20 Best Movies About Motherhood (2026): Emotional, Ranked
July 14, 2022 | Film Chop
Motherly love is said to be one of the most powerful forces on this Earth, and there are few things more special than watching a mother’s love on-screen. The persevering love of a mother knows no bounds, as they will go to any lengths to ensure the safety and well-being of their children. From touching dramas to heartwarming comedies, this is a list of some of the best movies about motherhood that explores the complexities and depths of a mother’s love.
Mother’s Day 2026 is Sunday, May 11. Whether you’re planning a movie night with your mom or looking for films that capture what motherhood really feels like, this list has you covered.
20 Best Movies About Motherhood — Complete Ranked List
20. Stepmom (1998)
Stepmom is one of the most emotionally raw movies about motherhood ever made, exploring what happens when two very different women — a biological mother facing terminal illness and a younger stepmother stepping into her role — must find a way to share the family they both love. Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts are extraordinary together, delivering performances that navigate jealousy, grief, and ultimately, grace. It’s a film that will absolutely make you cry — and call your mom.
Where To Watch Stepmom
19. Terms of Endearment (1983)
Terms of Endearment is a cornerstone of the “movies about motherhood” genre. The film follows the complex, loving, and often combative relationship between Aurora Greenway (Shirley MacLaine) and her daughter Emma (Debra Winger) over 30 years. It won five Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actress for Shirley MacLaine. Be prepared — the ending is one of the most devastating in cinema history.
Where To Watch Terms of Endearment
18. Tully (2018)
Tully is a brutally honest look at the realities of new motherhood that few films dare to portray. Charlize Theron gives a physically and emotionally demanding performance as Marlo, an overwhelmed mother of three who hires a young night nanny named Tully. The film captures postpartum exhaustion and the loss of identity that can come with parenting in a way that is both uncomfortable and deeply validating for anyone who has been there.
Where To Watch Tully
17. Suffragette (2015)
Suffragette tells the story of Maud Watts (Carey Mulligan), a laundry worker who becomes radicalized into the British suffragette movement in the early 20th century. The film’s most powerful thread is what Maud sacrifices for the cause — including custody of her son. It’s a film about motherhood in the context of political awakening, asking whether a better world for all women is worth the immediate cost to one’s own family.
Where To Watch Suffragette
16. Pieces of a Woman (2020)
Pieces of a Woman opens with a harrowing 23-minute home birth scene that will leave you breathless. When the birth ends in tragedy, the film follows Martha (Vanessa Kirby, in an Oscar-nominated performance) as she navigates grief, blame, and the dismantling of her relationship. The film is a devastating portrait of a mother processing loss in a world that keeps pushing her to perform grief in the “right” way.
Where To Watch Pieces of a Woman
15. Joy Luck Club (1993)
The Joy Luck Club follows four Chinese immigrant women and their American-born daughters, exploring how the sacrifices and traumas of mothers shape — and sometimes haunt — their children. Based on Amy Tan’s novel, the film weaves together eight interconnected stories about cultural identity, generational pain, and the love that persists through it all. It remains one of the most emotionally affecting movies about motherhood and mother-daughter relationships ever made.
Where To Watch Joy Luck Club
14. I, Tonya (2017)
I, Tonya is ostensibly a biopic about figure skater Tonya Harding — but at its core, it’s a film about the damage an abusive, relentless mother can do to her child. Allison Janney won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her terrifying performance as LaVona Golden. The film is a darkly comedic yet deeply sad exploration of how a mother’s ambition can destroy the very child she claims to be helping.
Where To Watch I, Tonya
13. Boyhood (2014)
Richard Linklater’s Boyhood is a cinematic miracle — filmed over 12 years with the same cast, watching a boy grow from age 6 to 18. But as much as it’s about Mason’s coming-of-age, it’s equally about his mother Olivia (Patricia Arquette, who won the Oscar for this role), who sacrifices, struggles, makes mistakes, and loves fiercely across two decades. One of the most honest depictions of motherhood ever committed to film.
Where To Watch Boyhood
12. Brave (2012)
Brave is Pixar’s most direct exploration of motherhood — specifically, the mother-daughter relationship. Princess Merida wants to change her fate; her mother Queen Elinor wants to prepare her for royal responsibility. When a spell goes wrong, both are forced to truly see and understand each other. Brave is unusual among Disney/Pixar films because its central love story is between a mother and daughter, not a romantic pair. It’s one of the most emotionally resonant animated movies about motherhood you’ll find.
