Don't Watch These 20 Movies Unless You're Prepared To Call Your Sister
If you are reading this, you probably have a sister. And if you have a sister, you know the bond you share with them is unlike what you have with anyone else. Your sister knows you in ways that nobody else does, both the good and the bad, and typically knows how to connect with you and annoy you with just a single look. Sure, you fight but at the end of the day, you know they're somebody who's always in your corner.
So whether your sister is your best friend in the entire world or the person who drives you crazier than anyone else in the world, here are 20 movies that will make you want to pick up the phone and give them a ring.
1.10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
The relationship: Kat (Julia Stiles) and Bianca (Laris Oleynik)
What's their deal: When Bianca, a popular sophomore, wants to start dating, her uptight dad (Larry Miller), says she can once her older sister Kat, an angst-filled senior, does. Bianca and Kat are polar opposites in every conceivable way but as they start actually getting to know each other, they start to share a sisterly bond.
Why you'll call your sister: Did Kat and Bianca always get along? No. In fact, most of their interactions turned into fights. But that's the way relationships with siblings can be sometimes and even when Bianca was convinced that Kat was ruining her life by telling her not to see Joey (Andrew Keegan), she soon found out that her sister was actually just trying to keep her from dating a total creep. Because that's what sisters do.
Watch it on Disney+.
2.A League of Their Own (1992)
The relationship: Dottie Hinson (Geena Davis) and Kit Keller (Lori Petty)
What's their deal: Along with being sisters, Dottie and Kit are teammates on the Rockford Peaches, one of the teams in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Kit, the younger sister and star pitcher, has a massive chip on her shoulder and resents living in her older sister's shadow. Eventually, Kit is traded to a rival team and the two end up facing off in one of the best movie endings ever.
Why you'll call your sister: Rivalries are natural among siblings and like Kit and Dottie, you may have been just as likely to come to blows with your sister as you were to share a hug. But that's just the way it is and all that bickering never means that you love each other any less.
Watch it on Amazon Prime with Starz.
3.The Addams Family (1991)
The relationship: Wednesday (Christina Ricci) and Pugsley (Jimmy Workman)
What's their deal: As the two children of Gomez (Raul Julia) and Morticia (Anjelica Huston) Addams, Wednesday and Pugsley spend much of the movie getting into all sorts of wacky antics that usually revolve around Wednesday performing deathly experiments on her slightly dimwitted brother. But it's also clear that the two love each other dearly and enjoy spending most of their time as a duo.
Why you'll call your sister: Torture is just a part of the sibling experience (though hopefully your sister never made you play "Is there a god?"). But even when Wednesday was finding increasingly creative and devious ways to cause Pugsley pain, he never doubted that she would also inflict a whole new level of pain onto anyone who dared to cause him any trouble.
Watch it on Pluto (no membership required).
4.Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 (2017)
The relationship: Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and Nebula (Karen Gillan)
What's their deal: No matter how crappy your dad was, it can't be worse than what these two went through being raised by Thanos, the genocidal warlord hellbent on wiping out half the population. The two had an intense rivalry that only worsened when Gamora betrayed her father and joined the Guardians. But while they hated each other in the first movie, they slowly start to see eye to eye in the sequel.
Why you'll call your sister: If Gamora was able to forgive Nebula for literally being on a mission to kill her, you can probably forgive your sister for whatever crap she's put you through over the years.
Watch it on Disney+.
5.Frozen (2013)
The relationship: Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel)
What's their deal: The two sisters were close as children but after Elsa discovers she has ice powers (along with the death of their parents), she distances herself from her younger sister. On the day of Elsa's coronation, she finds she can no longer control her powers and escapes to a remote mountain. But Anna decides to search for her, convinced that she can help her sister regain control and bring her home.
Why you'll call your sister: You and your sister may not be as close as you were when you were little and it can be easy to take your relationship for granted. But seeing Anna never give up on her sister when they hadn't had a real conversation in years is a reminder of what being siblings is all about.
Watch it on Disney+.
6.In Her Shoes (2005)
The relationship: Rose (Toni Collette) and Maggie (Cameron Diaz)
What's their deal: These two are polar opposites. Rose is a no-nonsense, accomplished lawyer who looks down on Maggie, a fun-loving free spirit who can't hold down a job. When Rose reluctantly lets Maggie stay with her, it ends with her throwing her sister out. But when they both end up in Florida to visit their long-lost grandmother Ella (Shirley MacLaine), they start to see different sides of each other.
Why you'll call your sister: Let's face it, these two aren't the best sisters to each other most of the time. With Maggie going so far as ending up in bed with the dude Rose is seeing. But they eventually learn that getting along is mostly just a matter of learning to examine things from each other's perspectives.
Watch it on Amazon Prime.
