Now while there are plenty of only children in movies, there are a lot of memorable siblings. Sometimes they can be your best friends as well as hardly there at all. Some even could be backstabbing sons of bitches if you get my drift. Now it’s said that siblings share a lot together such as genetics, childhood, home, and what not. They’re also more likely to be a person’s longest and closest biological connection as well as be among the first choices for a new kidney, if need be. Still, since a lot of movies tend to pertain to men, it’s no wonder that there are so many of memorable ones on film from parental surrogates to annoying little shits. However, this post basically pertains to brothers that aren’t so nice who you’d wish their siblings just have a clue and kick them to the curb. Some of these guys are selfish protectors while others are chronic backstabbers who’d hang their families out to dry in a heartbeat. Some are just goddamn crazy and perhaps homicidal maniacs. Others are a little of both. But for the kid who feels like they have the worst brother ever, let’s just say this list will make you feel much better after seeing what some people in the movies have to deal with. Half-brothers, stepbrothers, and adopted brothers are included as well. Uncles will also count as well if sibling ties can be established, since being a bad uncle is also synonymous with being a bad brother even if they direct their vileness toward their siblings’ kids that’s every parent’s nightmare. So without further adieu, here is a list of some of the terrible brothers in movies that put your mean and annoying brothers to shame.

1. Stephen Bloom

From: The Brothers Bloom
The Problem: Those who’ve seen Foxcatcher will remember Mark Ruffalo as Channing Tatum’s caring older brother. But as Stephen Bloom, his relationship with Adrien Brody in this film is very complicated, since they’re con artists with their relationship being a fine line between brotherly love and the elder exploiting the younger as a prop for his own selfish ends. Sure Stephen may love his little brother Bloom more than anyone else in his life. It’s clear their relationship isn’t a typical one between brothers since they were the only people in each other’s lives due to being orphaned at a young age and spending a significant part of their childhood bouncing between foster homes. So as it’s only natural that Stephen and Bloom’s relationship may contain aspects one would associate between a parent and child (despite a 3 year age difference). And yes, Stephen might have originally invented the cons as a way to get Bloom to interact with the world while they were kids. But even then, you can also argue Stephen invented their con game because he was jealous of how the other kids seem to have it better than they did (hence the line “playground bourgeoisies”). But you can’t really blame him since their lives were relatively miserable in foster care. However, fast forward 25 years later and there’s no denying that Stephen plans all his cons for himself just because he wants to write a good story and make it real as well as rip off a bunch of rich folks who won’t miss their money anyway. Bloom usually assists his big brother doing whatever he says mostly because he loves his brother and is simply too passive and nice for his own good. But Stephen’s con games have taken a heavy toll on Bloom who never gets to grow into his own person (hence why he’s not known by his first name), never gets to pursue what he wants, views himself very negatively as a human being, and may be well on his way to becoming a psychological mess. I mean spending a few months drinking in Montenegro and possibly traveling with bottles of gin are never good signs. Furthermore, it’s well established in their first scenes as adults that Bloom has wanted to quit for awhile and has told his brother before on so many occasions that Stephen was able to say so word for word. But Stephen always knows how to manipulate his little brother into doing a con job no matter how reluctant Bloom may be. And when Bloom falls for their mark Penelope Stamp, he not only has to suffer the emotional consequences of luring and dumping her but his relationship with Stephen also gets to the point where he can’t completely tell the difference of whether his brother is being sincere or trying to con him. Stephen may not be responsible for all of Bloom’s problems, but his relationship with Stephen keeps him trapped in a con game he doesn’t want to play as well as makes him a very conflicted and very unhappy man.

2. Princes Richard, Geoffrey, and John Plantagenet

From: The Lion in Winter with Richard and John in the Robin Hood movies
The Problem: Let’s just say, that sibling rivalries can get quite heated. But when it comes to medieval brothers fighting over who’ll rule after daddy, then it will be played up like a contact sport. If not, then war. Now it’s not easy being a Plantagenet, especially if you’re a grown man whose dad is King Henry II of England and mom is Queen Eleanor of Acquitaine. And by 1183, they’re not on the best of terms with his philandering and her inciting you guys into rebelling against him that got her put in prison for 10 years. So coming from a family like that, not wanting to spend the holidays with your folks is understandable. Add to that the fact your oldest brother Henry has died not too long ago and that King Henry is bonking the French King’s sister who’s engaged to Richard (who’d prefer her brother anyway). Oh, and did I tell you the French King Philip II is just 17 year old newlywed who’s also the son of Eleanor’s ex-husband? Now it’s clear that Henry and Eleanor favor a different son to succeed the king when he dies such as John and Richard respectively. But it’s also clear that primogeniture isn’t law yet and Henry fears that his sons will fight a civil war after he dies. And looking how these guys got along with each other during Christmas, he’s clearly not overreacting. Surviving oldest Richard likes to slaughter guys in tournaments and in the Holy Land who as king, left his country financially ruined, had to have the English people bail him out after being captured, and really didn’t care much about being a king of England anyway. But he’s also close to his mama and may prefer the company of merry men. But he and his dad really don’t get along. Middle son Geoffrey has a case of chronic backstabbing disorder who likes to use his brothers as pawns. Luckily he dies (supposedly trampled by a horse during a jousting tournament) before his old man kicks the bucket so he’s not in the Robin Hood movies. Then there’s the youngest, Prince John who’s a spoiled teenage brat in The Lion in Winter but he’s smarter than he looks (but is unaware about being an unwitting pawn). So when Richard’s out and mommy’s dead, then he’ll try to take over. And when he becomes king, he’ll kill off Geoffrey’s teenage son Arthur before the latter would challenge him. Of course, he won’t be as well liked as Richard and will be forced to sign the Magna Carta before dying of dysentery. Yeah. Now could you not blame Henry II for wanting to kill his boys for treason?

