- Susan Pennington, Chris Beachum, Misty Holland
- Film
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Siblings have been loving and fighting for over 100 years of filmmaking. Our photo gallery ranks the 30 best movies primarily focused on brothers and sisters in all sorts of movie combos.
They have come from novels, some are based on real-life siblings, some are animated, some are from comic books, some are musical. There are loving relationships, contentious relationships, new-found relationships. There are romantic triangles among siblings, some creepy sharing among siblings and even some hints of incestuous relationships. And sibling relationships have been dissected in every genre of film – comedy, drama, thriller, sci-fi, musical, family.
From the earliest adaptation of “Little Women” in the pioneer days of the silents, to the Golden Age of Hollywood with classics such as “White Christmas,” to the edgier 1970s with films like “The Godfather,” to current times with blockbusters like the Marvel series, and, yes, another acclaimed 2019 version of the beloved “Little Women.”
Those of us with siblings often share favorite films, whether it’s because they bring back shared childhood memories or because the film is reminiscent of our own connections. Most of us can’t gather with our brothers and sisters right now, but maybe we can connect at a distance with a favorite film.
Our gallery includes the films mentioned above, plus the “Star Wars” trilogy, “Frozen,” “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?,” “The Sound of Music,” “The Parent Trap” and more.
30. Meet Me in St. Louis
Love of family and love of their hometown bind siblings Esther, Rose, Lon, Agnes and Tootie. Devastated that they may have to move, and before the World’s Fair, they console each other, with Esther singing Tootie “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” when the youngest sister despairs that it will be the last holiday spent in their home.
29. The Little Foxes
In a time when women had to rely on men for financial means, Regina Hubbard Giddens will do anything to maintain her wealth, including blackmailing and stealing from her brothers Benjamin and Oscar – who also resort to underhanded means to obtain the riches they desire.
28. Hocus Pocus
The residents of Salem have thought the Sanderson witches are merely urban legend, but are proven wrong when the trio is accidentally resurrected 300 years after their demise. Dimwitted sisters Winifred, Sarah and Mary hilariously attempt to remain alive and young by using witchcraft in modern times, wreaking havoc on the small town.
27. Knives Out
When famed writer Harlan Thrombey’s mysterious death is investigated, the knives come out among his children, Linda, Walt and Joni, the flaky widow of middle child Neil. Sibling rivalry reaches new levels as they reveal one other’s secrets to the investigator, each willing to backstab to receive what they consider their rightful inheritance.
26. My Sister’s Keeper
Anna is a “savior sister,” conceived for the harvest of her tissues to keep her cancer-stricken sister Kate alive. After 11 years of medical procedures to help Kate, Anna sues her parents for medical emancipation, which threatens to destroy the family. The sisters, along with their brother Jesse, have all been heavily impacted by Kate’s illness; despite all the heartache, the three share an inseparable bond.
25. On the Waterfront
Sibling loyalty will usually take a backseat to mob loyalty once one is firmly entrenched in that lifestyle. Although Terry Malloy initially does some dirty work for his brother Charley, a mob boss’s righthand man, in the end it’s good versus evil, and both brothers can’t win.
24. Hannah and Her Sisters
Drama swirls around Hannah and her sisters Lee and Holly over a succession of three Thanksgiving dinners. Shared romantic entanglements and business ventures threaten to tear the family apart – but the sisters’ strong bond holds them together.
23. Dead Ringers
Twins Elliot and Beverly Mantle share a gynecology practice, as well as women. Loosely based on a bizarre true story, the brothers’ intense, creepy connection leads to their tragic downfall.
22. White Christmas
No mister can come between such devoted sisters. Betty and Judy Haynes sing together, dance together, help each other find true love – and look absolutely adorable while doing so.
21. Sabrina
Responsible Linus is a no-frills workaholic, running the family empire, while his baby brother David prefers playing and womanizing, infuriating the staid Linus. The chauffeur’s daughter Sabrina grows up, and catches the eye of both brothers, who are soon competing for her attention.
20. Spy Kids
Carmen and Juni Cortez go from being typical bickering siblings from a normal family to discovering their mom and dad are actually two of the greatest spies ever. Now their parents have disappeared, and the two have to work together to outwit the enemy and bring their parents home.
19. Dead Ringer
In the ultimate story of sibling betrayal, Margaret stole Edith’s promising future many years ago, and Edith now exacts revenge by killing her identical twin and claiming her comfortable life. However, Edith soon realizes isn’t enough to just look like Margaret, as other’s notice subtle differences, and guilt begins to take root.
18. The Fabulous Baker Boys
Although they have differing styles and interests, Jack and Frank Baker together make a living playing dual pianos. When a pretty singer joins the duo, the brothers realize their fraternal loyalty is holding them both back from things they really want to do, learning that it sometimes better for family to let each other go.
17. 10 Things I Hate About You
Overprotective father won’t allow his younger daughter to date until the older one does, knowing the older one isn’t interested in socializing. This causes conflict between the sisters, as popular, outgoing Bianca has a romantic interest, but standoffish Kat cares nothing about dating. However, they stick together in the end when they realize others have manipulated them.
16. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Adam is the oldest brother of seven uncouth backwoodsmen, and decides the home they all share is in the need of a good hardworking woman. When he finds a bride, the other six decide they need wives as well, and kidnap their women, trapping them on the mountain for the winter. However, the women won’t stand for such treatment, and the brothers have to work together to win their brides for real in this lively musical.
15. The Virgin Suicides
The actions of a couple of siblings impact the entire clan in this tragic tale. The five beautiful but mysterious Lisbon sisters seem to have an idyllic existence until the youngest commits suicide. Already strict parents become overprotective, causing Lux to rebel, which leads to a tragic pact among the four surviving sisters.
14. Crimes of the Heart
After Babe shoots her abusive husband, she reunites with her sisters Lenny and Meg at their childhood home in Mississippi. Tragic circumstances in their past define who they are as adults, as well as leads to resentment; however, when they need each other, the eccentric sisters love each fiercely and loyally.
13. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?
Gilbert Grape cares for his morbidly obese mother, as well as his 18-year-old mentally challenged brother Arnie. At 24-years-old, the responsibility of caring for a special needs sibling proves to be overwhelming at times, but the deep love and strong bond between the brothers is undeniable.
12. The Parent Trap
Susan and Sharon are each other’s nemesis at summer camp, but soon discover that they are actually identical twins separated as babies by their divorced parents. An instant bond forms, and they turn their pranking skills into a plan to swap parents, break up their dad’s new romance, bring their mom and dad back together – and end up with a happily-ever-after family.
11. Thor
In this ages-old tale of brothers fighting for control over a kingdom, rightful heir Thor can’t believe his brother Loki would turn on him. Throughout the Marvel series, the back and forth relationship between the two offers both comic relief and important plot points. Despite Loki’s deceits, Thor often comes to his brother’s defense, with the explanation “he’s adopted.”
10. You Can Count on Me
Bonded as children when their parents die in a car crash, as adults Sammy and Terry have drifted apart. However, when Terry returns home to his sister, Sammy welcomes him with open arms, despite some questionable behavior on his part. The siblings learn to forgive and to accept one another’s weaknesses.
9. East of Eden
In this Cain-and-Abel story, black sheep Cal Trask competes with his golden-boy brother Aron over their father’s affection. When the two brothers fall for the same woman, and Cal finds success outside the family business, the competition between the two brothers escalates.
8. Pride and Prejudice
In the late 18th century, the five Bennett sisters look for potential husbands. Independent Elizabeth’s temper threatens to ruin her own chances for romance, while she tries to matchmake for her sisters Jane, Mary, Kitty and Lydia.
7. Rain Man
After the death of his estranged father, self-absorbed Charlie Babbitt is told that the bulk of his estate has been left in trust for an institutionalized brother he didn’t know he had. Charlie kidnaps Raymond, an autistic savant, in an effort to gain control of the fortune. During their voyage, Charlie discovers that Raymond was actually an important part of his childhood, and eventually develops an unselfish love for his long-lost brother.
6. Frozen
How many times has the princess been saved by a prince’s “true love kiss?” So many that we naturally assume it’s the only thing that can save Princess Anna from certain death. However, it’s the powerful and unconditional love between sisters Anna and Elsa that saves the day this time. With support from Anna, Elsa is able to learn to manage powers that seem out of control and rise to become the queen she’s destined to be.
5. Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?
Jane was a huge child star, but fame eludes her as an adult while her sister Blanche makes it big. After Blanche is paralyzed in a mysterious accident, the embittered Jane takes control of the care of her invalid sister. As Jane’s resentment of her sister escalates, her mental state deteriorates, and she imprisons Blanche in her room, starving her. . . except for a nice, dead rat.
4. The Godfather and The Godfather Part II
The three Corleone brothers are tied to a world of crime, which defines them and threatens their loyalties to each other. Hot-headed Sonny often turns to his youngest brother, the even-headed Michael, for advice, while middle brother Fredo is resentful that he’s passed over in the family business. The dynamics among the brothers lead to mafia war, as well as dire consequences within the family itself.
3. The Star Wars franchise
In one of the most shocking reveals in cinema history, after hinting at a romantic relationship with a kiss, Luke and Leia discover they are twins, and the children of their enemy Darth Vader. The two warriors overlook their cringe-worthy past to fight the Dark Side, bravely risking their lives to save the galaxy.
2. The Sound of Music
A few of my favorite siblings are Liesl, Louisa, Friedrich, Kurt, Brigitta, Marta and Gretl. The Von Trapp siblings contrive pranks to drive their current nanny Maria away, but they really just want their strict military father’s love and attention. Maria brings joy and singing to the house, and the siblings blossom with the sound of music.
1. Little Women
Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy are perhaps the most treasured siblings in film history. There have been no less than five big-screen versions of the beloved novel, and audiences continue to be entranced by the sisters who clash with each other, are jealous of each other, love each other fiercely and ultimately unite in an endless sense of loss when one of them is taken.
