In the heart of cinema, stories of single parenthood offer an emotional lens through which we explore the complexities of love, family, and the unshakable resilience of people who navigate life’s challenges solo. These films put single parents front and center, showing their ups and downs and the deep bonds they forge with their children. In this article, we look back at a selection of films where single moms and dads take the lead, inspiring us, making us laugh, cry, and reflect on the extraordinary power of love and determination. In these stories, single parenthood isn’t a limitation—it’s a testament to the strength of the human spirit.
10 The Rebound
The Rebound (2009), a Bart Freundlich production, is a romantic comedy that follows Sandy (Catherine Zeta-Jones), a recently divorced mother of two young children. Sandy relocates with her kids from the suburbs to New York City in hopes of making a fresh start. She faces numerous challenges, including adjusting to city life and managing her responsibilities as a single mom. Sandy’s story takes a loving turn when she meets Aram (Justin Bartha), a much younger man who is working as a nanny for another family.
As their friendship deepens, and after a few catastrophic dates on the part of Sandy, Sandy and Aram find warmth and meaning in each other’s company and support one another through their respective life transitions. Sandy’s character evolves as she gains confidence and independence, while also rediscovering her ability to love.
9 Little Man Tate (1991)
Directed by and starring Jodie Foster, Little Man Tate (1991) is a touching drama that tells the story of a single mother named Dede (Foster) and her exceptionally gifted young son, Fred (played by Adam Hann-Byrd). Dede grapples with the financial strains of being a single parent and the responsibility of fostering her son’s intellectual talents. She is faced with having to reconcile her desire to protect Fred’s childhood innocence with his extraordinary abilities. Her journey involves seeking the best educational opportunities for her him while doing everything she can to hold on to their relationship.
Even though it isn’t one of the best films in the genre, Little Man Tate is a strong addition to the list due to the single mother’s unwavering commitment to doing what’s best for her child and her relationship with him, as well as the nature of the story. The film has a critics score of 71% and an audience score of 66% on Rotten Tomatoes.
8 Big Daddy (1999)
Big Daddy (1999) is a heartwarming comedy-drama directed by Dennis Dugan. It follows the humorous tale of Sonny Koufax, (Adam Sandler), a laid-back, carefree man-child who, in an effort to win back his girlfriend, pretends to adopt a young boy named Julian. Soon, however, Sandler’s character finds himself in over his head when he’s left to care for the boy full-time.
Amidst the chaos and hilarious situations, Sonny undergoes great personal growth. He learns to prioritize Julian’s well-being over his own desires, even in the face of troubles like potential custody battles. Big Daddy is known as one of Adam Sandler’s most meaningful films, with Variety Magazine calling it “a step forward” for the actor.
7 Erin Brockovich
Erin Brockovich (2000) stands as one of Steven Soderbergh’s most successful and beloved motion pictures. Based on a true story, the film is a compelling legal drama highlighting the extraordinary hardships and triumphs of a single mom of three named Erin Brockovich (Julia Roberts).
Erin is broke, unemployed, and unable to secure a stable job due to her lack of formal education. Her journey through single parenthood is a minefield of societal prejudices and biases, which make it painfully difficult for her to support her family. When Erin takes on a job at a law firm and stumbles upon a case of water contamination in a small town, her life takes a transformative turn. Her determination and commitment to uncovering the truth lead to a groundbreaking legal battle against a powerful corporation. She ultimately wins a historic settlement for the affected community.
6 Signs
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, Signs (2002) is nail-biting and suspenseful sci-fi thriller that tells the story of Graham Hess (Mel Gibson), a former priest who has lost his faith after the tragic death of his wife in a car accident. He becomes a single father to his two kids, Morgan and Bo, with whom he lives on a rural Pennsylvania farm.
The story turns eerie when crop circles appear in his cornfields, and strange phenomena begin taking shape worldwide, hinging toward an extraterrestrial invasion. With the help of his brother Merrill (Joaquin Phoenix), Graham and his family take on an alien force that threatens their very existence. According to film critic Roger Ebert, Signs “is the work of a born filmmaker, able to summon apprehension out of thin air.”
5 Mrs. Doubtfire
In Chris Columbus’ Mrs.Doubtfire (1993), the great Robin Williams plays an eccentric and caring father of three who struggles with the consequences of a painful divorce and the loss of custody over his children. Desperate to stay close to his kids, he devises a hilarious plan to see them regularly. He transforms into Mrs. Euphegenia Doubtfire, using a rubber suit and an impeccable British accent and manages to secure a job as his own children’s nanny.
While trying to conceal his true identity, Daniel gets to know his children on a deeper level, becoming even more determined to be part of their lives. The film currently holds a steady 70% critics score and 77% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
4 Me, Myself & Irene
Me, Myself & Irene (2000) is a underrated Farrelly brothers comedy starring Jim Carrey in one of his most well-rounded roles – the character of Charlie Baileygates. Charlie is a fun, kind-hearted Rhode Island state trooper who leads a simple life. However, his life turns upside down after he develops a wild split personality disorder. While struggling to keep his life together, he also has to manage two distinct personalities: the meek and gentle Charlie and the nutty, aggressive Hank.
Charlie goes through immense challenges, including the struggle to keep his job, protect the woman he loves, Irene, played by Renée Zellweger, and raise three young boys from another father left to him by his cheating ex-wife.
3 The Pursuit of Happyness
Here, we have an inspiring drama that explores the emotional crumbling of a single father. Directed by Gabriele Muccino, The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) follows the story of Chris Gardner (Will Smith), a determined and loving dad who ends up in dire financial trouble after a failed investment deal. Homeless and struggling to make ends meet, Chris and his young boy are forced to sleep on the streets and in shelters.
However, fate begins to smile upon them after Chris enrolls in a challenging internship program at a prestigious stockbrokerage firm, enduring the job’s demands while also providing for his son. The film accurately portrays the sacrifices, long hours, and personal hardships Smith’s character goes through in his pursuit of a better life for himself and his son – the pursuit of true happiness. The Pursuit of Happyness is one of Will Smith’s most emotionally-charged roles, with The Guardian describing the film as an “aspirational movie” and “an old-fashioned Hollywood heartwarmer.”
2 Taken
Pierre Morel’s Taken (2008) is an intense action thriller that follows the high-octane journey of a single dad named Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson). Mills is a retired CIA agent and a devoted father who is robbed of life’s joys after his teenage daughter, Kim, is kidnapped while on vacation in Paris.
Mills faces emotional disaster while desperately trying to find and save his child from human traffickers. The story meticulously showcases his relentless determination and resourcefulness while showing the emotional struggles of a father witnessing his child’s peril. The first installment of the Taken franchise is one of the most successful action-thrillers of all time and currently has a whopping 85% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
1 Where the Heart Is
Where the Heart Is (2000), directed by Matt Williams, follows Novalee Nation (Natalie Portman), a gentle, beautiful young girl who gets abandoned by her boyfriend at a Walmart in a small Oklahoma town after becoming pregnant. Alone and homeless, she lives in the Walmart, secretly surviving on its resources. After giving birth to her baby in the store, she becomes a national sensation, and she and her baby, Americus, receive a fresh start thanks to the help of a loving foster family.
Novalee forms a loving bond with the people in her community, including a kind nurse, Sister Husband (Stockard Channing), and an aspiring librarian, Forney Hull (James Frain), whom she also falls in love with in the end. These connections offer her support and encouragement as she fights to overcome her circumstances and build a brighter future for her baby girl. Where the Heart Is has a loving score of 76% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
