In cinema, Stepfathers are usually reserved for plot points of drama. These can revolve around resentment, selfishness, hate, and ridicule. Stepparents get a lot of flack when it comes to film, and they are portrayed as a movie's antagonist.
Some films, however, actually seek to subvert these ideas, and there are some great flicks out there that shine a light on great stepfathers. These films can be seen as a lesson of how to be to kids that are not biologically fathers, but the importance of parenthood and responsibility, without seeing a burden.
8 Hank Parsons - Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
When Hank finds himself once again at odds with his stepson, Sean, he discovers an opportunity to build a relationship with the troubled teen. Hank and his stepson decode a message from Sean’s long-missing grandfather, venturing off together to build upon their rocky relationship.
The two embark on Palau, and soon, the film becomes a Jules Verne-like adventure, which shows Dwayne Johnson getting into his action role perfectly as Hank Parsons. Hank shows through physicality in multiple ways just how he would do anything in his power to help his stepson, Sean. Hank is a character that one would not see in a slasher movie, as he really does care for the boy and not just the mother.
7 Pete Mitchell - Top Gun: Maverick
As one of the best aviators in the U.S. Navy, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell is constantly pushing the boundaries and buttons of his superiors. He's like a modern and iconic cowboy. Thanks to his old friend, “Iceman,” Mitchell sees himself returning to the training facility for the best of the best: Top Gun.
Returning to Top Gun has a lot of emotion for Mitchell, as it’s a confrontation of his past, which is filled with ghostly memories of his best friend, “Goose,” who tragically died in a jet accident in the original Top Gun. There’s a confrontation with Goose’s son, “Rooster.” However, the film follows Mitchell’s old flame and reignited love with Penny Benjamin, who has a daughter. Who wouldn’t want the star pilot played by Tom Cruise as a stepdad?
6 Jim Paxton - Ant-Man
As a police officer in the San Francisco Police Department, Jim Paxton acts as somewhat of an antagonist for the original Ant-Man. Audiences find it hard to know who to root for in this early Marvel Studios flick, considering that Jim Paxton is not at all a bad guy.
Paxton is the husband of Maggie Lang and the stepfather to Scott’s daughter, Cassie Lang. Paxton simply wants what is best for the young girl and doesn’t want the former convict father and thief involved in corrupting the young girl. Paxton is nothing short of kind and protective of Cassie.
5 Brad Taggart - Daddy’s Home
In another Will Ferrell comedy flick, Brad Taggart is trying to be the very best stepfather that he can be to his wife’s two children. Brad can’t have children of his own, and he wants nothing but the best for his wife’s kids. His genuine love for them and desire to be loved back is felt throughout the film.
This relationship is further complicated by the arrival of Dusty, his wife’s ex-husband and the father of her children. Brad soon becomes insecure and desperately tries to demonstrate his flair for all things Dusty as to try and gain the admiration of his stepchildren.
4 Daniel - Love Actually
Perhaps one of the most gentle souls to hit cinema screens, Daniel is a true sweetheart through it all. Living in London with his young stepson, Sam, Daniel tries to prevent sadness and a change in his life after the loss of his wife and the mother to his stepson after she passes away.
He is lonely, stricken with grief, but ultimately, he is doing his best to take care of his stepson, whom he considers his entire family. He helps Sam to get the girl of his dreams and shows his attention and affection to his stepson. The way he holds himself together for the sake of the young boy is admirable and emotional.
3 Jim Friedman - Blended
When two single parents go on an awful blind date, they find themselves stranded at a resort together. The two are there with their respective children, and what was once awkward and awful soon becomes a growing admiration for each other. Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore are wonderful in this film.
Adam Sandler’s character, Jim Friedman, has children of his own and is great to Lauren’s kids. He’s a stepdad that makes the kids feel comfortable, and it helps that Sandler is great with comedy and can have everyone laughing with him without the ridicule of another.
2 Gru - Despicable Me
Although Gru is an adoptive father rather than a stepfather, his story is all but inspiring as he slowly shifts from a supervillain to a warm father. When Gru adopts three orphan girls as pawns for his next evil plan, he soon finds his heart warming to them, and his desire to be a father takes center stage, even over his plans to steal the Moon.
Thanks to Margo, Edith, and Agnes, Gru becomes a great father, if not a little dangerous, thanks to his abundance of weaponry and his evil lab. The Despicable Me franchise has great fun involved for families, especially in the fun and obsessive minion characters.
1 T-800 - Terminator 2: Judgement Day
After the horrific events of the first Terminator film, Arnold Schwarzenegger was a terrifying face thanks to his silent presence in the film as a robot killer. However, with the release of Terminator 2: Judgement Day, audiences got to see the Terminator’s softer and father-like side as he bonds with John Connor.
With this reprogrammed T-800, a young John Connor has a protector against Skynet’s T-1000. This father figure is as badass as ever, wielding a multitude of weapons like shotguns and miniguns. No one comes between him and protecting John Connor, and it makes for some entirely wholesome scenes between the two. John teaches the T-800 how to care, and the T-800 teaches John the importance of family. Their goodbye is extremely emotional and serves as a great ending to a great film.