Cover Celebrate Father’s Day with a curated watchlist that includes ‘Andor’, ‘The Last of Us’, ‘Shogun’ and other shows and movies packed with action, heart and unforgettable storytelling. (Photo: IMDb)
Celebrate Father’s Day with a curated watchlist that includes ‘Andor’, ‘The Last of Us’, ‘Shogun’ and other shows and movies packed with action, heart and unforgettable storytelling. (Photo: IMDb)
1 / 1
From ‘Andor’ to ‘Ballerina’, celebrate Father’s Day with this curated list of must-watch films and series for Dad
This Father’s Day, skip the usual “World’s Best Dad” mug or the jokey necktie. Instead, show him you care by giving him a carefully curated watchlist of shows and movies tailored to his taste. Call it “Dad genre”, these shows and movies have everything from action and comedy to political intrigue and even cordyceps.
Whether it’s Tom Cruise throwing himself off another plane in Mission: Impossible, Diego Luna and company staging a rebellion in Andor or Pedro Pascal helping Bella Ramsey survive a post-apocalyptic nightmare, there’s something here that he’s guaranteed to love. After all, nothing says, “Thank you, Dad”, quite like giving him some uninterrupted quality time—just him, his favourite home entertainment setup (or a trip to the cinema) and a generous bucket of popcorn to enjoy in peace.
In case you missed it: Plan your Father’s Day celebration around these 9 unique activities
‘Mission: Impossible’ flim franchise
Now that Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the final instalment in the hugely popular Tom Cruise-led film series, has hit cinemas, Dad’s mission—if he chooses to accept it—is to marathon the entire Mission: Impossible saga from start to finish. Packed with high-octane action and Cruise’s increasingly elaborate, death-defying stunts, the franchise is pure, unfiltered dad-core entertainment.
See also: ‘Mission: Impossible’: 7 stunts that redefined high-stakes action cinema
‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina’
Here’s another franchise that’s packed with the sort of adrenaline-pumping, stunt-heavy action that dads generally gravitate toward. A spin-off of the popular John Wick movies, Ballerina stars Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro, and in true Wick fashion, she’s out for revenge. With solid action-movie credentials from standout roles in No Time to Die and The Gray Man, de Armas delivers balletic beatdowns with precision and style and even manages to hold her own against the Baba Yaga himself (yes, Keanu Reeves makes a cameo).
Don’t miss: Female action heroes: 8 women who redefined courage long before ‘Ballerina’ pirouetted in
‘Fountain of Youth’
Fountain of Youth, starring John Krasinski and Natalie Portman as sibling adventurers Luke and Charlotte Purdue, channels the spirit of Indiana Jones, National Treasure and even a bit of the early Mummy films through the lens of Guy Ritchie. Think: a daredevil hero, a brainy, voice-of-reason sister, a mythical artefact, a shadowy organisation sworn to protect it, a power-hungry villain—and yes, pyramids. If Dad’s a fan of archaeological mysteries, globe-trotting adventures and slick action-comedy, then this one should be right up his alley.
‘Shogun’
If prestige series are more his thing, FX’s award-winning Shogun, based on the 1975 historical novel by James Clavell, is essential viewing for Father’s Day 2025. The performances are exceptional across the board, especially breakout star Anna Sawai’s powerful portrayal of Lady Mariko. Populated by richly drawn characters and driven by a plot steeped in Japanese history, culture and political intrigue, this sweeping epic is as intellectually engaging as it is visually stunning.
‘The Fall Guy’
A glorious ode to stunt performers, The Fall Guy is a romantic-comedy remake of the classic ’80s TV show. Ryan Gosling stars as Colt Seavers, a stuntman sidelined by an on-set accident who agrees to come out of retirement—not so much to double for Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), Hollywood action-star-with-a-heart-of-lead, but to win back the heart of the film’s director—and his ex-flame—Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt). With Gosling and Blunt’s effortless chemistry and some of the most thrilling practical stunts in recent cinema, this film is a sure bet for dads looking for a lighthearted, fun action movie for Father’s Day 2025.
‘The Last of Us’
HBO Max’s The Last of Us is perfect for gamer dads or those drawn to post-apocalyptic storytelling. Based on the acclaimed video game of the same name, the series has been praised for its rich character development, emotional depth and immersive world-building. Starring Bella Ramsey and man-of-the-hour Pedro Pascal, it’s fundamentally a story about survival and revenge, with their compelling father-daughter dynamic anchoring the emotional core. For dads, the themes of sacrifice, protection and retribution resonate deeply—delivering gut-wrenching moments of love, loss and quiet resilience amidst the chaos.
‘Andor’
The most grounded entry in the Star Wars universe, Andor—the prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story—offers an unflinching look at what it takes to mount a rebellion. Shifting the focus from space warfare, it tells the stories of the people on the ground, revealing the harsh realities people face in the fight for freedom—the sacrifices, the compromises, the casualties. Critically acclaimed and often called the best in the Star Wars series, Andor delivers a gritty, nuanced narrative that should resonate with longtime fans and newcomers alike.
‘The Pitt’
Hailed for its attention to detail, medical accuracy and for capturing the physical and emotional toll of working in an ER, HBO Max’s The Pitt, starring Noah Wyle as the stressed-out senior senior emergency attending physician on duty, is being called one of the best shows of the year and the most realistic medical drama to date.
With its unrelenting pace and raw portrayal of what goes on in an emergency room, the series is like ER meets 24. The 15-episode first season unfolds in real-time, documenting a single 15-hour shift. Gritty, harrowing and authentic, it pulls no punches in showing the chaos, tough decisions and profound humanity behind hospital doors.
Topics
