The 25 best movie dads who became great father figures

15. Star Wars (1977-1983) 

The movie dad: Now, we know Darth Vader is the embodiment of evil in a galaxy far, far away, but he does make amends at the last, laying down his life in order to save his son Luke and defeat Emperor Palpatine. We think he deserves a bit of credit for that. 

If you had to buy him a Father's Day present: An inhaler. Obviously...

14. Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)

The movie dad: Big Chris might be a violent thug, but he's keen to bring his son up in the right way. That means no swearing, no blaspheming, and no getting his throat cut by rival gangsters. Chris is also fiercely protective, as Alan Ford's narrative so expertly illustrates. "Heaven protect anybody who touches that boy," he says, ominously. 

If you had to buy him a Father's Day present: We'd get him a new leather jacket. His current one is bound to be covered in blood-stains.

13. Die Hard (1988)

The movie dad: John McClane’s commitment to parenting might initially have been undermined by a sense of being married to his job, but when Alan Rickman’s troop of euro-goons threaten the family’s Christmas plans, there’s no lengths to which John won’t go in order to thwart them. Essentially, he walks over broken glass to make it home for turkey and eggnog.

If you had to buy him a Father's Day present: Some soft, fluffy slippers to ease those shredded feet.

12. Juno (2007) 

The movie dad: Mac Maguff, who reacts to the news of his daughter’s teenage pregnancy with admirable restraint, before proving himself a rock upon which she can depend on throughout thick and thin. His response to her decision to put the baby up for adoption is also expertly handled. "Someday you’ll be back here honey," he says comfortingly, "on your terms."

If you had to buy him a Father's Day present: How about a mug that says, World's Greatest Granddad? No?

11. Batman Begins (2005)

The movie dad: This is a joint award to both Thomas Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth. The former is Bruce's actual father, the man who taught the young lad right from wrong, while the latter fills the role of father figure after Thomas meets an untimely death. Both can take credit for the various qualities that make Batman such a worthy hero. 

If you had to buy him a Father's Day present: Alfred looks like the sort of man who might enjoy a good bottle of scotch.

10. Kick-Ass (2010) 

The movie dad: People have different ways of bonding with their kids. Some coach their sports team. Some teach them how to ride a bike. And some equip their offspring with heavy weaponry and join them in the ongoing fight against crime. Damon MacReady falls into the latter camp, but don’t question how much he loves his daughter. Because he’ll probably kill you. 

If you had to buy him a Father's Day present: An AK-47 complete with armour-piercing rounds. It’s what he’d spend the money on himself...

9. The Mist (2007) 

The movie dad: David Drayton is so desperate to ensure his son doesn’t suffer a painful death at the hands of the hideous, otherworldly creatures that populate The Mist, that he makes the heartbreaking decision to kill him with one of his remaining bullets, and face the beasties himself. Things don’t quite work out as planned, but his heart was in the right place. 

If you had to buy him a Father's Day present: A new set of paints might cheer him up. He’s an artist, you see.

8. It's a Wonderful Life (1946) 

The movie dad: Not only a great movie dad, but a great movie son and brother to boot, George is forever putting his own happiness second to that of his immediate family. Alright, so he has a bit of a wobble halfway through, but even when’s he’s thinking of ending it all, his reasoning is that he’ll be worth more to his kids dead than alive.

If you had to buy him a Father's Day present: We’d hire him an accountant to look after his cash, rather than that feckless Uncle Billy.

7. Armageddon (1998) 

The movie dad: Harry Stamper is a bit of a hardass when it comes to his daughter’s boyfriend, but when the two of them end up on an outer-space mission to save the Earth, he mellows out. Things come full circle when he eventually sacrifices himself, sending the younger man home to look after his daughter.

If you had to buy him a Father's Day present: We can think of no better gift than a vinyl copy of Aerosmith’s Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing.

6. The Godfather (1971) 

The movie dad: A man of questionable morals in the workplace, Vito Corleone takes a different approach when it comes to his family. Indeed, he never wanted a life of crime for his son Michael, as proven by the tears he sheds at the knowledge he has killed on behalf of the business. At least he dies long before Michael really goes over to the dark side. 

If you had to buy him a Father's Day present: A chunky gold watch, engraved with his favourite motto, "A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man."