As Father’s Day approaches, remember that sometimes the best gift is quality time — and, naturally, that includes “quality screen time.” But if you’re not sure what to watch with your dad, allow us to make a few suggestions.
We’ve curated a list inspired by some of the most beloved types of dads you might meet IRL or on screen. Of course, fathers — like all human beings — contain multitudes. Not all dads love sports, and those who do aren’t just sports dads. The goal here isn’t to pigeonhole anyone, but to provide shows that can be enjoyed together over Father’s Day weekend and beyond.
After all, there’s no better way (or excuse) to let the pop in your life kick back in a comfy chair, surrounded by his favorite people, and press play on something he’s excited to watch. So pop some popcorn (or fix whatever your family’s snack of choice is) and hit play on these shows that all have Big Dad Energy.
If you’re a sci-fi fan thanks in part to your old man’s influence, then this might be the out-of-this-world watch for both of you. Based on the best-selling novels by Cixin Liu, 3 Body Problem follows astrophysicist Ye Wenjie (Zine Tseng, and later Rosalind Chao) in 1960s China during the Cultural Revolution, who suffers a personal tragedy and is sent to a logging work camp in Inner Mongolia. Due to her scientific background, she’s soon stationed at a secret base where she receives a mysterious message … and her response has major implications for the fate of humanity. Bouncing between the past and the present-day, we see the world reckoning with the consequences of her actions. And just like with any heart-racing tale of science fiction, time is of the essence.
Four legendary chefs. One mouthwatering series. In honor of the Chef’s Table franchise’s 10-yearh anniversary, this special season takes you into the kitchens and lives of Jamie Oliver, José Andrés, Thomas Keller, and Alice Waters. Each of these visionaries has their own distinct flavor of undeniable influence on the culinary world. You and Dad can appreciate their legacies while also storing away their passion and knowledge for your own cooking exploits. With a blend of inspiring backstory, culinary secrets, and tantalizing dishes, this show’s a perfect recipe for family TV night success.
We can hear fathers around the country now: “Wait, isn’t that the High School Musical kid?” Yes, Dad, it is — but Down to Earth finds him far beyond those East High halls. This documentary series follows Efron and superfoods and wellness expert Darin Olien in their globe-trotting search for healthier, more eco-conscious, and sustainable ways of living. If your pa is in the mood to behold the gorgeous backdrops of Iceland, France, Costa Rica, Sardinia, Peru, Puerto Rico, London, the Amazon rainforest, and Australia, and you’re in the mood to spend a little time with Zac Efron, consider yourselves sorted.
Luke Brunner (Arnold Schwarzenegger) has successfully completed what he believes is his last mission as a CIA operative. His next MO is repairing his relationships with his ex-wife, Tally (Fabiana Udenio), and his daughter, Emma (Monica Barbaro), neither of whom know about his covert career. But before he can get out for good, Luke finds himself back in the field to save another operative: his own daughter. Turns out Emma’s a CIA agent, too — and now they’ll have to hash out family drama while executing their latest undercover mission. With its father-daughter plot, punny episode titles, and plenty of action-packed spy escapades, FUBAR is an easy dad-show sell. Watch one and, to borrow a line from Arnold himself, you’ll definitely be back for more.
This docuseries is essential viewing for pro golf addicts, casual putters, and everyone in between. Its two seasons take you behind the scenes with PGA Tour players (Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Rory McIlroy, among others) and tournaments — digging into their families, friendships, frustrations, and the bevy of feelings that crop up at this level of play. Never picked up a golf club yourself? Don’t worry. Even those with little-to-no knowledge of the sport can follow along easily, and may be surprised to find that there’s drama for(e) days.
If your da is into action-comedies about antiheroes, dysfunctional families, and run-ins with the law, let this series send you back into the world of a 2020 film of the same name. (And yes, director Guy Ritchie — a favorite among countless fathers, we’re sure — is back at the helm.) In it, Eddie Horniman (Theo James) unexpectedly inherits a dukedom and his family’s sizable estate. But as it happens, the land is involved in a marijuana empire, and now it’s on Eddie to protect his home, relatives, and his own life from enemies and dangers at every turn.
Is your pop the type to disperse sage wisdom while passing the salt? Carry teachable moments in his khaki pockets? He’ll probably love The Good Place, a fantasy comedy series about ethics and philosophy created by Mike Schur. In Season 1, a newly dead Eleanor (Kristen Bell) is welcomed to “the Good Place” by its “architect” Michael (Ted Danson) and an artificial intelligence named Janet (D’Arcy Carden). Eleanor is told that she and her fellow inhabitants — including Chidi (William Jackson Harper), Tahani (Jameela Jamil), and Jason (Manny Jacinto) — earned eternal happiness due to the morality of their lives on Earth. The only problem? Eleanor seems to be there by mistake. The show’s four seasons are sure to prompt discussions about how to live a “good” life — in between bouts of laughter, of course.
