Parenting is one of the most difficult stages of adulthood. It’s a big step highly anticipated by the to-be-grandparents but the new family has a lot to face. We’ve seen shows about crying babies waking the family up in the middle of the night or parents dealing with kids. We learned about so many areas of life through the world of cinema. So, what if we could learn parenting from movies to watch on Netflix?
Netflix is one of the most popular streaming services available today, and its subscriber base continuously expands. With more than 195 million Netflix subscribers worldwide, it’s not hard to see why millions of people are drawn to Netflix each day. Netflix is also a great tool for entertainment and education. Today, we’ll share with you some of the best parenting movies that can give you some priceless life lessons along the way. Whether you have kids under the age of 5 or 20, there’s a whole lot to learn from these incredible flicks. These movies have done wonders in the world of parenting and have taught all the right lessons for you to implement.
Let’s take you through the How-to Parent watchlist of the best family movies to watch on Netflix:
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
Our first pick is a family comedy based upon the book “Alias Madame Doubtfire” by Anne Fine. Mrs. Doubtfire is the story of a bitter divorce where the father makes all efforts to spend more time with his kids. When he finds out the ad for a babysitter for his kids, he poses as the babysitter and works to reunite his family. The lady was played flawlessly by the legendary comedian and actor Robin Williams.
The movie also features Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, Harvey Fierstein, Polly Holliday, and many more. This classic production has an IMDb rating of 7.0/10 and has amassed over 16 nominations with 11 wins (1 Academy Award for best makeup).
What to expect when you’re expecting (2012)
This next one is sure to be a mood reliever for all stressed parents. While its comedy styles will leave you ROFLing, its parenting side is very important. What to expect when you’re expecting is the story around 5 different couples who’ve had babies. The narrative takes a humorous look at fatherhood and motherhood, and when one of their members is about to have a baby, they’ve got some life lessons for him.
The cast of the movie features popular names like Jenifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Elizabeth Banks, Anna Kendrick, Mathew Morrison, Chris Rock, and many more. The movie has received an IMDb rating of 5.8/10 and has up to 12 nominations.
Instant Family (2018)
This pick is a wholesome experience of parenthood and is considered one of the best films on parenting. Instant Family is the story of a couple who adopt a teenager and her two kid siblings. They go head over heels in managing with 3 kids in the house. The movie has a family-friendly cute narrative, making this pick a must-watch for all parents out there.
The cast features Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Octavia Spencer, Margo Martindale, and many more. It has an IMDb rating of 7.3/10 and has over 5 nominations with 2 wins.
Life as we know it (2010)
This movie Life as we know it takes another approach to parenthood but in a different way. When two people get together for one date, calling it their worst, they plan to never see each other again. But, when one of their closest friends dies, they are left as caretakers of the child. The two friends engage in raising the child on their own with no experience and no one to get help from. In this bond over raising the baby, they learn to love each other as fate had planned for them.
This movie’s major roles are played by Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel, and Josh Lucas. The movie has an IMDb rating of 6.5/10 and has 2 nominations.
Parenthood (1989)
From the Oscar-winning director Ron Howard comes a beautiful portrayal of one big family. Parenthood revolves around the Buckmans, who are a midwestern family. The stories around them include job pressures, raising children, and becoming good parents and spouses. The cast of this movie even features Joaquin Phoenix as a child actor. It also has Steve Martin, Dianne Weast, Keanu Reeves, Mary Steenburgen, and many more.
The movie has an impressive IMDb rating of 7.0/10 and has amassed over 14 nominations with 4 wins (2 Academy Awards).
Matilda (1996)
Our last pick educates on parenthood in a far different way. The attention of the movie is directed towards the little girl Matilda who is a gifted student. If you want your children’s talent to be encouraged and promoted, take a page out of this beautiful children’s movie.
In the movie, little Matilda is surrounded by a school that discourages creativity, encourages strictness to a point that the child stops dreaming. But Matilda uses her gifted powers to help the helpless, empower the powerless, and unite the kids to fight back against the evil headmasters.
The movie has received an IMDb rating of 6.9/10 and has amassed over 7 nominations with 3 wins. The cast features Mara Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Embeth Davidtz, and many more.
Conclusion
Let the tensions of parenthood fade away through some rom coms but don’t let the lessons getaway. Every movie shows the right and wrongs and the struggles of building trust amongst kids.
These Netflix picks are sure to motivate you to be your best, to do your best, and be the best parent you can be.
Though some of them are not available on every Netflix library, you can always use a VPN to change your region. Happy streaming!
