Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Harper Lee, this film is one of the best family-oriented dramas ever made. Gregory Peck gives a stunning performance as Atticus Finch, a smalltown Alabama lawyer and widower of two children who chooses to defend a black man wrongly accused of raping a white woman. In the face of the town’s rage and intolerance, this single dad wins the admiration of his kids while teaching them about justice and integrity.

Clark Griswold is the kind of all-American dad who promises his family the best vacation ever. And gosh darn it, he’s gonna make damn sure he delivers. But after a year of carefully plotting, down to the minute, a cross-country trip, everything that could possibly go wrong does. From wrecking their new car, to losing all their money, to being stuck with cantankerous Aunt Edna in their back seat. And Wally World? Oh yeah, that’s closed for maintenance. But at least they got a good parking spot.

In this story of desperation and survival in post-war Italy, Antonio Ricci (Maggiorani) is a glum father whose brief taste of happiness evaporates when his bike, and only means of earning a living, is stolen. Pushed to the edge, Antonio decides to do like the Romans do and steal another poor chap’s bike. Only thing is, he gets caught in front of his own son.

Ted Kramer (Hoffman) is a self-absorbed dad whose work has always come before his family. But when his wife splits to “find herself”, Ted ultimately adjusts to his new housekeeping responsibilities and comes to cherish his son Billy – so much so that he goes to court to keep custody of him when his ex-wife resurfaces.

in this 1984 teen movie, Shaw Moore is a Bible-thumping minister convinced that rock ‘n’ roll and dancing can be destructive to the community. That is, until he meets Kevin let’s-hear-it-for-the-boy Bacon, who just barely manages to convince Reverend Moore that music isn’t the devil’s work – and ends up romancing his rebellious daughter in the process.

“I was a wonderful father. Did I ever tell you to eat up? Go to bed? Wash your ears? Do your homework? No. I respected your privacy and I taught you self-reliance.” It may have seemed to young Indy that Professor Henry Jones cared more for people who had been dead for 500 years than him. But when dad beds the same woman he did, you know they have some things in common.

Jim Court (Mahoney) is an over-protective father who may only want what’s best for his daughter. “You’re not a permanent part of her life. You’re a distraction,” he tells his daughter’s boyfriend, Lloyd (John Cusack). In fact, Court gets a bit distracted himself and ends up in jail after getting caught for fraud and tax evasion. Oops. At least he does get a nice pen with which to write a letter to the happy couple once they get to England.

Raising 12 kids at the turn of the century ain’t easy. Portrayed by Clifton Webb, Frank Gilbreth prides himself on raising his kids with some truly unorthodox methods. He not only lectures his kid’s headmaster but also chaperones his eldest daughter to her high school prom, much to her chagrin. Because a father’s work is never done, Gilbreth even films his entire family as they get their tonsils removed – just so he can come up with suggestions to improve future tonsillectomies. Now that’s what we call being proactive!

In this 1955 film of two bothers competing for their father’s love and respect, Adam Trask (Massey) makes it clear who his favourite is when he tells his rebellious son Cal (James Dean) that he has no repentance. “You’re bad! Through and through, bad!” No matter what Cal does, he can’t get the love and affection he so craves from this Bible-thumping dad.

Spencer Tracy plays Stanley Banks, a teddy bear of a dad who finds himself out of his depth, his sanity put to the test, when the apple of his eye announces her engagement. “What’s it going to be like to come home and not find her? Not to hear her voice calling ‘Hi, Pops’ as I come in?” He’s not just losing his beloved daughter, he’s paying for the privilege of doing so. In the end (and despite the huge bills), this dad survives, his dignity, patience and a wry wit unscathed.