20 of the Best Mother-Daughter Movies and TV Shows on Netflix Right Now
Cancel your plans – it’s time for a cosy night in with your mum (or mother figure).
There’s no better movie night partner than a mother figure, is there? There’s something uniquely comforting about cosying up on the sofa together on a Sunday afternoon, ready to binge-watch a new series or revisit an old favourite. It’s quality time wrapped in a blanket, with snacks, shared reactions and the joy of being swept up in something addictive for a few hours. A win-win, really – and easily one of our favourite ways to spend time with our mums.
Whether you're settling in with a bucket of popcorn and a nostalgic classic, a glass of wine and a buzzy new binge, or a takeaway pizza and this month’s most talked-about release, these Netflix picks are perfect for your next mother-daughter night in.
All that’s left to do? Call your mum and tell her to come over.
1. Gilmore Girls
It’s an oldie but a goodie. Gilmore Girls is one of the best mother-daughter viewings, because not only is it a series about mother-daughter relationships – and quite a few of them, too – it’s also easy, comforting watching with your own mum. Maybe this is a show you’ve both loved and shared over the years, or maybe it’s one of your favourites that you’re hoping to introduce to your mum. There’s no time like the present to settle in for a movie night with Lorelai, Rory (and Emily!) and the rest of the Stars Hollow gang.
2. Never Have I Ever
We love the mother-daughter relationship at the heart of this adorable Netflix teen comedy. Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) and Nalini (Poorna Jagannathan) have the kind of relationship that warms your heart. Yes, Nalini can be a strict, rule-observing mum, but she also loves her daughter so much, and you can tell from the way they interact with each other. You’ll laugh (and cry) along with this series with your mum, trust us.
3. Emily In Paris
We don’t know what it is, but mums love Emily In Paris. Maybe it’s the Paris of it all, the beautiful scenery and the delicious pastries, maybe it’s the gorgeous fashion and accessories, or maybe it’s just the fact that it’s an easy-to-watch series about being young and in love and in a brand new city. Some of us have been there before, and can relate, but it's equally fun to live vicariously through Emily's escapades. Sylvie, Emily’s sharp and effortlessly chic boss, even becomes a kind of surrogate mother figure – offering tough love, stylish guidance, and the occasional reality check. Now there are four seasons – and soon to be a fifth – of this crowd-pleasing favourite, book in an armchair holiday to Paris with your mum. Why not make an event of it, and cook French food and drink sparkling wine?
4. Bridgerton
Yes, Bridgerton is sexy, steamy and full of period-era swoon, making it an unexpectedly great choice for a mother-daughter binge. If you're not quite up for watching the more intimate scenes together, we recommend starting with season two, which leans more on longing glances and emotional tension than steamy moments – until later in the season, that is. What really makes Bridgerton fitting for this list, though, is how it explores the many shades of motherhood. From Lady Bridgerton’s gentle, emotionally intelligent parenting to Lady Featherington’s manipulative yet well-meaning ambition for her daughters, the show offers plenty of insight into how maternal expectations shape young women’s futures.
5. Schitt’s Creek
Towards the end of its many-season run, Schitt’s Creek was just about the most comforting thing on television to watch for a mother-daughter night. Those last few seasons are worth a rewatch, purely to see the ways in which the Rose family come together in their new life to support and love each other through it all. Moira’s evolution – from aloof and eccentric to genuinely present and connected – adds a touching layer to her relationship with Alexis and David, showing that it’s never too late to grow closer to your kids. We love nothing more than laughing at the antics onscreen, a reminder of just how much fun you can have with the people you love.
6. Good Girls
This darkly comedic crime drama puts a twist on the traditional mother-daughter viewing experience. Centred around three suburban mums who find themselves entangled in money laundering and organised crime, Good Girls blends fast-paced plotting with tender moments. At its core is the fierce devotion of mothers trying to protect and provide for their children, even when the odds (and the FBI) are stacked against them. With plenty of gasp-worthy twists and turns, it’s the kind of bingeable TV show that will have you and your mum exchanging shocked glances and laughing at the wild, wonderfully flawed characters.
