Now, these might not be the most attentive fathers, but they certainly are the most iconic dads in film. From super villains to super cops, this article will provide you with a list of the most bad-ass, funny, and downright sadistic examples of parenting in all of Hollywood history. Just don’t expect anyone to be too paternal.
5. Bryan Mills- (Taken) .
While the sequels were atrocious attempts to cash in on the first’s success, Taken is still a brilliant, hard-hitting example of streamlined action cinema. Liam Neeson’s, Bryan Mills’ attempt to retrieve his kidnapped daughter is a simple, but effective story, engaging the audience with heart pounding fight scenes. Bryan Mills is the dad any child would want in a crisis, Neeson’s stoic delivery ensuring that this is the case.
4. Vito Corleone- (The Godfather)
Marlon Brando revitalised his career with his portrayal as the iconic mafia don in Francis Ford Coppola’s operatic crime tale, The Godfather. The characters attempt to prevent his youngest son Michael (Al Pacino), from following the same path as him is where the film truly becomes an emotional juggernaut. Brando’s choices, from the famous bulldog jowls, to the stroking of a cat in the opening scene, makes the seasoned kingpin of crime a true icon of Hollywood cinema.
3. Darth Vader- (The Empire Strikes Back)
It certainly can’t be argued that Vader is the most caring of parents to his young Jedi son, Luke Skywalker, however, he is possibly the most famous dad in cinematic history. The quintessential movie villain was made even more iconic when he uttered the immortal words “NO I AM YOU’RE FATHER!”, as men of a certain age cried at their local cinema screens. The father-son dynamic between Vader and Skywalker is the most memorable thing from the original trilogy, and is the emotional underpinning to the entire franchise. This makes Vader the most influential film dad in history.
2. Professor Henry Jones- (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade)
The best pairing of the Indiana Jones franchise comes with the genius casting of Sean Connery as Professor Henry Jones, the father of the action-man archaeologist. Seeing the action hero brought down to size by his endearing but steely father brought a nice dynamic to the third instalment of the franchise, and ensured that it remained fresh and interesting. Spielberg and Lucas created the franchise to be their very own version of James Bond, which means seeing the original 007 as Jones’s father was a rather fitting touch.
1. John McClane- (Die Hard)
The ultimate film dad is of course, John McClane. A man who can take on a group of elite German terrorist thieves, while wearing no form of footwear, and still make it home on Christmas morning. Battered and bloodied by Alan Rickman’s, Hans Gruber, Bruce Willis as John McClane is the archetypal tough guy with a heart, making him the perfect film dad.
If you disagree with our list, and have any you would include, please leave a comment.
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