10 Greatest Films About Siblings, Ranked

Films that characteristic siblings as equal members within the narrative, not supporting characters, deliver a relatable supply illustration to the massive display. Most frequently in life, brothers, sisters, and chosen siblings function predominant characters in our lives, so why should not they be in movie? One of the best films about siblings characteristic deep dives into the complexities of familial ties whereas bringing a dramatic or comedic edge to the narrative. Whether or not they’re saving the world, their dad and mom, or one another, onscreen siblings discover their respective journeys, utilizing that bond to assist navigate life’s trials and tribulations.

The flicks with the most effective illustration of siblings are Oscar winners, popular culture icons, generational classics, and diversifications of acclaimed literary households. Whether or not they prefer it or not, these sisters and brothers are caught with one another, forcing them to reckon with the previous to make sure a relationship sooner or later.

10

‘Spy Youngsters’ (2001)

Directed by Robert Rodriguez

This sibling duo raised a era of adolescent viewers, cultivating an imaginative world that hinged on their means to work collectively. Spy Kids is the thrilling journey story of Carmen (Alexa PenaVega) and Juni (Daryl Sabara), a brother and sister turned spy after their ex-spy dad and mom (Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino) are kidnapped by an evil mastermind. The pair trek internationally with high-tech assets from their dad and mom’ secret stash to avoid wasting their mother and pop. Carmen and Juni, whether or not they prefer it or not, are puzzle items that want one another to beat their respective weaknesses.

Spy Kids is pure family fun with all the usual sibling formulation that present relatable leisure for its target market. Carmen and Juni have been synonymous with the most effective onscreen baby siblings. The recognition of the primary film garnered a full-fledged franchise, with the primary film remaining a traditional favourite. This sibling duo emphasizes the maturity that some children are compelled into and the way their shared love for his or her dad and mom permits them to place their variations apart (for the second).

9

‘You Can Depend on Me’ (2000)

Directed by Kenneth Lonergan

With an Oscar-nominated narrative and powerful main performances, You Can Depend on Me portrays the rollercoaster dynamics of grownup siblings. Laura Linney stars as Sammy, a single mom seemingly content material together with her structured life as a financial institution employee within the small city the place she grew up. When her elusive youthful brother Terry (Mark Ruffalo) returns for a go to, Sammy and her son’s routine is disrupted, forcing her to decide on between constructing again a relationship with Terry or defending herself and her son from heartbreak.

You Can Depend on Me is an exploration of nostalgia and sentimentality by means of the lens of a sibling relationship. Sammy and Terry are something however a picturesque brother and sister as they navigate battle and their respective flaws. Whereas their dynamic is complicated, the love they share for each other and the price of it’s a dramatic story of how trauma can both gas a sibling bond or pull it aside.

8

‘Star Wars’ (1977–1983)

Directed by George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, and Richard Marquand

With the trendy trilogy bringing the unique intergalactic twins again to the massive display, the sibling dynamic of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) was finest represented by the unique three episodes. The youngsters of Darth Vader (James Earl Jones), as depicted within the first films, Luke and Leia are the epitome of bickering siblings, even earlier than it is revealed they’re twins. They match the formulaic tropes of the good and strategic sister to the impulsive and naive brother. The reveal throughout The Empire Strikes Back was an enormous cinematic twist.

Star Wars additionally gave audiences a brotherly bond between Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Luke. Han falling for Leia is a complete formulaic rom-com transfer with the sister courting the brother’s finest buddy. Regardless of the butting of heads and the quick-witted teasing, Luke and Leia, and by extension Han, are the final word trio of siblings that gave the franchise a layer of emotional depth it wanted, regardless of their characters being squandered in episodes seven, eight, and 9.

7

‘Grave of the Fireflies’ (1988)

Directed by Isao Takahata

This animation movie is way from a baby’s imaginative story of brother and sister, however reasonably a uncooked and emotional depiction of how the sibling bond is typically the one factor left standing within the face of tragedy. Orphaned after an Allied bomb destroys their dwelling, killing their mom, a teenage brother should take care of his younger sister because the pair battle to outlive on their very own in Japan throughout World Warfare II. Grave of the Fireflies isn’t for the fainthearted, eliciting a spread of devastation that Seita and Setsuko should endure.

Whereas Seita should take accountability for his or her lives, Setsuko manages to take care of some innocence and surprise as she collects fireflies, cultivating a deeper illustration of the destruction of battle. Grave of the Fireflies reinforces how resilient a bond between brother and sister will be, and the way that love is like no different within the face of tragedy and loss. This is likely one of the strongest sibling films with an ending that affirms the emotional connection depicted between the pair.

6

‘What’s Consuming Gilbert Grape’ (1993)

Directed by Lasse Hallström

In a narrative about sacrifice, What’s Consuming Gilbert Grape is an essential movie about siblings and exploring placing household first on the expense of 1’s happiness. Johnny Depp stars because the titular character, the second-eldest sibling within the Grape family, tasked with caring for his youthful intellectually disabled brother Arnie (Leonardo DiCaprio). Mama Grape (Darlene Cates) is simply too overweight to go away the home, so the brunt of accountability falls upon Gilbert as he struggles to search out his personal approach in life.

