Mother's Day Movie – 2016, 1980 & 2010 Films

Mother’s Day (the Movie) – Which Film Do You Mean?

Searching for the “Mother’s Day movie” turns up more than one film, and they could not be more different. The one most people mean is the 2016 ensemble romantic comedy directed by Garry Marshall, with Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson and Julia Roberts. But there is also a 1980 horror film with the same title and a 2010 horror remake of it. If you are planning a family movie night for Mother’s Day, read the quick guide below first, so you press play on the right one.

Facts on this page were checked on October 23, 2026 against the sources listed at the bottom. Streaming availability changes often, so we do not list where to watch; see how to check below.

Quick Comparison

Full details for each film (cast, release dates, runtime) are in the sections below.

Mother’s Day (2016) – Cast, Plot and Facts

Mother’s Day (2016) is an American romantic comedy directed by Garry Marshall and distributed in the US by Open Road Films. It was released on April 29, 2016 and runs 118 minutes. Marshall also directed the ensemble comedies Valentine’s Day (2010) and New Year’s Eve (2011). Mother’s Day was the final film of his career: he died in July 2016.

Plot (no major spoilers)

As Mother’s Day nears, a group of seemingly unconnected people in Atlanta come to terms with their relationships with their mothers. The stories include a divorced mom adjusting to her ex-husband’s new marriage, a widowed dad raising two daughters, sisters whose parents unexpectedly show up, and a young woman who has never met her birth mother, a successful author and TV personality.

Cast of Mother’s Day (2016)

(Selected cast. Penny Marshall narrates the film.)

Reception and box office

Critics were harsh: Rotten Tomatoes lists an approval rating of 8% (156 reviews) according to Wikipedia as of our check date. The film’s budget was reported at about $25 million and its box-office gross at about $52.4 million. Ratings and totals change, so check the live pages if the numbers matter to you.

Good for: a light, sentimental watch about moms, daughters and blended families. Worth knowing: reviews were poor, so go in expecting a feel-good ensemble, not a masterpiece.

Mother’s Day (1980) – The Cult Horror Film

Mother’s Day (1980) is an American horror film directed, co-written and produced by Charles Kaufman (brother of Troma Entertainment co-founder Lloyd Kaufman, who was an associate producer). It was released on September 19, 1980, runs 91 minutes, and was made on a reported budget of $115,000. The story follows three friends on a camping trip who are attacked by two men and their mother.

It is not a family or “Mother’s Day treat” movie. Wikipedia notes that it drew criticism on release for its violence, and that the UK’s BBFC rejected it in 1980, banning it from distribution there. It later built a cult following and has been studied by film scholars. It received a new restoration on 4K UHD/Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome in October 2023.

Mother’s Day (2010) – The Horror Remake

Mother’s Day (2010) is a loose remake of the 1980 film, directed by Darren Lynn Bousman from a screenplay by Scott Milam and produced by Brett Ratner. Rebecca De Mornay plays the matriarch. The story follows three brothers who flee a failed bank robbery to their mother’s house, only to find she has lost it to foreclosure and the new owners are hosting a party.

It premiered at Fantastic Fest on September 23, 2010 and was released in US theaters on May 4, 2012, with a runtime of 112 minutes. Wikipedia reports mixed reviews, with praise for De Mornay’s performance and a 41% Rotten Tomatoes rating from 44 reviews as of our check date. Like the original, it is a violent horror film, not family viewing.

Other Films Titled “Mother’s Day”

Wikipedia’s disambiguation page also lists a 1948 American short film by James Broughton, a 1989 American TV crime drama, a 1993 Austrian comedy, and a 2023 Polish action thriller, all titled Mother’s Day. None of them is the film most people are searching for.

Where to Watch

Streaming and rental availability changes constantly and differs by country, so we do not list where each film is “now streaming.” To find out today:

• Search the title and year on JustWatch, which shows current streaming, rental and purchase options by country.
• Check the rental and purchase stores you already use (Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Fandango at Home).
• Always include the year in your search (“Mother’s Day 2016”), so you do not land on the horror films.

Planning a Mother’s Day Movie Night?

A movie night is an easy, low-cost way to spend the day with mom. Pair it with a little effort to make it feel special:

• Cook her favorite Mother’s Day brunch or dinner beforehand.
• Put together a cozy gift basket with tea, snacks and a blanket for the couch.
• Let mom choose the film. Her pick matters more than the title.
• Browse more Mother’s Day activities if you want ideas for the rest of the day.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Mother’s Day (2016 film), Mother’s Day (1980 film), Mother’s Day (2010 film), and the Mother’s Day disambiguation page (accessed October 23, 2026). Their footnotes cite the BBFC, Deadline Hollywood, Box Office Mojo, The Numbers, Variety and Rotten Tomatoes.
• Cast, director, release dates, runtimes and budgets above come from those pages. We did not verify ratings (MPA) or streaming availability.

Related Pages

• History of Mother’s Day
• Mother’s Day Activities
• Mother’s Day Gift Baskets
• Mother’s Day Gift Ideas
• Mother’s Day Food & Recipes