What's your definition of a "dad movie"?

I thought a dad movie was a movie that can be enjoyed despite sleeping through the middle third.

For me a “dad movie” would be movies I’ve watched and could watch with my dad.

So it would be movies like Indiana Jones, Lord of the Rings, 007 movies, Mrs. Doubtfire, Ben-Hur, Clash of the Titans, etc.

Basically a mix movies with great cinematic quality…I dunno if that makes sense lol

Field of Dreams is what I think of when I hear “dad movies”.

I think I've also heard them referred to as "dad-core" movies, which are basically movies with middle-aged (or older) men getting pulled back in to a career they left in the past.

Apparently lots of older dads like the "I've still got what it takes to get shit done" trope. Statham's Beekeeper movie was one of the more recent ones I've seen, but the Taken series totally fits this too.

Anything Gerard Butler has made in the last decade.

For the suburban dad, definitely 90's era Harrison Ford. Clear and Present Danger, Patriots Games, The Fugitive, and the ultimate dad fantasy Air Force One.

The Jack Ryan movies are basically the Indiana Jones fantasy for the 40's something suburban voter Dad. Book smart but gets his hands dirty when need be. Gets to save royalty, fight terrorists and kill Pablo Escobar.

The Fugitive, the dad fantasy of always being right. Gets to hold the moral ground, fight the state and avenge his wife.

And the ultimate dad fantasy Air Force One. Dad gets to be president and punch terrorists in the face while saving the world, his wife and his daughter.

Harrison Ford new exactly what his audience was once he entered the 90's. Brilliant stuff.

Being a dad, I will say that Crocodile Dundee is my dad movie.

Rudy. Brian’s Song. Patton. Casino Royale.

Basically sports dramas, war movies and James Bond.

This review of Top Gun: Maverick on Letterboxd is my favorite!

During the screening of TOP GUN: MAVERICK, a man in his fifties yelled out in what sounded like a fit of pure ecstasy during one of the aerial stunts. He sounded like he was being raptured.

I cannot wait for the dads of the world to experience this movie this summer.

Just thinking about what I’ve watched recently id say the hunt for red October is a dad movie

Can any of you read?

Op isn't asking for reccomendations. They wanna know what makes a dad movie a dad movie.

Any world war 2 movie

My friend’s dad basically had Tombstone on permanent loop.

It's basically any movie that is fantasy/wish fulfillment for older suburban men.

Main character has to be military or ex-military, and over-the-top "alpha". Bonus points if he is a "lone wolf" who has a habit of disobeying authority.

Lots of guns, explosions, ass kicking.

No overly complex themes. No social justice messages shoved in. All characters and motivations have to be 100% black and white.

Ford v Ferrari is actually a terrible example IMO.

The Hunt For Red October. 80’s movie, the Navy, Alec Baldwin when he was still cool, Sean Connery, Sam Neil pre-Jurassic Park, that cool opening song… it’s got it all.

Something that is primarily made for an older male audience. A good example for me would be James Bond. If you go to the cinema when a new Bind film is out it's going to be full of couples in their 40s or 50s who probably don't go to the cinema often. The dads want to go so take mum out for a few drinks and a night at the movies. It's the same crowd who go to the pub in rugby shirts, jeans and leather shoes when the 6 nations is on. Nothing wrong with that either it's just the chosen market for the film.

Any Kevin Costner movie

Nobody

Am I the only one who is at least a little offended by all the almost-pejorative "dad" everything? Dad jokes, dad hats, dad jeans, dad music, dad movies.

Westerns. Especially John Ford westerns.

A movie where the military uniforms are correct for the time.

Bridge Over The River Kwai

For my dad, ANYTHING with Chuck Norris.

The Great Santini

The Great Escape?

Bird on a wire - my dad was mad for Goldies arse

Steven Seagal’s early movies. Nobody I knew saw or liked them except for other peoples’ Dads.

Wild Hogs

Is “dad” movie the same as a “guy” movie? They’re a little techy, a little macho, guys depending on guys instead of a love interest. Tombstone comes to mind. Or any Jason Stratham movie.

Anything starring Jason Statham

Wild Hogs

Predator

Ford vs Ferrari is absolutely a dad movie. I watched it. My dad watched it. Then we discussed the merits of Carrol Shelby which moved into Vic Elford. Then we got into a disagreement about the Porsche 917 Longtail. Then it degraded into Colin Chapman and Lotus.

That's a proper dad movie. It gets you talking about stuff that may as well be an alien language to my kids.

It’s called male bonding haven’t you ever seen Wild Hogs?

to me, submarine movies with high production value are the essence of dad movies. because moms typically don't enjoy the mix of war and technical stuff as much as dads.

crimson tide, hunt for red october... that type of stuff. that's dad movies.

Maybe an unconventional answer but...Aftersun

Is Air a Dad movie?

Anything with Gene Hackman in it.

Basically any movie and series that was adapted from Tom Clancy is considered dad flick, I don't know why.

I'm getting old I guess, but anything with John Wayne in my family is a "dad movie".

