Best Mother's Day Movies

Celebrate your mother this Mother's Day with a fun film fest of the best Mother's Day movies ever made. These movies all celebrate and explore the loving, sometimes stressful, relationships between mothers and their children.

Anywhere But Here (1999) - Susan Sarandon and Natalie Portman showcase the shaky relationship between a wayward mother as she drags her mature teenage daughter around trying to find herself in L. A. Sometimes it's the most difficult relationships which prove to be the most rewarding.

Mommie Dearest (1981) - Watch the traumatic story of Joan Crawford (played by Faye Dunaway) and her adoptive daughter Christina (played by Diana Scarwid) and remember all the reasons you really appreciate your mother.

Steel Magnolias (1989) - Nobody knows strength like Southern women, those steel magnolias. An all-star cast (Dolly Pardon, Julia Roberts, Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, and Tom Skerritt among many) celebrates the South, Cajun cooking, the secret world of the Southern beauty parlor and the personal battles of women and mothers everywhere.

Dumbo (1941) - This Disney cartoon is still a family favorite after 60 years with the classic mother/child lullaby "Baby Mine."

Chocolat (2000) - What's better than chocolate and Johnny Depp? Join the ethereal Juliette Binoche as a wandering chocolatier in France, her adorable daughter and their imaginary kangaroo Pantoufle as they woo the sexy Irish pirate Roux (Depp) and a straight-laced French town with their spicy, Latin chocolates.

Riding in Cars with Boys - This Drew Barrymore classic explores the life of a single mom and the unbreakable bond between mother and son. This is a real-life, honest comedy with a lot of heart.

Mermaids (1990) - As if being a teen wasn't hard enough (as Winona Ryder proved in Heathers), it's even crazier when your mom is Cher and your sister is a young Christina Ricci who spends all her time holding her breath in the bathtub. Typical early 90s coming of age story with atypical Cher antics and a great oldies soundtrack including Cher's "(Shoop Shoop) It's In His Kiss."

The Joy Luck Club (1993) - Nothing about being a girl in Chinese history is easy and this movie, based on the novel by the same name by Amy Tan, fully explores the concept of "mother love" in Chinese culture. Lots of guilt and expectations, but also lots of love and sacrifice between mothers and daughters.

FreakyFriday (1975, 2003)- Join Lindsay Lohan before the crazy set in as she and her mother (played by Jamie Lee Curtis after she grew out of the crazy) switch bodies in this 2003 remake. Or treat your mom to the 1975 original with Barbara Harris and Jodie Foster.

Mama Mia! (2008) - While the main character searches for her father, the special mother/daughter bond is celebrated. For a special Mother's Day entertainment treat, see the original on Broadway or in London.

Hairspray (2007) - What's more appropriate for Mother's Day than John Travolta in drag? See his stunning performance or check out the 1988 original with Ricky Lake in this modern classic.

One True Thing (1998) - When mom (Meryl Streep) comes down with cancer, the prodigal daddy's girl (Renee Zellweger) has to return and take care of their fragile relationship.