The Culkins are one of the most well-known families in Hollywood for a number of reasons. Their reputation, the siblings, and the influence in the media; if you weren’t aware, there are seven Culkin siblings, but the first one you probably thought of was most likelyMacaulay Culkin. Genetics in the Culkin family certainly run strong, as they all seem to look alike, and the well-known trio of brothers, Macaulay,Kieran, and Rory, are often mistaken for each other. They’re an interesting group, and when talking about each other in interviews, you can tell there’s a lot of mutual love and respect between them.
This article will explore Hollywood’s most well-known families with a focus on Macaulay, Kieran, andRory Culkin. Let’s get into it.
The Rise and Fall of a Child Star
Macaulay Culkin, the most well-known member of his family, shot to stardom at a very young age. You can’t see his name and not think of his iconic character, Kevin McCallister, inHome Alone. He was so young but quickly ushered into the Hollywood scene and didn’t get many breaks once the fame took over. Some say his childhood was stolen from him, since he had so many major blockbuster movies come out before he was even a teenager.
His younger brother, Kieran Culkin, shared that as a kid, he felt bad for Macaulay, or “Mac,” as he affectionately calls him, because he was always working. When you’re a kid and experience that level of burnout, situations in which substances enter your life and ultimately take over for a bit are not a rare occurrence. In the 2000s, you couldn’t go to a grocery store without seeing trashy tabloids smearing Macaulay Culkin’s name because of addiction. He was seen as a wreck, and it’s disappointing to see how Hollywood turned its back on the child star that they made so much money off of.
Culkin seemed to go MIA for a bit until he began to resurface with good news. Fans of the star were elated when he appeared ina Super Bowl commercialwith partner Brenda Song and got to see how healthy he looked. He slowly launched back into acting, and one of his most recent jobs was in season 10 of American Horror Story. It’s a bit depressing when you take in how Culkin was treated in those dark years,but we’re happy to have him back.
Related:Best Macaulay Culkin Movies, Ranked
Kieran Culkin’s Rise to Fame
It seemed that the Culkin brothers were playing follow the leader when acting, because next comes Kieran. Kieran Culkin is, as of right now, the more relevant sibling because of his character,Roman Roy, inSuccession. Roman Roy is described as a “slime puppy,” and Culkin perfectly emasculates his character. With his mannerisms, his speech, and his tragic backstory and childhood that he carries with him so well, Kieran Culkinwas meant to play Roman Roy.
His younger brother, Rory Culkin, who he most gets confused for by fans, made a playful jab at Kieran when stating in an interview that Kieran often plays “as*hole” characters and how that must mean something. Kieran Culkin had a slower rise to fame when compared to Macaulay; his first on-screen character was Fuller inHome Alone, the younger cousin to Kevin who can’t seem to hold his bladder at night. In an interview, Culkin shared that as a kid he wasn’t aware of whatHome Alonewas actually about and had no idea that his older brotherwas the star of the movie, which is hilarious and seemingly on brand.
AfterHome Alone, things started to pick up for Culkin, and he was landing bigger roles such as IgbyinIgby Goes Downas well as Wallace inScott Pilgrim vs. the World.Both roles were pivotal for Culkin and his acting, but nothing has been as big asSuccession. Without Culkin’s Roman Roy, the show wouldn’t be nearly as entertaining or worth watching without his one-liners and the way he seems to drape himself over any piece of furniture. Kieran Culkin might have had a slower time reaching stardom, but it’s exciting to see it grow in real time.
The Underrated Brother
Yes, there is a third brother who acts, and dare we say, the most underrated one. Rory Culkin has had a handful of successful movies and shows come out, but there isn’t much chatter about his acting as a whole when it comes to the Hollywood scene. He stars in many indie movies as well as horror and thrillers, and we’ve yet to see him in a major franchise or, genuinely, something cheerful. Starring in movies that’ll make you jump, get the creeps, or make you rethink what you know about black metal is his forte, and he tends to stick to what he knows.
If you’re a fan of theScreamfranchise, then you know him fromScream 4, where he played Charlie Walker, an underrated Ghostface, and character as a whole. His first on-screen appearance was inThe Good Son, where a picture of him is shown as the younger deceased brother of Macaulay Culkin’s character. Culkin always seems to find himself in movies or shows where he’s doing something unsavory or weird but manages to pull it off in a way that makes you think it all makes sense.
Whether it’s a side character that only gets one episode of screen time, such as Marcus in theAmazon Prime showSwarm, or the title character, such asGabriel, Culkin does it all. It would be interesting to see him in a role that we haven’t seen before, such as a love interest in a movie that doesn’t end up with him covered in blood, or maybe a drama that taps into his serious side. Whatever the case might be, we’re all for it.
Related:Scream: The Most Underrated Characters in the Horror Franchise
A Family Affair
It’s no secret that the Culkins are a tight group of people, and in their younger years, they acted in a handful of movies together. Now, all three of them haven’t appeared in a flick, but two of the three have shared the screen more than five times. Obviously, there’sHome Alone, with both Macaulay and Kieran Culkin as Kevin McCallister and Fuller. Then, there’sLymelife, which stars both Kieran and Rory Culkin, who play brothers on screen and nail it by seemingly bringing in their own sibling dynamics to make it more realistic for the viewer.
InRichie Rich, Rory played a younger Macaulay as “Young Richie,” and inIgby Goes Down, Rory Culkin played a younger Kieran Culkin as “10-Year-Old Igby.” It would be great to see if they ever did a movie or show with the three of them, even if it’s not likely.