I think of dad movies being war movies, cow boy movies, or gangster movies. Humphrey bogart movies whether or not he's a gangster.

probably everything i like. im not a dad, just mid 40s

Dad movies are usually films that feature cool cars, skilled dudes, and themes of competence and mentorship. I get that they appeal to stereotypical dad interests but honestly, anyone can love them. I think it's hilarious that they're labeled that way, especially since they are a total blast for everyone.

Caddyshack

Taken. It’s a dad’s fantasy

Anything John Wayne

Family Man

I’ve never even heard of the phrase dad movie.

For me it would be most of the works from Corbucci, Leone, De Palma, Coppola, Scorsese, Peckinpah, Hill, Siegel, Eastwood and Carpenter.

James Bond

There are many different types of dads but it’s still a clearly definable genre: Local Hero, Midnight Run, every Western ever, Bud Spencer and Terrance hill movies … All very different movies but they all have the dad movie vibe to them!

Best example: "About Time"

Hunt for Red October and The Martian

I define a dad movie a few ways. I intuitively feel out how I guess my dad and other dads I know would feel about it.

Equilizer with Denzel is a good example of a movie my dad likes. I feel like any movie starring Kevin Costner is a dad movie for me because Costner reminds me of my dad. Same with Clint Eastwood for other people. The movie star your dad idolizes as an example of strong masculinity is a good place to start. Any of their movies where that actor is the star and it’s a fantasy of saying and doing the coolest stuff.

The Godfather.

Movies my dad likes.

Big Fish. Wholesome and hits in the feels. And it’s about a dad.

Something like The Fugitive

Big Fish

Master and Commander.

action, funny, well thought out story that is executed perfectly.

I dunno. I'm very much a middle-aged dad, but none of those movies appeal to me. Though I also dislike anything pertaining to BBQ, grilling tools, golf, fishing, cars, whiskey or beer. So maybe I'm just a weirdo.

"Midway" with Charleton Heston (father) and Edward Albert (son).

The Great Escape

The Hunt For Red October

Mr. Mom! Staring Michael Keaton. That's my kind of dad movie.

Top Gun

I think it's different for each generation of dads but for my generation I'm going to go with morbius

Finding Nemo

My idea of this is just a movie that would be reminiscent of the types of films my dad liked when I was younger, so The Expendables would be an easy example

Usually action movies based on historic events starring older actors.

Well any time Matt Damon is on Kimmel, he'll mention to me: "Matt Damon has slowly turned into a really interesting actor"

And Ford V Ferrari is full of all the actors he does this with.

So that's a dad movie to me.

National Treasure.

Kevin Costner, Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington. Any movies with one of those three actors is a dad movie in my eyes

Top Gun: Maverick is a dad movie.

A grizzled baby boomer who doesn't play by the rules and always knows better than everyone else comes out of semi retirement to teach a class of limp dick milennial pilots how to ride into the danger zone, play shirtless sports on the beach, start serious international incidents and look cool while doing it.

Sisu

Cocoon, the big chill, jaws, Indiana jones movies… basically older movies my dad liked or introduced me to lol

Bourne Supremacy and Ultimatum

For my dad in his 70s, he’d still say Hook & Enemy of the State, Godfather, he loves to quote those.

But the most common answer I’ve seen for this personally is Tombstone, and maybe James Bond.

The whole Grownups franchise

Waterworld. I was probably 7 or 8 when my dad showed me. My mom was out with some of the other ladies from church, so we had a guy's night. It was awesome. We ate pizza and watched a movie we could never watch with Mom around. We also watched Road Warrior for another guy's night.

The Big Year, love that flick.

Taken.

80s buddy cop movies. adolescent comedy (Amercian pie, Animal house, etc)

Starship Troopers

Dumb and Dumber

Taken is the GOAT dad movie

City Slickers

Pretty much any war movie except Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket

Die Hard 

Field of Dreams

My dad would’ve loved Ford versus Ferrari. There was some movie he made my mom go see at the drive in the 70’s that had some dynamic car race or chase. I don’t know the name.

Just watched 2012 (2009) and I think it is the ultimate dad movie

Pretty much anything directed by and/or starring Clint Eastwood.

A dad movie is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, because it literally shows Indiana Jones and his dad.

Dad movies. Possibly any movie that a curmudgeon dad in their 50s who may hate most things enjoys.

Think Hank Hill liking

U571

The Rock

My dad and I used to watch “C” level action movies together. So, those.

Taciturn main character is wronged and reveals hidden reserves of grit and talent.

My rules to call it a dad movie is 1. Has to be funny 2.goody and weird stuff happening 3. Unexpected Events and unexplainable events 4.chaos has to be in it That’s my rules to a dad movie.

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Mr. Mom 🤣

Mel Brooks movies. Especially Blazing Saddles. Naked Gun movies.

War movies.

Gangster/Mafia movies.

Dad movies have humanity's favorite activities: sex & violence, mostly violence. Depending on the dad, that might come as fantasy or it might be sci-fi or it might be westerns. Some dads just love historical war movies. Lots of shooty-shooty, stabby-stabby. That's the main thing.

