With the anticipated release of Lady Bird, Greta Gerwig’s coming-of-age drama about a headstrong teenager and her fraught relationship with her mother, it feels timely to highlight some of the most memorable and unconventional mother–daughter relationships on screen.
If you’re waiting for Lady Bird to hit theaters and want a cinematic fix in the meantime, this selection of films explores the complexity, warmth and conflict that often define mothers and daughters in movies.
Below are a few celebrated — and sometimes morally complicated — mother/daughter pairings that remain compelling, moving, or downright unsettling.
Carrie (1976)
Brian De Palma’s Carrie is a horror classic and also a darkly relatable portrait of a fractured mother–daughter bond. Carrie’s conflict with her devout and domineering mother fuels much of the drama, and the film uses supernatural elements to amplify the emotional stakes.
Beneath the blood and telekinetic terror, Carrie and her mother represent a painful and familiar pattern: adolescence clashing with parental control. The movie translates that universal clash into extreme, unforgettable imagery, making their relationship disturbing and engrossing in equal measure.
Recommended reading: Original vs Remake: Carrie (1976) vs Carrie (2013)
Terms of Endearment (1983)
Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger portray a layered, emotionally honest mother–daughter relationship in this 1980s drama. Their dynamic moves between affection and exasperation, capturing how long-term bonds can survive fights, misunderstandings and life’s painful turns.
Terms of Endearment balances comedy and heartbreak, showing that real relationships include both warmth and conflict. It’s the kind of film that invites viewers to reflect on their own family histories — the petty arguments that fade with time and the deep connections that remain.
Expect to laugh, cry and empathize; the movie’s emotional range makes it a go-to for anyone exploring maternal relationships on screen.
Aliens (1986)
James Cameron’s Aliens reframes the sci‑fi action genre by centering a fierce, protective maternal instinct. Ellen Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver, becomes an adoptive mother figure to the young survivor Newt, and her fierce defense of the child drives much of the film’s emotional core.
Originally conceived as a male character in early drafts of the franchise, Ripley’s transformation into a maternal heroine added depth and urgency to the sequel. Aliens juxtaposes high-octane action with tender, human moments, proving that maternal bonds can be powerful motivators even amid chaos and danger.
Whether the film is delivering thrills or quiet, protective gestures, it remains a striking example of how motherhood can be portrayed with strength, vulnerability and heroism.
Recommended reading: Alien Movie Franchise Ranked
Brave (2012)
Pixar’s Brave offers a refreshing take on the mother–daughter story within a fairy‑tale setting. Princess Merida and her mother’s clash over tradition, identity and expectation drives the plot, yet the film ultimately celebrates understanding and reconciliation.
Unlike many classic fairy tales where parents are absent or villainous, Brave gives the mother a fully realized role — imperfect, strong-willed and loving. The film emphasizes compromise and mutual respect, showing younger viewers that family relationships evolve rather than remain static.
Brave stands out for prioritizing the parent–child bond over romantic tropes and for presenting a heroine whose growth involves learning from, and alongside, her mother.
Recommended reading: Every Pixar Movie Ranked
These films demonstrate different ways cinema explores mother–daughter relationships: as sources of conflict, comfort, transformation and fierce protection. From horror to intimate drama to action and animation, each movie offers a distinct portrait of how these bonds shape identity and choices.
If you take anything from this list, let it be an appreciation for complex maternal relationships on film — and a reminder that Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird, with its focus on growing up and motherly ties, is on the horizon for audiences eager to see another fresh take on the subject.