SALT LAKE CITY —It’s no secret that films sometimes fail to show us phenomenal examples of fatherhood. Dysfunctional families are in comedic vogue, and classical action heroes usually don’t have time to burp the baby.

But this doesn’t mean there aren’t some shining examples of dads on the silver screen.

In honor of Father's Day, we wanted to shed a spotlight on a few of our favorite fictional fathers.

Daniel Hillard/Mrs. Doubtfire

Daniel Hillard (played by Robin Williams) in 1993’s "Mrs. Doubtfire" is a fun, over the top reminder that even when your family isn’t picturesque, a good dad does his best to make things work. While I might not recommend disguising yourself as a nanny after losing a custody battle (spoiler alert: it doesn’t end as nicely as the movie wants you to think), watching Daniel go to fantastically funny lengths to see his kids is nothing short of endearing.

Mufasa

Mufasa from Disney’s "The Lion King" solidifies himself as a solid cinematic dad with his fatherly advice, protective nature and genuine enjoyment of his son, Simba. He also remains a prominent example of leadership and teaching your kid to grow into a responsible and empathetic adult. It’s hard to find a '90s kid who wasn’t emotionally scarred by the loss of Mufasa, and it’s no mystery why.

Atticus Finch

The 1962 classic "To Kill a Mockingbird" introduces us to Atticus Finch, a timeless ambassador for thoughtful parenthood. Despite a busy job as a lawyer, Atticus makes single parenting look easy. Not to mention his eloquent calls for equality and consideration from others in the South’s Jim Crow era. Atticus shows his kids his integrity and gives them a shoulder to cry on when things get rough. Just don’t read "Go Set a Watchman" if you want Atticus’ character preserved.

Tony Stark

Maybe we’re still crying over "Avengers: Endgame." Or maybe the three-film arc of Tony being a father to Peter Parker and then his own daughter, Morgan, was pretty awesome. Watching Peter break down Tony’s fears of fatherhood and introduce him to its joys in "Captain America: Civil War" and "Spiderman: Homecoming" was pretty great. Morgan took up the mantle in "Endgame" and showed us a Tony who loved being a dad even more than a superhero. Yes, Tony Stark has a heart, and his kids are no small part of it.

Mike Brady

Mike Brady from "The Brady Bunch" gives us 117 episodes of wise advice and child-rearing. A big family with kids of all ages poses unique challenges, but it frequently feels like Mike can handle anything. His marriage with Carol is pretty cute, too. Mike shows us an ideal dad trying his best in a messy nuclear family of the ’70s, and it couldn’t be done better.

Marlin

"Finding Nemo" hoodwinked children everywhere into watching a middle-aged dad go on an adventure to find his son. Marlin faces jellyfish, sharks, and entire oceans for his family. Even his overprotective nature at the start of the movie stems from wanting his son to be safe. Not all dads have to cross the world for their kids, but it’s good to see a dad who would. Now just don’t think about how "Taken" is just "Finding Nemo" for adults.

Mr. Incredible

Mr. Incredible, like many men, struggles with the idea of being a stay-at-home dad in "The Incredibles 2," but he adjusts. He helps his super children with everything from homework and dating to helping them control their superpowers. Sometimes he doesn’t get much sleep and he looks ragged, but that’s what makes him incredible.

There are dozens of fantastic fictional dads, and these are just a few worth celebrating. Who would you add to the list? Kaitlyn Workman is a University of Utah political science and mass communications major. Contact her at kworkman@deseretdigital.com

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