Sibling relationships can be complicated. Sometimes brothers and sisters just don’t get along, and there’s no better place to dive into their differences than the movie theater. From animated classics likeThe Lion Kingto modern Westerns likeHell or High Water, sibling rivalries have traditionally been a source of great cinema. The differences between siblings can drive powerful stories, and create tensions that you don’t always see in other relationships on screen.
Jealousy, rage, and resentment are just a few of the themes that viewers often see within sibling stories on the big screen. It’s fun to watch sibling rivalries play out to see if the characters truly hate each other, or if they’re hiding deeper issues underneath. Some characters can be tough and gritty, while their siblings are gentle and vulnerable. These differences can bring out amazing cinematic moments and these are the movies where the siblings are not alike at all.
9The Lion King
In the beginning of Disney’s classic animated taleThe Lion King, Mufasa and Scar are brothers who occupy Pride Rock. Mufasa is the king, and his son Simba is in line to rule the throne once he’s gone. But Scar has other plans. Unlike Mufasa, who is honest, brave, and empathetic, Scar is brutal, conniving, and jealous of Mufasa’s lot in life.
The film is loosely based on the Shakespeare play Hamlet, so it’s not surprising when Scar hatches a plan to kill Mufasa and blames it on Simba. Scar lies to Simba and tells him that he caused Mufasa’s death, causing Simba to leave Pride Rock for a long time. Scar is the epitome of evil, while his brother Mufasa is a strong leader who would’ve never hurt a soul unless he had to.
8The Avengers
Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) are brothers who are both Gods and sons of Odin in Marvel’s 2015 blockbusterThe Avengers. Thor is an honest warrior, teaming up with the Avengers to fight evil and save the world. Loki, on the other hand, is sly, quick, and cunning. He wants to get his hands on the Tesseract and use it to take over the world.
The two brothers are completely different, both physically and mentally. Thor is big and strong, and he’s considered one of thestrongest original Avengers. Loki is fit, fast, and more agile. In terms of personality, Loki is a trickster, always being mischievous and thinking up new plans to travel through time and space. Thor, on the other hand, is serious and takes on his role as Earth’s protector with a sense of purpose.
RELATED:Best Moments From the Thor Solo Films, Ranked
7Our Idiot Brother
Our Idiot Brotheris a 2011 comedy starring Paul Rudd, Zooey Deschanel, and Elizabeth Banks. Ned stars as a slacker named Ned, who gets busted with his girlfriend for selling marijuana to a police officer. With little ambition or job prospects, Ned is forced to move in with one of his sisters, Liz (Emily Mortimer), and her filmmaker husband.
Ned is a very laid-back and relaxed character who doesn’t have his life figured out even though he’s well into adulthood. His three sisters, however, are driven women who have good jobs and stable relationships. Rudd plays the role up for maximum laughs, andOur Idiot Brotheris cited asone of his best movies.
6The King’s Speech
InThe King’s Speech, Colin Firth plays Bertie ( and later King George V), who suffers from stuttering when addressing a large crowd. At the urging of his wife, he enlists the help of Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush) and progressively improves his speech. He still suffers when he tries to talk to his brother David, however, as the two brothers are vastly different. David is confident, cool, and collected in social situations, while Bertie is nervous and awkward. He doesn’t have the confidence to rule a nation, and the film’s central conflict is about his ability to get over his fears.
When their father dies, David ascends to the throne first and becomes King Edward VIII. He’s a bit of a playboy, though, and enjoys living large, partying, and having fun. David wants to marry an American socialite who has already been divorced twice. Since the Church of England strictly forbids this, David gives up the throne to be with his new lover. Bertie is crowned King, and it’s up to him to unite England and earn the public’s respect again.
Pixar’sOnwardis an animated fantasy film about two brothers who are trying to meet their resurrected father. The brothers are elves who live in a magic world where spells, fairies, and demons are common. Ian (voiced by Tom Holland) is quiet, meek, and anxious, while his brother Barley is confident, loud, and always game for an adventure.
Together, the two boys venture off in Barley’s trusty van, Guinevere, and try to find a rare Phoenix gem that will allow them to bring back their dad using a magic staff. To get it, though, Ian must improve his self-confidence and get over his fears.Onwardis a great movie to watch when you’rehaving a bad day.
RELATED:Best Tom Holland Movies, Ranked
4Hell or High Water
2016’s Western dramaHell or High Wateris a movie about two brothers who rob banks but have good intentions for the money they steal. Toby (Chris Pine) is a divorced ex-family man who’s trying to make a better life for his son. His brother Tanner (Ben Foster), on the other hand, is unhinged. He’s an ex-convict who has anger management issues. Both men are upset after their mother passes away and leaves them with a large debt due to a bad reverse mortgage through the bank.
While being pursued by police officer Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges), the two men gradually become more and more reckless. Toby is mostly patient and smart with his planning, while Tanner is desperate and restless. Toby wants to keep the money to pay their debts, while Tanner wants to spend it at the casino and blow it on impulsive vices.Hell Or High Waterwas written by master screenwriter Tyler Sheridan, and it’sone of his best movies.
3Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
Based on the 2008 book of the same name,Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rulesis the second film in the popular franchise. Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon) is a wimpy guy who is trying to survive school and things are finally starting to look up. Now in grade 7, Greg is no longer being bullied by his classmates, but his brother Rodrick (Devon Bostick) is getting on his nerves.
When their mother tries to force the two boys to bond, their differences couldn’t be more obvious. Roderick is a cool, confident, guy who plays in a rock band and wears baggy clothing. Greg is clean-cut, collected, and naive. The bonding doesn’t go well and Roderick is kicked out of his band for bad behavior. Wanting to reconcile with Roderick, Greg brokers a deal to get him back in the band and everyone (sort of) lives happily ever after.
2What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape is an excellent drama movie that came out in 1993. It stars Johnny Depp as Gilbert Grape, a young man who’s responsible for taking care of both his mother Bonnie (Darlene Cates), and his younger brother Arnie (Leonardo DiCaprio). Bonnie is unable to work because she’s too overweight to leave the house, leaving the financial responsibility of the household solely in Gilbert’s hands. Gilbert is grown-up, responsible, and motivated, while Arnie is just a teenager and is mentally disabled. The boys also have two sisters, who take care of the housework.
Gilbert works at a local grocery store to make money. He meets a woman named Becky (Juliette Lewis) who is new in town, but Gilbert isn’t able to dedicate sufficient time to her. His time is split between his family and work. Unlike his sisters, Gilbert is mischievous as well, having an affair with a married woman. Gilbert seems to have his life together, but he’s tormented by his conflicting responsibilities, and he’s not like his siblings at all.
Disney’sFrozenis about two sisters who live in the magical world of Arendelle. Elsa (Idina Menzel) is a snow princess who discovers she has magic powers at a young age. Her sister Anna (Kristen Bell) is not magical, and the differences between the two girls cause them to have a rift at Elsa’s coronation. Elsa is upset that Anna wants to marry a prince she barely knows, and her anger causes her to accidentally cast a spell on Arendelle that turns the kingdom into eternal winter.
Because of her powers, Elsa has been forced to learn to be patient, careful, and conservative. Anna, on the other hand, is impulsive, quick-witted, and ambitious. In the end, Anna realizes that she was wrong for not trusting her instincts, and she ends up falling for a traveler named Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) instead. The character of her original fiance Prince Han has beencriticized for making no sensein the first place.