3. J. J. Hunsecker

From: Sweet Smell of Success
The Problem: Okay, J. J. isn’t the nicest guy in the world, but when it comes to selfish and controlling brothers, he makes Stephen Bloom look like an angel. At least Stephen has some redeeming qualities when it comes to his little brother. When it comes to J. J.’s relationship with his sister, he has absolutely none. Now since J. J. basically had to raise Susan, he’s very protective of his little sister, maybe to inappropriate levels. But he cares much more about his needs than he ever will about hers. So when his little sister Susan starts dating a nightclub jazz guitarist Steve Dallas (who’s a perfectly nice guy, by the way), what does Hunsecker do? Why recruit a smarmy press agent named Sidney Falco to break them up, of course. So to please the bullying, intimidating Hunsecker, Falco plants a (certifiably false) rumor that Dallas is a dope smoking Communist so the morally bankrupt syndicated columnist could rescue his reputation. However, though Dallas and Susan do break up (officially), Dallas just can’t resist insulting Hunsecker and his underhanded methods. Hunsecker is so enraged that he tells Falco to plant marijuana on the musician and have a dirty cop Lt. Harry Kello arrest and beat him up. Falco is uneasy about this but goes ahead with the plan anyway. But when he is summoned to Hunsecker’s penthouse, he finds the miserable Susan trying to kill herself. But he grabs her as J. J. walks in and accuses Falco of trying to assault her and beats him to a pulp. When Susan learns that her brother ordered Falco to destroy Dallas, she tells him “I’d rather be dead than living with you. For all the things you’ve done, J.J., I know I should hate you. But I don’t. I pity you.” And she walks out to rejoin her jazz guitarist boyfriend, renouncing ties to her brother altogether.

4. Steve Lake

From: Bunny Lake Is Missing
The Problem: I’d hate to spoil this movie, but I can’t see any way in order to understand why Steve Lake is on this list. Now this movie initially plays like a conventional child abduction story with American single mom Ann Lake utterly frantic over her daughter Bunny disappearing on her first day at school. So after searching through the kindergarten in vain, Ann and Steve decide to call the police. Now when Superintendent Newhouse reaches the Lakes’ house, all of Bunny’s possessions are also missing and he begins to suspect Bunny Lake doesn’t exist, partly because Bunny was the name of Ann’s imaginary friend. Desperate to prove Bunny’s existence, Ann discovers a claim tag on one of her daughter’s dolls she took to the doll shop for repairs. But though she gets the doll, Steve bursts in attempting to burn it, knocks her out, and tells the nurse that his sister is raving like a lunatic about an imaginary girl who disappeared. When she escapes to their house knowing that her brother’s the kidnapper, Ann finds Steve burying Bunny’s things and planning to kill her. As to why Steve did it, he simply said that Bunny has always been between them and now they can’t be together because Ann loves Bunny more than she loves him. Well, ya think? But there may be hints that Steve may love his sister in a rather unhealthy way. Still, it’s clear that Steve is utterly crazy if he has to be jealous of his sister’s daughter. He shouldn’t expect Ann love Bunny more than him since putting one’s kids first is normal for any parent. Now it’s one thing for a brother to kidnap his sister’s kid. But, also trying to convince the world her kid doesn’t exist and that your sister has gone off the deep end will certainly make you the brother from hell.

5. Prince Edward “David” of Wales (later King Edward VIII)

From: The King’s Speech
The Problem: Now we all know the story about how King Edward VIII gave up the throne out of love for the twice divorced American divorcee he loved, which caused a constitutional crisis in the UK. Sure you may think it’s the greatest love story of all time. However, while this movie might not be the most historically accurate, it puts the romantic notions of Edward’s abdication to rest once and for all as well as portrayed him as the selfish and absolute jerk he was. Seriously, the guy wasn’t keen on having his kingly duties get in the way with jetsetting around the world to party. Of course, it’s very apparent that Edward isn’t cut out to be a constitutional monarch that even his old man would prefer his stuttering little brother Bertie to him (and so would the British public). And did I tell you that he and Wallis are Nazi sympathizers? Of course, all of this brings little comfort to Bertie who’s not at all confident about his speaking abilities. It doesn’t help that Edward basically belittles him of his speech impediment just when Bertie tells him that he should take his leadership duties seriously. He also accuses his brother of trying to take his place as king even though Bertie really doesn’t want to be king. But you kind of wish that Bertie could just do it because Edward is such a selfish asshole. Of course, while Edward was right to give up the throne for his brother, it seems that Bertie got the raw end of the deal. And despite being a capable king, it doesn’t help that the stress of ruling Great Britain was said to take a massive toll on his health that he died of coronary thrombosis in 1952 at 56. Edward, on the other hand enjoyed a photo op with Adolf Hitler, a wartime governorship of the Bahamas, continued enjoying his jettsetting party lifestyle with him and Wallis as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and died in Paris in 1972.

