Movies for Mothers and Daughters

Mothers and daughters don't always see eye to eye, in real life or on the big screen. Most of the time, though, they work it out--as Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried did in 2008's 'Mamma Mia!'. With Mother's Day upon us, let's look at some other great mother-daughter screen team-ups.

Brave (2012)

This first Pixar movie to feature a female heroine, it has a mother-daughter disagreement at the heart of it. When the princess Merida bucks her mother's strong desire for tradition, setting in motion a spell that turns Queen Elinor into a bear, they must set aside differences and work together to make Mom  human again.

Steel Magnolias (1989)

An all-star cast including Shirley MacLaine, Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Olympia Dukakis, Daryl Hannah and Dolly Parton as a group of tough cookies in a small Louisiana burg who undergo a tragedy.

Freaky Friday (2003)

A busy mom (Jamie Lee Curtis) and misunderstood teen (Lindsay Lohan) can't see eye to eye, but one freaky Friday they switch bodies and literally see life in each other's shoes. 

Mean Girls (2004)

Though more about the social cliques and relationships of a group of high school girls, Amy Poehler makes a hilarious splash as Mrs. George, the wacky and weird mom of the most popular girl in class.

Easy A (2010)

Again more about teen girls at school, it still features a lovely performance by Patricia Clarkson, Emma Stone's kind if eccentric mom who helps her sort out the convoluted mess she's gotten into.

Panic Room (2002)

Not all mom-daughter movies have to be tearjerkers. This mother-daughter action thriller has Jodie Foster and Kristen Stewart hiding out from three burglars in their home's panic room.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Abigail Breslin brings to life Olive Hoover, a vibrant seven-year-old in pursuit of a pageant title while Toni Collette plays Olive’s supportive mother. Watch family tensions unfold in the confinements of a yellow VW microbus, as they try to survive an 800-mile road trip to California for the Little Miss Sunshine Pageant.

Volver (2007)

In a stellar performance, Penelope Cruz plays a ruthless mother who would kill anyone if they tried to harm her daughter. It garnered Cruz her first Oscar nomination for Best Actress.

Juno (2007)

For the quirky moms and daughters out there, this indie's filled with heartwarming maternity roles. Jennifer Garner stars as Vanessa, the woman adopting Juno's (Ellen Page) baby. As the two manuever awkward situations, Vanessa's longing to become a mother despite her deteriorating marriage leads to an emotional ending.

The Princess Diaries (2001)

A homely high schooler (Anne Hathaway) finds out she's heir to the throne of Genovia when her royal grandmother (Julie Andrews) whisks her away to uncover her inner princess. Andrews doesn't actually play Hathaway's mom, but as her grandmother, she provides just as much TLC as any mother would.

Stepmom (1998)

Susan Sarandon is a mom who's terminally ill and Julia Roberts is the stepmom-to-be when her ex-husband proposes. In this emotional roller coaster of a movie, the coping family is reminded just how strong the ties of motherhood are, whether beginning from birth or passing on the torch.

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)

The Ya-Yas, a secret club formed by four girls in 1937, come together to reunite one of them (Ellen Burstyn) with her estranged daughter (Sandra Bullock). Sometimes, it seems, secrets need to be told. 

Mermaids (1990)

This kitchen-sink dramedy has Cher starring as the glamorous, flighty mom Rachel, Winona Ryder as her Catholic-obsessed teen daughter, and Christina Ricci as the youngest daughter who experiences a life-changing accident.

My Sister's Keeper (2009)

Cameron Diaz plays a devoted mother who would do anything for the well-being of her three children, but it’s her oldest daughter, Kate (Sofia Vassilieva), who shakes the family core as she valiantly fights to survive Leukemia. Abigail Breslin co-stars as Kate’s younger sister.

Terms of Endearment (1983)

And finally, this mother of all mother-daughter movies has 30 years of love/hate going on between Aurora Greenway (Shirley MacLaine) and her daughter Emma (Debra Winger) that culminates in the death of one and resolution for the other. Now go hug your mom!