Mother’s Day approaches; what better time to rank the worst movie mothers? Undoubtedly one of the most regrettable tropes in cinema, given that none of us would be here without a mother, but to hell with it, let’s get oedipal. Name your ten most misunderstood movie matriarchs. Don’t just write it on a postcard from the edge, make a Letterboxd list of all those bad moms, evil stepmoms, murderous nannies, overbearing governesses and other complicated mother figures lurking in the Grey Gardens of cinema. We’ll award you extra respect for including real-life mother-daughter/mother-son casting combos.
Most mentioned
![liad](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/3/8/1/5/8/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=fd45e637e1)
liad 12 films
![Melissa](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/4/8/3/8/5/6/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1180218317363171328_Nd6zftkC-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=631976c438)
Melissa 936 films
![Amanda Lazo](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/7/6/8/8/2/7/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_951519949054345216_4ewSw_cm-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=fdb5d83ca5)
Amanda Lazo 14 films
![improbable](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/3/2/9/9/1/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=0e0c10332f)
improbable 10 films
![Robert Berlin](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/8/1/0/9/0/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=24f775f71c)
Robert Berlin 10 films
![Zheddy](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/667c634138ebe836e53c38617884481b?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Zheddy 10 films
![Kyle Bailey](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/2/4/1/6/9/5/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_529136873403580416_U_KoiguH-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=6dc1e87fd3)
Kyle Bailey 10 films
![Nick Moffitt](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/2/5/9/4/8/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_3510592337_3885314dd98bc308543a2b1fd6f3e9c3-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=5663dacc2c)
Nick Moffitt 10 films
![Nick FW](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/945a4e917eb4d92cc28d073780dbe2da?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Nick FW 10 films
![Chad Marriotti](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/09bd00b0a321e0091239a2860777db71?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Chad Marriotti 10 films
![Davormkd](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/50d6aab92ee4970fd32ebaccdbfd5936?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Davormkd 10 films
![rsq2000](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/5/9/0/5/4/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_920513930715389952_p96Iyr4z-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=258d246140)
rsq2000 10 films
![Dharma](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1fc96d48206837308f6904bca27a7f12?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Dharma 10 films
![Beeeeeees](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/08df89749cd96db0df3c5403496e6df6?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Beeeeeees 20 films
![David Pousak](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/2/2/8/0/3/0/shard/blob-0-32-0-32-crop.png?v=4ae209bde3)
David Pousak 10 films
![elvisisking](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/742c1b1fe32a7337b69b014804d5e323?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
elvisisking 10 films
![David Kuskie](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/35ccbd8d4cecc6cb7d9d959fabff9a6f?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
David Kuskie 10 films
![Mike E](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/6/5/0/3/5/9/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_714994908705251329_4yuNRhtf-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=ffc52ac528)
Mike E 10 films
![Andreas K](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/d902fe035439920a8c396a000378b5af?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Andreas K 10 films
![Conor Wade](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/3/8/7/9/4/0/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1219098133411418113_38zXeyC7-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=27cbe677ee)
Conor Wade 14 films
![Blake Petit](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/1/4/2/8/5/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=fcc8fbbc03)
Blake Petit 10 films
![James Curtiss](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a14d6090f8670956c8057ac1e26d4199?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
James Curtiss 10 films
![David Carroll](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/2/3/1/9/2/6/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1120637241477308416_8oD2r3C5-0-32-0-32-crop.png?v=1541dc7d3f)
David Carroll 10 films
![Laura](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/6/3/8/0/5/0/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1170324908318048261_DjooDt2R-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=6e6d416205)
Laura 10 films
![TajLV](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/1/7/6/9/6/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=57d5c7f086)
TajLV 10 films
![Ivan](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/6/0/9/9/9/6/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=fcf87cbf80)
Ivan 10 films
![Kyle](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/4/4/8/1/3/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=6d6840a68f)
Kyle 16 films
![Stephen Hanson](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/3/6/7/6/1/0/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=d6816605de)
Stephen Hanson 12 films
![Pete](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/3/0/5/8/7/5/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=295dbd5362)
Pete 7 films
![ruinmysleep](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/aadc9d74dbd6a12edf57c5b59f8ac93a?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
ruinmysleep 10 films
![Gabriel Jewett](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/3/3/6/0/3/7/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1648811223482355719_QXeya5s8-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=610027eb7a)
Gabriel Jewett 10 films
![kierstonwoodley](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9a09ace4651abc525e4ec0dd274cbe46?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
kierstonwoodley 21 films
![Ian](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/4/1/7/3/1/1/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1669913976828993536_hRkz6qyE-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=c9f0b0404f)
Ian 10 films
![ibflorea](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/6/1/3/8/1/2/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_935349423638532096_QjPmo_4s-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=6bd76094e7)
ibflorea 10 films
![Andreas Mortensen](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e35f841b42701ddbe644fe3fac7801de?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Andreas Mortensen 13 films
![DisposableMiffy](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/3/7/2/8/9/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=de066a8242)
DisposableMiffy 10 films
![somelocaloser](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/7/5/1/2/7/2/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=f2f17d37ae)
somelocaloser 10 films
![Florin Scanlon](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bad3c7e2553618ee447484458bfe960b?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Florin Scanlon 15 films
![Reigntall](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5d1a382594ffcc93c833a714c7171327?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Reigntall 10 films
![Buboven](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/5/4/5/0/6/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_471737378684403712_Jv8c46Vs-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=7e17885c82)
Buboven 10 films
![kiki_witch](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9af6cd8a34a9c00e7db2abf97cb915f7?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
kiki_witch 10 films
![lonestarr357](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/15a27f4c54629880031580be12a3509c?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
lonestarr357 15 films
![felonioustongue](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c39f4e412bd2e02708e707cd456041d3?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
