Happy Father's Day! 4 Movies to Watch Together As a Family

By Beau Behan, Film Critic

Sonora Louise Smart is renowned as the founder of Father’s Day, and her campaign to give due respect to fathers began in 1909, after learning of the newly recognized Mother’s Day.

Inspired by her father’s sacrifices in raising six children after her mother’s death, she pondered over the lack of observance of Father’s Day. As a result, she became a relentless crusader for its recognition.

Her efforts paid off when the first Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910 in Spokane, WA. Soon thereafter, Sonora turned her focus in the national forefront as she campaigned for the recognition of Father’s Day all over US. Six decades later, President Richard Nixon established Father’s Day as a national holiday to be observed on the third Sunday of June.

Father’s Day is a treasure to behold as many families will spend ‘quality time’ together, and it could be daunting to think of ways to celebrate it. How about watching a delightful and family-friendly movie?

In random order, here are four of my favorite Father’s Day movies, and they are either G or PG rated.

FINDING NEMO (2003)

G, 100 min, Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Marlin (Albert Brooks), a clown fish, is overly cautious with his son, Nemo (Alexander Gould), who has a foreshortened fin. When Nemo swims too close to the surface to prove himself, he is caught by a diver, and horrified Marlin must set out to find him. A blue reef fish named Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) -- who has a really short memory -- joins Marlin and complicates the encounters with sharks, jellyfish, and a host of ocean dangers. Meanwhile, Nemo plots his escape from a dentist's fish tank.

E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)

PG, 115 min, Family, Sci-Fi

After a gentle alien becomes stranded on Earth, the being is discovered and befriended by a young boy named Elliott (Henry Thomas). Bringing the extraterrestrial into his suburban California house, Elliott introduces E.T., as the alien is dubbed, to his brother and his little sister, Gertie (Drew Barrymore), and the children decide to keep its existence a secret. Soon, however, E.T. falls ill, resulting in government intervention and a dire situation for both Elliott and the alien.

STAR WARS (1977)

PG, 121 min, Action, Adventure, Fantasy

The Imperial Forces -- under orders from cruel Darth Vader (David Prowse) -- hold Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) hostage, in their efforts to quell the rebellion against the Galactic Empire. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford), captain of the Millennium Falcon, work together with the companionable droid duo R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) and C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) to rescue the beautiful princess, help the Rebel Alliance, and restore freedom and justice to the Galaxy.

THE PRINCESS BRIDE (1987)

PG, 98 min, Adventure, Comedy, Family

“The Princess Bride” is a fairy tale adventure about a beautiful young woman and her one true love. He must find her after a long separation and save her. They must battle the evils of the mythical kingdom of Florin to be reunited with each other. The movie is based on the William Goldman novel "The Princess Bride" which earned its own loyal audience.

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