Parents' Guide to Father Mother Sister Brother

Movie R 2025 110 minutes
Father Mother Sister Brother movie poster: Three rows of scenes labeled "Father," "Mother," and "Sister Brother" in pink, green, and blue text

Common Sense Media Review

Stefan Pape By Stefan Pape , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 14+

Dramedy anthology about family dynamics has strong language.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 14+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Father Mother Sister Brother Trailer
  • Father Mother Sister Brother movie: Older man with glasses stands on a porch outside a rural home, wearing a blue jacket and burgundy scarf
  • Father Mother Sister Brother movie: Two women look at books together in a modern apartment while their mother watches from the background
  • Father Mother Sister Brother movie: Two twins—an adult man and woman—sit on a wooden floor reading a document together in front of an ornate fireplace

Parent and Kid Reviews

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What's the Story?

FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER tells three stories of fractured families. A brother and sister (Adam Driver and Mayim Bialik) visit their emotionally distant father (Tom Waits), while two estranged sisters (Cate Blanchett and Vicky Krieps) visit their independent mother (Charlotte Rampling). Meanwhile, recently orphaned twins (Indya Moore and Luka Sabbat) clear out their parents' apartment.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

This is an understated, subtly comedic drama about family dynamics that sadly becomes tedious. The word "boring" seems harsh, but at times Father Mother Sister Brother is exactly that. Cult-indie filmmaker Jim Jarmusch brings his distinctive, wry sense of humor and meta jokes to the material. But the film's purported strength—its subtle, relatable edge—is also its downfall, as it lacks real dramatic tension. Viewers may recognize shades of their own messy families in these characters, but the film needs more energy to stay engaging. It's admirable that Jarmusch avoids creating fake dramatic moments that would undermine the film's realism, but things move too slowly. The performances are solid, with Driver, Blanchett, Waits, and Rampling all doing strong work. Yet even good acting can't make up for a screenplay that values atmosphere over story.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Father Mother Sister Brother portrayed families. Discuss the different family dynamics depicted on-screen. Did they seem realistic? How did they compare to your own family relationships?

  • Talk about the strong language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary, or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?

  • The movie is divided into three parts. Did you have a favorite? What other films have you seen that have used a similar technique?

Movie Details

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Father Mother Sister Brother movie poster: Three rows of scenes labeled "Father," "Mother," and "Sister Brother" in pink, green, and blue text

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