After The Mother, Here Are 10 Thrillers You Can't Miss

There are several more gripping thrillers to watch after The Mother. The Netflix action-thriller starring Jennifer Lopez as "The Mother" was released in May 2023. The story follows Lopez's character, a highly skilled United States assassin, who comes out of hiding to protect her young daughter Zoe (Lucy Perez). The Mother reconnects with Zoe, whom she gave up for adoption immediately after her birth, as the two embark on a long journey to escape from trained operatives that intend to kill them.

The Mother is the latest addition to the niche subgenre of action thrillers in which the protagonist must protect an innocent child. The Lopez-led film is currently one of the Top 10 movies on Netflix despite its less-than-favorable reviews from critics. The new Netflix action movie scored the biggest 2023 opening on the platform by strategically releasing The Mother on Mother's Day weekend. Here are ten more films like The Mother in which the main character must keep a kid safe by any means necessary.

Taken

In the 2008 thriller Taken starring Liam Neeson, Bryan Mills (Neeson) is determined to rescue his kidnapped daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) who is abducted in Paris. Mills is a former CIA operative who tirelessly attempts to track down the kidnappers and save his daughter's life. The film is similar to The Mother in demonstrating an identical theme of how far a parent will go to keep their children safe. The action-packed movie features many villains Liam Neeson's Bryan fights and kills which makes Taken an adrenaline-pumping odyssey.

The Road

The Road is a post-apocalyptic drama movie based on Cormac McCarthy's novel of the same name. The 2009 film follows the journey of an unnamed man (Viggo Mortensen) and his son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) who search for civilization and refuge in bleak and dangerous territory. The man must defend his son from numerous hazards and other travelers, some of whom may be cannibals. The Road portrays the unyielding bond between a father and his son and the raw instinct to survive. The story raises poignant moral and ethical issues in a lawless world turned upside down, with the central dynamic a bleak reflection of the bond explored in Jennifer Lopez's The Mother.

Midnight Special

Midnight Special is a gripping sci-fi thriller starring an ensemble cast of Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton, Adam Driver, and Kirsten Dunst. The 2016 film follows the journey of Roy (Shannon) who goes to extreme lengths to protect his young and gifted son, Alton (Jaeden Martell). Alton possesses mysterious supernatural abilities that attract unwanted attention. Roy and his friend Lucas (Edgerton) try to hide Alton by going on the run but are hunted by a religious cult and the US federal government. The unique film explores themes of parental love and the sacrifices parents make for children in helping them fulfill their destinies.

Safe

Safe stars Jason Statham as Luke Wright, a former elite agent that became a cage fighter after a personal tragedy. Luke meets a young girl named Mei (Catherine Chan) who possesses a remarkable numerical code that holds significant value. Luke realizes that Mei is in danger and takes it upon himself to protect her from a ruthless gang of corrupt cops and Russian mobsters that are after the numerical code inside her mind. Safe is similar to The Mother in both theme and genre and offers many intense and fun action sequences.

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A Quiet Place

A Quiet Place is a thrilling horror film starring John Krasinski and Emily Blunt. The movie is set in a post-apocalyptic world where mysterious creatures with hypersensitive hearing are a threat to humanity. Lee (Krasinski) and Evelyn Abbott (Blunt) live in complete silence with their children to avoid attracting the monsters, communicating only through sign language. Lee and Evelyn go to great lengths to protect their family from the strange noise-sensitive predators where working together and trusting each other are the only ways to survive.

Children of Men

Children of Men stars an ensemble cast of Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Michael Caine. Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, Children of Men is a dystopian science fiction film that portrays a chaotic future world in which women have lost the ability to bear children. Set in the year 2027, the film follows Theo Faron (Owen) on a mission to protect a woman named Kee (Claire-Hope Ashitey), who is the first pregnant woman on Earth in nearly two decades. Theo must protect Kee and her unborn child for the sake of the human race.

Prisoners

Prisoners is another gripping thriller that follows Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) and Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) as they search for Kelle's missing young daughter Anna who is thought to have been abducted. Dover takes matters into his own hands and resorts to extreme measures to uncover the truth about who kidnapped his daughter. The intense film chronicles the natural parental instinct that arises when a parent is desperate to keep their child safe. This dark yet masterful movie, directed by Denis Villeneuve, is another example of the lengths parents are willing to go to protect their kids.

