Best Dramatic Movies| Mother's Day Movie Choices

The best Mother's Day movies for Moms that love drama films are a matter of opinion. The ten best dramatic movies according to a film connoisseur are these tear-jerkers films that would also make a wonderful Mother's Day present. {Drama films are listed from oldest to newest releases.}

"Terms of Endearment" (1983)Starring Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito, Jeff Daniels, John Lithgow

Shirley MacLaine again but this time she plays a difficult mother who can't stop meddling in her stubborn daughter's (Winger) life; and soon becomes the distraught mother dealing with her daughter's life-threatening illness. Jack Nicholson plays a retired astronaut who takes a liking to MacLaine. It is truly a chick flick extravaganza with this Mother's Day movie that would make a perfect present for the drama film loving Mom. Watching your child die is one of the worst cruelties in life so have several boxes of tissues ready.

"Steel Magnolias" (1989) Starring Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, Julia Roberts, Tom Skerritt, Dylan McDermott, Sam Shepard

This touching, wonderful Mother's Day movie is one of the best dramatic movies of all time. The all-star female cast does a wonderful job drawing you in. The strong Louisiana ladies portrayed in this drama will make you laugh and cry. The story revolves around a small town beauty parlor and Field's daughter, Shelby's (Roberts) decision to have a baby even though she has Type 1 diabetes.

"Pretty Woman" (1990) Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, Hector Elizondo, Jason Alexander, Laura San Giacomo

A very career oriented character (Gere) has recently split up with his fiancée and ends up with a free-spirited hooker (Julia Roberts) that decides to retain for $3,000. Roberts starred in several drama films but Pretty Woman made her career soar.

"Fried Green Tomatoes" (1991) Starring Kathy Bates, Mary Stuart Masterson, Chris O'Donnel, Jessica Tandy, Gailard Sartain, Nick Searcy, Mary Louise Parker

A repressed housewife (Bates) realizes the value of friendship and gains newfound independence as she listens to the story of two women (Masterson, Tandy) and how their friendship shaped their lives. A classic drama film that is one of the best dramatic movies ever made.

"Stepmom"(1998) Starring Julia Robert, Ed Harris, Susan Sarandon

Another tear jerking drama that makes a perfect Step Mother's Day present. When a couple divorces (Harris, Sarandon) get divorced the family does not adjust well. When Harris introduces in younger live-in girlfriend things get nasty before they get better. Things do change when the family is delivered life-altering news. You guessed it, more tissues please!

"Beaches" (1998) Starring Bette Midler, Barbara Hershey

Two close friends struggle through life's challenges, conflicts with each other and time apart eventually finding success when one of them becomes terminally ill. I get chills just thinking about this heart wrenching drama. The other friend must find the strength to be there for her best friend. More tissues for this dramatic film please!

"The Family Man" (2000) Starring Nicholas Cage, Tea Leoni

It's a Wonderful Life would not be worth re-making because it does not get better than Jimmy Stewart's performance. With a slightly different story line, this drama tells a similar story (with only one ghost instead of three) and is one movie I would love to receive as a gift if I did not already have it. A wealthy bachelor (Cage) awakens to a wife and two kids. At first he tries desperately to return to his old life but things turn around and soon he cannot imagine life any other way.

"Pay It Forward" (2000) Starring Haley Joel Osment, Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt

Trevor McKinney (Osment) is a 12 year old boy that believes in the innate goodness of people. His idea to Pay It Forward helped to change the world for the better and is a great drama film and Mother's Day present. The rules of Pay It Forward are that the deed should be something that really helps people; it should be something they can't do by themselves; and that the person then does the same for three other people.

"Sweet Home Alabama" (2002) Starring Reese Witherspoon, Andy Tennant, Patrick Dempsey (aka McDreamy)

Reese and Andy play husband and wife that have known each other since they were young kids. Reese returns to her hometown in Alabama to get Andy to sign divorce papers and the drama and comedy that ensues is sweet. I know Dempsey gained a following after being on Grey's Anatomy but I will always remember him as the nerdy boy in "Can't Buy Me Love."

"My Sister's Keeper" (2009) Starring Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Sofia Vassilieva, Alec Baldwin

Anna Fitzgerald (Breslin) tries to hire the successful attorney Campbell Alexander (Baldwin) to gain emancipation from her parents. She was conceived to become a donor for her leukemia-stricken sister Kate (Sofia) and has had to go withstand medical procedures since the age of five. Campbell accepts Anna's case pro bono but we soon discover ulterior motives for Anna's medical emancipation case. One of the best dramatic movies for Mother's Day; keep tissue handy!

See also: Mother's Day Playlist - Mom Themed Songs

Source: Wikipedia