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 race is filled with family members who’ve either worked together or are competing against one another 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 familial connections among the contenders.
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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 Bus, about 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 Gems, this year Josh Safdie wrote and directed Marty Supreme, while Benny Safdie wrote and directed another contender, The Smashing Machine.
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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 Kelly, which Baumbach co-wrote and directed.
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Mary and Ron Bronstein
Image Credit: Cindy Ord/Getty Images
Ron Bronstein co-wrote and co-produced Marty Supreme, while his wife, Mary Bronstein, wrote, directed and starred in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, which Ron also produced.
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Ronan Day-Lewis and Daniel Day-Lewis
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Daniel Day-Lewis came out of acting retirement for his son Ronan Day-Lewis’ directorial debut, Anemone, which he also co-wrote with his father. The film marks Daniel’s first appearance in a film since 2017’s Phantom Thread.
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Zinzi and Ryan Coogler
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores/Variety/Getty Images
Married couple Zinzi Coogler and Ryan Coogler collaborated on their most recent film, Sinners, which Ryan wrote, directed and produced alongside Zinzi and Sev Ohanian.
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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.
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Stellan Skarsgard, Alexander Skarsgard and Bill Skarsgard
Image Credit: Neil Mockford/WireImage; Victor Boyko/Getty Images; Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/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.
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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 You, while her husband, Bobby Cannavale, stars in Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon.
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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.
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Jesse Plemons and Kirsten Dunst
Image Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Jesse Plemons plays a conspiracy theorist in Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia, while 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 since. Cameron is in the race for directing Avatar: Fire and Ash, while 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.
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