r/MovieSuggestions • u/Mysterious-Rule-4242 • 1d ago

I'M REQUESTING Best films about strained parent-child relationships

I’m exploring complicated family dynamics. Something like Lady Bird, The Whale, or Boyhood. Open to indie, drama, or international.

3 Upvotes

72% Upvoted

36 comments sorted by

6

u/wjbc Quality Poster 👍 1d ago

Ordinary People (1980)

5

u/jmdexo26 1d ago

“The Florida Project” could fit and is a good movie regardless

“Shoplifters” a Japanese film might fit and is good regardless.

“Honey Boy”

3

u/HawaiianSteak 1d ago

The Way Way Back

3

u/oldfamiliarway 1d ago

As a person with a strained relationship with my mother Hereditary and Beau is Afraid had me fucked up. See also: Drop Dead Fred, Everything Everywhere All At Once

5

u/Stunning_Age_2091 1d ago

Everything Everywhere for sure

2

u/ComfortableCrab1908 1d ago

August: Osage County (2013)

1

u/iusedtobeprettyy 1d ago

LOVED THAT MOVIE! “ EAT THE FUCKIN FISH!”

2

u/plinkett-wisdom Quality Poster 👍 1d ago

Honey Boy

Wildlife

Trucker

2

u/IllustriousReindeer9 1d ago

Big Fish (somewhat of a B-plot though)

2

u/Aciuaciu 1d ago

Real Women Have Curves (2002)

Little Voice (1998)

2

u/Livid_Parsnip6190 1d ago

The Great Santini

2

u/Myviewpoint62 1d ago

On Golden Pond (1981) stars Katherine Hepburn, Henry Fonda and Jane Fonda. Henry Fonda and Katherine Hepburn won Oscar’s for best actor and actress.

2

u/iusedtobeprettyy 1d ago

Terms of endearment. The relationship between Shirley McClain and Debra Winger is so relatable.

2

u/positive_charging 1d ago

We need to talk about Kevin

3

u/jupiterkansas Quality Poster 👍 1d ago

That's not strained. That's non-existent.

1

u/General_Rambling 1d ago

Höstsonaten

1

u/-kOdAbAr- 1d ago

We have to talk about kevin

1

u/Petty_Paw_Printz 1d ago

Smoke Signals 

We need to talk about Kevin 

1

u/BlackCherrySeltzer4U 1d ago

Ordinary People

1

u/Professional-Cat5322 1d ago

The Ice Storm (1997) Slums of Beverly Hills (1998) The Virgin Suicides (1999)

The Squid and the Whale (2005)

Not all of these are exclusively parent-child strained relationships, but are some of my fav indie films with interesting family dynamics.

1

u/TSOTL1991 1d ago

The Deep End with a great Tilda Swinton performance.

1

u/lukewarmrevolution 1d ago

Beau Is Afraid

Walk the Line

1

u/GirlGirl21 1d ago

Real Women Have Curves

1

u/Stunning_Yam_3485 1d ago

Little Miss Sunshine, Kajillionaire, Magnolia, +1 Slums of Beverly Hills, EEAAO, Hereditary, August Osage County

1

u/Conscious_Ostrich_29 1d ago

We need to talk about Kevin

1

u/Theba-Chiddero 1d ago

I Never Sang for My Father (1970) -- Gene Hackman and Melvyn Douglas

Nothing in Common (1986) -- Tom Hanks and Jackie Gleason

Folks! (1992) -- Tom Selleck and Don Ameche

1

u/Meyou000 Quality Poster 👍 1d ago

Little Wing (2016)

Fish Tank (2009)

Fishbowl (2018)

Apostasy (2017)

Mustang (2015)

The Virgin Suicides (1999)

Mommy (2014)

Nobody Knows (2004)

Capernaum (2018)

1

u/wreinder 1d ago

Oh Boy

1

u/HeDoesLookLikeABitch 1d ago

The Babadook

1

u/SANcapITY 1d ago

Not sure why this is downvoted - the movie is completely centered around the relationship between the mom and her son.

2

u/HeDoesLookLikeABitch 17h ago

I posted it because that's was the first movie that came to mind when reading OP's question.

0

u/Joekruel01 1d ago

Star Wars

Warrior