while trying to keep her unraveling family together. Spoiler: it does *not* go well. Collette gives a performance so intense, it practically levitates—and honestly, she deserved all the awards. This film takes the emotional inheritance of motherhood and dials it up to “summon a demon” levels. It’s terrifying, yes, but also a sharp, tragic look at how pain passes from mother to child, sometimes literally. | © A24

Cropped boyhood — 12. Boyhood (2014)

You might think *Boyhood* is all about, well, the boy—but Patricia Arquette’s portrayal of a single mom raising him is the quiet, powerful heartbeat of the film. Shot over 12 years (yes, really), Richard Linklater’s time-capsule of a movie shows how motherhood evolves in real time, complete with messy moves, bad boyfriends, and bittersweet goodbyes. Arquette won an Oscar for her role, and for good reason—she brings depth, love, and just enough frustration to feel real. It’s not flashy, but it’s profoundly moving. If you've ever felt like you blinked and a child grew up, this one will hit you square in the chest. | © IFC Productions / Universal Pictures

Cropped Aliens — 11. Aliens (1986)

Motherhood... in space! *Aliens* isn’t just a sci-fi action classic—it’s also one of the fiercest cinematic love letters to maternal instincts ever put to screen. Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley goes full protective mama bear mode over Newt, the lone surviving child on a very, *very* inhospitable planet. Between blasting xenomorphs and battling the literal Alien Queen (a monstrous mother in her own right), Ripley redefines what it means to be a maternal figure. It’s intense, it’s iconic, and it gave us one of the greatest lines in movie history: “Get away from her, you b***h!” Space moms > regular moms. | © 20th Century Fox

Cropped lady bird — 10. Lady Bird (2017)

Ah, *Lady Bird*—the film that launched a thousand mother-daughter arguments (and maybe helped heal a few too). Greta Gerwig’s sharp, semi-autobiographical coming-of-age tale stars Saoirse Ronan as Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson, a high school senior desperate to escape Sacramento, and Laurie Metcalf as her emotionally complex, maddeningly relatable mom. Their relationship is a rollercoaster of love, passive-aggressive banter, and brutal honesty that only mothers and teen daughters can truly understand. It's funny, tender, and painfully accurate. Plus, Ronan and Metcalf’s chemistry? Top-tier generational tension. | © A24

Cropped room — 9. Room (2015)

Grab your emotional support snack, because *Room* is an emotional wrecking ball. Based on Emma Donoghue’s novel, this claustrophobic-yet-heartbreaking tale stars Brie Larson as Joy, a young woman held captive for years who raises her son Jack (the precociously amazing Jacob Tremblay) in a single, tiny room. Larson won an Oscar for her haunting performance, and rightly so—her portrayal of fierce, protective, wounded motherhood is unforgettable. This isn't just a story of survival, it's about what comes *after* freedom, and how mothers often have to be strong in the unspoken moments. Prepare for tears. Buckets of them. | © A24

Cropped parallel mothers — 8. Parallel Mothers (2021)

Two women. Two babies. One tangled, emotional ride. In *Parallel Mothers*, Spanish auteur Pedro Almodóvar serves up a vibrant, emotionally layered tale of motherhood, memory, and unlikely bonds. Penélope Cruz shines as Janis, a photographer who forms a complicated connection with a much younger woman after they give birth in the same hospital. But in true Almodóvar fashion, the drama goes far beyond diapers. The film weaves motherhood into broader questions of identity, history, and generational trauma—all while looking *incredibly* stylish. Penélope has never been better, and that’s saying something. | © El Deseo / Sony Pictures Classics

Cropped central station — 7. Central Station (1998)

This Brazilian gem is one of those quiet masterpieces that sneaks up on you and breaks your heart with a whisper. *Central Station* tells the story of a cynical retired schoolteacher, Dora (played to perfection by Fernanda Montenegro), who begrudgingly helps a young boy find his long-lost father after his mother dies. But somewhere between the dusty bus stops and remote villages, a makeshift mother-son bond blossoms. Montenegro carries the film with grace and grit, delivering a performance that earned her a Best Actress nomination at the Oscars. It’s tender, raw, and beautifully unsentimental. | © Riofilme / Sony Pictures Classics

Cropped we need to talk about kevin — 6. We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