6. Antonio “Tony” Camonte/Tony Montana

From: Scarface (either version)
The Problem: Gangster movies might glamorize crime and violence. But they’re correct to tell moviegoers that you wouldn’t want to be related to one. Now there are two movies named Scarface with one being made in the 1930s that was inspired by the rise of Al Capone during Prohibition and the other about a Cuban drug kingpin in Miami during the 1970s but released in 1983. But in some essence, the story is the same. Violent guy named Tony rises to through the ranks of organized crime basically facing attention of law enforcement and law enforcement, having their lives reduced to emptiness, as well as eventually have their empires come crashing down as they get killed. Camonte loves violence and delights in his Tommy Gun without showing remorse while Montana gets addicted to cocaine and is a controlling misogynist. Of course, both Tonys are impulsive in their own way with terrible tempers and an unhealthy obsession with their sisters. By that I mean violently protective that sometimes conduct can descend into outright abuse. And when the sister runs off with the best friend to get married, the Tonys gun down the best friend assuming the guy was abusing her (he wasn’t). Their criminal activities also lead to their sisters getting killed as well.

7. Scar

From: The Lion King
The Problem: As far as Disney villains go, Scar is among the most evil and basically fits the textbook definition of a sociopath. Yes, he’s resentful and jealous of his king of the Pridelands brother Mufasa who always gets the glory and the power he craves. But at least he’ll be next after his brother dies. That is, until Simba is born, which gets him demoted on in the line of succession which he is not happy about. Still, Scar is good at hiding his resentment toward his brother and nephew by pretending to be the loyal brother and uncle while privately planning to kill them with zero qualms. Now Scar is a ruthless chronic backstabber, consummate liar, and a master at manipulating everyone to get what he wants. First, he tricks Simba and Nala to venture into the elephant graveyard betting they are killed by hyenas. But Mufasa interferes and saves them. Yet, he also successfully dupes the hyenas into his selfish scheme, convincing them he’d make everything better for them. They fall for it. After that, he then coaxes his nephew into a gorge and triggers a wildebeest stampede where Simba is almost trampled to death if it weren’t for Mufasa returning his son to safety. But Scar throws his brother off a cliff to get trampled in the stampede at his moment of desperation, all in front of Simba’s eyes (while traumatizing an entire generation of children in the 1990s. Trust me, I watched this movie in theaters when I was 4 years old. Guess this scene gave my parents second thoughts about having me see this). Adding insult to injury, Scar tells Simba that Mufasa’s death was his fault and that he should run away and never return, before having the hyenas unsuccessfully go after him. Yet, this leaves Simba with a major guilt complex while he grows up. Once Scar is actually king of the Pridelands, he lets the hyenas run rampant making the place go to hell, turning the lush savannah into a deserted wasteland within a few years in which lion and hyena both starve. And Scar proves to be a terrible ruler because he’s a selfish, tyrannical, and lazy hedonist with virtually everybody hating his guts. Once Simba returns, Scar sets him off by smacking Sarabi when she compares him to Mufasa. And when Scar and Simba get into a fight, he pleads for mercy and confesses to killing his brother only to recant it by blaming his villainous actions on the hyenas (who are listening nearby). Luckily Simba throws him off Pride Rock and the hyenas eat him alive.

8. Charlie Babbit

From: Rain Man
The Problem: Now taking care of a special needs sibling is difficult enough, let alone if you haven’t seen him or her since you were a little kid before being institutionalized. Now Raymond Babbit is profoundly autistic savant but he has super recall and math skills (and as far as we know, there’s no cure for autism). Charlie on the other hand, has a severe case of rich boy entitlement syndrome, which is totally curable. So when Charlie learns that his estranged dad has left the bulk of his $3 million estate is going to the older brother her barely remembers, he seeks Raymond out. However, once he meets his brother, he takes his brother to a hotel, he asks Raymond’s doctor for half the estate in exchange for Raymond’s return, but he refuses. He then decides to gain custody of his brother to get control of the money he thinks is rightfully his. So he basically kidnaps Raymond away to Los Angeles to meet with his lawyers. And when he hears about the Lamborghinis being seized by a creditor resulting in $80,000 in debt, well it’s a brotherly road trip to Vegas. But this time, it’s for Raymond to put his super memory and math skills to good use with counting cards before being chased out of the casino by security. Yeah, Charlie is a douche whose only motivation in bonding with Raymond is his bank account to support his luxurious lifestyle. Still, if I were him, I’d just go with the convertible and prize winning rose bushes and leave.

9. Jesse and Lewton McCanles

From: Duel in the Sun
The Problem: When it comes to dynastic clashes on Texas cattle ranches, these boys make the Ewing brothers seem normal. And when Pearl Chavez winds up on Spanish Bit, Jesse and Lewton’s relationship becomes even more antagonistic. Now if you’ve read my post on bad movie husband/boyfriends, Lewt is a violent psycho who rapes Pearl, refuses to marry her, yet goes completely apeshit if she dates anyone else. I mean he killed a guy who was going to marry her. He also derails a train and shoots his Jesse unarmed. It’s not surprising he’s the worse of the two and it’s no wonder that his family hates him. Seriously, trying to discipline Lewt is like trying to domesticate a crocodile. However, while we’re supposed to see the gentlemanly Jesse as the good brother, he’s just as much of a selfish jerk who’d sell out his family’s best interests in a heartbeat. Sure he gets ostracized for siding with the railroad men while his dad decided on an armed confrontation, but still. Now Jesse is a lawyer with political ambitions and family image is everything. So you can’t really tell whether he’s being a nice guy or doesn’t want his family put him at a disadvantage during the next election. And though he may have feelings for Pearl, he doesn’t see her as an appropriate political wife so he gets himself engaged to an upper class white girl. But if Jesse wasn’t so keen on winning office and ran off and married Pearl instead, then a lot of the bad stuff in this movie could’ve been avoided, especially Lewton and Pearl’s mutual kill.

