There are few relationships as unique or as powerful as that of a brotherly bond. Brothers always show loyalty and defend each other, but they're the quickest to bust each other's chops too. But the pendulum swings the other way, as that passion can also cause friction and fallouts.

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Because of that, movies about brothers, whether they're best friends or estranged, make for some of the most interesting narratives ever. Between movies about real-life boxers, elves trying to bring their father back to life, and competitive street racers, films based on brothers never fail to entertain.

Mouse Hunt (1997)

Ernie and Lars covered in Mouse Traps in Mouse Hunt

The 1997 slapstick comedy Mouse Hunt doesn't get enough recognition when it comes to holiday movies. The film follows two estranged brothers who are forced to set aside their differences when they both inherit a mansion, but a pesky house mouse holds up their renovations.

The brothers bond through trying to catch the mouse, and while it temporarily tore their relationship apart and they lost millions by destroying a house they inherited, they become closer than they ever were. And they even form a brotherly relationship with the mouse by the end of the movie.

Onward (2020)

Ian and Barley Lightfoot sitting on a car in Onward

Onward often gets overlooked when it comes to Pixar's releases, and if it wasn't for the worldwide pandemic, it could have been a lot more successful, as it was released right as COVID-19 was starting to spread. There's no reason why it shouldn't have been a huge hit, as it has some of the best animation in recent years, a typically creative Pixar premise, and a riveting and emotional backbone.

The movie is set in a fantasy world and follows two elf brothers who go on a road trip that will hopefully lead to bringing their deceased father back to life. Onward is one of the most underrated Disney movies and it'll make even the most stoic of brothers feel emotional.

The Tree Of Life (2011)

Jack speaks with his father in The Tree of Life

The Terrence Malick-directed The Tree of Life is an incredibly ambitious movie. The 2011 film peculiarly mixes a grounded story about an estranged brother and son with the beginning of time and the evolution of mankind.

It might sound like a strange blend of styles, but in between shots of the Big Bang and dinosaurs breaking each other's necks is an extraordinarily heartfelt narrative about a brother facing the past and his demons head-on. While the movie received a polarizing response from audiences, it earned an astounding amount of critical praise, won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, and is one of Malick's best movies.

F9 (2021)

Dom and Jakob have a heated argument in F9

Calling F9 "compelling" might be a little bit of a stretch, as it's impressively unrealistic, even by Fast and Furious's standards. However, the backstory of Dom and Jakob growing up together hits in a different way from Rome and Tej going into space in a Nos-powered rocket car.

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It's no secret that the core of the Fast and Furious series being family has become a running gag. But when the two brothers reconcile at the end of the movie, it's the most effective storytelling since the end of Furious 7.

Adaptation (2002)

Charlie and Donald argue in a hotel room in Adaptation

Adaptation is a lot of things, as it's part-sequel to 1999's Being John Malkovich and part-adaptation of the non-fiction book The Orchid Thief. But the core of the movie is the relationship between two twin brothers. One of the brothers, Charlie, is a professional screenwriter committed to telling powerful stories, and the other, Donald, is a screenwriter who has found tons of success writing B-rate slasher movies.

What follows is Charlie growing bitter about Donald, becoming jealous, and completely resenting him, which is something so many brothers can relate to. The movie is so entertaining too, which is mostly thanks to Nicolas Cage, who plays both brothers. And while Cage has settled into starring in movies that are so bad they're good, Adaptation is a genuinely compelling movie.

Legend (2015)

Ron and Reggie Kray in court in Legend

Tom Hardy has played a gangster on countless occasions, but Legend stands out for one distinct reason. The movie is about the real-life Kray twins, two British gangsters in the late '60s, and like Nicolas Cage in Adaptation, Hardy plays both distinct characters.

Ron Kray is a paranoid schizophrenic prone to random bouts of violence, and Reggie Kray is a threatening and terrifying former boxer, and together they control London's criminal underworld. What the two managed to achieve together is unbelievable, and it's all depicted in graphic detail in the 2015 movie.

Good Time (2017)

Nick and Connie run through the street in Good Time

Good Time follows brothers Connie and Nick, two bank robbers who have to look out for one another when one robbery goes completely wrong. Connie has to do everything he can to keep Nick safe while evading the police.

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The 2017 movie is great for anybody who wants to watch a heart-stopping, gripping crime thriller, but it's also a fascinating character study too. Some viewers will think what Connie is doing is for the love of his brother, but other viewers could just as easily think that he's sociopathic, doing it for selfish reasons, and taking advantage of his brother's disability.

Raging Bull (1980)

Jake and Joey talk at the dinner table in Raging Bull

Raging Bull tells the real-life story of Jake and Joey LaMotta, a boxer and coach who are also brothers, and the Martin Scorsese-directed epic terrifically tells their dramatic story in and outside of the ring.

Interestingly, there's a common theme with movies about brothers. Just like Good TimeLegend, and so many others, Joey and Jake have very hostile and frantic personalities, especially when they're together, and it's terrifically portrayed on screen. Between the warts-and-all performances and the portrait of the siblings' destructive nature, Raging Bull still holds up today.

The Fighter (2010)

Dickey has his arm over Micky in The Fighter

The Fighter bears so many similarities to Raging Bull, as not only is it a boxing movie, and not only is it based on a true story, but the boxer and the boxer's coach are brothers too.

It's hardly a surprise that David O'Russell directed the 2010 movie, as Raging Bull is his favorite film, and while it isn't in black and white, in The Fighter, he is clearly wearing his influences on his sleeve. The Fighter pays homage to the 1980 classic in so many different ways, but at the same time, the story is different enough to still be engaging, and it features one of the decade's best performances from Christian Bale.

The Goonies (1985)

Brandon looks down at Mickey in The Goonies

The Goonies is an '80s classic, and the way the action flick doubles as a coming-of-age movie is so unique and there still hasn't been anything like it since. The movie is about evolving friendships and relationships, but at its very core, the film is about the bond between two brothers.

As farfetched as the movie is with its pirates and treasure, it features one of the most realistic depictions of a younger and older brother. The way Mickey looks up to Brandon resembles that kind of brotherly love unlike almost any other film. And what's even more wholesome is that Brandon, the older brother, also learns a thing or two from Mickey.

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