Where To Watch Brave
11. Little Women (2019)
Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic centers the March sisters, but it’s their mother Marmee (Laura Dern) who quietly anchors everything. Marmee is progressive, warm, and wise — a mother who teaches her daughters to think for themselves in a world that would rather they simply conform. Little Women is one of the best ensemble films of the decade and features one of the most quietly powerful depictions of a mother’s influence on her children.
Where To Watch Little Women (2019)
Available for digital rental/purchase
10. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
Frances McDormand gives one of her greatest performances as Mildred Hayes — a grieving mother who rents three billboards calling out her town’s police chief after her daughter’s murder goes unsolved. Three Billboards is a film about a mother who refuses to let her grief be quiet. It’s raw, funny, tragic, and ultimately one of the most powerful portraits of a mother’s love turned into unstoppable, righteous rage.
Where To Watch Three Billboards
9. Paddington 2 (2017)
While not a traditional “motherhood movie,” Paddington 2 is one of the most heartwarming films about found family and the nurturing love of parental figures in cinema. The Brown family — particularly Mrs. Brown — embodies unconditional maternal love. Paddington 2 is consistently ranked among the best family films of the decade, and its themes of love, belonging, and being seen are universal. It’s a perfect watch for mothers and children alike.
Where To Watch Paddington 2
8. Rabbit Hole (2010)
Rabbit Hole is one of the most emotionally honest films ever made about grief and motherhood. Nicole Kidman received an Oscar nomination for her performance as Becca, a mother coping with the loss of her young son in very different ways than her husband (Aaron Eckhart). The film refuses to offer easy comfort or resolution — instead, it simply shows two people trying to survive something unsurvivable. It’s quiet, devastating, and ultimately hopeful in a subtle way.
Where To Watch Rabbit Hole
7. Miss Juneteenth
Channing Godfrey Peoples writes and directs this film centered around the relationship between a mother and daughter. The film is about a single mom who was once crowned Miss Juneteenth, a title that commemorates the day slavery was abolished in Texas, and her journey to make amends for her disappointing life through her daughter.
Where To Watch Miss Juneteenth
BET.com (For free with a 24hr viewing pass if it’s your first time on the site)
BET+
Amazon Prime Through A BET+ Subscription
Kanopy
Read More: Best Black Indie Films To Come Out In 2020
6. Mamma Mia
Mamma Mia is not only one of the best movies about motherhood but it’s also a great film to watch with your mom. The musical romantic comedy has catchy tunes and a cast that includes Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, and Pierce Brosnan. The film is based on the stage musical of the same name, which is about a young bride-to-be who invites three men from her mother’s past to her wedding in hopes one of them will be her father.
Where To Watch Mamma Mia
5. Changeling
The persevering love of a mother against all odds is the theme of this film. Starring Angelina Jolie as a mother who endures constant hardships, the film is about Christine Collins who takes on the L.A.P.D. to her own detriment when they try to pass off an obvious impostor as her missing child. Changeling is one of the most insane movies ever made and what makes it even crazier is that it was based on a true event.
Where To Watch Changeling
4. Xavier Dolan’s Mommy
There’s no telling what cards will be dealt to you when it comes to motherhood, as this film so poignantly illustrates. Xavier Dolan wrote and directed the 2014 film titled Mommy to demonstrate the strength and resilience of a mother’s love. The film centers around a widowed single mother who raises her violent son alone until a mysterious neighbor inserts herself into their household, giving her new hope. Mommy is a French-Canadian film that’s equal parts tender and heartbreaking.
Where To Watch Mommy
3. Room
Speaking of heartbreaking, Room is a must-watch film for anyone who wants to learn about how a mother’s relationship with her son can help him thrive under the most harrowing circumstances. The film stars Brie Larson as a young mother who has been held captive for seven years and whose five-year-old son was born in captivity. Room is a dark and grim story made more enjoyable by being told from the boy’s perspective.
Where To Watch Room
2. The Blind Side
Adopted children have a special relationship with their parents, which is evident in The Blind Side. The film is based on the true story of Michael Oher, a previous NFL football offensive tackle, and his experience being adopted. It follows Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatized teenager who became an All-American football player and first-round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman and her family. The Blind Side is a feel-good movie that crosses cultural barriers and teaches about the power of family.