7. Sweet Magnolias
If you're after a cosy watch that explores the ups and downs of life, love, and motherhood in a small Southern town, Sweet Magnolias is the perfect choice for you and your mum. Revolving around three lifelong friends – Maddie, Dana Sue, and Helen – the show beautifully captures the strength of female friendships and the different ways motherhood shows up in each of their lives. Maddie’s evolving relationship with her children offers a poignant look at parenting through change and adversity, making it a touching watch for anyone.
8. Wednesday
While this gothic coming-of-age series might not scream “mother-daughter bonding” at first glance, the layered relationship between Wednesday Addams and her mother Morticia is a compelling through-line. As Wednesday comes into her own at Nevermore Academy, her resistance to her mother’s legacy – and eventual understanding of it – paints a powerful portrait of independence, identity, and the generational push and pull we all experience. A surprisingly thoughtful watch with just the right amount of bite.
9. The Crown
If Bridgerton is, ahem, a bridge too far, why not try The Crown for your next mother-daughter movie night? Mums love a good period drama, and The Crown’s four seasons of royal intrigue offer plenty to sink your teeth into – whether it’s Princess Margaret’s youthful rebellion, the Charles-Camilla-Diana love triangle, or the complexities of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s marriage. We especially love the first two seasons for their thoughtful portrayal of a young Elizabeth finding her footing, but it’s hard to deny that Emma Corrin’s performance as Princess Diana in season four is nothing short of astonishing. Beyond the palace walls, the series explores duty, womanhood, and familial tension – making it rich territory for thoughtful post-episode chats with your mum. If she hasn’t seen it yet, now’s the perfect time to cue up a mother-daughter binge session and get through the lot before the next season lands.
10. Ginny & Georgia
At first glance, Ginny & Georgia might seem like your typical teen drama – but dig a little deeper, and it’s a sharp, emotionally complex portrait of a mother-daughter duo figuring life out together (and sometimes at odds). Georgia, the glamorous, unpredictable mum with a murky past, is doing everything she can to give her daughter a better future – even if it means bending a few rules. Meanwhile, Ginny, her clever but restless teen, is navigating her own journey, trying to define who she is outside of her mother’s shadow. This show doesn’t shy away from the messiness of the mother-daughter bond – and that’s what makes it such a worthwhile watch.
11. Dumplin’
This charming dramedy is a love letter to self-acceptance, Dolly Parton, and the complicated bonds between mothers and daughters. Dumplin’ follows Willowdean, a confident teen who enters her small-town Texas beauty pageant to challenge its outdated standards – much to the surprise of her mother, a former pageant queen played by Jennifer Aniston. This film captures that familiar tension between craving your mum’s approval and needing to break free on your own terms. It’s a feel-good watch that will spark conversations, laughter, and probably a few tears.
12. The Queen’s Gambit
This miniseries is another period drama that’s ripe for a mother-daughter movie night. Anya Taylor-Joy stars as Beth, a chess prodigy navigating addiction, fame, and fierce competition on her path to success. While the series centres on her rise through the male-dominated world of chess, it’s also marked by profound (and sometimes painful) maternal relationships – most notably with her adoptive mother Alma, whose glamour and fragility leave a lasting impression on Beth. The costumes and production design are stunning, as is Taylor-Joy’s magnetic performance. You and your mum will be gripped by this story of resilience and complexity from start to finish.
13. This Is Us
If you’re in the mood for a tear-jerker with depth and layers, This Is Us is a perfect pick. While the series follows the lives of the Pearson family across multiple timelines, it’s the relationships between mothers and children – particularly Rebecca Pearson and her three kids – that form the emotional pillar of the show. Rebecca’s evolving dynamic with her daughter Kate is especially poignant, capturing the love, misunderstandings, and unspoken hopes that often define mother-daughter relationships. This Is Us is a sweet, emotional series to share with your mum (just keep the tissues close).
