“Brothers, fathers and sons, and husbands and wives are all vying for the golden trophy this season. November 25, 2025 10:30am Published on November 25, 2025 Jesse Plemons and Kirsten Dunst Amy Sussman/Getty Images Many filmmakers and actors likely discussed their latest works around the dinner table before heading to set, as this season’s Oscar”, — write: www.hollywoodreporter.com
Brothers, fathers and sons, and husbands and wives are all vying for the golden trophy this season.
November 25, 2025 10:30 am
Published on November 25, 2025
Jesse Plemons and Kirsten Dunst Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Many filmmakers and actors likely discussed their latest works around the dinner table before heading to set, as this season’s Oscar race is filled with family members who’ve either worked together or are competing against each other for a golden statuette. From brothers Josh and Benny Safdie, who are both in play for best director, to Daniel Day-Lewis, who came out of acting retirement for his son Ronan’s directorial debut, THR looks at the family connections among the contenders.
- Matthew McConaughey, Mary Kathlene McCabe and Levi Alves McConaughey
Image Credit: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
Matthew McConaughey starred alongside his son, Levi Alves McConaughey, and his mother, Mary Kathlene McCabe, in The Lost Busabout the devastating 2018 Camp Fire in Northern California. - Josh Safdie and Benny Safdie Image Credit: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images After collaborating on films like Good Time and Uncut Gemsthis year Josh Safdie wrote and directed Marty Supremewhile Benny Safdie wrote and directed another contender, The Smashing Machine.
- Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig Image Credit: Laurent KOFFEL/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images Husband-and-wife duo Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig often collaborate, and this year, Gerwig stars as Lois, the wife of Adam Sandler’s Ron Sukenick, in Jay Kellywhich Baumbach co-wrote and directed.
- Mary and Ron Bronstein Image Credit: Cindy Ord/Getty Images Ron Bronstein co-wrote and co-produced Marty Supremewhile his wife, Mary Bronstein, wrote, directed and starred in If I Had Legs I’d Kick Youwhich Ron also produced.
- Ronan Day-Lewis and Daniel Day-Lewis Image Credit: Kate Green/Getty Images Daniel Day-Lewis came out of acting retirement for his son Ronan Day-Lewis’ directorial debut, Anemonewhich he also co-wrote with his father. The film marks Daniel’s first appearance in a film since 2017’s Phantom Thread.
- Zinzi and Ryan Coogler Image Credit: Gilbert Flores/Variety/Getty Images Married couple Zinzi Coogler and Ryan Coogler collaborated on their most recent film, Sinnerswhich Ryan wrote, directed and produced alongside Zinzi and Sev Ohanian.
- Elvira Lind and Oscar Isaac Image Credit: Michael Ostuni/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images King Hamlet follows Oscar Isaac — who also stars in Frankenstein — as he prepares for his performance as Shakespeare’s Danish prince at NYC’s Public Theater. His filmmaker wife, Elvira Lind, directed.
- Stellan Skarsgard, Alexander Skarsgard and Bill Skarsgard Image Credit: Neil Mockford/WireImage; Victor Boyko/Getty Images; Max Cisotti/Dave Bennett/Getty Images Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard has eight children, including actors Alexander, Bill and Valter Skarsgard. This year, Stellan (Sentimental Value), Alexander (Pillion) and Bill (Dead Man’s Wire) are all contenders in the acting categories.
- Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale Image Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Rose Byrne stars in Mary Bronstein’s If I Had Legs I’d Kick Youwhile her husband, Bobby Cannavale, stars in Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon.
- Jacobi Jupe and Noah Jupe Image Credit: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images
Brothers Noah and Jacobi Jupe star together in Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet. - Jack Fisk and Sissy Spacek Image Credit: Michael Buckner/Variety/Getty Images Marty Supreme production designer Jack Fisk is married to Sissy Spacek, who stars in Die My Love alongside Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson.
- Jesse Plemons and Kirsten Dunst Image Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Jesse Plemons plays a conspiracy theorist in Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugoniawhile his wife, Kirsten Dunst, stars in Derek Cianfrance’s Roofman. - James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow Image Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty Images; Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
An honorable mention goes to James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow, who were married from 1989 to 1991 and have remained friends and collaborators ever since. Cameron is in the race for directing Avatar: Fire and Ashwhile Bigelow is in contention for her film A House of Dynamite.
This story appeared in the Nov. 19 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.
Image Credit: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
Image Credit: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images After collaborating on films like Good Time and Uncut Gemsthis year Josh Safdie wrote and directed Marty Supremewhile Benny Safdie wrote and directed another contender, The Smashing Machine.
Image Credit: Laurent KOFFEL/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images Husband-and-wife duo Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig often collaborate, and this year, Gerwig stars as Lois, the wife of Adam Sandler’s Ron Sukenick, in Jay Kellywhich Baumbach co-wrote and directed.
Image Credit: Cindy Ord/Getty Images Ron Bronstein co-wrote and co-produced Marty Supremewhile his wife, Mary Bronstein, wrote, directed and starred in If I Had Legs I’d Kick Youwhich Ron also produced.
Image Credit: Kate Green/Getty Images Daniel Day-Lewis came out of acting retirement for his son Ronan Day-Lewis’ directorial debut, Anemonewhich he also co-wrote with his father. The film marks Daniel’s first appearance in a film since 2017’s Phantom Thread.
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores/Variety/Getty Images Married couple Zinzi Coogler and Ryan Coogler collaborated on their most recent film, Sinnerswhich Ryan wrote, directed and produced alongside Zinzi and Sev Ohanian.
Image Credit: Michael Ostuni/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images King Hamlet follows Oscar Isaac — who also stars in Frankenstein — as he prepares for his performance as Shakespeare’s Danish prince at NYC’s Public Theater. His filmmaker wife, Elvira Lind, directed.
Image Credit: Neil Mockford/WireImage; Victor Boyko/Getty Images; Max Cisotti/Dave Bennett/Getty Images Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard has eight children, including actors Alexander, Bill and Valter Skarsgard. This year, Stellan (Sentimental Value), Alexander (Pillion) and Bill (Dead Man’s Wire) are all contenders in the acting categories.
Image Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Rose Byrne stars in Mary Bronstein’s If I Had Legs I’d Kick Youwhile her husband, Bobby Cannavale, stars in Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon.
Image Credit: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images
Image Credit: Michael Buckner/Variety/Getty Images Marty Supreme production designer Jack Fisk is married to Sissy Spacek, who stars in Die My Love alongside Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson.
Image Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Image Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty Images; Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
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