The 25 best movie dads who became great father figures

5. The Lion King (1994) 

The movie dad: On top of being a wise and noble king, Mufasa is also an extremely loving dad, playfighting with young Simba whenever he gets the opportunity, and gladly laying his life down in order to save his son. Even in death he remains on hand to point Simba in the right direction through life.

If you had to buy him a Father's Day present: What do you get the lion who has everything? A new chew-toy, perhaps?

4. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) 

The movie dad: Henry Jones Senior, who forms a wonderfully comedic double act with his son, Indy. While the two seemingly spend most of the film at loggerheads, their mutual affection is obvious, particularly when the older man thinks his son has gone plunging off the side of a cliff.

If you had to buy him a Father's Day present: We’d get him a new umbrella, as his is a little worse for wear by the end of the film.

3. The Road (2009)

The movie dad: Known only as "Man", Viggo Mortensen's grizzled protagonist has only one thing left to live for in Cormac McCarthy's post-apocalyptic nightmare: his son. While the boy's mother has long since given up hope, his father refuses to, convinced that somebody somewhere can help his boy survive.

If you had to buy him a Father's Day present: A tandem bicycle might be useful. It would make a change from all that walking...

2. American Pie (1998-2012) 

The movie dad: Noah Levenstein, dispenser of inappropriate life advice extraordinaire. However, for all his unfortunate masturbation anecdotes, he’s willing to walk through hell and high water for his son, Jim. Not many dads would take their son to A&E to get their penis unglued from their hand without at least one snide remark.

If you had to buy him a Father's Day present: A membership to a dating website. Or as Stifler would put it, "I want you to dust off that old dick of yours, go out there and get some ass."

1. Taken (2008) 

The movie dad: Most dads would react to the kidnap of their daughter with a mixture of fear and panic, but not Bryan Mills. He just gets very, very cross. Never has a dad been more single-minded in his mission to help his child, as Mills brings his full array of "special skills" to bear on the wrong 'uns who've kidnapped his daughter.

If you had to buy him a Father's Day present: Maybe some heavy duty painkillers. He absorbs his fair share of punishment in this one.