Bad mother movies and TV shows

The list contains the best, new and most relevant bad mother movies ordered by relevance. The recommendation service has sorted out serious, realistic, psychological, disturbing, crying and suspenseful films and TV shows about / with bad mother, family relations, mother daughter relationship, family problems, dysfunctional family, parents and children, coming of age, mother, female nudity and child abuse plots mostly in Drama, Thriller and Mystery genres shot in USA, Canada, UK and other countries.
bad mother
 121
bad mother movies
TOP 10 movies tagged as bad mother: My Little Princess (2011), Run (2020), Touchless (2013), 14 and Under (1973), Lilya 4-Ever (2002), Mommie Dearest (1981), Daisy Diamond (2007), Mother (2010), Nymphomaniac: Vol. II (2013), Flowers in the Attic (1987).

List of bad mother movies

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My Little Princess (2011)
Genre: Drama
Country: France
Duration: 105 min.
Story: Young Violetta and her mother Hannah are a peculiar couple. Ten-year-old Violetta lives a quiet life with her grandmother, while her mother Hannah is an unpredictable photographer who lives off of the generosity of others. When Hannah forces her ...
Style: serious, sad, captivating, sincere, spooky ...
Plot: traumatic childhood, mother daughter relationship, pedophilia, innocence lost, mother daughter conflict, art, eccentric family, nymphet, female photographer, psychology, bad mother, macabre ...
Time: 70s, 21st century
Place: france, paris france, europe
Is relevant ?
 6.7
 95K
Run (2020)
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 90 min.
Story: Chloe, a teenager who is confined to a wheelchair, is homeschooled by her mother, Diane. Chloe soon becomes suspicious of her mother and begins to suspect that she may be harboring a dark secret.
Style: scary, suspense, serious, psychological, bleak ...
Audience: teens, adult
Plot: overprotective parent, mother daughter relationship, bad mother, kidnapping, revenge, teenage girl, single mother, disability, lie, teenage life, woman in a wheelchair, life is a bitch ...
Time: 2020s
Place: seattle, washington state
Is relevant ?
 4.1
 272
Touchless (2013)
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: Czech Republic
Duration: 72 min.
Story: Jolana (18) is an object of her stepf-father's desire. She is unable to cope, especially when her own mother turns a blind eye. Those events are heavily paid for when she finds herself working in a brothel. Her inability to cope raise a ...
Style: psychological, suspense, disturbing, suspenseful, crying
Plot: sexploitation, self pity, female hysteria, high school student, incest, bad mother, prostitute, violence, teenager, martyrdom, brothel, relationships ...
Place: czech republic
Is relevant ?
 4.9
 463
14 and Under (1973)
Genre: Comedy
Country: West Germany
Duration: 87 min.
Story: This episodic film is a close relative of Wolf Hartwig's schoolgirl report movies, made by the same people, in a similar style, around similar topics. However, this one specifically focuses on the coming-of-age aspects, to an extent that it ...
Style: erotic, sex comedy, sexy, sexual, sensual ...
Audience: teens
Plot: sexploitation, child prostitution, pedophile, female masturbation, teenage prostitute, sexual fantasy, caught masturbating, pedophilia, coming of age, underage sex, sex with a minor, erotica ...
Time: 70s
Is relevant ?
Related movie lists
 7.8
 49K
Lilya 4-Ever (2002)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: Sweden, Denmark
Duration: 109 min.
Story: Lilya lives in poverty and dreams of a better life. Her mother moves to the United States and abandons her to her aunt, who neglects her. Lilya hangs out with her friends, Natasha and Volodya, who is suicidal. Desperate for money, she starts working ...
Style: bleak, depressing, sad, harsh, brutal ...
Audience: teens, teen drama, adult
Plot: human trafficking, poverty, prostitution, suicide, sexual abuse, prostitute, life is a bitch, teenage prostitution, teenage life, youth, rape, slavery ...
Time: year 2002
Place: europe, denmark, russia, soviet union, eastern europe ...
Is relevant ?
 6.6
 18K
Mommie Dearest (1981)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 129 min.
