Michael Sullivan (Tom Hanks), a morally conflicted hit man whose employer, John Rooney (Paul Newman) is a kindly, aging Irish crime boss connected with Al Capone. Curious about his father's mysterious job, Michael’s son, Michael Jr, stows away in his father's car one night and witnesses the execution of a man at the hands of his father and John Rooney's biological son, Connor (Daniel Craig).

Although Michael Jr keeps his promise to remain silent about what he's seen, the paranoid and unstable Connor tries to wipe out Michael and his entire family but only succeeds in killing his wife and youngest son, Peter. Michael wants retribution but Connor is protected by his father and the Chicago mob. It’s the complexities of the father-son relationships that make this film so great.

John Rooney thinks of Michael Sullivan as a son and adores him but is disappointed by his own son, Connor, and enraged at the attempt to kill Michael and his family. Ultimately blood is blood John decides to protect his son Connor whatever the cost.

Michael has lost one son, he’s trying to protect another and the man that he loved as a father is standing between him and vengeance for the death of his own wife and son.

5. Kramer vs. Kramer

When his wife suddenly leaves, Ted Kramer (played by Dustin Hoffman) and his son Billy learn to live on their own and rely on each other.　 It's not easy at first, but they soon come to a mutual understanding and deep love for one another.　

When his wife suddenly returns and wants sole custody of their son, Ted shows just how far a father's love is willing to go and how long a man is willing to fight for his family.　 In a time when women are usually automatically given custody, Ted attempts to defy the odds and win his son back.

6. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

The third instalment of the epic series introduces Indiana’s (Harrison Ford) father Henry Jones Sr (Sean Connery) to the mix. Jones Sr has sent Indiana his diary which contains information on the whereabouts of none other than the Holy Grail!

Meanwhile those dastardly Nazi’s have kidnapped Jones Sr and thus the adventure begins. One of the things that makes this film so great is the banter and tension in the relationship between Indiana and his dad. Jones Sr has always been obsessed with antiquities and wasn’t always as present in Indiana’s life when he was growing up as Indi would have liked him to be.

Ironically Indi is equally as fascinated with discovering long lost treasures although there is tension there is also a common passion that creates and interesting albeit comedic relationship.

7. Big Fish

Edward Bloom (Albert Finney/Ewan McGregor) is a great teller of tall tales, much to the frustration of his son, Will (Billy Crudup), who feels he’s never really known who his father is. When Edward discovers he is dying, Will comes to see him with his pregnant wife Joséphine (Marion Cotillard). Edward tells Joséphine the seemingly outrageous story of his life from his deathbed while Will tries desperately to reconcile with his father.

With flawless performances from all, Tim Burton’s　Big Fish　has a big heart and the final scenes, as Will comes to understand and appreciate his father for the first, and last, time are incredibly moving.

8. Finding Nemo

Hey, fish are dads too. After losing his wife and all his unborn kids, save one, over-protective Marlin is relentless in his search for Nemo, his only child. Pixar have a flawless way of portraying the complexities of human emotion through the use of toys, monsters or cute animals, and they don’t disappoint here.

Marlin’s single-minded pursuit of Nemo, with no thought of ever quitting or assuming the worst is something that any parent could probably relate to. Just as Nemo’s exasperation with his over-bearing father is something that any child could equally relate to.

9. When Did You Last See Your Father?

An outstanding cast gives emotional richness to the father/son memoir When Did You Last See Your Father? Writer Blake Morrison (

Colin Firth), faced with the impending death of his father Arthur (Jim Broadbent), reflects back on how the clash of personalities has led them to near alienation.

Blake can’t forgive his father for small embarrassments and large betrayals–but he also can’t let go of the need to understand his father’s combination of broad but generous humour and petty egotism. Everyone else in Arthur’s life seemed to love him; why can’t Blake?

10. Return of the Jedi

And you thought your dad was bad. Poor old Luke Skywalker has the kind of father issues that no amount of therapy will cure.

Aside from finding out that his dad is not dead, as he was told, he also has to deal with the fact that the old man is an intergalactic despot, murderer and looks like a badly boiled egg with eyes. You have to wonder if you’ll turn out the same, right?

Luckily for this galaxy, Skywalker Jr. has a heart the size of a death star and is able to turn his father back to the light. Not that this brings back the countless hundreds Skywalker Sr. force strangled on a whim.