10. Cal and Aron Trask

From: East of Eden
The Problem: Of course, the fact these two don’t get along is certainly no surprise to me because they were raised by a shitty dad. Seriously, Adam Trask’s upbringing really messed these boys up. Now Cal is supposed to be the bad brother while Aron is seen as the good brother. However, it’s not really the case. Sure Cal is a juvenile delinquent who basically steals his brother’s girlfriend and drive him insane when he introduces Aron their mother. Not to mention, it also compels Aron to go on a bender and hop on a train to the Western front, smashing a window. But Aron is also intensely possessive of Abra and whenever she tries to do something nice with or for Cal, he just goes ballistic. Also, when Cal tries to help him in a fight, Aron thinks it’s just to impress Abra. And when Cal tries to give the money he worked so hard to earn back after his dad’s veggie disaster, Aron suddenly announces his and Abra’s engagement even though he didn’t propose at all. Yeah, Adam Trask certainly did a great job with his favoritism on Aron and abuse on Cal being basically the main reasons why they hate each other.

11. Jonathan Brewster

From: Arsenic and Old Lace
The Problem: Contrary to what you might’ve seen on Dexter, serial killers don’t make great siblings. And while Jonathan only killed about 13 people which may be more of a byproduct of his life of crime, chances are you’d rather have dinner with his sweet elderly aunts even if they are homicidal maniacs. Seriously, the Brewsters are the kind of family in which everyone save oldest brother Mortimer is crazy, homicidal, or both. Jonathan is the guy you want to avoid since not only is he a serial killer but he’s also been pursued around by police that he’s had multiple plastic surgeries and killed his last victim for saying he looked like Boris Karloff. Not to mention, he’s a violent psychopath with no scruples who’d even torture his victims if he’s in the mood such as the Melbourne method. And it doesn’t help that he and his assistant stop by his aunts’ place where they drop off a corpse to the aunts’ dismay. Still, the guy basically thinks about killing his brothers on a whim and he gets really close to killing his older brother Mortimer by having his assistant bound and gag him to a chair. This among clueless and easily bored New York beat cops nearby. Now having a crazy family is one thing. But if you’re the guy in the crazy family with homicidal aunts who think you’ve gone off the deep end and try to kill your brother, well, you probably belong on this list.

12. Edmund Pevensie

From: The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe
The Problem: Of course, being a middle child and sent off to a stranger’s countryside home during WWII isn’t going to put you in the best situation. So Edmund wanting attention, glory, and sugary sweets isn’t very surprising, especially since he starts out the series at 10. Not to mention, out of the 4 Pevensie children, it’s pretty clear he gets the least attention from their parents. In the beginning, he’s already in a bad relationship with his siblings who basically bullies younger sister Lucy just because he can, even after they get out of the wardrobe. Still, when he first gets into Narnia after chasing Lucy around, he meets the White Witch who takes him in her white sleigh and treats him to Turkish delight, calling herself the “Queen of Narnia.” She also asks him to return and bring his siblings with him, offering a reward of him being a prince and perhaps a king. However, Edmund obviously has no idea what’s going on in Narnia as well as what the hell he’s getting himself into. What’s really going on is that the White Witch is just using him so she could kill them all to prevent the fulfillment of a Narnia prophecy. And that she has made him do her bidding by getting him hooked on the Narnian equivalent to crack. So when the Pevensie siblings are staying with the Beavers and talking about Aslan, Edmund sneaks out to the Witch’s castle. Of course, it’s only when he gets there does he realize he’s made a very big mistake, but that doesn’t stop the White Witch from trying to put him to death. Perhaps the only reason why Edmund’s siblings forgave him was because his familial betrayal had less to do with selfishness than his own stupidity and desire for attention. But it’s Edmund’s ignorance that nearly puts him and his siblings in mortal danger.

13. Paris

From: Troy and other films.
The Problem: Well, a pretty straightforward one, really. Now suppose you’re the Trojan Crown Prince Hector with a loving wife and young son. All you want to do with your life is basically spend time with your family and help your dad rule Troy. But one day, your little brother Paris goes on a diplomatic mission to Sparta where he ends up running off with Queen Helen. Unfortunately she’s married to King Menelaus who’s certainly not at all happy. In fact, he’s so royally pissed off that he enlists help from his brother and the other Greek city states that have now declared war on Troy, which will go on for 10 years. Now you correctly think that what your little brother did wasn’t just selfish but also phenomenally stupid. Not to mention, even the Trojans think Paris is a philandering, cowardly jerk who’s responsible for this mess. But this is Ancient Greece, your sense of honor won’t let you to just give Helen back to Menelaus which would basically solve everything. As we all know, destiny and hubris pretty much make this conflict unavoidable. And the fact that you’re also Troy’s best warrior means that you’re going to spend a lot of time away from the family. Now does that make you want to kill your brother? Well, if it doesn’t just make note that you will be killed by Achilles, your body will be desecrated, your city will be burned, your newborn son will be thrown from the city walls, and your wife will become a sex slave to your slayer’s son. Oh, and your sister will be taken as Agamemnon’s sex slave and is killed by Clytemnestra. But don’t worry, Paris dies in this war, too.

