6 Best Single Parent Family Movies

By Vlad Zakh · May 29, 2026

Raising a child alone, by choice or circumstance, makes for heartfelt family stories. Life as We Know It has two bickering acquaintances raising an orphaned baby together, Raising Helen has a carefree fashion executive suddenly guardian to her late sister’s kids, and Daddy Day Care has laid-off dads opening a daycare. The Odd Life of Timothy Green, Man of the House and Kolya round out the six.

Life as We Know It (2010)

TMDB ★ 6.5

Two bickering acquaintances are forced to raise an orphaned baby together after the deaths of their friends.

Directed by Greg Berlanti · 1h 54m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Odd Life of Timothy Green (2012)

TMDB ★ 6.7

A couple unable to have children plant a mysterious box in their garden, and a remarkable boy appears.

Directed by Peter Hedges · 1h 45m · Rated PG

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Raising Helen (2004)

TMDB ★ 6.0

A carefree fashion executive's glamorous life is upended when she becomes the sudden guardian of her sister's children.

Directed by Garry Marshall · 1h 59m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Buy: Apple TV Store

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Daddy Day Care (2003)

TMDB ★ 5.7

Two laid-off fathers open an unconventional daycare centre to make ends meet.

Directed by Steve Carr · 1h 32m · Rated PG

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Man of the House (1995)

TMDB ★ 5.6

A widowed father's household is thrown into disarray when he decides to remarry.

Directed by James Orr · 1h 36m · Rated PG

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Kolya (1996)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A confirmed bachelor cellist unexpectedly finds himself caring for a young Russian boy after a marriage of convenience.

Directed by Jan Svěrák · 1h 45m

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store

▶ 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. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Single Parent Family Movies

Life as We Know It (2010)

The Odd Life of Timothy Green (2012)

Raising Helen (2004)

Daddy Day Care (2003)

Man of the House (1995)

Kolya (1996)

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