Father’s Day lives in the shadow of Mother’s Day. It sits on the calendar somewhere between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. You better not forget Mother’s Day, but a sibling might have to text you to remind you Father’s Day is coming up. You can take your dad to Olive Garden and buy him another tie, but he really just wants to spend time with you. As good as your dad may be, admit it: movie dads are better. They’re simply more entertaining than a real-life dad could ever be. Here are six dads we’d like to spend time with this Father’s Day.
Cover photo: Warner Bros.
Ranked Best Movie Dads We Wish We Were Celebrating With This Fathers Day
-
6. Vito Corleone
Like any good father, or Godfather, Vito Corleone wanted his sons to take over the family business. Sure, his first-born, Sonny, gets gunned down at a toll plaza. Yes, Fredo, the middle one, betrays Michael, the youngest, who has him killed unceremoniously in a fishing boat. Hey, business is business. Regardless of the risk, Vito is one dad who can offer you protection, usually.
-
5. Jack Byrnes
Jack Byrnes is a great dad if you’re his daughter. If you’re going to be his son-in-law and have to Meet the Parents, not so much. He’ll make you take a lie-detector test. He’ll make fun of your name, your profession. Just don’t claim you once milked a cat or get too aggressive during water volleyball, and Jack just might accept you into the family. But keep an eye out for hidden video cameras when you visit him on Father’s Day.
-
4. Nick “Goose” Bradshaw
Nick “Goose” Bradshaw—gone too soon, if 1986 is too soon. Maverick’s wingman in Top Gun left behind a 4-year-old son when he perished in a plane crash. Yet, Goose obviously provided a good role model for Bradley, aka “Rooster.” He inherited his dad’s flying skills, which he shows off in Top Gun: Maverick. Most importantly, he also inherited his father’s unironic mustache. Father’s Day with Goose and son comes with 10 Gs.
-
3. Willie Jones
Willie Jones teaches his son Craig a lot in Friday. You can use water to make a bowl of cereal. If you get fired on your day off, you can always get a job as a dog-catcher. Sure, Willie, makes the bathroom unenterable, but he imparts an important lesson to Craig. Use your fists instead of firearms to settle beefs. Father’s Day with Willie Jones would definitely be the best day of the week.
-
2. Clark Griswold
Clark Griswold is an active dad. In the Vacation movies, he schleps his family across America and Europe and puts on the hap-hap-happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny f*cking Kaye. The clumsy patriarch even lets his teenage son drink beer. No cliché Father’s Day cards and stodgy meals here—Clark will take over an amusement park at gunpoint to make sure his family has fun.
-
1. Chief Brody
Martin Brody saved his kids from a killer great white shark not once but twice. Sure, both of his sons had way-too-close encounters with these salty predators on his watch, but he makes up for it by making funny faces at the dinner table. Brody even shields his sons from worrying about him when he ventures out with Quint and Hooper to kill the shark. “Tell ‘em I’m going fishing,” Brody says. Father’s Day would be the perfect time to do a little fishing with this resourceful dad.
