John and Joan Cusack, brother and sister, have starred in several movies together since they both began their movie acting careers in the 1980s, both in small roles and eventually leading roles, once they became successful and recognizable actors.
The two have appeared in a surprising number of movies together in a wide variety of roles, from hitmen and assistants to brother and sister in everything from comedies and dramas to action-adventure movies.
Grandview, U.S.A. (1984) - 5.4
Grandview, U.S.A is a comedic movie that stars Jamie Lee Curtis, C. Thomas Howell, and Patrick Swayze as small-town characters.
Howell's character is ready to go to college in Florida to study oceanography, but everything seems to get in his way when he meets a mechanic (Curtis) and a demolition derby driver (Swayze). John and Joan Cusack have a small supporting role as brother and sister in this movie.
War, Inc. (2008) - 5.6
John Cusack portrays a hitman in this movie who begins to consider quitting the game when he meets a journalist (Marisa Tomei) and a pop star (Hillary Duff) on a job in the fictional Turaqistan. He tries to balance doing the job he was hired for and protecting the two women he comes to care about.
Joan Cusack plays his assistant in the mission,j who tries to keep him on track even though she can see he's distracted.
Class (1983) - 6.0
Rob Lowe and Andrew McCarthy star in this 1980s rom-com as two completely different prep student roommates. Lowe's character, Skip, is more experienced and McCarthy's character, Jonathan, is more naive. The two bond and Skip insists that Jonathan put himself out there and begin meeting women, specifically older women, at bars.
Jonathan takes his advice, but he accidentally pursues Skip's mother and causes a rift between the two. John Cusack has a small role as one friend in the group and Joan Cusack has an even smaller side role.
Martian Child (2007) - 6.8
John Cusack stars in Martian Child as a sci-fi novelist who tries for years to adopt a child with his wife. He connects with a young boy who truly believes he's from Mars and he decides to go through with the adoption, even though he is now a widower.
The two adapt to their new life together with unforeseen issues while he also tries to finish a new book before the deadline. Joan Cusack portrays his supportive sister who tries her best to help her brother and his new son in the situation.
Cradle Will Rock (1999) - 6.8
Both John and Joan Cusack appear in this movie with a large recognizable cast, including Hank Azaria, Jack Black, and Bill Murray.
Cradle Will Rock follows several different characters involved in the theater world at the height of the Great Depression. The movie follows each character and their struggle for stardom, whether it be singing, playwriting, or acting, all within a 1920s backdrop.
Sixteen Candles (1984) - 7.1
Both John and Joan Cusack appeared in the iconic 1980s John Hughes movie Sixteen Candles in small supporting roles. Certain aspects of the movie and characters haven't aged well, but it's still a beloved movie, even with its criticisms.
The movie follows teenager Samantha (Molly Ringwald) as she tries to navigate high school life with her sights set on an older popular guy, Jake Ryan. John Cusack has a small role as the nerdy friend to Anthony Michael Hall and Joan Cusack has an even smaller role, in one scene at the school dance.
Broadcast News (1987) - 7.2
Broadcast News is an 80s dramatic rom-com that follows various employees working at the titular newsroom. The movie stars Holly Hunter as a news producer who is prone to emotional breakdowns and Albert Brooks as a successful reporter who has a younger and successful rival.
Joan Cusack has a supporting role as an employee at the newsroom and John Cusack has a small cameo as an angry messenger.
Say Anything (1989) - 7.3
John Cusack starred in Say Anything and Joan Cusack had a small role in the Say Anything cast as his character's sister. The 80s rom-com follows the romantic Lloyd (John Cusack) as he pines for a classmate of his before they graduate and she travels out of the country for college.
The pair are incredibly different, but love each other and try to overcome their differences with love and romance. Although Joan Cusack only has a small role, the two play siblings and she gives some crucial advice.
Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) - 7.3
John and Joan Cusack starred together as a hitman and his assistant who scheduled all of his kills in Grosse Point Blank. Joan Cusack's assistant sends John Cusack's hitman on a mission back to his hometown during his high school reunion, hoping that he would attend and relax a bit.
He reconnects with old friends, including Minnie Driver, who plays his ex-girlfriend, but he has to constantly go back and forth between his normal life and finishing the job with another hitman (Dan Aykroyd) on his trail.
High Fidelity (2000) - 7.5
John Cusack stars as Rob in High Fidelity as a lovesick, music-obsessed man who is going through a recent break-up and reassessing his entire love life.
Rob talks to the audience and makes a playlist of his top five breakups and decides to revisit them to figure out what went wrong with each one. Joan Cusack portrays a mutual friend of Rob and his recent ex who tries to stay neutral after the break-up.