Based on a true story, this inspiring film follows a single father facing homelessness while striving to build a better life for himself and his young son. Will Smith gives a powerful performance as Chris Gardner, demonstrating incredible resilience and dedication. The film focuses on the paternal instinct to protect and provide under extreme hardship, highlighting the father-son bond forged through shared struggle and perseverance rather than interpersonal conflict.

Christopher Nolan's ambitious sci-fi epic centers on a father's desperate mission to save humanity, driven by a powerful promise to his daughter. While not about conflict in the traditional sense, the emotional core lies in the pain of separation and the enduring bond between parent and child across impossible distances and time. The film explores the sacrifices parents make and the profound impact of their absence from a child's life.

Taika Waititi's reinvention of Thor brings humor and a surprisingly relevant family dynamic. While Hela is Thor's sister, her existence and antagonism stem directly from Odin's hidden past and the dark origins of Asgard's power. The film deals with the consequences of a father's secrets and past actions profoundly impacting his children and their understanding of their home and history, forcing Thor and Loki to confront uncomfortable truths about their heritage.

While an epic crime saga, this sequel intricately weaves together Vito Corleone's rise and Michael's descent. Michael is constantly measured against his father's legacy, grappling with the consequences of the power Vito built. His own relationships, particularly with his children, suffer profoundly as he embodies the ruthless aspects of his paternal inheritance, illustrating how the sins and choices of the father can echo through generations.

This animated classic is a powerful coming-of-age story deeply rooted in paternal legacy. While the father figure, Mufasa, is lost early on, his influence and the son's struggle to live up to his expectations drive the narrative. The film explores themes of responsibility, guilt, and the search for identity, with the villain Scar serving as a dark, twisted paternal stand-in figure, making the impact of fatherhood central to Simba's journey.

Set against the backdrop of Hawaii, this film stars George Clooney as a father suddenly tasked with navigating family crises—a comatose wife, rebellious daughters, and a major land deal—while also confronting uncomfortable truths about his marriage. The film realistically portrays a man stepping up to paternal responsibilities he previously deferred, struggling to communicate with his children and hold his family together during immense stress.

Tim Burton brings his signature visual flair to this story about a son trying to understand his dying father, a charismatic storyteller whose life seems to be a series of tall tales. The son craves the truth behind the myths, leading to a complex dynamic fueled by frustration and a longing for genuine connection. The film beautifully contrasts fantasy and reality while exploring how we perceive and ultimately reconcile with the larger-than-life figures our parents can seem to be.

Facing a terminal illness, a reclusive architect decides to tear down his old house and build a new one, enlisting the reluctant help of his estranged, troubled teenage son. Kevin Kline gives a poignant performance as the father attempting to reconnect and make amends. The physical act of building the house becomes a powerful metaphor for rebuilding their broken relationship, offering a touching, albeit challenging, look at mending paternal bonds before it's too late.

James Gunn injected this sequel with a strong emotional core centered on Peter Quill's search for his biological father. Kurt Russell plays Ego, a celestial being whose paternal intentions are far from conventional or benevolent. The film uses its signature humor and action to explore themes of family—chosen vs. biological—and the painful realization that meeting your parent isn't always the reunion you dreamed of, especially when your dad is a living planet.

This adventure adds a crucial layer to the Indy persona by introducing his distant, academic father, played with perfect dry wit by Sean Connery. The core of the film is their reluctant partnership and journey towards reconciliation as they search for the Holy Grail. Their strained relationship, filled with old grievances and misunderstandings, provides both comedic moments and genuine emotional depth, proving that even globetrotting heroes have complicated family lives.

Beyond its status as a sci-fi epic, Episode V contains one of cinema's most iconic reveals that fundamentally redefines the protagonist's lineage and future. The confrontation between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader on Cloud City is not just a lightsaber duel; it's the dramatic unveiling of a complex, twisted paternal link that creates the ultimate 'daddy issue' on a galactic scale. This moment anchors the personal stakes within the grand space opera.

Winning multiple Oscars, including Best Picture, Actor (Dustin Hoffman), and Supporting Actress (Meryl Streep), this drama is a deeply moving look at the fallout of a marriage and, crucially, a father's journey into active parenthood. Hoffman's portrayal of Ted Kramer as he navigates balancing his career with suddenly becoming the primary caregiver for his young son is incredibly nuanced. The film highlights the evolution of their bond amidst legal battles and personal struggles, offering a powerful look at paternal responsibility and love.

Noah Baumbach's semi-autobiographical film offers a sharply observed, often uncomfortable look at divorce from the perspective of two teenage brothers. Jeff Daniels is brilliantly infuriating as the pretentious, fading novelist father whose narcissism profoundly impacts his sons, particularly the older one who initially idolizes him. This movie excels in its raw, authentic dialogue and unflinching portrayal of how parental conflict shapes children, making the father-son dynamic especially central and fraught.

Wes Anderson's quirky masterpiece is perhaps the ultimate exploration of 'daddy issues.' Gene Hackman delivers a fantastic, Golden Globe-winning performance as Royal Tenenbaum, the estranged patriarch who fakes a terminal illness to reconnect with his three adult children—former child prodigies now grappling with failure and disappointment, largely due to his absence and past behavior. The film's distinctive visual style and deadpan humor perfectly complement the underlying melancholy of a family trying, awkwardly, to heal old wounds.