Here's the thing: as girls get older, especially hitting those tween and teen years, the easy physical connection from childhood (the piggyback rides, the princess tea parties) starts to fade. It's developmentally normal, but it can leave dads feeling a bit lost about how to maintain that closeness.

Movies create a safe container for connection. You're sitting together, experiencing the same story, feeling the same emotions—but there's no pressure to make eye contact or "have a talk." The conversation happens naturally, either during the movie ("wait, why did she do that?") or after, when you're both processing what you watched.

Plus, the movies you choose send messages about what you value, what you think is important, and how you see your daughter. Picking films with strong female characters? That tells her something. Watching rom-coms without mocking them? That tells her something too. Understanding how media shapes identity is part of being an intentional parent.

This is your Moana and Encanto era. These Disney/Pixar films have genuinely good music (you're going to be singing "Surface Pressure" for months, sorry), strong female leads who aren't waiting around to be rescued, and themes about family and identity that work on multiple levels.

Turning Red is fantastic for this age, especially if your daughter is approaching puberty. Yes, it's about getting your period (kind of). No, it's not weird to watch with your dad. It's actually a great conversation starter about growing up and changing.

Don't sleep on The Mitchells vs. The Machines—it's funny, the dad-daughter relationship is the emotional core, and it's genuinely one of the best animated films of the past few years.

This is where you can branch out. Spirited Away and other Studio Ghibli films are perfect—beautiful, weird, and full of capable young women solving problems. Your daughter might not get every metaphor, but the vibes are immaculate.

Hidden Figures is a must-watch. Smart women doing math and changing history? Yes please. It's rated PG and genuinely inspiring without being cheesy.

For something lighter, Freaky Friday (the Lindsay Lohan version) holds up surprisingly well. Body-swap comedy, but really about parents and kids trying to understand each other. The music is dated but in a fun way.

A League of Their Own is another winner—women's baseball during WWII, sisterhood, "there's no crying in baseball." It's rated PG but has some adult themes, so maybe preview it first if your kid is on the younger end.

Okay, now you can get into some meatier stuff. Little Women (the Greta Gerwig version) is just chef's kiss. It's about sisters, ambition, art, love, and what it means to be a woman. Your daughter will probably relate to Jo. You might cry. It's fine.

The Princess Bride is a classic for a reason—it's funny, quotable, and actually has things to say about true love versus fairy tale nonsense. Plus, you can use the quotes forever. "As you wish" becomes a whole thing.

10 Things I Hate About You is Shakespeare but make it '90s high school. It's rated PG-13 for good reason (some sexual content, teen drinking), but it's also smart and funny and has a lot to say about not changing yourself for guys.

For something more recent, Everything Everywhere All at Once is rated R (violence, language) but if your teen is mature enough, the mother-daughter relationship at its core is incredibly moving. It's weird and chaotic and ultimately about family connection across generations.

Let her pick sometimes. Even if it means watching something you think is dumb. If she wants to watch a cheesy Netflix rom-com, watch the cheesy Netflix rom-com. The point is being together, not curating the perfect film education.

Talk during the movie if that's your vibe. Some families are strict about silence. Others do MST3K-style commentary. Both are fine. Find your rhythm.

Don't force the debrief. Sometimes the conversation happens right after. Sometimes it's the next day. Sometimes it's three weeks later when something reminds her of a scene. Let it be organic.

Watch for representation. Try to include movies with diverse casts, different kinds of families, different kinds of stories. Your daughter should see herself on screen, but also see perspectives different from her own.

Be willing to be uncomfortable. If a movie brings up sex, relationships, body image, or other tough topics, don't immediately reach for the remote. Lean in. These are the conversations that matter. Here's how to talk about tough topics.

Father-daughter movie nights aren't going to solve every parenting challenge or guarantee a perfect relationship. But they create space—predictable, pressure-free space—for connection. They give you shared language and shared memories. They're a way to show up consistently in a world that makes consistency really hard.

Start now, whatever age she is. Make it a weekly thing, or monthly, or whenever you can swing it. Let it evolve as she grows. The movies that work at 7 won't work at 14, and that's good—it means you're both growing.

And look, even if she's on her phone half the time or says the movie is "mid" or falls asleep twenty minutes in? You still showed up. You still tried. That matters more than you think.

This week: Ask your daughter to pick a movie for this weekend. Let her choose completely. Your only job is to show up with snacks and an open mind.

Build your list: Start a shared note or list of movies you both want to watch together. Add to it whenever either of you hears about something good.

Make it special: Doesn't have to be elaborate, but maybe there's a special snack, or you always sit in the same spots, or you have a rating system you do together afterward. Little rituals make it memorable.

Check out more: Browse our movie recommendations for more age-appropriate picks, or explore how to talk about media with your kids.