"Dad" in the movies has been portrayed in so many different ways. The dad played by Kevin Costner who is haunted by the unfulfilled relationship with his own father and hears voices telling him to build a baseball diamond in his cornfield. The psycho killer dad played by Jack Nicholson in "The Shining" who tries to murder his whole family. The divorced dad in "Mrs. Doubtfire", played by Robin Williams, who dressed as a Scottish nanny to get closer to his children. Steve Martin's excessively worried and over protective dad in "Father of the Bride". The widowed dad played by Tom Hanks in the movie "Sleepless In Seattle" who helps his son heal after his mother dies. The dad with the particular set of skills that must save his kidnapped daughter. That would be Liam Neeson in "Taken". Then there's the slightly nuts dad, Chevy Chase, obsessed with executing the perfect family trip out west "Vacation" of the perfect family holiday "Christmas Vacation". Dad even gets the occasional animated treatment. For example a dad clownfish must search for his lost son in "Finding Nemo".
I get the full range of emotions from these dad movies. Costner makes me cry at the end of "Field of Dreams" when he asks "Hey...Dad. Wanna have a catch". I root for Liam Neeson. I root against Jack Nicholson. I totally identify with Steve Martin and Robin Williams in their movies mentioned above and I will go to my grave quoting Chevy Chase from those National Lampoon movie classics. I am a dad and I miss my dad. With that in mind, here's the list of My Top Ten Dad Movies.
10/ Finding Nemo
9/ On Golden Pond (Aging parent story, too sad at times)
8/ Mrs. Doubtfire (Robin Williams made you laugh and cry)
7/ Parenthood (Steve Martin stars but there are several dads of different ages and types)
6/ Hook (Robin Williams to the rescue)
5/ Mr. Mom (Michael Keaton is AWESOME in this movie)
4/ Taken (Liam Neeson will find you and he will....)
3/ Father of the Bride (Steve Martin so relatable, especially when I became the same)
2/ Field of Dreams (I'd love to play catch with my dad again)
Honorable mentions - Sleepless in Seattle, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2, Armageddon, 17 Again, Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade
and finally
1/ (TIE) National Lampoon's Vacation and Christmas Vacation