Story: In this biographical film, glamorous yet lonely star Joan Crawford takes in two orphans, and at first their unconventional family seems happy. But after Joan's attempts at romantic fulfillment go sour and she is fired from her contract with MGM ...
Style: disturbing, controversial, factual, intense, talky ...
Audience: chick flick
Plot: child abuse, adoption, dysfunctional family, abusive mother, single mother, bad mother, mother daughter relationship, mansion, hollywood, borderline personality disorder, mother, storytelling ...
Time: 20th century, 1940s, 1930s, 60s, 1950s ...
Place: usa, new york, los angeles
Is relevant ?
Daisy Diamond (2007)
Genre: Drama
Country: Denmark
Duration: 94 min.
Story: A tragic story about Anna who dreams of one thing only: making it as an actress. She moves from Sweden to Copenhagen to pursue her dream. But fate has something else in store for her. Though she struggles to give her 4 month old daughter a good ...
Style: disturbing, erotic, brutal, suspenseful, realistic ...
Audience: adult
Plot: strong sexual content, lesbian sex, mother, baby, casting, movie business, dead child, sex scene, actress, swedish, female protagonist, director ...
Time: 21st century
Place: copenhagen, europe, denmark, scandinavia
Is relevant ?
 8.3
 517
Mother (2010)
Genre: Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 54 min.
TV show
Story: Mother is a Japanese television drama that aired on Nippon TV between 14 April and 23 June 2010, starring Matsuyuki Yasuko.
Style: suspense, touching, realistic, serious, captivating ...
Plot: motherhood, bad mother, kidnapping, adoption, child abuse, custody, journey, child custody, family relations, family problems, parents and children, help ...
Is relevant ?
Nymphomaniac: Vol. II (2013)
Genre: Drama
Country: Denmark, Germany, Belgium, UK, France, Sweden
Duration: 124 min.
Story: The continuation of Joe's sexually dictated life delves into the darker aspects of her adult life and what led to her being in Seligman's care.
Style: erotic, disturbing, sexual, sexy, art house ...
Audience: adult
Plot: sex, sex addict, bdsm, lust, nymphomaniac, sexual perversion, explicit sex, nudity, nymphomania, sexuality, sex scene, erection ...
Time: year 2013, 20th century, 90s, 21st century
Is relevant ?
Flowers in the Attic (1987)
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min.
Story: After the death of her husband, a mother takes her kids off to live with their grandparents in a huge, decrepit old mansion. However, the kids are kept hidden in a room just below the attic, visited only by their mother who becomes less and less ...
Style: psychological, suspenseful, scary, disturbing, cult classic ...
Audience: teens
Plot: incest, children, confined, survival, siblings relations, family life, estate, old mansion, child abuse, life is a bitch, danger, dysfunctional family ...
Time: year 1987, 80s, 20th century
Is relevant ?
The Afflicted (2011)
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min.
Story: A story of incomprehensible abuse delivered by an explosively violent mother of four. Journey through the mind of a child that experiences a living hell, defined and defended by the twisted religious beliefs of her mother (imdb.com)
Style: disturbing, rough, serious, realistic, scary ...
Plot: danger, parents and children, mentally unstable, life is a bitch, family problems, domestic disturbance, alcohol abuse, siblings relations, serial killer, religion, mental illness, torture ...
Time: 2010s, 21st century
Place: usa
Is relevant ?
 8.1
 37K
Autumn Sonata (1978)
Genre: Drama, Music
Country: West Germany, UK
Duration: 99 min.
Story: After a seven-year absence, Charlotte Andergast travels to Sweden to reunite with her daughter Eva. The pair have a troubled relationship: Charlotte sacrificed the responsibilities of motherhood for a career as a classical pianist. Over an emotional ...
Style: art house, depressing, emotional, philosophical, sincere ...
Plot: dysfunctional family, marriage, autumn, child neglect, mother daughter estrangement, pianist, reconciliation, classical music, family relations, bad mother, existentialism, women ...
Time: year 1978, 20th century, 70s
Place: europe, eastern europe, scandinavia
Is relevant ?
Center of My World (2016)
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Germany, Austria
Duration: 115 min.
