Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
It’s the one day of the year all about dads, and we know you want to get it right. You’ve already gotten your dad the perfect gift, and you’ve promised you’ll help him fix up the house… sometime. There’s just one piece missing. You need something to throw on in the background while the family grills out during this most dad of days. That’s where we come in.
By no means is every father the same, but there is something to the dad movie. It’s the overall fun and action-packed flick that has kept FX and TNT in business for years. These are the movies that families caught glimpses of between yard work, chores, getting ready to go to dinner, and the rare family hangout. They’re the punch and quip-filled lull that soothed many a hardworking dad to sleep only for them to jerk awake and claim they were still watching the second you turned it off. These are dad movies, and right now Netflix has a ton of them.
If you’re looking for something to enjoy with your father, or even with the whole family, we have your back. From silly knight’s quests and sci-fi epics to classic tales of historical adventures and thrilling car heists, there’s something on this list for everyone to enjoy. Happy Father’s Day to all the guys out there who save their families every day, just like their favorite action stars.
'Raiders of the Lost Ark' (1981)
Harrison Ford? Check. Action-packed heroics? Check. Quippy one-liners? Check. Thwarting Nazis? That’s a big check. Indiana Jones is the pinnacle of lovable action movies that are endlessly rewatchable, which is really good news for anyone looking for a Father’s Day binge. In addition to Raiders, The Temple of Doom, The Last Crusade, and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull are all on Netflix. Just skip that last one, and you’ll be golden.
'The Matrix' (1999)
That’s right, 2019’s it man is currently on Netflix in his most iconic role. Filled with delightfully nonsensical sci-fi jargon, epic bullet dodging stunts, and enough leather and sunglasses to make a biker gang jealous, The Matrix starring Keanu Reeves is top tier when it comes to truly awesome action movies. The Matrix: Reloaded and The Matrix: Revolutions? Not so much. But they’re also on Netflix this month.
'Black Hawk Down' (2001)
Fun, action-packed romps are great and all, but sometimes you’re in the mood for something a bit more somber. That’s when you need a good war movie like Black Hawk Down. Starring Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, and Eric Bana, and based on a real-life story this epic about a Special Forces mission in Somalia is worth your time.
'The Waterboy' (1998)
No dad list would be complete without a sports movie or an Adam Sandler flick, and The Waterboy delivers two of those things for the price of one. Sandler plays a coddled water boy whose habit of tackling bullies pushes him to the big leagues. It’s very silly and very fun.
'The Fast and the Furious' (2001)
There’s nothing more important than family — take it from the action series that can’t go 20 minutes without mentioning it. Featuring Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, and all sorts of gravity-defying cool cars, the first installment of this film empire is always a good time. But the best part about The Fast and the Furious being on this list is it’s not the only car heist movie on Netflix. 2 Fast 2 Furious and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift are also streaming right now.
'The Dark Knight' (2008)
Wanna see a magic trick? Throw on this Christopher Nolan epic and make your dad’s day. Not only is The Dark Knight one of the darkest and grittiest superhero movies ever made, it’s also arguably one of the best Batman movies of all time, which is saying a lot. Bruce Wayne gets around. If you want to turn this Sunday into a full bat-themed day, you’re in luck. The incredible Batman Begins is also on Netflix.
'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' (1975)
There’s no actual proof that Monty Python made the dad joke cool, but it feels right doesn’t it? Regardless, this very silly Middle Ages adventure is a perfect selection for any funny father in your life.
'National Treasure' (2004)
In 2004 Disney dared to ask what if Nicolas Cage stole the Declaration of Independence and we all collectively went along with it. Despite National Treasure’s bonkers premise and Cage’s… Cage-ness, this history-based heist movie just works. And with a PG rating it gets props for being one of the few entries on this list that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
'The Mummy' (1999)
Make your Father’s Day a Mummy’s Day! Brendan Fraser’s Rick O’Connell was really just a 1920s version of Indiana Jones with a scarier foe. But hey, if the formula works, why fix it? Fraser is just as dashing as he is delightful in this fantasy epic. Start with The Mummy then ease into The Mummy Returns before ending with The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, and turn your Father’s Day into a Mummy’s Day!
'Wanted' (2008)
Is Wanted good? No, not particularly. But it does feature Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy, and Morgan Freeman epically dodging bullets like they’re in the real-life version of the Matrix. It’s exactly the type of action romp you can throw on the TV and half watch while you’re grilling out or taking a nap, making it the perfect dad movie.
