23 Iconic Movie Families Where You Didn’t Know The Co-Stars Are Actually Related

This list will shock you if you're not an expert in celebrity relationships.

Jesse

• Published in Film & TV
• July 31, 2022

We may refer to movies as the world of make-believe, but on rare occasions, even stars in these movies aren’t pretending. And each instance is fascinating, especially as the details and background information unravels before our eager eyes.

One typical example is when actors who are related in real life share the screen as characters and have the same relationship they do in the real world. It’s fascinating to get to watch these actors in their natural elements. 

While they may still be acting, there is a semblance of similarities between how they relate with their co-star in the movie and how they relate with them in reality. Watching these movies, therefore, feels like a two-for-one ticket.

There are many reasons movie directors do this, but most of the time, the reason is that it gives the movie or TV show an additional degree of authenticity. 

Related actors resemble one another in a way Hollywood can't replicate. Additionally, it helps actors provide more convincing performances on set.

Here is a list of some movie families that feature real-life relatives. Some of the names may shock you initially, but you’d find yourself putting the pieces together and agreeing that they had to be related to providing such stellar performances.

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1. Corbin Bleu and his dad, David Reivers, in Jump In

They played father and son, Izzy and Kenneth Daniels.

2. Amy Poehler and her husband at the time, Will Arnett, in Blades of Glory

They played siblings, Fairchild and Stranz Van Waldenberg.

3. Demi Moore and her daughter Rumer Willis in Now And Then

Demi featured as Samantha Albertson, while Rumer Willis played her sister, Angela, in flashbacks to when Samantha was a kid.

4. Rumer Willis and her dad, Bruce Willis in Hostage

They played Amanda and Jeff Talley.

5. Benedict Cumberbatch and his parents, Timothy Carlton and Wanda Ventham in Sherlock

Benedict's parents played Sherlock's dad and mom.

6. Jennifer Connelly and her husband Paul Bettany in Creation

They featured as Emma and Charles Darwin.

7. Meryl Streep and her daughter Mamie Gummer in Ricki And The Flash

They played Julie Brummel and Ricki Rendazzo.

8. Angelina Jolie and her father, Jon Voight, in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

They played Lara and Richard Croft.

9. Henry Fonda and his daughter Jane in On Golden Pond

They played Norman Thayer Jr. and Chelsea Thayer Wayne.

10. Sylvester Stallone and his son Sage in Rocky V

They featured as Rocky Balboa and Rocky Balboa Jr.

11. Twin sisters Tia and Tamera Mowry, not forgetting their brother Tahj Mowry in Sister, Sister

The sisters featured as separated-at-birth twins, Tia Landry and Tamera Campbell. Their little brother, on the other hand, played Cousin Tahj.

12. Matthew Perry and his father, John Bennett Perry in Fools Rush In

Matthew featured as Alex Whitman, while his father, John, played Alex's dad, Richard Whitman.

13. Jake Gyllenhaal and his sister, Maggie, in Donnie Darko

They played Donnie and Elizabeth Darko.

14. Colin Hanks and his father, Tom in The Great Buck Howard

They played Troy Gable and Mr. Gable.

15. John Cusack and his sister Joan Cusack in Say Anything.

John played Lloyd Dobler, and his sister, Joan, featured as Lloyd's sister, Constance.

16. Ryan O'Neal and his daughter Tatum, in Paper Moon

They played Addie Loggins and Moses Pray.

17. Jaden and Will Smith in The Pursuit Of Happyness

They played Christopher Gardner Jr. and Chris Gardner.

18. Will and Jaden Smith in After Earth

They played Cypher and Kitai Raige.

19. Husband and wife, John Krasinski and Emily Blunt, in A Quiet Place

They played Evelyn and Lee Abbott.

20. Eugene Levy and his son, Dan, in Schitt's Creek.

They played Johnny and David Rose.

21. Ben and Jerry Stiller in The Heartbreak Kid

They played Eddie and Doc Cantrow.

22. Miley Cyrus and Billy Ray in Hannah Montana

They played Miley and Robby Ray Stewart.

23. Leslie Mann and her daughters, Iris and Maude Apatow in Knocked Up.

Leslie played Debbie, while Iris and Maude were her kids in the movie.

We told you this piece would shock you!

While these actors are fantastic at their jobs, it’s undeniable that acting alongside their family members was a masterstroke by the directors. Indeed, portraying the same relationships they share in real life provided more authenticity in their performances. 

Tell us, which movie family shocked you the most? 

Jesse