# Recommend movies for my 85 year old Dad **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [June 28, 2026, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-movies-for-my-85-year-old-dad/1031250 "2026-06-28T17:30:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-movies-for-my-85-year-old-dad/1031250/21 "2026-06-28T21:11:32Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > This is a good 90s movie, with Tom Selleck as an old ball player finishing his career in Japan. He does a good job looking like a legitimate player. Also echoes the experiences of [Joe Pepitone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Pepitone) (e.g.: not taking the game seriously and forgetting to duck when going through doorways) and [Randy Bass](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Bass) (who missed tying [the home run king’s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadaharu_Oh) record in '85). ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-movies-for-my-85-year-old-dad/1031250/22 "2026-06-28T21:14:24Z")
My hard to please father enjoyed ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou’. ---
**Author:** ![Schubert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Schubert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schubert)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-movies-for-my-85-year-old-dad/1031250/23 "2026-06-28T21:44:13Z")
My 98 year-old father-in-law laughed uproariously at his first viewing (believe it or not) of “_It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World_” over Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-movies-for-my-85-year-old-dad/1031250/24 "2026-06-28T22:39:07Z")
Since he likes Sound of Music, perhaps he would the same movies as Pope Leo, who mentioned his 4 favorite movies: 1. **It’s a Wonderful Life** (1946) — The Hollywood classic starring James Stewart that highlights the profound, unseen impact a single good person’s life has on an entire community. 2. **The Sound of Music** (1965) — The iconic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical starring Julie Andrews, which the Vatican noted balances family devotion with a quiet, moral resistance against Nazi expansion. 3. **Ordinary People** (1980) — Robert Redford’s heavy, emotionally raw drama starring Timothy Hutton, exploring grief, survival guilt, and the deep need for family healing and mercy. 4. **Life Is Beautiful** (_La vita è bella_, 1997) — Roberto Benigni’s moving Italian film about a Jewish father who uses his immense creativity and imagination to shield his young son from the horrors of a Nazi concentration camp. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-movies-for-my-85-year-old-dad/1031250/25 "2026-06-28T22:54:33Z")
Sheep Detectives is a recent release on Prime Hugh Jackman plays the Shepherd. His flock of sheep investigate his death. Starts slow but surprisingly good. Definitely a family friendly film. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/1NRtuAuhTys/maxresdefault.jpg "The Sheep Detectives | Official Trailer 2") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NRtuAuhTys) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-movies-for-my-85-year-old-dad/1031250/26 "2026-06-28T23:09:22Z")
> [@Frazzled](#): > > I’m not sure about Chicago but I’ll probably recommend that one night. How about a different Chicago musical: _Robin and the 7 Hoods_, featuring [two-thirds of the Rat Pack](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_and_the_7_Hoods#Cast) with Bing standing in for Peter Lawford. > [@Frazzled](#): > > He generally doesn’t like car chases How about a car chase with music (and the world’s largest pie fight)? [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9biklE2wA6M/hqdefault.jpg "The Great Race - Original Theatrical Trailer") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9biklE2wA6M&t=0) > [@Frazzled](#): > > gun fights Maybe if they’re played for laughs? [Support Your Local Sheriff!](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Support_Your_Local_Sheriff!) [Support Your Local Gunfighter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Support_Your_Local_Gunfighter) ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-movies-for-my-85-year-old-dad/1031250/27 "2026-06-28T23:25:17Z")
Screwball comedies might be a good area to try. _His Girl Friday_, _The Philadelphia Story_, and _Sullivan’s Travels_ come to mind immediately as likely choices. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-movies-for-my-85-year-old-dad/1031250/28 "2026-06-28T23:41:57Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > - Bull Durham > - Major League > - Tin Cup Most of the Ron Shelton films treat profanity as an art form > [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > **Hunt for Red October** > **The Enemy Below** Also **Das Boot** and **Master and Commander**. > [@Procrustus](#): > > Apollo 13 might be good for him. That occurred to me too, and if Dad likes it then it’s a small jump to **The Martian** ’s near-future hard science fiction. > [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > My hard to please father enjoyed ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou’. That occurred to me also, but it is a bit subversive. Worth a try. > [@Dropo](#): > > If your father’s “favorite movie of all time” is _The Sound of Music_, I would take it for granted there is nothing I could recommend that would please him Yeah, we just don’t know. **Stand By Me** is a possibility. The early 1960s sound track might not be Dad’s cup of tea. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-movies-for-my-85-year-old-dad/1031250/29 "2026-06-28T23:55:24Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > > [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > > > My hard to please father enjoyed ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou’. > > That occurred to me also, but it is a bit subversive. Worth a try. Maybe _The Man Who Wasn’t There_ or _Hail Caesar_? And he might get a kick out of _The Hudsucker Proxy_… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-movies-for-my-85-year-old-dad/1031250/30 "2026-06-29T00:00:24Z")
Some popular musicals An American in Paris Bye Bye Birdie Fiddler on the Roof Funny Face A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Grease Hello Dolly The Music Man My Fair Lady Oliver! Stormy Weather Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-movies-for-my-85-year-old-dad/1031250/31 "2026-06-29T00:11:39Z")
I thought about _Hudsucker_ —nostalgia and corporate finance — but remembered the time-stopping and metaphoric battles of good vs evil. There’s just no telling. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-movies-for-my-85-year-old-dad/1031250/32 "2026-06-29T03:36:34Z")
Finian’s Rainbow is dated, but it’s fun and the songs are great. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-movies-for-my-85-year-old-dad/1031250/33 "2026-06-29T03:50:18Z")
Ditto _Guys and Dolls_. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-movies-for-my-85-year-old-dad/1031250/34 "2026-06-29T04:41:31Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > He might like La-La Land. It’s got an old-time Hollywood feel, it’s a musical and it’s pretty much clean as a whistle. _The Greatest Showman_, a musical with Hugh Jackman as a fictionalized P.T. Barnum. Lots of cleavage in circus costumes but nothing overtly sexual/ Circus freaks – an albino,a dog-faced boy, a bearded lady, etc. – and a brawl that sets Barnum’s museum afire. For baseball, _Pride of the Yankees_, Gary Cooper in a biopic of Lou Gherig. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-movies-for-my-85-year-old-dad/1031250/35 "2026-06-29T06:32:05Z")
> [@Frazzled](#): > > He was a banker so he kind of liked Margin Call. I think he’d get a kick out of _[How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Succeed_in_Business_Without_Really_Trying_(film))_ Speaking of the Yankees: [_Damn Yankees,_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damn_Yankees_(1958_film)) if he wouldn’t mind a musical about a Washington Senators fan offering to sell his soul to the devil to beat them. If that’s an issue, there’s _[Take Me Out to the Ball Game.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take_Me_Out_to_the_Ball_Game_(film))_ ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-movies-for-my-85-year-old-dad/1031250/36 "2026-06-29T12:42:48Z")
This may seem like it’s out of left field, but I’d suggest _Sorcerer_ (1977). I like it a lot myself and virtually all older people I show it to seem to like it a great deal. Unlike many more recent films, it relies on practical FX (which are absolutely awesome) and it captures a period in history that would probably be meaningful to him. It does have some violent scenes, but they are important and brief. ---
**Author:** ![rippingtons\_fan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rippingtons_fan/32/11767_2.png) [@rippingtons\_fan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rippingtons_fan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-movies-for-my-85-year-old-dad/1031250/37 "2026-06-29T13:10:00Z")
**“You’ll Find Out!”** is a good movie from 1940, starring Kay Kyser, Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre and Bela Lugosi. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-movies-for-my-85-year-old-dad/1031250/38 "2026-06-29T13:36:12Z")
And since he’s a fan of at least one Rodgers and Hammerstein movie musical: Carousel The King and I Oklahoma! State Fair ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-movies-for-my-85-year-old-dad/1031250/39 "2026-06-29T13:39:44Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > **Stand By Me** is a possibility. The early 1960s sound track might not be Dad’s cup of tea. This is in my top 5 movies, but the kids cuss _a lot_. Another sports movie he’d probably like is _Seabiscuit_, about a champion racehorse during the 30s. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-movies-for-my-85-year-old-dad/1031250/40 "2026-06-29T13:48:26Z")
I know you said no sci-fi – what about fantasy? Do you think he’d like **The Princess Bride**? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-movies-for-my-85-year-old-dad/1031250.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-movies-for-my-85-year-old-dad/1031250.md?page=3)