As the great comedianCharlie Chaplinonce said: “Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in a long shot.” Films about dysfunctional family relationships are those special kinds of entertainment that convey the importance of strong family bonding to audiences. Yet, the appeal of these dysfunctional family movies stems from their satirical commentary on the adamance of sustaining family values which led to unprecedented situations.
Be it a tragedy or a comedy, dysfunctional family films constantly undergo reinterpretations that manage to sustain audiences' interest in the genre. Movies about family dynamics and all the messiness that comes with these relationships continue to dominate cinema today, with the best ones highlighting howdysfunctional dynamics between characters can provide tragic, comedic, or even darkly humorous viewing experiences.
20’Goodnight Mommy’ (2014)
Directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala
Two nine-year-old twin brothers await their mother’s return to their lakeside home. When their mother arrives home from her cosmetic surgery, the twins are startled by their mother’s bandaged appearance and sudden personality change. In the absence of a father figure, the children discover clues that their “mother” is not who she claims to be.
Fans of extreme horror filmswould be bewildered by theAustrian film that befuddles the line between innocence and malevolence.Goodnight Mommyis an unsettling portrait of a changing relationship between a mother and her sons, and not for the better. For anyone who gets queasy or uneasy when kids are involved in horror movies, it’s best to steer clear of this one, as it truly pushes some boundaries (which others may find intriguing).
Goodnight Mommy
19’The Squid and the Whale' (2005)
Directed by Noah Baumbach
Produced byWes Andersonand written and directed byNoah Baumbach, one of the best screenwriters working in Hollywood today,The Squid and the Whaleis a semi-autobiographical indie dramedy set in Brooklyn. It’s about two young boys dealing with their parents' divorce in the 1980s, anchored by a stunning cast.
Tender and funny, and yet piercingly poignant, this isa terrifically sharp study of divorce and the impact it has on a family. It’s a painfully raw and sincere movie, but its strengths come precisely from the accuracy and honesty with which it approaches the difficult dynamics of the family at the core of its narrative.
The Squid and the Whale
18’The Quiet Family' (1998)
Directed by Kim Jee-woon
Sometimes the best partners in crime are your family members. And with the Kangs inThe Quiet Family, this is most certainly the case. TheSouth Korean dark comedyfollows a family who owns a lodge in a remote hiking area. After their first customer dies of suicide, the family hastily buries the body to avoid unwanted attention and bad publicity. Unfortunately, their customers start dying under outrageous circumstances, which continuously besieges the family to cover up their misdemeanors.
The darkly comedic movie is perfect for audiences with an offbeat sense of humor, as there seems to be no rhyme or reason for the way the family’s customers keep dropping like flies. As the Kangs' antics escalate towards the unforgettable conclusion, audiences won’t be able to take their eyes off their screens.
17’The Farewell' (2019)
Directed by Lulu Wang
Beloved indie studio A24 sure does love distributing movies about dysfunctional families. Such is the case withLulu Wang’s profoundly movingThe Farewell. In it, a Chinese family discovers that their grandmother has a terminal illness and only has a short while left to live. They decide to hide this diagnosis from her, scheduling a wedding to get together before she passes away.
Thefilm features Awkwafina in a star-making performancethat shows she’s far more than just a comedian, making this one of her best films. Lovingly portraying cultural differences that Western audiences are sure to find fascinating,The Farewellsurprisingly finds a way to be both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Simultaneously amusing and emotional, it’s a powerful portrayal of grief and family, even if the family at its center isn’t always agreeable.
The Farewell
16’A Serious Man' (2009)
Directed by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen
EthanandJoel Coenare a true dynamic duo, two of the greatest screenwriters and directors that have ever graced American cinema. They have also been quite prolific throughout their careers, which means that there are a few of theirgems that often get drowned out in their ocean of masterpiecesand become underrated gems.A Serious Manis one such movie.
It’s actually quite a sad film, but also full of the signature acidic humor that the Coens are known for. It’s one ofthe best psychological comediesof the 21st century, a philosophically complex film about absurdity, faith, and fate. A lot of the film’s humor, as well as a lot of its more serious moments, come from the dysfunctionality of the protagonist’s family, where every member is a beautifully written character.