Parenting a difficult child is one thing. Parenting Kevin? That’s a psychological horror show. In *We Need to Talk About Kevin*, Tilda Swinton delivers a jaw-dropping performance as Eva, a mother haunted by the violent actions of her sociopathic son. The film is less about “what went wrong” and more about “did anything ever go right?” Told in jagged, time-hopping fragments, it’s an unnerving portrait of maternal guilt, isolation, and the terrifying idea that sometimes, love just isn’t enough. Ezra Miller is chilling as Kevin, but it's Swinton who holds it all together with haunted elegance. | © BBC Films / Oscilloscope Laboratories

Cropped The Florida Project — 5. The Florida Project (2017)

Welcome to the Magic Kingdom—well, the version that exists just outside of Disney World, where real life is far less enchanted. In *The Florida Project*, Sean Baker paints a vivid, bittersweet portrait of life on the margins, centering on a young girl named Moonee and her free-spirited, wildly unfiltered mother Halley, played with raw intensity by Bria Vinaite. Their bond is messy, loving, and often heartbreaking, as they navigate a world that’s constantly threatening to pull them apart. Willem Dafoe brings warmth and humanity as the motel manager with a soft spot for his smallest residents. This is motherhood stripped of fantasy and dipped in neon. | © A24

Cropped incendies — 4. Incendies (2010)

If you’re into mystery, war-torn legacies, and jaw-dropping final reveals, *Incendies* will leave your brain short-circuiting—in the best way. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, this gripping film follows twins unraveling the dark, buried history of their late mother, Nawal. As her past unfolds, spanning decades of political conflict and personal trauma in the Middle East, the story morphs into an emotional epic that will leave you stunned (and googling for days). Lubna Azabal is phenomenal as Nawal, playing a mother whose silence hides an unimaginable strength. It's not just a movie—it’s a slow-burning explosion. | © micro_scope / Sony Pictures Classics

Cropped wolf children — 3. Wolf Children (2012)

Yes, this is an anime. No, it is not just for kids. *Wolf Children* is a tender, magical, and downright devastating story about a woman raising her half-human, half-wolf children after the sudden death of their father. Directed by Mamoru Hosoda, it’s part fairy tale, part quiet rural drama—and 100% a love letter to the relentlessness of motherhood. Hana, voiced by Aoi Miyazaki in the Japanese version, is the kind of mother who learns to grow crops, hide claws, and endure loneliness all in the name of her children’s future. It’s beautifully animated, deeply emotional, and will absolutely ruin you in the softest possible way. | © Studio Chizu / Toho

Cropped volver — 2. Volver (2006)

Murder, secrets, ghosts—and somehow, it’s still a comedy? That’s *Volver* for you. Pedro Almodóvar’s colorful ode to motherhood, survival, and the women who hold families together stars Penélope Cruz in one of her most iconic roles. As Raimunda, she juggles a dead body, a family secret, and a surprise visit from her not-so-dead mother (played by Carmen Maura), all while making it look impossibly glamorous. This film is part kitchen-sink drama, part magical realism, and all heart. Almodóvar doesn’t just celebrate mothers—he mythologizes them, all while letting them smoke in stunning red lipstick. | © El Deseo / Sony Pictures Classics

Cropped everything everywhere all at once — 1. Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)

And at #1, we have the mother of all multiverse movies—literally. *Everything Everywhere All At Once* is an absurd, action-packed, tear-jerking masterpiece that gives us Evelyn Wang, played by the unstoppable Michelle Yeoh, as she navigates taxes, bagel-shaped nihilism, and infinite versions of herself. But beneath the chaos and googly eyes lies a deeply moving story about a mother struggling to connect with her daughter. Stephanie Hsu stuns as Joy/Jobu Tupaki, and Ke Huy Quan brings the quiet soul of the film. Evelyn isn’t perfect—but through her chaos, she reminds us that sometimes, being present is the most heroic thing a mother can do. | © A24

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Motherhood has long been a powerful theme in cinema, capturing the joys, struggles, and complexities of being a mom. This list isn’t about the best parents in film or a ranking of the most admirable moms on screen—it's a curated selection of movies that focus specifically on mothers as central characters. These films explore the emotional, psychological, and social dimensions of motherhood, offering compelling portraits of maternal life in all its forms. Whether heartwarming, raw, or thought-provoking, these 20 movies place mothers—and their stories—at the very heart of the narrative.

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Motherhood has long been a powerful theme in cinema, capturing the joys, struggles, and complexities of being a mom. This list isn’t about the best parents in film or a ranking of the most admirable moms on screen—it's a curated selection of movies that focus specifically on mothers as central characters. These films explore the emotional, psychological, and social dimensions of motherhood, offering compelling portraits of maternal life in all its forms. Whether heartwarming, raw, or thought-provoking, these 20 movies place mothers—and their stories—at the very heart of the narrative.