felonioustongue 10 films
![Robert](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/2/5/6/3/0/0/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=e96ec3254b)
Robert 10 films
![Bethany](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/3/7/9/0/5/8/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=da8dd80d79)
Bethany 10 films
![Kurosawa](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/6/2/8/5/0/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=59d2b3e09a)
Kurosawa 10 films
![Jason Szabo](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/7/0/7/1/1/4/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=eb88da6612)
Jason Szabo 10 films
![franzi annasophie](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/6/1/4/2/5/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=a96f35db8a)
franzi annasophie 6 films
![maddy](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/2/4/2/9/9/5/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=8c676265c0)
maddy 10 films
![Darren](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/3/4/0/9/3/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=8348e802b6)
Darren 10 films
![John Hensler](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/2/4/3/8/6/2/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_796221676098846721_w49zYWvg-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=970a842c7f)
John Hensler 10 films
![Madison](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/2/1/7/9/9/3/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1345297411724386307_IkQC8QjO-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=5243189039)
Madison 15 films
![Zapken](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/651e58e8b877a868f199af7bff952f25?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Zapken 13 films
![Mandel 🎥👻](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/2/6/6/2/1/0/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=d8d9494bb7)
Mandel 🎥👻 10 films
![Miguel Ferreira](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/4/6/7/8/6/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=fc964e42ed)
Miguel Ferreira 10 films
![Those Eyebrows](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/7/1/2/6/1/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_864890362908872706_IxklUIdk-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=ee632e43c6)
Those Eyebrows 10 films
![bas2804](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/4/4/4/1/2/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=e2cb4a4fa7)
bas2804 10 films
![Kyle](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/4/4/1/5/4/7/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=54c961ebc9)
Kyle 7 films
![Kelcey](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/8/8/1/0/4/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=a11600f530)
Kelcey 10 films
![byuspeh](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/5/0/9/1/7/9/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1027032934102925312_akLnsL6h-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=e06b1c48f3)
byuspeh 10 films
![hessli](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/3/4/3/5/6/4/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_893822668377477120_Ux5mkkm6-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=3535c324a9)
hessli 10 films
![Luis_989](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/2/5/4/5/2/5/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=af50c9e20e)
Luis_989 23 films
![hamed](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/6/1/1/6/1/2/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=db5ab4e17e)
hamed 6 films
![Ronny The Explorer](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/7/3/8/3/9/8/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=589db6037e)
Ronny The Explorer 10 films
![Ayden The NinjaPirateBear](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/169c2837807483b5f96493a8cc793ece?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Ayden The NinjaPirateBear 10 films
![Zeynerys](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/5/4/1/7/5/2/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=6d1729cd68)
Zeynerys 9 films
![RJMacReady](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/5/2/0/7/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=cbc8f4254d)
RJMacReady 10 films
![nwak](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4ae644507688163451f49eaf6ca4c324?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
nwak 8 films
![Brittany](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/2/1/6/4/1/5/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=5a9fbfa587)
Brittany 10 films
![Soiled Celluloid](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/2/4/3/5/6/3/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=970da6f88e)
Soiled Celluloid 11 films
![Farah](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/5/9/0/3/9/1/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.png?v=37f72ba72e)
Farah 6 films
![morgan 🌃](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/5/0/0/4/0/5/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=7612c31940)
morgan 🌃 10 films
![hailee](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/4/6/2/0/3/9/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=9d9f377905)
hailee 9 films
![Allison M. 🌱](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/2/8/6/0/2/5/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1674518653843259392_9C7o2VUE-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=a8db797a95)
Allison M. 🌱 10 films
![John Villarose V🌹](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/6/3/8/4/3/4/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_504289943342940160_Dnz2IwOz-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=60c4a1d8e9)
John Villarose V🌹 10 films
![David Ye](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/1/6/0/4/1/5/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_920836224016723968_H6dIR8D9-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=e3766c09f5)
David Ye 10 films
![Idabelle Paterson](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/7/6/0/8/0/6/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_875007247545446400_J9qDshEr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=200ea80bb5)
Idabelle Paterson 11 films
![Lianne](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/3/9/1/9/6/5/shard/blob-0-32-0-32-crop.png?v=84338ea5c0)
Lianne 10 films
![Ben Brozek](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a5d7c58c6cb7946e26a451de2f1956b6?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Ben Brozek 3 films
![Mouldy](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/3/4/9/4/2/3/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=143d5e46da)
Mouldy 10 films
![Cazmik8](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/5/6/3/0/3/3/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_979862519987699712_uOsO_jwk-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=6699555450)
Cazmik8 10 films
![Atakan Göktepe](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/2/3/7/5/8/5/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1011359309509414913_ilyMOziT-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=55017a1bb5)
Atakan Göktepe 10 films
![sailordanae](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/602b1a47d7046d65257600d2519a0352?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
sailordanae 10 films
![Cori Chapman](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/74112f9c542ede29ed5587e49f7d6b86?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Cori Chapman 15 films
![E.M. Lees](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/6/2/2/2/0/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=e6ae789ef9)
E.M. Lees 10 films
![aphex twink](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/4/2/6/5/8/8/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1212419933310771200_9bG8tAMG-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=25174e159b)
aphex twink 10 films
![Eka](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/2/5/6/2/9/3/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=0dae2c3781)
Eka 11 films
![Fat Dude Digs Flicks](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/2/8/2/5/4/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=64e7bf19fa)
Fat Dude Digs Flicks 10 films
![Chris Hormann](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/5/0/8/1/4/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=60242012ed)
Chris Hormann 10 films
![Justin Searcy](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/7/6/7/0/0/3/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_697642552573341696_t8Z_pxSx-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=ccbe6a5a34)
Justin Searcy 15 films