14. King Claudius

From: Hamlet
The Problem: It’s one thing to kill your brother for the throne of Denmark. But marry the guy’s widow soon after his death? Sure he may seem to love her and may help him get the throne but his nephew Hamlet is certainly not going to be happy about that when he gets home. And when he finds out from his ghost dad that Claudius killed his father, he’s going to be super pissed. But Uncle Claudius isn’t going to give up his kingdom too easily, especially after he gets pissed off over his nephew putting on a play about it. Luckily Hamlet missed an opportunity to kill him while he’s praying to God (for God’s sake, Hamlet, why don’t you just fucking kill your uncle already?). So this gives time for Claudius to send Rosencrantz and Guilderstern to kill him after he sends Hamlet out of town with a message to the king of England to kill him (luckily Hamlet has the two idiots murdered by giving them the message). And when Hamlet gets back home, he tries to have his nephew killed another time via swordfight with the now angry, grieving, and vengeful Laertes in which they kill each other. Fortunately Hamlet kills him before dying but not after his mother drinks poison. And as a result of his actions, the whole Danish royal family is dead. Yes, fratricide is a bitch.

15. Peeta Mellark’s Older Brothers
From: The Hunger Games Trilogy
The Problem: While I’m not sure whether you see them in the film, but they’re mentioned in the book. Now we’re all aware that every year in Panem, a teenage boy and girl are chosen at random (or supposed to be, but the selection system is rigged) during the Reaping as tributes for each of the 12 districts to participate an annual fight to the death on national television. At least one of Peeta’s brothers was eligible to compete in the first book. But while Katniss Everdeen volunteers as a tribute in her sister’s place, Peeta’s brothers do no such thing (in typical Panem sibling fashion). And it doesn’t help that he’s in love with Katniss who’s probably favored to win the Games anyway (as we know from Catching Fire) and if she didn’t decide that they’d commit suicide together, he probably wouldn’t last the first book. Those familiar with the trilogy know the rest, especially with what happens to him in Mockingjay.

16. Hindley Earnshaw

From: Wuthering Heights
The Problem: In relation to Heathcliff, Hindley isn’t technically a brother but that’s as far as we’re concerned. However, they were raised together in the same house, so he counts. Now Hindley’s hatred for Heathcliff starts when his dad brings him to Wuthering Heights. Of course, considering his situation, since a new sibling does lead to less parental attention, this is understandable, especially for children of single parents. However, his father’s attention to Heathcliff makes this Mr. Little Entitlement here utterly jealous and resentful. So when Edgar dies, Hindley assumes the role of family patriarch and forces Heathcliff to work relentlessly as a family servant (or house slave, not that there’s any difference). Doesn’t help matters that Hindley later becomes an alcoholic and compulsive gambler as an adult. Now Heathcliff didn’t like Hindley to begin with nor is he necessarily nice either. But being forced to work for his foster brother really makes him despise the guy. Not only that, but Hindley’s treatment of Heathcliff is largely what shapes the latter into a cruel and bitter person. And when Heathcliff returns after a mysterious 3 year absence, he assumes ownership from under Hindley’s nose and basically has him drink himself to death. Sure Heathcliff was pretty cruel to the guy, but it’s not like Hindley didn’t deserve it. I mean treating someone like scum and a monster isn’t a good idea, especially if the victim displays signs of being a possible sociopath. So Hindley pretty much had it coming. Edgar Linton, on the other hand…..

17. Charles “Charlie” Oakley

From: Shadow of a Doubt
The Problem: Now Charlie is more of an uncle but even so, you’d think his sister Emma would know better. I mean Charlie hasn’t seen her in years until all of a sudden, he just decides to pay her a visit (of course, we all know he’s being chased by cops at the moment). But unlike Jonathan Brewster, Charlie wouldn’t think of killing his older sister, mostly because he only targets rich widows that he equates with cows best left to the slaughterhouse. Yet, you can argue that while Emma is practically blind to who her brother really is, her ignorance basically keeps her out of harm’s way. But it kind of makes her naming her daughter after him very unsettling. Also helps Uncle Charlie that everyone in town adores him. On the other hand, you couldn’t say the same for Young Charlie who’s the only one in her family to sense that there’s something very wrong with him. He also gives her a wedding ring, which is among the most inappropriate gifts for someone in your family, save maybe in West Virginia. But after a run in with the cops looking for the “Merry Widow Killer” and a bit of research on the ring, she finds that the uncle she once idolized is actually a remorseless serial killer on the run. When Young Charlie tells him what she knows, he tries to kill her 3 times such as breaking the stair steps so she could fall and break her neck, locking her in a garage with the engine running so she’d suffocate from carbon monoxide poisoning, or trying to throw her off a train. He also tries to choke her, too. Now staying at your sister’s place from the cops is one thing. Manipulating her into thinking you’re a good person while trying to bump off her daughter will certainly make you a brother from hell.

