6 Best Custody Battle Movies of All Time

By Vlad Zakh · April 11, 2026

The wrenching legal and emotional battle over a child’s custody has produced some of cinema’s most powerful and heartbreaking family dramas. In Marriage Story (2019): A married couple’s divorce spirals into a bicoastal custody battle over their young son. Just as strong is Kramer vs. Kramer (1979): A father fights for custody of his young son after his wife unexpectedly leaves the family.

Marriage Story (2019)

TMDB ★ 7.9

A married couple's divorce spirals into a bicoastal custody battle over their young son.

Directed by Noah Baumbach · 2h 17m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Custody (2017)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A tense custody hearing exposes the hidden abuse a mother and son are desperate to escape.

Directed by James Lapine · 1h 44m

Where to watch

Stream: Lifetime Movie Club, Lifetime Movie Club Apple TV channel, Lifetime Movie Club Amazon Channel, Kino Film Collection

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Jersey Girl (2004)

TMDB ★ 6.1

A widowed father's career ambitions clash with his responsibility to raise his young daughter alone.

Directed by Kevin Smith · 1h 42m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

I Am Sam (2001)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A father with an intellectual disability fights to retain custody of his young daughter.

Directed by Jessie Nelson · 2h 12m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

IMDb ★ 7.1 RT 71% Metacritic 54

A divorced father disguises himself as an elderly housekeeper to spend more time with his children.

Directed by Chris Columbus · 2h 05m · Rated PG-13

Won 1 Oscar11 wins & 10 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, Hulu, FXNow · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

TMDB ★ 7.8

A father fights for custody of his young son after his wife unexpectedly leaves the family.

Directed by Robert Benton · 1h 45m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Custody Battle Movies of All Time

Marriage Story (2019)

Custody (2017)

Jersey Girl (2004)

I Am Sam (2001)

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

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