14. Mother of the Bride
If you're after something a little light and sunny, Mother of the Bride is a breezy rom-com that fits the bill. Brooke Shields stars as Lana, a loving mum whose daughter (Miranda Cosgrove) announces a whirlwind engagement – and reveals the groom’s father is none other than Lana’s long-lost ex (played by Benjamin Bratt). Set in a dreamy Thai resort, the film mixes second-chance romance with plenty of mother-daughter tension as wedding prep brings old feelings and new dynamics to the surface. It’s the kind of glossy, feel-good Netflix movie you can throw on with your mum for some laughs, and maybe a few “what would you do?” conversations.
15. Sunday’s Illness
This haunting Spanish drama explores abandonment, reconciliation, and the lasting imprint of maternal bonds. The story follows Chiara, a woman who reconnects with her mother Anabel decades after being abandoned as a child. What begins as a seemingly simple request for a few days together soon unravels into something far more complex and heartbreaking. With stunning cinematography and restrained, powerful performances, Sunday’s Illness delves into the emotional undercurrents of mother-daughter estrangement – making it an introspective choice for a quiet evening at home.
16. Jane the Virgin
Jane the Virgin is a fun choice for a mother-daughter binge that might last a few weeks rather than one night. A clever telenovela-inspired dramedy follows Jane Villanueva, a devout young woman who is accidentally artificially inseminated – a wild premise that quickly evolves into a deeply emotional, twist-filled journey about family, identity, and love. At the core of the show is the beautiful, multi-generational bond between Jane, her glamorous mother Xiomara, and her fiercely loving grandmother Alba. Their dynamic is funny and fiery, offering a touching portrayal of how different generations of women support, challenge, and grow with each other.
17. Elvis
If you and your mum are fans of Elvis, then you’re both going to love spending an evening on the couch bopping your heads along to this Baz Luhrmann treat. Starring Austin Butler as the King of Rock himself, this vibrant biopic beautifully portrays the rise and unexpected fall of the musician who millions adore. While it’s packed with glitz, glam, and tunes, it also touches on Elvis’s complicated relationship with his mother, Gladys – whose presence loomed large in his life and legacy. It adds a layer of emotional depth that makes this film especially moving to watch together.
18. The Mother
If your idea of bonding time includes heart-pounding suspense and high-stakes action, The Mother delivers on both fronts. Jennifer Lopez stars as a former assassin who’s been living off the grid – but is forced back into the fray when her daughter, whom she gave up for adoption to protect, is kidnapped. What follows is a gritty, globe-trotting rescue mission that blends brutal action sequences with surprising emotional depth. Beneath the bullets and backflips is a story about maternal instinct, sacrifice, and the lengths a mother will go to for her child – even if she’s been absent from her life.
19. The Perfect Mother
This gripping French thriller miniseries dives into the lengths a mother will go to protect her child – even when the truth begins to unravel. The Perfect Mother follows Hélène, a well-respected woman whose world is turned upside down when her daughter Anya is accused of murder. As Hélène starts her own investigation, convinced of her daughter’s innocence, secrets begin to surface that challenge everything she thought she knew. A tense pick for those who like their mother-daughter stories with plenty of drama and suspense.
20. Everything Everywhere All at Once
This multiverse-spanning, genre-blending masterpiece may be joyfully chaotic, but it's also one of the most moving mother-daughter stories in recent memory. Michelle Yeoh plays Evelyn, a weary laundromat owner who is suddenly thrust into an interdimensional journey to save the world – and, more importantly, repair her fractured relationship with her daughter, Joy. Through absurdist humour and wild action, the film explores generational trauma, queer identity, cultural expectations, and the quiet love that often goes unspoken between mothers and daughters.
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