Top 10 Films Featuring Newborns

Forget the old saying in Hollywood about not working with kids or animals. Babies have taken center stage in some unforgettable films over the years. Whether it's comedy, drama, or even the occasional chilling tale (with a disturbing number of films about babies being linked to the devil), the delightful journeys of newborns offer endless entertainment – even though none of these cinematic babies could ever match the cuteness of your own, of course. Here are 10 of our top picks.

10. Bachelor Mother (1939)

A department store worker (played by Ginger Rogers) finds a baby on her doorstep and ignites a scandal when she’s mistakenly assumed to be the baby’s biological mother. Her boss’s son (David Niven) disapproves of her single lifestyle and attempts to get her to act more like a young mother, resulting in both comedic and romantic moments. If you want to revisit this story, check out the 1956 musical remake, Bundle of Joy, starring Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher.

9. 3 Godfathers (1948)

John Wayne with a baby? Absolutely, and they make a surprisingly good pair in this fairytale Western. Wayne portrays Robert Hightower, one of three outlaws who come across a woman about to give birth in a covered wagon (and you thought childbirth in a hospital was tough). She dies during childbirth, and the outlaws vow to care for the child. They gather baby clothes and food, read baby books, and honor their promise to raise the newborn. Meanwhile, they’re also evading the law. Eventually caught, Hightower is offered a suspended sentence if he relinquishes the child – but he refuses.

8. Rosemary's Baby (1968)

In this chilling story, Rosemary, portrayed by Mia Farrow, begins to suspect that something is terribly wrong with her obstetrician, Dr. Abraham Saperstein, and her unborn baby. Her husband’s behavior is also raising red flags. And what’s in that horrible drink she’s forced to consume daily? With unsettling neighbors and perhaps the most nerve-wracking scene in cinema history of a woman seeking a second medical opinion, this '60s horror masterpiece focuses mostly on what remains hidden – although when the baby is born, he unmistakably takes after his father.

7. Raising Arizona (1987)

One of the Coen brothers' more humorous films, this one still features a jailbreak, a robbery (where a large package of diapers is the prize), and even a kidnapping. Holly Hunter plays Edwina, a former cop who is unable to have children and decides to steal a baby from a wealthy couple with quintuplets. Her ex-convict husband, H.I. (Nicolas Cage), reluctantly joins the scheme, but their lives become increasingly chaotic due to his old prison pals, the couple’s friends, and a ‘warthog’ on a motorcycle, complicating their attempt at family life.

6. Baby Boom (1987)

"I can't have a baby, I have a 12 o'clock lunch meeting," laments Diane Keaton in this comedy-drama about juggling work and motherhood. Keaton stars as J.C., a career-focused New York businesswoman who unexpectedly ‘inherits’ a baby from her estranged relatives. What starts as a disaster (offering a satirical take on yuppie culture) ultimately leads to personal growth. Becoming a mother transforms her life, prompting her to ditch her 1980s power suits for a better home, job, and even a more suitable boyfriend (Sam Shepard as a charming veterinarian). Sounds realistic, doesn’t it?

5. Three Men and a Baby (1987)

Clearly, babies were a big theme in Hollywood during 1987. In this movie, three bachelors (Tom Selleck, Ted Danson, and Steve Guttenberg) are living it up in their bachelor pad until a surprise baby is left on their doorstep. One of the roommates discovers that he’s the father of the little girl, though he had no idea until this moment. The film alternates between being sweet, funny, and cheesy, featuring the obligatory adorable baby, a random subplot about drug dealers, and a classic diaper-changing scene in which Selleck’s character offers Guttenberg’s $1,000 to take over the task. Surprisingly, this feel-good comedy is directed by Leonard Nimoy of Star Trek fame.

4. Look Who's Talking (1989)

Single mother Mollie (Kirstie Alley) is on the lookout for love, but she’s missing the mark by overlooking a kind-hearted cab driver, James, played by John Travolta. What if she could hear her infant son Mikey’s thoughts on her choice of partners? She’d probably be shocked to learn he’s commenting in the voice of Bruce Willis, delivering witty remarks and insights far beyond his age. This comedy spawned sequels, so if one sarcastic baby isn’t enough, check out Look Who's Talking Too, where Roseanne Barr voices Mikey's sister, Julie, bringing sibling rivalry into the mix.

3. Father of the Bride Part II (1995)

Written and directed by Charles Shyer and Nancy Meyers, the duo behind Baby Boom, this film stars Diane Keaton as Nina Banks, a mother facing new challenges. Steve Martin plays her husband, George, a grandfather-to-be who finds out he’s also going to be a father again. Martin Short adds his comedic touch as Frank, a quirky interior designer, while Kimberly Williams portrays the couple's pregnant daughter, Anne. The story hilariously intertwines a dual-pregnancy plot, with both mother and daughter giving birth at the same time. While everything works out in the end, George has some amusing freak-outs about becoming a parent again at his age.

2. Tsotsi (2005)

Tsotsi (played by Presley Chweneyagae), an Oscar-winning Best Foreign Film, follows six days in the life of a young South African gangster. After Tsotsi shoots a woman to steal her car, he discovers a baby in the backseat. In an unexpected twist, he decides to keep the baby and starts taking care of it. He feeds, comforts, and grows attached to the infant, even forcing a nursing mother, Miriam, to help feed the child. Though Tsotsi doesn’t transform into a hero, the experience deeply affects him, leading him to distance himself from his criminal life. Tsotsi, meaning thug, is revealed to be more complex as his real name emerges over time.

1. Babies (2010)

This French documentary by director Thomas Balmès follows the lives of four babies from different corners of the globe. The film showcases the endearing cuteness of each child while comparing the contrasting lives of Mari and Hattie, born in the affluent cities of Tokyo and San Francisco, and their counterparts Ponijao and Bayar from Namibia and Mongolia. It’s an insightful exploration of childhood development across cultures, offering a unique opportunity to observe babies in their natural environment without the need for clean-up, all while delving into the cultural differences in how children are raised around the world.