7.Knocked Up (2007)
The relationship: Alison (Katherine Heigl) and Debbie (Leslie Mann)
What's their deal: Alison is living in the guest house of her sister and brother-in-law when she accidentally gets knocked up by Ben (Seth Rogen), a perpetually stoned slacker with no semblance of ambition in life. At the same time, Debbie is struggling to keep her family together, while her husband Pete (Paul Rudd) shows little to no concern.
Why you'll call your sister: Debbie is a little bit judgmental and has no issue insulting Ben to his face. But that's just the way she shows that she cares and even when Alison feels like her life is falling apart, Debbie is there for a girls' night out or a vent session about their respective partners.
Rent it on Amazon Prime.
8.Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
The relationship: Violet (Emily Browning), Klaus (Liam Aiken), and Sunny (Kara & Shelby Hoffman)
What's their deal: After a mysterious fire burns down their home and kills their parents, the Baudelaire siblings are forced to live with their closest living relative, Count Olaf (Jim Carrey). Once it becomes clear that Olaf is trying to murder them for their money, they are moved to a different relative but Olaf is never far behind.
Why you'll call your sister: Everyone goes through tough situations growing up but maybe you and your sister had to really endure hell. But as the Baudelaires showed, the best way to survive is by sticking together. So whether Olaf was trying to get them hit by a train or marrying Violet via a fake play, they always worked together to stay one step ahead.
Watch it on Netflix.
9.Little Women (2019)
The relationship: Meg (Emma Watson), Jo (Saoirse Ronan), Beth (Eliza Scanlen), and Amy (Florence Pugh)
What's their deal: Through the years, the March sisters experience growing up, getting into trouble, falling in love, having their hearts broken, and losing loved ones together. And while they drive each other nuts as often as they enjoy each other, there's no doubt that their sisterhood is the defining relationship for the rest of their lives.
Why you'll call your sister: If Jo forgiving Amy for burning her writing as revenge for not being able to go out for a night of dancing isn't proof that sisters can get through anything, I don't know what is.
Watch it on Amazon Prime with Starz.
10.The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) (2017)
The relationship: Danny (Adam Sandler), Matthew (Ben Stiller), and Jean (Elizabeth Marvel)
What's their deal: While Danny and Matthew have inherited their dad's narcissism and self-involvement, Jean is the forgotten sibling who constantly gets overlooked by everyone in the family. As they spend more time together, the brothers begin to understand that they never really took the time to get to know their own sister.
Why you'll call your sister: Danny and Matthew are so obsessed with their own problems that they never even bothered to really think about everything Jean had been put through. And when she opens up about a traumatic experience she had as a child, her brothers get revenge in their own unique way (after initially manage to make it more about them than just listening to her, of course).
Watch it on Netflix.
11.Mystic Pizza (1988)
The relationship: Kat (Annabeth Gish) and Daisy (Julia Roberts)
What's their deal: The two work together at Mystic Pizza, a local parlor in the fishing town of Mystic, Connecticut. Kat is responsible, ambitious, and practical, while Daisy is free-wheeling and unconcerned with her future. Both experience love for the first time in their lives but they also feel the pain and disappointment that comes with letting yourself be vulnerable.
Why you'll call your sister: Being a teenager can really, really suck and for Kat and Daisy, they both played a role in causing the other's misery. But they also were probably a big part of why they survived the hardships they faced and helped each other transition from childhood to adulthood.
Watch it on Netflix.
12.Our Idiot Brother (2011)
The relationship: Ned (Paul Rudd), Miranda (Elizabeth Banks), Nat (Zooey Deschanel), and Liz (Emily Mortimer)
What's their deal: Every single one of the siblings is struggling on their own in their own special way and when Ned comes back into town after spending some time in jail, he crashes on all three of his sisters' couches. Soon, lingering resentment starts to surface as they all annoy each other in the way that only siblings really can.
Why you'll call your sister: Life is messy for all three sisters and rather than handle their own problems, they decide to feel better about their own messes by judging each other (particularly Ned). But they eventually realize they're all better off surviving life's chaos and disappointments together because even at their lowest moments, they know they can always count on their sisters.
Watch it on Netflix.
13.Pride & Prejudice (2005)
The relationship: Jane (Rosamund Pike), Elizabeth (Keira Knightley), Mary (Talulah Riley), Kitty (Carey Mulligan), and Lydi (Jena Malone)
What's their deal: As they come of age, the Bennet sisters are given one primary goal in life: to find as wealthy of a husband as possible so they can achieve greater social status. Along the way, they try to find their own place in the world that may go beyond these very strict and simple guidelines they've been given.