Bird Box

Bird Box is yet again another post-apocalyptic thriller in which the protagonist must protect their child from imminent threats. Similar to A Quiet Place, the world of Bird Box is inhabited by mysterious entities that are deadly to look at. Malorie (Sandra Bullock) must protect her two children while wearing blindfolds to protect them from the strange creatures as they traverse down a river with the hope of finding a safe haven. Despite its underwhelming reviews, Bird Box is one of the most-watched Netflix movies of all time.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Terminator 2: Judgment Day is heralded as one of the best thrillers of all time. The 1991 science fiction action film was directed by legendary filmmaker James Cameron. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, the movie follows Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) and her 10-year-old son John (Edward Furlong). Arnold Schwarzenegger returns as a T-800 Terminator who is programmed to protect John from another Terminator. The T-1000 is sent back in time to kill John before he becomes the leader of the human resistance against the machines as an adult.

Panic Room

Panic Room is quite similar to The Mother in its portrayal of a mother's indestructible love for her daughter. The 2002 intense thriller, directed by David Fincher, follows the terrifying scenario that Meg Altman (Jodie Foster) and her daughter Sarah (Kristen Stewart) find themselves in when three intruders break into their home. Meg and Sarah are able to hide safely in an impenetrable panic room inside the house but are essentially trapped in their fortress. The mother and daughter duo must work together to strategize a path toward survival. Sarah protects her daughter at all costs much like Jennifer Lopez's character in The Mother.

Amal Clooney Wore Optical Illusion Jeans Cosigned by Jennifer Lopez—Fall-Ready Styles Start at $44

My list of must-try jean trends for 2026 is growing; it currently includes all the silhouettes one denim expert revealed to me as the must-watch of the year (save for baggy jeans, because I’ve been wearing those for years). That said, one style that didn’t land on said aforementioned list, but is clearly due for big, big things this year, is flare jeans. With a growing list of celebrity fans that includes Meghan Markle, Jennifer Lopez, Reese Witherspoon, Cindy Crawford, Kendrick Lamar (you know that moment), and, of course, Amal Clooney, there’s no denying the retro denim style that was popular in the early aughts is back—and bigger than ever.

The fact that Clooney wore flared jeans is noteworthy in and of itself. The human rights lawyer is known for her refined dressing approach, regularly opting for billowy trousers, trendy boho blouses, and comfy sweater dresses—all staples that read elegant and timeless. So, when I spotted her earlier this year in the laid-back blues while out to dinner with hubby George Clooney, I knew I had to write about it. Of course, the fact that she wore flare jeans, the style countless celebs have worn the last few weeks, is noteworthy, too, as it further cements the style’s ‘It’ status for 2026. 

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Clooney opted for a pair of medium-wash jeans with subtle fading (another Y2K reference, IMO). Her blues had an ultra-high waist—so high, in fact, that they appeared to hit at the ribcage. It’s the complete opposite of the controversial low-rise denim, so it’s a possible sign that the high-high waist is coming back, too. Not to mention, Clooney’s jeans had a slightly oversized fit from the thighs to the ankles, but it’s that flared hem that has all my attention; it’s taking me back to my middle school days when I’d wear my True Religion flares every single day. (No joke.)

Gap High-Rise ‘70s Flare Jeans

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Mother The Weekender Jeans

It’s undeniable that Clooney’s jeans have that nostalgic flair (ahem, flare, wink, wink), but it’s also undeniable that celebs are clamoring to the style because it’s incredibly flattering. The blues basically act like an optical illusion, making legs look super long, especially when paired with a style that has an extra-long hemline and sky-high platforms á la Lopez; the singer is 5-feet-5-inches, but don’t you agree with me that she looks way taller in these jeans? Yeah, that’s thanks to the flares. The flare hem and longer inseams help create the look of legs for days, but add in a high-waisted cut, platform heels, and a crop top, and you’ll fool people into thinking you’re inches taller. 

Leg-elongating factor aside, there’s no denying that flares are fun and nostalgia-inducing—and that’s exactly what I need right now. So, shop some more fun, funky flares from Frame, NYDJ, and Mavi below.

NYDJ Barbara Jeans

Gap High Rise ‘70s Flare Jeans

Frame The Icon Raw Hem Flare Jeans