18. Derek Vinyard

From: American History X
The Problem: Danny Vinyard idolizes his brother Derek. And why should he? After all, Derek is a good student as well as has a talent for basketball. However, the guy is a racist Neo-Nazi skinhead who commits violent crimes against racial minorities in his neighborhood as well as recruits others to his cause. Not to mention, such hate also makes him hostile to family members as driving his mother’s Jewish boyfriend away and attacking his sister. Sure his dad was killed by black gangbangers but still, that gives you no reason to be a Neo-Nazi. And I’m sure Derek had been accustomed to racism all his life. But a lot of racists wouldn’t commit acts of violence in the name of white supremacy (or pure blood supremacy in the case with Draco Malfoy). Nevertheless, Derek’s influence on his little brother leads him on the same path. Sure Derek might’ve reformed during his prison sentence but his past as a Neo-Nazi will haunt him for the rest of his life. Derek probably didn’t mean to be a role model, but older siblings tend set examples for their younger counterparts whether they like it or not.

19. Edmund
From: King Lear
The Problem: Okay, I get it, growing up knowing you were the product of your dad’s fling certainly has to suck. So I can understand why Edmund might harbor resentment for his legitimately born older half-brother Edgar as well as for the rest of the world who cruelly judge him. Yet, since this play features two Shakespearean dads with parenting skills you might see in a Disney movie, let’s just say Edmund has a lot of free rein for dirty work. Now Edmund tricks the Earl of Gloucester into thinking Edgar is plotting to kill him (just to get their dad’s title). Since backstabbing and killing relatives was relatively common up to the Middle Ages, Gloucester is duped. This leads Edgar to go on the run disguised as a crazy homeless guy to evade capture and stay alive. Let’s just say that if Edgar hadn’t fallen in with King Lear and ran into his dad, he would’ve been dead. Of course, Edmund seduces Lear’s older daughters as well as manipulates everyone to increase his power, but that’s another story. Luckily for Edgar, he finds out about Edmund’s treachery and kills him. Considering that Edmund is a power hungry opportunist who framed him, you can’t really blame Edgar’s conduct here.

20. Charley Maloy

From: On the Waterfront
The Problem: Now deciding whether to blow the whistle on illegal workplace activity isn’t one you’d want to make, especially if it pertains to organized crime and the guys planning to testify end up dead. But if your brother is the crime boss’s right hand man, well, it certainly puts you in a tight spot. Now Terry Maloy’s relationship with Charley hasn’t helped him at all over the years. For one, he was once a promising boxer who’s still bitter of how Charley instructed him to deliberately lose a fight so his boss Johnny Friendly could win money. This perfectly illustrates that Charley has basically put his own needs before his younger brother in the past that while he’s fairly well off, Terry is struggling as a longshoreman on the docks. Second, Terry’s connection to Charley leads Friendly to having him to coax fellow dockworker Joey Doyle into a death trap. Now Terry had no idea that Friendly’s guys were going to kill him, assuming they would try to get him out of talking. But he nevertheless feels genuine guilt over it and resents being used as a tool. Over the course of the film Terry falls under increased pressure to testify against the mob, whether it’s from Father Barry, Doyle’s attractive sister Edie, witnessing a co-worker getting crushed by a load of whiskey, or his own conscience. But his brother’s place in the mob makes him reluctant to do so. And soon Johnny Friendly tells Charley that he either try to keep Terry quiet or kill him. Their taxicab conversation basically sums their relationship up when Terry says, “You don’t understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let’s face it. It was you, Charley.” Sure Charley may redeem himself at the end, but it comes at a great cost.

21. Connor Rooney

From: Road to Perdition
The Problem: Like Hindley, Connor isn’t a brother in relation to Michael Sullivan Sr. But he counts nonetheless because they were raised together. Now despite being played by the future James Bond, Connor is a real piece of work, even by Irish mob standards. Hell, as far as mobster brothers go, he makes Michael Corleone seem like a saint. Now while his dad John loves him as any son, Connor has always despised Michael and is deeply jealous of the relationship the latter had with the former’s mob boss dad. To him, Michael has always been an outsider whose membership in The Sons of John Rooney is an intrusion. Still, Rooney’s favoritism to Michael is understandable since Connor is a violent and unstable screw-up with an entitlement complex who steals from his old man. Michael by contrast, is like the son Rooney never had, is basically everything Connor isn’t as well as has a nice family. Now when Michael’s 12 year old son witnesses Connor snap out and kill associate Finn McGovern as well as his dad mowing down McGovern’s men, Connor tries to use this as an excuse to kill the Sullivan and his folks. This despite that Michael trying to swear his son into secrecy and the elder Rooney pressuring him to apologize for his reckless actions. So Connor just sends Sullivan to a speakeasy with a message to the owner that all debts to Rooney will be forgiven if you shoot him in the head. Fortunately, Michael finds out about the plot and kills the owner. But Connor also comes up to Sullivan’s house where he murders Michael’s wife and younger son in the bathroom (Michael Jr. had to stay after school for detention). When Michael and his older son see Annie and Peter’s dead bodies, they’re completely devastated but can’t stay for the funeral because they’re forced to go on the run for their lives. Connor meanwhile, hires a sadistic hitman with an amateur photography hobby named Maguire to gun them down. It also puts Michael in a battle to not only save Michael Jr.’s life but also his soul, hence the title. It doesn’t help that Rooney is willing to protect Connor over guilt of not being a better father to him. As long as Rooney’s alive, Connor is basically untouchable. And as long as Connor’s still kicking, Sullivan and Michael Jr. are in mortal danger. So those who’ve seen the film can figure out what happens from there.

