Summary
- Hollywood is filled with talented families who have achieved success in the film industry, with famous stars often having famous parents or siblings.
- Nepotism is a factor worth discussing, but many individuals with easier routes to the industry fail to capitalize on it.
- The combined filmographies of different families and inter-family collaborations offer a number of great options in both historic and modern cinema.
Hollywood is an industry filled with talented families, both in front of and behind the camera. It's common in the film industry for famous stars to have famous parents. Maya Hawke has recently risen as a star as the daughter of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke. Film stars like Tom Hanks and Will Smith famously have sons working in the industry. In some cases, families have even been able to work together. For example, Kurt Russell will be starring in an upcoming Godzilla series for Apple TV+ alongside his son, Wyatt Russell.
It's impressive when multiple members of a family achieve success in the film industry. Sure, nepotism is a factor worth discussing, but many who've had an easier route to the film industry have failed to capitalize on it. Sofia Coppola, for example, has earned well-deserved acclaim for her directed films. Considering the combined filmography of different families, as well as factors like inter-family collaboration, there are a number of great options in both historic and modern cinema.
10 Jon Voight & Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie's full name is Angelina Jolie Voight, as she's the daughter of four-time Golden Globe winner Jon Voight. Voight was the star of Midnight Cowboy and has had roles in films like Heat, Mission: Impossible, Holes, and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, which he starred in with his daughter. Angelina Jolie has been one of the biggest names in Hollywood for decades, having starred in several great projects. Girl, Interrupted and Mr. & Mrs. Smith are two of her biggest roles, but she also recently found success in the Marvel film Eternals.
9 Jake & Maggie Gyllenhaal
The Gyllenhaal siblings have some great films shared between them, including Donnie Darko, which they both starred in. Maggie Gyllenhaal, of course, played Rachel Dawes in The Dark Knight and was a lead in HBO's The Deuce. Jake Gyllenhaal has been in some of the best thriller films of the 21st century, including Zodiac, Prisoners, and Nightcrawler. The two already have great projects between them, with evergrowing resumes.
8 Kirk & Michael Douglas
Kirk Douglas had an unbelievable career in Hollywood, primarily known for starring roles in historical and war films in the 1950s and '60s. His most known works are his two collaborations with the great Stanley Kubrick: Spartacus and Paths of Glory. His son, Michael Douglas, has been making excellent films since the 1980s, with standout titles like Wall Street, The Game, and Fatal Attraction. Douglas also won the Academy Award for Best Picture for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, which he produced.
7 The Sheen Family
Unfortunately known best in modern culture for the controversies of Charlie Sheen, the Sheen family has found success in film since the 1970s. Martin Sheen has been in so many great films, including Apocalypse Now, Badlands, and The Departed, but is perhaps best known for his role as President Jed Bartlet in The West Wing. His son, Emilio Estevez, was a huge star in the 1980s, appearing in iconic teen movies like The Breakfast Club and The Outsiders. Before Charlie Sheen's career went downhill, he had great performances in movies like Wall Street and Platoon.
6 The Coen Brothers
Joel and Ethan Coen share a large majority of their combined filmography, but that just speaks to the value of their lasting teamwork. Working together, the Coen Brothers became some of the most iconic filmmakers of their era, with great movies like Fargo, The Big Lebowski, and Best Picture winner No Country For Old Men. The Coen Brothers are no longer working together, instead making solo projects like The Tragedy of Macbeth and the upcoming Drive-Away Dolls.
5 The Marx Brothers
The Marx Brothers were a set of five brothers who made comedy films and performed on Broadway in the early 1900s. Films like Duck Soup and A Night at the Opera are revered as some of the greatest comedies of their era. The brothers went by their stage names: Groucho, Chico, Harpo, Zeppo, and Gummo. Their films are known for absurd comedy and satire, with witty dialogue and hilarious physical comedy. Though they might not have the strongest combined filmography out of Hollywood families, they were able to work together as a family team consistently and put together some classics in the process.
4 The Skarsgård Family
Stellan Skarsgård has had a great career in Hollywood on his own, with awesome films like Good Will Hunting and Dune, as well as roles in series like Chernobyl and Andor. Recently, his popularity has grown due to the work of his talented sons, Alexander, Bill, and Gustaf Skarsgård. Alexander Skarsgård has had great roles in HBO shows like Big Little Lies, Succession, and True Blood, as well as films like The Northman and Melancholia. Bill Skarsgård is most known for playing Pennywise in the It films, as well as the villain role in John Wick: Chapter 4. Gustaf Skarsgård is best known for his role in Vikings.
3 The Huston Family
Walter Huston famously won his Academy Award for his role in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, which was directed by his son, John Huston, one of the most influential directors in his era. If that weren't enough of an accomplishment on its own, John Huston's daughter, Anjelica Huston, would go on to win an Academy Award, meaning three generations of the Huston family have won Oscars. John Huston's son, Danny Huston, is also a terrific character actor who's appeared in supporting roles on Yellowstone and Succession.
2 The Fonda Family
Henry Fonda was an iconic film and stage actor of his generation, known for roles in Once Upon a Time in the West, and 12 Angry Men. In 1981, he starred in On Golden Pond, the film that would earn him an Academy Award, along with his daughter, Jane Fonda. Jane Fonda is also a film icon, having appeared in numerous films since the 1960s, with multiple Academy Awards to her name. Her brother, Peter Fonda, was also a prominent movie star in the '60s, known for films like Easy Rider.
1 The Coppola Family
No family in cinema has been a part of as many great films as the Coppolas. Francis Ford Coppola, who directed The Godfather films and Apocalypse Now, is one of the most accomplished filmmakers ever. His daughter, Sofia Coppola, is a remarkable filmmaker as well, with films like Lost in Translation and The Virgin Suicides. Her brother, Roman Coppola, is a writer and producer on many of Wes Anderson's films.
The family has deep acting talent as well. Talia Shire, who starred in The Godfather and Rocky films, is Francis Coppola's cousin. Her son, Jason Schwartzman, was the lead in films like Rushmore and Asteroid City, and has appeared in most Wes Anderson movies. The iconic Nicolas Cage, who needs no introduction, is also Francis Coppola's nephew on the other side.