Pulse of Cinema

Parent & Child Dramas

214

The best dramas about the deepest, most complex bond of all — between parent and child. A father truly meeting his son for the first time, a mother's quiet sacrifice, old wounds waiting to be forgiven... Beyond blood, these films are about learning to love and to raise a child. From Kramer vs. Kramer to multi-generational sagas, a selection everyone will find a piece of themselves in.

Standouts from This Collection

Routes Through This List

Shorter picks (≤100 min) The Father (2020) Prayers for Bobby (2009) Autumn Sonata (1978) Persepolis (2007) Short Term 12 (2013)
Based on true stories Prayers for Bobby (2009) The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) Into the Wild (2007) October Sky (1999) Beautiful Boy (2018)
Classics (pre-1990) Cinema Paradiso (1988) Tokyo Story (1953) Autumn Sonata (1978) Rocco and His Brothers (1960) Late Spring (1949)

All Films

Forrest Gump ★ 8.5

Forrest Gump

1994
Cinema Paradiso ★ 8.4

Cinema Paradiso

1988
Miracle in Cell No. 7 ★ 8.3

Miracle in Cell No. 7

2019
Gladiator ★ 8.2

Gladiator

2000
Wolf Children ★ 8.2

Wolf Children

2012
The Art of Racing in the Rain ★ 8.2

The Art of Racing in the Rain

2019
Mommy ★ 8.2

Mommy

2014
Tokyo Story ★ 8.2

Tokyo Story

1953
The Hunt ★ 8.1

The Hunt

2012
The Father ★ 8.1

The Father

2020
Prayers for Bobby ★ 8.1

Prayers for Bobby

2009
American Beauty ★ 8.0

American Beauty

1999
Like Stars on Earth ★ 8.0

Like Stars on Earth

2007
Autumn Sonata ★ 8.0

Autumn Sonata

1978
Rocco and His Brothers ★ 8.0

Rocco and His Brothers

1960
Late Spring ★ 8.0

Late Spring

1949
The Second Mother ★ 8.0

The Second Mother

2015
The Pursuit of Happyness ★ 7.9

The Pursuit of Happyness

2006
About Time ★ 7.9

About Time

2013
Captain Fantastic ★ 7.9

Captain Fantastic

2016
A Bronx Tale ★ 7.9

A Bronx Tale

1993
Persepolis ★ 7.9

Persepolis

2007
CODA ★ 7.9

CODA

2021
In the Name of the Father ★ 7.9

In the Name of the Father

1993
Dangal ★ 7.9

Dangal

2016
The Boy and the Beast ★ 7.9

The Boy and the Beast

2015
Bad Genius ★ 7.9

Bad Genius

2017
Miracle in Cell No. 7 ★ 7.9

Miracle in Cell No. 7

2013
Mamma Roma ★ 7.9

Mamma Roma

1962
Into the Wild ★ 7.8

Into the Wild

2007
Donnie Darko ★ 7.8

Donnie Darko

2001
Big Fish ★ 7.8

Big Fish

2003
Straight Outta Compton ★ 7.8

Straight Outta Compton

2015
Short Term 12 ★ 7.8

Short Term 12

2013
Fiddler on the Roof ★ 7.8

Fiddler on the Roof

1971
War Room ★ 7.8

War Room

2015
Two Women ★ 7.8

Two Women

1960
Still Walking ★ 7.8

Still Walking

2008
Marriage Story ★ 7.7

Marriage Story

2019
Magnolia ★ 7.7

Magnolia

1999
Two Is a Family ★ 7.7

Two Is a Family

2016
October Sky ★ 7.7

October Sky

1999
The Celebration ★ 7.7

The Celebration

1998
STRAW ★ 7.7

STRAW

2025
Fireproof ★ 7.7

Fireproof

2008
Like Father, Like Son ★ 7.7

Like Father, Like Son

2013
The Sacrifice ★ 7.7

The Sacrifice

1986
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham ★ 7.7

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

2001
White Heat ★ 7.7

White Heat

1949
Ali: Fear Eats the Soul ★ 7.7

Ali: Fear Eats the Soul

1974
Wrath of Man ★ 7.6

Wrath of Man

2021
Boogie Nights ★ 7.6

Boogie Nights

1997
Frankenstein ★ 7.6

Frankenstein

2025
I Am Sam ★ 7.6

I Am Sam

2001
Beautiful Boy ★ 7.6

Beautiful Boy

2018
King Richard ★ 7.6

King Richard

2021
The Fabelmans ★ 7.6

The Fabelmans

2022
Kramer vs. Kramer ★ 7.6

Kramer vs. Kramer

1979
Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone ★ 7.6

Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone

2007
Forever My Girl ★ 7.6

Forever My Girl

2018
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