7 Must-Watch Films About Generational Trauma

Palak

The Place Beyond The Pines (2012) - Apple TV+

The Place Beyond the Pines examines how the actions of a motorcycle stunt rider and a cop affect their sons, highlighting the transmission of trauma across generations.

Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) - SonyLiv

Through a multiverse narrative, the film explores how unaddressed family expectations and regrets impact relationships between a mother, daughter, and grandfather.

Magnolia (1999) - Prime Video Rent

Interconnected stories reveal how parental abuse and neglect influence the lives of their adult children, emphasizing the enduring nature of generational trauma.

The Godfather Part 2 (1974) - Prime Video

The Corleone family's legacy of crime and violence shows how Vito's choices affect Michael, leading to further trauma and moral ambiguity.

The Iron Claw (2023) 

Based on the true story of the Von Erich wrestling family, the film explores how the patriarch's pressures and tragedies impact his sons, leading to further turmoil.

Aftersun (2022) - Prime Video

Through a daughter's memories of a vacation with her father, the film subtly explores how his hidden struggles and emotional pain affect her understanding of him and herself.

The Glass Castle (2017) - Prime Video Rent

Adapted from Jeannette Walls' memoir, it depicts the lasting impact of a dysfunctional upbringing with a mentally unstable father and neglectful mother.