The Best (and Worst) Movie Dads

In spirit of Father's Day I compiled a list of some of the most memorable 'Movie Dads.' Check it out, and feel free to share your thoughts or your own picks for the best and worst dads in film:

5 Best Movie Dads

5. Mac MacGuff, Juno (played by J.K. Simmons)

A dad who is funny / sarcastic yet also very caring and understanding. Even after finding out his teenage daughter is pregnant, Mac MacGuff is still able to keep his cool and do anything to help her out.

4. Marlin, Finding Nemo (voiced by Albert Brooks)

Sure Marlin was a little over-protective at first, but how can you blame him? After losing Nemo, he lets his guard down and does anything and everything to get him back.

3. Mr. Levenstein, American Pie series (played by Eugene Levy)

Jim's dad is the kind of dad who isn't afraid to talk to his son about anything. Sure his advice about sex, love, masturbation, etc. is often horrendously awkward, but at the end of the day he is really just looking out for his son.

2. Daniel Hillard, Mrs. Doubtfire (played by Robin Williams)

Daniel Hillard cares so much about his kids that he is willing to dress up as an old lady and pose as a nanny just to spend time with them. Now that's dedication.

1. Chris Gardener, The Pursuit of Happyness (played by Will Smith)

Despite desperately struggling to make money and find a home, Chris Gardener does whatever it takes to support his son. For that he truly deserves a 'World's Best Dad' award.

5 Worst Movie Dads

5. Jack Byrnes, Meet the Parents/Fockers (played by Robert De Niro)

The father-in-law from hell: a former CIA agent who is constantly giving his daughter's boyfriend a hard time, always watching him through surveillance cameras and even forcing him to take a polygraph test.

4. Royal Tenenbaum, The Royal Tenenbaums (played by Gene Hackman)

Stealing money, blaming his kids for the divorce, and pretending to be dying just to move back home...Royal Tenenbaum is not exactly the ideal father figure.

3. Dr. Evil, Austin Powers series (played by Mike Myers)

No one wants a dad who cares more about killing his arch-nemesis and spending time with his miniature clone than listening to his own son...in fact, he tells him to 'zip-it' every time he has something to say.

2. Lester Burnham, American Beauty (played by Kevin Spacey)

This pot-smoking, fast food working dad is more dedicated to scoring with his daughter's hot friend than keeping his dysfunctional family together.

1. Jack Torrence, The Shining (played by Jack Nicholson)

A dad who forces you to live in an isolated hotel and then goes crazy and tries to kill your family probably isn't the 'world's best dad.'


Thanks for reading my list, guys. Happy Father's Day!