Gilbert and his two sisters have accepted their actuality of being impartial adolescents and younger adults with their mom’s situation. There’s an essence of self-reliance all of them embody, whereas Gilbert takes the brunt of the sacrifice by caring for Arnie and his propensity to get into hassle. What’s Consuming Gilbert Grape demonstrates the power of affection even within the face of burden, as Gilbert shows a spread of feelings from resentment towards his mom and sisters to frustration with Arnie; nonetheless, Gilbert loves his brother and is a fierce protector in opposition to those that refuse to grasp Arnie.

5

‘Delight & Prejudice’ (2005)

Directed by Joe Wright

Popularized onscreen for the swoon-worthy romance between Elizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley) and Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen), this Jane Austen adaptation can also be a story of the dynamics between 5 sisters vying for marriage and to satisfy societal expectations. Pride and Prejudice is the story of Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of a lower-class English household, as she falls for upper-class Mr. Darcy. The pair should determine if their variations in character and sophistication will be overcome with a purpose to maintain their passionate relationship.

The Bennet household unit is a central a part of the romantic narrative as every daughter, supported by their loving father (Donald Sutherland), hopes to safe a wedding that may permit them wealth and prosperity. Every of the Bennet sisters has a definite character that, in a number of moments, threatens their future and the household title. By way of their variations, these siblings endure and showcase a stable help system for each other.

4

‘Rain Man’ (1988)

Directed by Barry Levinson

Depicting one of the complicated onscreen sibling relationships, Rain Man is a cinematic treasure about turning selfishness into selflessness and acceptance. Upon returning dwelling after his estranged father’s loss of life, Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise) learns that his father’s fortune has been left to his autistic older brother, Raymond (Dustin Hoffman), and the ability the place he lives. Decided to get the inheritance, Charlie decides to deliver Raymond dwelling to Los Angeles, and the pair make a cross-country trek that adjustments their lives ceaselessly.

The four-time Oscar-winning film is a dramatic journey of understanding and love between two reverse brothers who start to make up for misplaced time. Charlie’s arc from self-centered to cultivating a bond of brotherhood goes past the bounds of Raymond’s skills, shedding mild on the ability of siblings to deliver out the most effective in one another whereas studying extra about themselves than ever thought potential.

3

‘Little Ladies’ (2019)

Directed by Greta Gerwig

With the newest movie adaptation surpassing the guide, Greta Gerwig‘s Little Women is a film in regards to the enduring bond of sisterhood whereas coming of age. In Massachusetts in the course of the nineteenth Century, the 4 March sisters (Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, and Eliza Scanlen) embark on individually distinctive journeys from adolescence to womanhood, discovering trials and tribulations of affection, familial responsibility, and societal expectations.

Primarily based on the acclaimed novel by Louisa Could Alcott, Little Ladies explores the hunt for identification and the way every sister should discover her personal approach aside from the opposite, all of the whereas sustaining their bond. Gerwig’s model is a non-linear, modernized telling of the traditional story, however she stays true to the March sisters, depicting the depth and nuances of siblings, particularly these of 4 daughters.

2

‘The Guardian Lure’ (1998)

Directed by Nancy Meyers

Whereas it is not the primary ideation of separated-at-birth sisters decided to reunite their dad and mom, the trendy remake of The Guardian Lure is a fan and popular culture favourite of the most effective sibling films. Lindsay Lohan stars as Annie and Hallie, sisters who every went to dwell with one mum or dad following their divorce. When the women unexpectedly arrive on the similar summer season camp, they hatch a plan to modify locations and convey their dad and mom (Natasha Richardson and Dennis Quaid) again collectively. Annie and Hallie spend the latter half of the movie internationally from one another, however their relentless pursuit to reunite their household portrays the final word sister bond.

When audiences consider films about siblings, The Guardian Lure is at all times at high of thoughts. The Disney traditional used film magic to get Hallie and Annie in the identical room, permitting adolescent audiences to consider they have been twins in actual life (like Mary-Kate and Ashley Olson) with their particular person personalities and quirks. Having solely met for the primary time at camp, their bond rapidly types, making them one among the best sets of movie twins.

1

‘The Blues Brothers’ (1980)

Directed by John Landis

What began as a Saturday Night Live sketch become one of many biggest American comedies of all time. The Blues Brothers is the whirlwind musical journey of brothers Jake (John Belushi) and Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) who’re on a quest to lift $5,000 by getting their band again collectively with a purpose to pay the again taxes of their childhood orphanage. The long-lasting black fits, fedoras, and sun shades have turn into popular culture staples for audiences cosplaying or in want of the right sibling Halloween costume.

Jake and Elwood are two peas in a pod, complimenting one another with Jake’s frontman, lead singer persona to Elwood’s elusive quietness and constant disappearing act. The chemistry between Belushi and Aykroyd created one of the iconic duos and siblings in film historical past. Their appeal is the human heartbeat of the film, whereas the Chicago escapades and music are the inspiration.

NEXT: The Best Movies Directed by Siblings, Ranked