Why you'll call your sister: Growing up in a family with a lot of siblings basically means forming your own mini community with its own set of rules and values that may have differed with the outside world. And while each of the Bennets experiences their own unique journey into the world of courtship, the sisters act as a support system to cheer each other on when things go right and console each other when things go wrong.
Watch it on Amazon Prime with Cinemax.
14.Rachel Getting Married (2008)
The relationship: Kym (Anne Hathaway) and Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt)
What's their deal: Kym is the "screwup" sister who temporarily gets discharged from rehab in order to attend Rachel's wedding. Over the weekend, the two pull out every possible skeleton in their closet as they attempt to reach some form of an understanding.
Why you'll call your sister: Kym certainly isn't the greatest sister in the world, as Rachel finds out that her sister lied about her family in rehab in order to keep from blaming herself (including claiming that Rachel was anorexic. But through all of the extremely messy circumstances, Rachel never gives up on Kym and manages to let go of her anger and resentment.
Watch it on Amazon Prime with Starz.
15.The Savages (2007)
The relationship: Jon (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Wendy (Laura Linney)
What's their deal: As adults, Jon and Wendy have drifted apart but are forced to come together to care for their dad, who is dealing with dementia. The two clearly have a lot of baggage from their childhood, as it is strongly implied their father was emotionally and physically abusive towards both of them growing up.
Why you'll call your sister: The trauma that Jon and Wendy endured together drove them apart and left them aimless and unfulfilled in their lives. But once they are reunited, they begin to deal with their issues while trying to reach some semblance of closure.
Rent it on Amazon Prime.
16.Skeleton Twins (2014)
The relationship: Milo (Bill Hader) and Maggie (Kristen Wiig)
What's their deal: These twins haven't spoken in a decade when Maggie invites Milo to stay with her and her husband Lance (Luke Wilson) after his failed suicide attempt. Maggie and Milo bicker all the time but it's also clear that they might be the only two people who genuinely know each other.
Why you'll call your sister: No matter how much your sibling may be driving you absolutely nuts, who else but them can get you to do a delightfully over-the-top lip sync performance complete with choreographed dancing?
Watch it on Hulu.
17.Spy Kids (2000)
The relationship: Carmen (Alexa Vega) and Juni (Daryl Sabara)
What's their deal: These two just can't seem to get along, mainly because Carmen finds Juni to be a relentless pest. But when they discover their parents, who are secretly spies, have been kidnapped, they have to put aside their differences and work together to rescue mom and dad.
Why you'll call your sister: At one point, you probably had a similar relationship with your sister as Carmen and Juni. You were convinced your sister was the most annoying person on earth (and she definitely thought the same of you). But when the chips are down, you know that you two totally could have gone on a secret spy mission, if only you had been given the chance.
Watch it on Amazon Prime with Starz.
18.This Is Where I Leave You (2014)
The relationship: Judd (Jason Bateman), Wendy (Tina Fey), Phillip (Adam Driver), and Paul (Corey Stoll)
What's their deal: After their father's death, the four Altman siblings return to their family home to sit shiva while they are each dealing with their lives seemingly falling apart. The four laugh and cry and fight like siblings do but they also help each other face their issues head on rather than pretend they don't exist.
Why you'll call your sister: Because the only thing weirder than growing up feeling lost in the world is actually being a grown up and figuring out that lost feeling never really goes away. But at least the Altman siblings have each other to commiserate about their issues rather than going through it alone. And they even enjoy an occasional joint in their old classroom, which is an experience all siblings deserve.
Rent it on Amazon Prime.
19.You Can Count On Me (2000)
The relationship: Sammy (Laura Linney) and Terry (Mark Ruffalo)
What's their deal: After losing their parents when they were kids, Sammy and Terry have fallen out of touch as adults. But when Terry needs money, he visits Sammy and the two develop a complex bond as they both try to figure out what the hell they are doing with their lives.
Why you'll call your sister: Relationships between siblings can be painful and really messy. Terry and Sammy both make plenty of mistakes but also stand up for each other like only siblings do, as best evidence by Terry beating the crap out of Sammy's deadbeat ex-husband.
Watch it on Amazon Prime with Cinemax.
20.Your Sister's Sister (2011)
The relationship: Iris (Emily Blunt) and Hannah (Rosemarie DeWitt)
What's their deal: After her boyfriend's death, Iris invites his brother Jack (Mark Duplass) to stay at her family's cabin for a while to clear his head. But what she doesn't know is that her sister Hannah is already staying there secretly. Iris shows up shortly after and let's just say this one gets really complicated.
Why you'll call your sister: People screw up, even the people that you count on the most in the world end up hurting you sometimes. And in the case of Hannah, I won't spoil too much but let's just say that she really manages to cause a lot of damage to Iris. But no matter what she's done, Iris shows the sisterly love that never really goes away.
Watch it on Amazon Prime with Showtime.