22. Andy and Hank Hanson

From: Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
The Problem: Not to be confused with the 1990s boy band or the violent but loveable hockey trio from Slapshot, there’s absolutely nothing likeable about these guys. Now older brother Andy is a finance executive who’s just embezzled from his employer (to fund a heroin addiction) hoping to escape to Brazil where there’s no extradition (he’s wrong, of course). Younger brother Hank owes 3 months of child support as well as his daughter’s private school tuition. So to solve their financial woes, these guys decide to rob their parents’ jewelry store. Now while Andy is certainly the ruthless schemer who causes the deaths of 5 people, including his mother, Hank is banging Andy’s wife but other than that, he’s a pushover. Still, after the robbery, Hank is blackmailed by their assistant’s brother-in-law into giving compensation to his widow. To resolve it, Andy robs a heroin dealer he frequents but Hank is utterly shocked when his brother kills the guy and a client. He also kills the blackmailer after paying him off. Not to mention, Andy turns the gun on Hank just to let him know that he knows what’s going on between him and Gina and that he doesn’t like it. Luckily, their dad does a little detective work and gives Andy what he deserves.

23. Michael

From: Brothers
The Problem: Suffering from PTSD is no day at the beach, especially if you’re a vet who’s spent time as a POW in Afghanistan as well as under conditions that violate the Geneva Convention. Now Michael has been through hell and just wants to come back to his family. So much that he bludgeons his cell mate to death, which gives him an incredible guilt complex on top of that. Seriously, he needs to see a therapist but as he’s unwilling to discuss his wartime experience, he becomes full of paranoia, rage, and suspicion. Now while Michael was away, his screw up and ex con younger brother Jannik has looked after his family as well as turned a new leaf. He and Sarah even develop feelings for each other but they rightly decide not to pursue a relationship. But when Michael comes back, does he thank his brother for doing a good job? No, he basically tears apart Jannik’s kitchen improvements as well as threaten and abuse his wife, possibly suspicious that she and Jannik had a fling. And Jannik is the one who tries to keep Michael from causing further harm to his wife and kids. He also points a gun at a cop. And it doesn’t help that Jannik was a punching bag for Michael and their dad since he was always getting in trouble.

24. Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later King Richard III)

From: Richard III
The Problem: Now the real Richard III wasn’t nearly as bad as the one we’re used to which is based on Tudor propaganda more than anything. Seriously, the real Richard III became king through just saying that Edward IV kids were bastards because he was engaged to another woman as well as having his other brother George’s kids declared illegitimate as well. Besides, he was running the country anyway and what he did was perfectly legal (not to mention, Edward IV was such a horndog that anyone in England would believe him and that the Woodvilles weren’t well liked at all). Not to mention, other kings would do the same thing. Still, seizing the throne, marrying Lady Anne (whom he actually loved all his life, by the way unlike in Shakespeare and he didn’t bump off her first husband and dad. Also, they had a 10 year old son by his coronation), hating the Woodvilles, imprisoning his nephews in the Tower, and dying at Bosworth Field (though he actually died fighting in the thick of battle) are basically the only things Richard actually did. Also, he never lived past 32. Shakespeare’s Richard III is basically the brother from hell who has his brother George drowned in a massive vat of wine, drives oldest brother Edward IV to an early grave, and has his imprisoned nephews killed. Sure it’s tough being the hunchbacked younger brother with the withered arm. But still Little Richard proves to be a rather entertaining but very manipulative and heartless bastard backstabbing family members and friends whenever it’s convenient. Of course, he wants to be king but he also wants to ruin everyone else in the process whether they be family, friends, allies, spouses, or countrymen. Still, despite the monstrosity Richard may be, you can’t really hate him, especially if played by Sir Laurence Olivier. Man, what a magnificent bastard.

25. Duke Michael

From: The Prisoner of Zenda
The Problem: Now it’s all right to be angry over passed over for your dad’s crown just because your mother wasn’t a princess while your stepmother was. And sure, it’s a pain in the ass to see your younger half-brother on the throne, especially if he tends to act like an overgrown frat boy who doesn’t take his duties seriously. Yes, King Rudolf should get his act together and take responsibility while spending less time boozing and shooting animals. However, it’s not okay to usurp the throne by drugging his wine on the night before his coronation, having your assistant kidnap him the next morning, and holding him at your castle dungeon under adverse conditions is not. Nor is wanting to execute him and marry his fiancée either. Fortunately, Rudolf has a distant English cousin who can fill in for him in the meantime. Still, Michael, maybe you should just give up your kingly dreams and settle down with your French girlfriend. I mean being king isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, anyway. Seriously, the Duke of Windsor gave up the throne to be in your position.

26. Simone Parondi

From: Rocco and His Brothers
The Problem: Now out of all the Parondi brothers, second brother Simone is arguably the dysfunctional one who middle brother Rocco has to bail out. Of course, the younger Parondi boys had to move up north to Milan from their country life after their father’s death. But it’s Simone’s nefarious deeds that nearly drive the family apart and basically crush Rocco’s happiness since he’s way too nice for his own good. Now the ambitious Simone becomes a prizefighter and dates a prostitute named Nadia, she rejects him after he asked her for more than a casual relationship. When Rocco returns from a tour of duty in Turin, he meets Nadia and they enter into an exclusive relationship with her giving up her old lifestyle. Of course, since she’s had a history with his older brothers, a love like this would make Thanksgiving dinner very awkward. But Simone is incredibly possessive of Nadia as well as a selfish and raging alcoholic who’s turned to petty crime. Naturally when he sees Rocco and Nadia together, he decides to take revenge. So he gets a gang of friends, proceeds to attack the couple, and brutally rapes Nadia while forcing Rocco to watch. This leads Rocco to break up with her and tells Nadia to go back to Simone because he doesn’t want to see his brother angry or her getting killed. Sure Rocco wants to keep his family together and it’s all right he wants Simone to be happy. But what he really should’ve done is dump Nadia and tell her to get out of town. And Rocco is basically doomed as Simone’s enabler because he has no spine. When Simone stole a brooch and shirt at work, Rocco returns it. When he’s poor as henshit, he cajoles money from his brothers and robs his boss. And to repay Simone’s patron, Rocco signs a 10 year boxing contract, but he despises the sport. Yet, as Nadia returns to her own ways and rejects Simone again, he jealously stabs her to death and confesses to her murder after Rocco’s first victory. Fourth brother Ciro wisely calls the police on Simone and is ostracized by his family.

