Collider has published a ranked list of the 30 greatest films exploring mother-son relationships, arguing that this dynamic is less frequently explored on screen than father-daughter bonds and often more complex when it does appear. The list spans everything from tender, loving portrayals to darker, more troubled depictions, drawing on horror, drama and thriller genres to illustrate the range of ways cinema has depicted this family relationship.

Lower entries on the list include "You Were Never Really Here" (2018) at number 30, starring Joaquin Phoenix as a traumatised vigilante whose bond with his elderly mother offers his only emotional anchor; Ari Aster's surreal "Beau Is Afraid" (2023) at 29, featuring Phoenix again alongside Patti LuPone as his overbearing mother; and the 1996 family drama "Marvin's Room" at 28, starring Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio and Diane Keaton. The full ranking continues up to number one, drawing on films such as "Hereditary" and the "Dune" franchise as further examples of complex mother-son storytelling.