Since the Classical myth of Romulus and Remus, sibling rivalries have always been a key plot device in storytelling as disparate as mafia movies and Greek tragedies. This type of conflict has taken its place in storytelling, a tension easily relieved by a super cool older sibling. These types of relationships are a strange, second-hand way that young movie-goers find a moral compass, as these films create a social template for older siblings to set a good example and act as protector in their own lives. At their best, these characters help guide our own relationships with siblings, but sometimes they are merely a plot device for a lead character to either aspire to or deviate from.
Screenwriters have long tapped the novelistic approach to fraternal relationships — and even better when a scribe adapts their own book for the screen. Stephen King's self-adaptation for Stand By Me and Mario Puzo's screenplay for his book The Godfather both go to great lengths to explore the tension between brothers, and offer cool older siblings to set the tenor for lead characters. Sisterhood has long been explored in film, as well, with adaptations from Louisa May Alcott's Little Women and Fannie Flagg's Fried Green Tomatoes creating insight into the kinship and controversies that create depthful plots for movie audiences.
The following are the coolest older siblings we always wished we had.
10 Charles Jefferson in Fast Times at Ridgemont High
In Fast Times at Ridgemont High when Ridgemont linebacker Charles Jefferson (Forest Whitaker) discovers his '79 Chevy Camaro wrecked, he doesn't exact his revenge on his younger brother and Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn), as the two have cooked up a scheme to pin the blame on rival Lincoln High players. Instead, he proves what a badass older brother he is by unleashing his wolf-like fury on Lincoln's offensive line. Thank god Spicoli didn't opt for his original plan —to use his dad's "killer set of tools". The role was only Whitaker's second movie, and his first opportunity to put his tremendous physicality and presence to great use, a trait he'd rely on throughout his storied career.
9 Darrell in The Outsiders
If you suddenly found yourself in an old-fashioned greaser rumble, who else would you want by your side but one Patrick Swayze? Nobody...that's who. Swayze was at his shining best in The Outsiders as Darrell Curtis, Ponyboy's older brother who proves he's as talented with fisticuffs as he is with a comb. The Soc's never stood a chance against young Swayze, who graciously cuffed his t-shirts to show his preppie adversaries that he did, indeed, bring the gun show to town. His weapon of choice? Only his bare knuckles, friends, as we saw the first glimpse of the action star ability of the man who would one day go on to glory in Roadhouse and Point Break.
8 Michael Emerson in The Lost Boys
"Cry, little brother! Thou shall not fall!" No matter what 80s movie he was appearing in, Corey Haim seemed to always find himself the victim of perilous bullying. Luckily, in The Lost Boys, Haim happened upon half-vampire older brother Michael (Jason Patric), who despite his ability to grow fangs and fly, only uses his undead talents for good purposes. In this case, that means protecting his younger bro from David Powers (Kiefer Sutherland) and The Lost Boys, who have a more punk rock, murderous approach to eternal life. Michael had angstier goth vibes, but never shied away from a flying cave fight when it meant protecting both Haim and our other favorite '80s Corey....Corey Feldman.
7 Brand Walsh in The Goonies
Red bandana? Check. Crop-top sweatsuit? Check. BMX Mongoose bike? Check. Brand Walsh (Josh Brolin) pretty much checked every 1980s cool older brother box in The Goonies, helping younger brother Mikey and the Goonies along their mission to find One Eyed Willy's gold. Andy Carmichael (Kerri Green) never stood a chance once she caught a glimpse of dreamy Brand in his epic workout duds, despite later making the mistake of locking lips with his brace-faced younger brother. In the end, you could always count on Brand coming to the rescue and never saying "die", so Andy had an easy choice when the preppie bully Troy sought her hand. All Troy got was her sweater when he raised the bucket out of Chester Copperpot's wishing well. Maybe next time, Troy.
