Acting families have been around Hollywood for decades. From the Barrymores to the Hustons and all the way to the Skarsgaards, many dynasties consider performing and entertaining their legacy and pass it on to their children and grandchildren, and so on. That's why actual siblings often play on-screen siblings.
Whether it's in movies or television, in comedies or dramas, these real-life brothers and sisters have shared the screen, some of them more than once. They played friends or foes, or a bit of both, but their authentic connection successfully translated into fiction, creating an honest depiction of family and all its complexities.
Hilary & Haley Duff - Material Girls
Sisters Hilary and Hailey Duff played a pair of superficial heiresses who lose their fortune in 2006's critically derided Material Girls. Directed by veteran Martha Coolidge, Material Girls co-stars Anjelica Huston, María Conchita Alonso, and Lukas Haas.
An extremely loose adaptation of Jane Austen's classic, Sense and Sensibility, the movie tried to capitalize on Hilary's profile but failed to make much of an impression. Indeed, Material Girls received overwhelmingly negative reviews and earned both Duff sisters a Razzie Award nomination for Worst Actress.
Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen - New York Minute
By 2004, the Olsen twins' acting career included 14 movies, 13 of which were straight-to-video. At the height of their fame, they shared the screen in 2004's New York Minute, their second attempt at a theatrical film since 1995's It Takes Two.
Co-starring Eugene Levy, the movie centers on two 17-year-old sisters with opposing plans during a stay in New York. New York Minute was a massive flop and would be the last film co-starring the Olsens. Like the Duffs, the Olsens also received Razzie nominations for their performances but didn't win.
Fred & Ben Savage - Little Monsters
Fred Savage rose to prominence in 1988 with the cult show The Wonder Years. A year later, he starred in the sweet but forgettable Little Monsters alongside Howie Mandel. The movie tells the story of a young boy, Brian, who befriends the monster under his bed and discovers a secret world of monsters who enjoy playing pranks on unsuspecting children.
Fred's younger brother, future Boy Meets World star Ben Savage, plays Brian's younger brother, Eric. Little Monsters received mixed reviews, with praise going for the Savages performances and humor.
Spencer & Abigail Breslin - Raising Helen
During the early 2000s, the Breslins became two of the most prominent child actors in the industry. Spencer appeared in movies like The Kid, The Cat in the Hat, and The Santa Clause 2 and 3. For her part, Abigail had a role in Signs before garnering an Oscar nomination for the indie darling Little Miss Sunshine.
Both siblings co-starred in the Kate Hudson vehicle Raising Helen. The film follows a carefree young woman who must take care of her deceased sister's three children, two of them played by the Breslins. It received mostly negative reviews from critics, who called it shallow and formulaic.
Nat & Alex Wolff - Stella's Last Weekend
The Wolff brothers are two of the most underrated young actors working today. Nat currently stars in The Stand and played leading roles in Paper Towns and Mainstream. Alex gained notoriety after his performance in the modern horror masterpiece Hereditary and thanks to his role in the Jumanji franchise.
Nat and Alex first co-starred in the television series The Naked Brothers Band. In 2018, they reunited for Stella's Last Weekend, written and directed by their mother, Poly Draper. The movie follows the complex relationship between two brothers who like the same girl. Stella's Last Weekend received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics.
Tia & Tamera Mowry - Twitches
The Mowry twins became stars thanks to the successful sitcom Sister, Sister. In 2005, the sisters co-starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie Twitches. It tells the story of two magical twins separated at birth, who reunite on their 21st birthday to save their homeworld.
The movie was so successful that it spawned a 2007 sequel, Twitches Too. The sisters would later have their reality show, Tia & Tamera, while also keeping individual careers. Tia starred in several movies, and Tamera hosted the daytime talk show The Real.
Marlon & Shawn Wayans - White Chicks
Despite the overwhelmingly negative reviews it received at the time, White Chicks has become something of a cult classic. Shawn and Marlon Wayans play brothers and police officers Kevin and Marcus Copeland, who pose as socialite sisters Brittany and Tiffany Wilson in an attempt to prevent the girls' kidnapping.
White Chicks was successful at the box office, despite the negative reviews. It also received five nominations for the 2005 Razzie Awards but failed to win any of them. Recently, Marlon Wayans declared that a sequel is "necessary," stating that it is "writing itself."
John & Joan Cusack - Martian Child
As two of the most successful siblings in Hollywood, John and Joan Cusack have co-starred in multiple movies. Most of them were massive hits, most notably Broadcast News, Say Anything, and High Fidelity. However, Martian Child is one of the few in which they play brother and sister.
The movie follows a recently widowed novelist who connects with a child who believes himself to be from Mars. Released in late 2007, Martian Child flew under the radar. It received mixed reviews, with critics saying it was charming but forgettable.
Jeff & Beau Bridges - The Fabulous Baker Boys
At the height of his fame as a Hollywood heartthrob, Jeff Bridges joined forces with his real-life brother, Beau, for Steve Klove's drama The Fabulous Baker Boys. The film follows the titular Baker Boys, talented pianists who hire a young but unpredictable singer to complement their waning act.
The Fabulous Baker Boys received critical acclaim. The Bridges garnered positive reviews for their performances, but critics agreed that Michelle Pfeiffer's turn as the magnetic Susie Diamond elevated the picture. Pfeiffer received a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination for her effort, cementing her place as one of the most iconic actresses of the 1980s.
Jake & Maggie Gyllenhaal - Donnie Darko
Two siblings rarely achieve the same level of stardom and recognition in Hollywood. However, the Gyllenhaals are the exception to the rule. They both starred in blockbusters like The Dark Knight and Spider-Man: Far From Home and garnered Academy Award nominations throughout their careers.
Back in 2001, when their careers were about to explode, they played brother and sister in Donnie Darko. The movie follows the titular character as he experiences visions of a man in a rabbit costume who informs him the world will end in 28 days. Donnie Darko wasn't a box office success at the time but has since become an influential classic.