A Serious Man
15’Shiva Baby' (2020)
Directed by Emma Seligman
One of the stand-out indie films of 2020,Shiva Babyis a comedy-horror hybrid that highlights the tragedy of being a bisexual college student in a Jewish family that thrives on gossip about other people’s misfortunes. Attending a shiva (Jewish mourning rituals) with her clueless parents, the main protagonist Danielle (Rachel Sennott), is thrown into impassive conservations with judgemental relatives, comparisons with her ex-girlfriend, and direct confrontations with her sugar daddy and his wife.
Maybe Danielle andThe Graduate’s Benjamin should attend counseling together.Surrounded by passive-aggressive family members who are unawareof any sort of modern views on sexuality and life in general, the protagonist understandably has a hard time when she encounters unexpected people from her life in this context.
Shiva Baby
14’What’s Eating Gilbert Grape' (1993)
Directed by Lasse Hallström
One of the sweetest andmost endearing coming-of-age movies ever made,What’s Eating Gilbert Grapeis a dysfunctional family drama centering on a young man in a small Midwestern town, struggling to care for his mentally disabled younger brother and obese mother while pursuing his own happiness. It’s one ofJohnny Depp’s most memorable roles, but it’sLeonardo DiCapriowho absolutely hijacks the spotlight as Arnie, Gilbert’s little brother.
The magic ofWhat’s Eating Gilbert Grapedoesn’t only lie in its terrific performances, though.Both quirky and complex, humorous and earnest, the film dives so beautifully deep into the psyche and personality of each family member that one can’t help but feel like part of their little troupe by the time the credits roll. The Grapes may not be the most put-together family in the Midwest, but they sure try, and audiences love them for it.
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?
13’The Mitchells vs. the Machines' (2021)
Directed by Michael Rianda
A much-needed lighthearted take on the genre,Mike Rianda’s directorial debut became an instant classic family film when it first premiered.The Mitchells vs. the Machineschronicles the disastrous road trip of the Mitchells, a wacky family with proud parents, a weird young son, and an awkward teenager, Katie (Abbi Jacobson). They struggle to bond like a regular family, which becomes even harder when the robot uprising starts to happen around them. Soon, it’s up to the Mitchells to find a way to work together and save the world.
With witty pop culture references, fantastic animation, and a surprising emotional depth, the animated movie has something to offer for viewers of all ages.It’s a painfully relatable look at many modern families' struggles today, and an inspiring tale of how it’s possible to overcome anything (even the robot apocalypse).
The Mitchells vs. the Machines
12’Hereditary' (2018)
Directed by Ari Aster
Toni Colletteis definitely the face of the dysfunctional family in movies. InHereditary, after the death of the secretive matriarch of the Graham family, her daughter Annie (Collette) and her family start having increasingly strange encounters that threaten their once peaceful home life. A traumatizing tragedy soon opens up the doors for even more horrifying things to happen to the scarred family.
One of the bestpsychological horror films about demonic families,Hereditaryis also a heartbreaking filmabout the sufferings experienced from losing your loved ones, prompting one to resort to extreme measures to ease their pain. Aster cements himself as a modern horror master with this A24 film, which is celebrated by the genre’s fans everywhere.
Hereditary
11’Boyhood' (2014)
Directed by Richard Linklater
Richard Linklater’sBoyhoodtook 12 long years to portray the coming-of-age story of Mason Evans Jr. From the age of 6 all the way to 12th grade at age 18. The film examines Mason’s bumpy transition from childhood to adolescence and his ever-changing relationship dynamics with his divorced parents and sister. The movie is known for using the same cast members, essentially allowing viewers to see them grow up.
Detailing the little things in life, such as relentless sibling bickering, unfulfilled promises made with parents, and first experiences with romance,Boyhoodis a poignant tale of growing up brimming with anecdotes that many will resonate with.What makes its dysfunctional family so impactful is how realistic and grounded it is.
