Disney movies have always been that one thing that brought my family together. In most Disney movies, either both parents are absent or at least one. A few movies showcase strong mother figures; these movies always make me emotional. After scrolling through Disney+, I found some great movies to watch on Mother’s Day. These movies would be great to watch after spending Mother’s Day at Walt Disney World and celebrating with the entire family.
Brave
Brave never fails to make me emotional. The first time I saw this movie, I immediately thought of my mom and knew I had to watch it with her. One of the underlying messages throughout the film is to improve communication between a mother and daughter. Just like in any other relationship, communication is key. Another message the movie shares is that parents may be strict, but they are trying their best to protect you in the end.
Encanto
Encanto shows the power of family and the different generations of parents. In this movie, we watch Abuela as a young mom trying to make a life for her children with a miracle she received after losing her husband. Then we watched how her children became parents, which gave us two other motherly characters, Julieta Madrigal and Pepa. Coming from a Hispanic family, this movie is perfect for watching when we celebrate Mothers Day because, on big days like this, all hands are on deck to make the day the best.
The Incredibles
In The Incredibles, we see Elastigirl as a fantastic superhero and mom. In the movie, she does her best to bring her family together and ensure that her kids adjust to normal life. As the film progresses and their “normal” life gets flipped upside down Elastigirl does everything she can to protect her family and help defeat the villain. Elastigirl is a cool mom that would do anything to ensure that her family is safe. The Incredibles is a fun, lighthearted, action-packed movie that’s great for the whole family.
Turning Red
Turning Red is a new movie that came out this year. I finally got the chance to watch it, and I thought it was a cute movie. From the beginning of the film, you can tell that the mom values a close relationship with her daughter. Mei Lee is 13 years old and doesn’t want to disappoint her mom. She is a straight-A student and considers herself perfect. As the movie progresses, it’s easy to see that Mei Lee is finding her rebellious side as most 13-year-olds do. Though this part of growing up is hard for parents, the mom, Ming Lee, tries her best to level with her daughter and protect her. After seeing the film, all I wanted to do was see it with my mom.
The Aristocats
Last but not least is The Aristocats. I love cats and Paris, so this movie is right up my alley. In this film, Dutchess, the mom cat, goes on a journey with her three kittens. On this journey, she protects her kittens and gets help from Thomas O’Mally so they can get back home safely. My mom and I love cats, so this movie holds a special place in my heart, so I included it on this list. The Aristocats is a classic Disney movie filled with fun characters and a happy ending where the cats make it back home safely after singing with an alley cat jazz band.
These are just a few movies that show off amazing motherly characters and would be perfect for watching on Mother’s Day. I hope everyone has a great Mother’s Day weekend, whether you spend it with family, close friends who have become family, or your fur babies.
What movies do you think are perfect for Mother’s Day? Let us know in the comments.
Hi, I'm Erica, and I write about all things Disney. Before working for The DIS, I was a theme park performer at SeaWorld, but I also performed at Disney. I have such an immense love for theme parks to the point I studied them in college.