Tim “The Toolman” Taylor (Tim Allen) plays Mr. Fix-It on TV, but has a habit of breaking things in his own home. Thankfully, he’s got a very forgiving wife, Jill (Patricia Richardson), three young boys (Taran Noah Smith, Zachery Ty Bryan, and Jonathan Taylor Thomas), plus an eccentric next-door neighbor, Wilson (Earl Hindman), who’s never short on life advice. This iconic ’90s sitcom ran for eight seasons, with the Taylors tackling every kind of home improvement project imaginable — from the physical to the intangible, like marriage and parenting. No matter what he’s attempting, Tim almost always finds that a man’s greatest tools are his family.
Calling all handymen (and wannabe handymen) dads! At first glance, this series might seem like your standard home renovation reality program, but there’s a high-stakes twist: the team has only 12 hours to complete their top-to-bottom transformations for each unsuspecting family. What’s this mean? Meticulous planning, huge risks, last-minute audibles, nail-biting finishes, and impressive payoffs. This show, hosted by Danielle Brooks and featuring a squad of rapid-fire renovators, basically turns making over houses into an extreme sport, and we’re not mad about it. (Fair warning, though: Any excuses for delays on your own home improvement projects will immediately be rendered unacceptable upon viewing.)
Stamps, quarters, vinyl records, boats in a bottle — if you have a father who enjoys collecting old stuff that may or may not be valuable to anyone else, give this workplace reality series a watch. Ken Goldin and his team run an auction house specializing in rare collectibles, and the job’s a lot more thrilling than you might expect. And that’s not even counting celebrity cameos from the likes of Drake, Mike Tyson, Peyton Manning, Karl Malone, Ric Flair, and Logan Paul. You and dad will stay glued to your seats — and cursing the day you threw out that old Pokémon card collection.
Got an old man who cares for his vehicle like it’s another child? He’ll relate to Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), a Los Angeles defense attorney who prefers working from the back of his beloved Lincoln Navigator to an office. Based on Michael Connelly’s best-selling novels, the show follows the idealistic Haller’s attempt to restart his career after a personal and professional spiral. Along for the ride (car pun intended) are his two ex-wives (Neve Campbell and Becki Newton), daughter (Krista Warner), go-to investigator Cisco (Angus Sampson) and new personal driver, Izzy (Jazz Raycole). Its legal thrills and excellent pacing make it total “dad show” material — and you’ll get to buckle up for more of it in Season 3.
Any armchair detective dads out there? From the mind of Mike Schur (The Office, Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Good Place), this comedy series sees Ted Danson as Charles, a retired professor who’s missing his late wife and struggling to connect with his adult daughter (Mary Elizabeth Ellis). Looking for a new purpose, Charles answers a newspaper ad seeking an elderly person to help a private investigator track down a necklace thief in a retirement home. Soon after, P.I. Julie (Lilah Richcreek Estrada) sets Charles up as her “man on the inside” — and the fun ensues.
Peaky Blinders is a British period series originally set in 1919 Birmingham, England, inspired by the youth gang of the same name that operated in the city in the late 1800s. The crime drama centers around Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy), a gang leader committed to getting ahead in life — no matter the cost — over six seasons. The name may have come from the peaked caps they were partial to wearing (razor blades were sewn into them on the show; though it’s apparently unlikely real members did the same), as well as the Birmingham slang “blinder,” used to describe striking individuals — something a history buff would love to know, or perhaps already did. From violence to romance, suspense to period-era plotlines, there’s a lot to like for fathers who can’t get enough of stories from the past.
No dad joke arsenal is complete without a Seinfeld reference or two. Famous for being “a show about nothing,” the sitcom chronicles the misadventures of stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld (Jerry Seinfeld) and his three best friends: George Costanza (Jason Alexander), Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), and Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards). Created by Seinfeld and Larry David, the series ran from 1989 to 1998 with nine seasons and 180 episodes — many of which were based on the writers’ real-life experiences living in New York. Widely regarded as one of the most iconic and influential comedy series ever, we’d be surprised if you and your father figure didn’t agree on it being a Very Funny Show.
Phil Rosenthal is probably best known for creating the long-running sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond. But in this travel documentary series, we get to know him in front of the camera as he takes us on an eating tour around the globe. Each episode of the show’s seven seasons is dedicated to the cuisine and culture of a particular city, making stops in locations from Bangkok to Nashville and beyond. They also all include spotlights on charities and various non-profit organizations that are local to the places Phil visits. If your papa loves traveling, a good meal, and goodwill, this is the show for him. (And don’t miss the Season 6 episode dedicated to Phil’s own parents, Helen and Max.)
Have you (or your dad) ever wondered how, exactly, music gets made? This sort of pondering led musician Hrishikesh Hirway to launch his 2014 Song Exploder podcast, on which he invites artists to break down the creative process behind their work. Fast forward to 2020, when Hirway and Oscar-winning director and producer Morgan Neville adapted the podcast into a limited TV series. Alicia Keys, Lin-Manuel Miranda, R.E.M., Ty Dolla $ign, Dua Lipa, The Killers, Nine Inch Nails, and Natalia Lafourcade all join Hirway for an episode. And whether you’re fans of the tracks, their artists or songwriting in general, there’s something both intimate and captivating about hearing a song come to life.