Some like parody/spoof comedies and others prefer their humor a bit more subtle. The old man just wants to laugh and turn off his brain for a minute.

The lead in a dad movie is gonna be either a badass motherfucker or a bumbling boob who can't get anything right.

BRAVEHEART

Anything with Jason Statham,Tom hanks,the rock.

Interstellar

If you have a strong relationship with your kids, expect tears all around by the end.

Movies that are basically "badass" fantasies while being a dad.

Liam Nelson heroically rescues his kidnapped daughter.

Gerard Butler single handedly saves the country from catastrophe.

Jason Statham is an unassuming stoic man who is pushed into revenge and reveals how badass he is.

It's like wanting to feel the invincibility from your 20s, while working a regular job with a mortgage to pay.

For me, it's a movie that features a father and usually it's not emotionally complicated. Something that you can put on and just enjoy with your dad.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade might be the best dad movie there is. National Treasure is also good.

Dad Movie:

A movie seems purpose made to appeal to 40 and 50 something dads. There is no straight definition but usually contains one of the following

• appeal to generally traditional masculinity or traditionally masculine things. Usually not necessarily in a bad way or "politically coded". But unambiguously "cool guy things": submarines, fighter jets, military, muscle cars, sports, cowboys, blue collar jobs. Sexy white collar or organized crime (not dirtbag crime)
• a lot of nostalgic throwbacks to older times in Cinema. Sometimes a period piece that's deliberately a throwback to when said 50 year old would actually have been 20. Or a fresh take on an older cult classic which is self aware of the age of their current fans rather than trying harder to capture a new audience.
• usually have a more serious tone. Transformers or Michael Bay usually aren't "dad" movies. There is usually little to no hook for younger kids or adolescents. They rarely tend to us "camp" or explosions and action for its own sake. Often pure action movies are rarely dad movies(Fury Road and Furiosa aren't dad movies. John Wick is sort of to the left of the line despite callbacks to older 80s and 90s action. While the Expendables is much closer to a general "campy dad action movie.)
• a general focus on an older protagonist struggling with aging but who proves he's still got it. Usually "teaching this young guys a thing or two." Sometimes a bit of middle age wish fulfillment but see previous point (a non serious dad movie becomes something else: a geaser teaser.) Usually will have the older protagonist using his wisdom as an edge instead of total wish fullfillment Mary Sue levels of "does everything better than anybody else." (otherwise see geaser teaser).
• a plot that could be described as "you can take a 20 minute nap in the 2nd act and not really miss much".
• relatively straightforward or standard character arcs or morals. Complicated political or social allegories these are not. Anything of the sort resembling that usually goes no deeper than "we all need to find a way to get along." Or "injustice is actually bad guys". Or "sometimes the government is not to be trusted but there's people in the government we can trust and we still have to find or build institutions we rely in". Or "friendship and family is what really matters in life."
• often major themes of connecting with kids (their own, just kids in general or their mentee) in some way. Or understanding an even older father figure the protagonist never quite clicked with.
• Despite what you often think, can often heavily dwell on strong bonds of male friendship or reconnecting with friends of the past. Usually tied with the above point for "learning what really matters in life."
• often a lot of period pieces that hyper focus on a specific period a lot of guys and dad's think is cool. WWII, the old west, the Civil war, early American history, sometimes medieval periods. The Roman empire. Historical movies like this become "dad" movies when they feature bits of the above but also have a strong focus on historical accuracy that anybody with a history hobby would adore. Master and Commander is the quintessential version of this as is Gettysburg.

Sometimes FYI a good way to tell dad movie vs not actually a dad movie is by comparing movie franchisees that morphed into dad movies. Top Gun is not a dad movie it was specifically made to appeal to teenagers and 20 somethings. Top Gun Maverick is fare more of a dad movie. James Bond did not start as a dad movie. Over the last 30 years its slowly morphed into dad movies.

It's a je ne sais quois which will now try to describe.

One, it's not anything that is for women. Think Devil Wears Prada or Rom Coms.

Two, the seriousness of the plot does matter. They're generally pretty genuine films. They're about things as much as people.

Three, things that dad's like ensues. War, espionage, sports, cars, history, etc.

I have probably failed at nailing it down but I'm kind of trying to nail down movies my dad and I both like.

I highly reccomend the podcast "Inside Dads" on the small beans network. Two guys who really wanna drill down into what makes a dad movie a "Dad Movie"

It means it’s good. 

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles might be the most fun dad movie ever

If it was in theaters today, could you go see it with white new balance shoes and a T-shirt tucked into jean shorts?

Examples of movies that are a yes: Tombstone, Conair, Hunt for Red October, and anything with Catherine Zeta-Jones.

The ‘Burbs. I watched it as a kid, but it’s even better as a dad.

Days Of Thunder

The World's Fastest Indian

Roadhouse 1989

Talladega Nights

The Hunt For Red October

Iron Eagles

The Last Starfighter, The Iron Giant, The Rocketeer..

Die Hard!