27. Taro and Jiro Ichimonji

From: Ran
The Problem: If you think English royals had problems, then you have to see Japanese warlords. Now while he was young Hidetora was a powerful and feared warlord. But now he just wants to retire and divide the family business among his 3 sons. However, as the aging daimyo tries to show how being joint rulers strengthens a domain, youngest son Saburo tells him how dividing the family’s assets is a bad idea as well as that he should know better than to expect a peaceful and harmonious relationship among his kids since Hidetora gained power through ruthlessness and murdering his allies. But he’s banished along with anyone who defends him. Unfortunately, Saburo is right. And while he’s gone, Taro and Jiro basically feud over who’s going to be the next clan leader, driving their dad to Saburo’s castle prior to ransacking it to the point where Hidetora can’t even perform hari kiri just to restore his family honor. So Hidetora goes nuts. Not to mention, their forces stage a massacre as well. And it doesn’t help that these guys are being played by Taro’s wife Lady Kaede who’s a Lady Macbeth in her own right wanting revenge against the father-in-law who knocked off her family. She’s also shagging Jiro as well. And Jiro also kills Saburo for coming back and helping their dad. But as the result, the Ichimonji clan is destroyed by the end because these two didn’t want to share.

28. Tommy Miller

From: The Butterfly Effect
The Problem: For one, he’s incredibly creepy even when he gets older. Secondly, he’s a total sociopath. Third, he’s extremely possessive of his sister Kayleigh and may feel more than brotherly affection for her. So when she starts dating Evan Treborn, Tommy either sets his dog on fire or tries to kill him putting Evan in prison for offing him in self-defense. And when he’s not a sociopath, then he’s a sweet, gentle born again Christian, but he’s still creepy. Oh, and did I tell you, he can beat up a guy twice his size?

29. Michael Myers

From: The Halloween Franchise
The Problem: Michael was certainly trouble from the beginning since he’s a soulless killing machine. Unfortunately, his parents didn’t get the memo until after he stabbed his older sister with a kitchen knife for no explanation. Thus, he’s put in a mental institution from which he later escapes. However, somehow he finds out that his parents had another daughter who was giving up for adoption now known by the name of Laurie Strode (but this isn’t revealed until the second movie). Somehow Myers tracks her down and starts stalking her at school and when she’s babysitting on Halloween night. There he proceeds to kill her friends before attacking her but luckily his psychiatrist steps in. Yet, as we know in horror movies, we know that horror movie villains are only kept alive just to have room for a sequel. Oh, and after Laurie dies, Michael just goes after her daughter. Now trying to track a long lost biological sibling is understandable, but trying to kill her, well, that’s a bit much.

30. Dimitri and Ivan Karamazov as well as Pavel Smerdyakov

From: The Brothers Karamazov
The Problem: To be fair, the Karamazov brothers all had a terrible childhood and a father who was a piece of shit ranging from absentee at best to downright abusive at worst. It’s a miracle that Alexei is the only good one of the bunch thanks to Father Zosima. The rest turn out just like you’d expect. Oldest brother Dimitri is a volatile party animal who’s only willing to contact his old man because he needs money and feels entitled to his inheritance. He also comes to violence and lethal threats to the elder Fyodor over a prostitute named Grushenka. Second brother Ivan is a nihilistic atheist who hates his dad and doesn’t show much affection for his brothers at first. He also has a thing for Dimitri’s fiancée Katrina Ivanova (though to be fair Dimitri doesn’t care much for her anyway despite what she thinks). However, Ivan’s influence turns destructive, especially when he states that in a world without God, “everything is permitted” (even though he doesn’t really believe this but his intellectual arrogance makes him blind to such unfortunate implications until after things go from bad to worse). And then there’s the epileptic Smerdyakov, who works as a servant and is almost certainly Fyodor’s illegitimate son. However, he’s misanthropic and antisocial as well as much smarter than he looks. Not to mention, he tortured stray cats as a child which suggest that he has the makings of a future serial killer. However, when Fyodor is killed, suspicion falls immediately to Dimitri for obvious reasons that even when he’s trying to explain what he did during the murder, police see his testimony as mounting evidence (even though Dimitri clearly didn’t do it). Thus, Dimitri is apprehended. But when Ivan goes nuts after hearing the truth about Fyodor’s murder from Smerdaykov which would’ve exonerated the oldest brother, the latter kills himself leaving Ivan unable to effectively help Dimitri during his trial. And the jury is more likely to believe Katarina who’s basically framing him out of spite, resulting in him being sent to Siberia. Nevertheless, could you really blame Alexei for wanting to live in a monastery?