Jan 25 2011
Seven Great Big Brothers in Movies
I’m not sure how many of you out there are siblings and how many of you are only children. What I can be sure of is that having a sibling can be a tremendous impact on your life. Personally I’m the baby of the family and have an older brother and sister. It definitely played a huge part in who I am today and who I will be in the future.
So whenever I get to see siblings interact in film, it’s always a fun experience. In particular I like to watch brothers in film. Whether it’s funny or serious I always get a kick out of the brother dynamic.
Today I want to focus on awesome big brothers in movies. Here are seven that I particularly like…..
Denny in Stand By Me
He only had a bit part in this movie but John Cusack was awesome as little Gordy’s big brother in Stand by Me. Of the four members of Gordy’s family it appeared that only Denny gave a shit about Gordy and his creative ability. Unfortunately Denny died in a car accident but clearly he had a profound impact who Gordy is in the movie.
Chet in Weird Science
Come on folks! I didn’t say they had to be “good” big brothers. They just had to be awesome. And there’s no way you put together a list like this without adding Chet in Weird Science. Talk about an awesome bully. This was the role of a lifetime for Bill Paxton. “How about a nice, greasy pork sandwich served in a dirty ashtray.”
Sonny Corleone in The Godfather
And I’m not even talking about Sonny protecting Michael. I’m strictly talking about his temper and his protection of ALL his siblings. Bottom line is that you do not want to get on Sonny’s bad side. It’s just not a good idea. That is unless you have 50 people with machine guns waiting at a toll both for him.
Tristan in Legends of the Fall
A. It’s Brad Pitt. B. Pitt’s character fights bears. Yes, he fights bears. I mean sure he has sex with his little brother’s wife after he dies in the WWI but who’s really paying attention to that? He’s just a badass character.
Raymond in Rain Man
Hey he might have been autistic but he saves Charlie’s ass in Vegas doesn’t he? “Kmart sucks.”
Darrel in The Outsiders
Played by Patrick Swayze, Darrel is the big brother to Ponyboy and Sodapop. Great names in this family eh? Swayze’s character is that of a parent. He works, can’t go to school, and loves to flex his muscles. I’m pretty sure most kids would want a brother like him.
Ralphie in A Christmas Story
His treatment of Randy is legendary.
*I’m sure there are at least 50 other great selections so we’d love for you to add some greats in the comments section
More Unreal Posts
How about Bob Flag in Nineteen Eighty-Four?
mickey rourke in rumble fish he was awesome with an O
Josh Brolin in The Goonies!! How could you neglect the Goonies?
Buzz from Home Alone and Kip from Napoleon Dynamite.
Referencing the Tristan/Brad Pitt pick;
In Legends of the Fall the brothers go to fight in WWI not the Civil War.
You are right. Switched in the article. Thanks.
Jem from To Kill A Mockingbird!
I think Edward Norton becomes a good big brother in the later part of American History X. Maybe not so much at first but at least he tries to fix everything later on.
@ Andre – good pick! That’s sort of the point of the movie, actually.
Igby’s older brother in Igby goes down, can’t remember his name (oliver?)
I always thought that Randy in Christmas Story was an awesome LITTLE brother. When he retrieves Ralphie’s glasses when Ralphie’s in the fight … I hafta go, “Awwwww ….”
Eliot’s older brother in E.T.
Fred and George in Harry Potter.
Derek and Brennan in Step Brothers.
And come on, let’s not forget the cult classic siblings: Donnie and Elizabeth Darko who are siblings in real life: Donnie Darko.
How ’bout “The Sixth Man” Kadeem Hardison is bad ass basketball player and when he dies helps Marlon Wayans a lot ……great movie!!!!
ok im going to get laughed at but i think cage in gone in 60 seconds played a pretty good big brother. when the younger brother cooks, or tries to, and they talk about how he got into trouble, that was a good scene.
Rabbit in 8 mile comes to mind