6 Seth Gecko in From Dusk till Dawn
Despite younger brother Richie's (Quentin Tarantino) penchant for uber-creepy behavior, Seth Gecko (George Clooney) acts as a father figure to his fellow escaped convict, keeping Richie in line in From Dusk till Dawn. Until, of course, Satanico Paendamonium (Salma Hayek) clamps down on Richie's neck and makes him even more unreasonable. While this leads to a tussle between Seth and Sex Machine (Tom Savini), they all eventually have to team up when Richie grows a forehead like Viggo from Ghostbusters II. Luckily, Seth is kind enough to put Richie out of his misery — mercifully ramming a stake through his heart before Richie burns to ash. Nothing like a little brotherly love!
5 Wichita in Zombieland
In Zombieland, Wichita (Emma Stone) teaches her younger sister Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) the art of the con, tricking Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) and Colombus (Jesse Eisenberg) in order to steal their weapons. Wichita has made it this far thanks to her take-no-prisoners attitude and her deft touch with a shotgun — later forging an uneasy alliance with Tallahassee due to his own zombie-blasting skills. We can think of few older siblings we'd rather have if mad cow disease suddenly jumped to humans and they ravaged the earth. Stone's raspy voice and cropped bob look made her perfect for the role, only two years after Superbad elevated her to higher profile supporting roles.
4 Dottie in A League of Their Own
Dottie (Geena Davis) and Kit Hinson (Lori Petty) developed quite the love/hate relationship over the course of A League of Their Own. The sisters start on good terms, as Dottie's ace throwing arm helps her and Kit get off their boring farm and onto the Rockford Peaches roster. Still, Dottie's talent casts a long shadow, which Kit finds herself eager to escape from — to get her own day in the sun. This all comes to a head in the films crescendo, when Kit rounds third base and smashes into Dottie at home plate, sending the ball flying and Kit to glory as she secures the Game 7 victory for her new team, the Belles. In the end, we're pretty sure Dottie dropped that ball on purpose — in the name of sisterly love.
3 Brendan Conlon in Warrior
In the 2011 film Warrior, when his younger brother Tommy (Tom Hardy) returns from Iraq, older brother Brendan Conlon (Joel Edgerton) finds himself in the awkward position of supporting his war hero brother while keeping their alcoholic father Paddy (Nick Nolte) at bay. Sometimes, the best way to teach your brother a life lesson is by humbling him in The Octagon, which Brendan does in spades by dislocating Tommy's shoulder when he courageously refuses to tap out. By the film's end, Brendan proves his brotherly coolness, winning the tournament and telling Tommy he loves him — albeit while choking him out on the mat. Every character in the Conlon family has a skeleton in their closet, and the film relies on them forgiving one another in order to re-form a brotherly bond.
2 Denny Lachance in Stand By Me
All we need is one scene in Stand By Me to realize how much Denny Lachance (John Cusack) loves his younger brother Gordie (Wil Wheaton), when he gives Gordie his lucky Yankees cap and hugs it out — an older brother we all wish we had. Denny's death leaves a gaping hole in Gordie's family's life, one that strains his relationship with his parents, acting as the impetus for Gordie's journey to find Ray Brower's body. Gordie recalls their relationship throughout the movie, one of Rob Reiner's many sentimental touches that helped make the film a classic.
1 Sonny Corleone in The Godfather
It's always comforting to know that, in a pinch, your brother wouldn't hesitate to protect the family, as Sonny Corleone (James Caan) does by laying a hit on Bruno Tattaglia to protect younger brother Michael (Al Pacino) in The Godfather. When running a mafia family, its always pertinent to have someone doing your dirty work, and Sonny is that guy — a caporegime with a short fuse and a ball-busting sense of humor that creates a little levity in the otherwise morose Corleone household. Unfortunately, Sonny's sometimes-useful temper is what does him in, as in a fit of rage he hightails it to Manhattan and meets the wrong end of a machine gun at the Long Beach Causeway toll booth. Sei fuori, Santino!