Where To Watch The Blind Side
1. Lion
This film is similar to The Blind Side in that it’s based on a true story and follows a young boy who is adopted by a Caucasian family. However, Lion is much grittier and will leave you feeling emotionally drained by the end. Lion is a five-year-old Indian boy who is adopted by an Australian couple after getting lost hundreds of kilometers from home. 25 years later, he sets out to find his lost family. Lion tops our list of the best movies about motherhood because it’s a beautifully told story with great acting that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
Where To Watch Lion
Vudu (Free)
The Roku Channel (Free)
Frequently Asked Questions: Movies About Motherhood
What are the best movies about motherhood on Netflix?
Several powerful movies about motherhood are streaming on Netflix right now. The Blind Side features Sandra Bullock as a mother who changes a young man’s life in an emotional true story. Pieces of a Woman stars Vanessa Kirby in a devastating portrait of grief after a home birth tragedy. For a lighter watch, Mamma Mia celebrates the mother-daughter bond through ABBA songs and Meryl Streep’s electric energy. Check our curated best movies on Netflix guide for more streaming picks across every genre.
What are the best movies to watch with your mom on Mother’s Day?
The best Mother’s Day movie depends on your mom’s taste. For a tearjerker you’ll both recover from, choose Terms of Endearment or Lion. For something warm and singalong-ready, Mamma Mia is the classic pick. If she loves drama with substance, Little Women (2019) and Boyhood are both exceptional. Mother’s Day 2026 falls on May 11 — any film on this list is a worthy pick for the occasion. For streaming options, see our best movies on Hulu list.
What are the best movies about single motherhood?
Some of the most honest and powerful films about single motherhood include: Tully (Charlize Theron as an overwhelmed mother of three navigating postpartum exhaustion), Miss Juneteenth (a former beauty queen pouring her dreams into her daughter), Room (Brie Larson’s Oscar-winning performance as a mother raising her son in captivity), and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (Frances McDormand as a grieving mother refusing to go quiet). These films don’t soften the weight of parenting alone.
What is the saddest movie about motherhood?
Several films on this list will absolutely destroy you. Terms of Endearment has one of the most devastating endings in cinema history. Room is relentlessly harrowing, though ultimately hopeful. Rabbit Hole (Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart) is one of the most quietly devastating films ever made about grief and loss. Pieces of a Woman opens with a 23-minute home birth sequence that will leave you speechless. Have tissues on standby for any of these.
Are there good horror movies about motherhood?
Yes — while our ranked list focuses on dramas and feel-good films, horror has produced some of the most visceral explorations of motherhood on screen. Hereditary (2018), The Babadook (2014), and Rosemary’s Baby (1968) all use genre to excavate the terror, grief, and identity loss that can shadow motherhood. These films are intense, but they’re worth seeking out if you want something that hits differently than a traditional drama.
What are the best animated movies about motherhood?
Brave is Pixar’s most direct mother-daughter story — it’s essentially a film about two people learning to truly see each other. Spirited Away follows a girl who will do anything to rescue her transformed parents. Finding Nemo explores the same overwhelming protective love from the father’s perspective. For family movie night, any of these work beautifully. Check our best movies on Netflix guide to see which are currently streaming.
Which movies about motherhood are based on true stories?
Several of the most powerful films on this list are rooted in real events. The Blind Side tells the true story of Leigh Anne Tuohy and her family’s impact on Michael Oher. Lion is based on Saroo Brierley’s memoir about being separated from his family in India and finding them 25 years later. Changeling recounts Christine Collins’ real fight against the LAPD after her missing son was replaced by an impostor. I, Tonya dramatizes the toxic relationship between Tonya Harding and her mother LaVona Golden. Suffragette is grounded in the actual stories of women who fought for the vote at enormous personal cost.
See Also: For more heartwarming movies, check out our guides to the best feel-good movies, best date night movies, best romance movies, and best comedy movies of all time. We also have a great list of best Disney movies. If you loved the parenting themes here, explore our companion guide to the best movies about fatherhood — and for films that leave you feeling inspired, don’t miss our picks for movies that help build self-esteem. Planning for Mother’s Day? Our best Mother’s Day movies guide picks the 25 best films for every mood — from happy cries to feel-good comedies to all-ages family watches.