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  2. Movies

50 Greatest Father/Son Movie Moments

Features
By Joshua Winning published 25 October 2011

Horrific, humorous and heart-warming

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Toy Story 2 (1999)

The Moment: A fun parody of another kid-friendly franchise. After Buzz Lightyear has discovered that Emperor Zurg is really his father, the two get on brilliantly playing catch. “Good throw, son. That's my boy! Go long, Buzzy!” calls Zurg. “Oh, you're a great dad. Yippee!” celebrates Buzz.

If They Were Mother And Daughter: The parody would be very confusing indeed.

Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels (1998)

The Moment: Big Chris (Vinnie Jones) takes Little Chris (Peter McNicholl) on a job with him where he intimidates a bad guy on a tanning bed. Said bad guy gets a bit happy with the F-bombs, though. “Mind your language in front of the boy,” warns Big Chris. See, he’s a good dad really.

If They Were Mother And Daughter: The language bit still applies.

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

The Moment: “These are the most powerful people in New York,” says Frank Abagnale Sr (Christopher Walken), “and they keep peeking over their shoulders wondering where you’re going tonight. Where you going, Frank?” Just a little moment, but a stellar one at that.

If They Were Mother And Daughter: "These are the most powerful people in New York, and they keep peeking over their shoulders at your beautiful dress..."

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A River Runs Through it (1992)

The Moment: Reverend Maclean (Tom Skerritt) sets his sons free after teaching them all he can, leaving Norman (Craig Sheffer) and Paul (Brad Pitt) to fish by themselves. When the latter returns with a large trophy, his father tells him he’s a beautiful fisherman. Sob.

If They Were Mother And Daughter: They probably wouldn't be fishing - perhaps plucking chickens?

Billy Elliot (2000)

The Moment: A proud Jackie (Gary Lewis) proudly watches his son perform in Swan Lake at the climax of this cockle-warmer.

If They Were Mother And Daughter: Jackie's name would go unchanged, but the whole point of Billy Elliot is that it's a boy dancer.

Mrs Doubtfire (1993)

The Moment: Don’t you just hate it when you walk in on the (female) housekeeper and find her having a pee standing up? Making things worse, young Chris (Matthew Lawrence) then discovers that Mrs Doubtfire (Robin Williams) is really his dad. “[Hit her] in the balls!” he tells his sister. “She’s got them?” she asks. “She’s got everything.”

If They Were Mother And Daughter: "[Hit him] in the boobs!"

Legends Of The Fall (1994)

The Moment: After a fiery and difficult relationship, Colonel Ludlow (Anthony Hopkins) ends up saving his son Tristan (Brad Pitt). He stops him from being taken away and shot, which has surely got to rebuild a few broken bridges?

If They Were Mother And Daughter:
Brad Pitt could still play the daughter - check out those lovely cheekbones.

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The Champ (1979)

The Moment: Little T.J. (Rich Schroder) idolises his pa Billy (Jon Voight), an ex-boxer who decides to get back in the ring to help support his son. The final, bloody, tear-strewn showdown delivers a heck of a knockout punch.

If They Were Mother And Daughter: It'd be Million Dollar Baby all over again.

Kramer Vs. Kramer (1979)

The Moment: Ted (Dustin Hoffman) shows how much he now cares for his son Billy (Justin Henry) when Billy falls off some playground apparatus. With his son injured, Ted sprints through the city to get him to the hospital, defying traffic and pedestrians all the way.

If They Were Mother And Daughter: The mother would lift a car off her injured daughter in a similar show of love and determination.

Wall Street (1987)

The Moment: Father and son butt heads as Bud (Charlie Sheen) and pa Carl (Michael Sheen) argue over Carl’s company, which Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) plans on dissolving. Bud accuses Carl of being jealous of his success. Carl’s reply? He doesn’t gauge success with money…

If They Were Mother And Daughter: It'd be like Working Girl only with even more big hair.

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Joshua Winning
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Josh Winning has worn a lot of hats over the years. Contributing Editor at Total Film, writer for SFX, and senior film writer at the Radio Times. Josh has also penned a novel about mysteries and monsters, is the co-host of a movie podcast, and has a library of pretty phenomenal stories from visiting some of the biggest TV and film sets in the world. He would also like you to know that he "lives for cat videos..." Don't we all, Josh. Don't we all.  

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