Story: A strange family: 17-year-old Phil lives with his mother and twin sister in an old mansion on the outskirts of town. When he returns from summer camp, the mood in the mansion has soured somehow. Phil doesn’t worry about it, hanging out with his ...
Style: captivating, realistic, psychological, rough, lgbt cinema ...
Audience: teens
Plot: lgbt, gay, gay teenager, coming of age, gay interest, gay erotica, friendship, rejection, male objectification, gay lead character, gay sex, bisexuality ...
Time: 2000s
Place: central europe
Is relevant ?
Viper in the Fist (2004)
Genre: Drama
Country: France, UK
Duration: 100 min.
Story: 1920. Jean Rezeau and his elder brother were living happily in their family estate in Brittany, until the death of their grandmother. The return of their mother, a worthy descendant of fairytales' witches, brings an all new atmosphere to their ...
Plot: coming of age, brother brother relationship, bourgeoisie, death of grandmother, bad mother, mother son relationship, european, hate, power, family relations, flying, electricity ...
Time: 1920s
Place: brittany, france
Is relevant ?
Goodnight Mommy (2014)
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Country: Austria
Duration: 99 min.
Story: In the heat of the summer lays a lonesome house in the countryside where nine year old twin brothers await their mother’s return. When she comes home, bandaged after cosmetic surgery, nothing is like before and the children start to doubt whether ...
Style: disturbing, psychological, twist ending, suspense, suspenseful ...
Plot: twins, mental illness, torture, brother brother relationship, divorce, isolation, children, boy, animal mask, supernatural, terror, child ...
Time: 2010s, 21st century
Place: austria, germany, central europe
Is relevant ?
Standing Tall (2015)
Genre: Drama
Country: France
Duration: 120 min.
Story: The film tells the story of Malony and his education as he grows from a six-year-old into an 18-year-old. A minors’ judge and a caseworker work tirelessly to try to save the young offender.
Style: disturbing, touching, suspenseful, suspense, serious ...
Audience: teens
Plot: juvenile delinquent, social worker, teen angst, juvenile delinquency, teenage boy, judge, nervousness, delinquent, boyfriend girlfriend relationship, imprisonment, compassion, anger ...
Time: year 2015, 90s, year 1997
Place: france
Is relevant ?
Flowers in the Attic (2014)
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 89 min.
TV show
Story: After the sudden death of their father, four children face cruel treatment from their ruthless grandmother.
Style: disturbing, sadistic, cliffhanger, suspenseful, realistic ...
Audience: teens
Plot: brother sister incest, incest, attic, child abuse, mansion, family relations, abusive mother, domestic disturbance, brother sister sex, captive, widow, incestuous sex ...
Time: 60s, 1950s, 20th century
Place: virginia
Is relevant ?
 6.1
 6K
Sleepwalking (2008)
Genre: Drama
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 101 min.
Story: When her boyfriend is arrested for marijuana possession, Joleen Reedy and her 11-year-old daughter, Tara, take refuge with Joleen's aimless brother, James. Joleen soon runs off with a truck driver, and James is unable to meet his ...
Style: emotional, touching, serious, sentimental, realistic ...
Audience: teens
Plot: dysfunctional family, foster home, road trip, haunted by the past, family problems, introspection, child abuse, friendship, mother daughter relationship, loss of job, single parent, coming of age ...
Time: year 2008, 21st century
Place: usa, california, utah
Is relevant ?
The Anniversary (1968)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 95 min.
Story: Mrs Taggart always celebrates her anniversary with her grown sons. It’s a tradition practised since the death of her husband and she is determined for it to continue. None of her three sons have dared to cross their ruthless domineering mother but ...
Style: dark comedy, psychotronic, offbeat, semi serious, realistic ...
Plot: bad mother, manipulation, mother, hagsploitation, gay, old woman, family relations, dysfunctional family, anniversary, family gatherings, single parent, love and romance ...
Time: 60s
Place: canada, england
Is relevant ?
Sins of the Mother (2010)
Genre: Drama
Country: Canada
Duration: 90 min.
Story: Shay is a young African-American college student whom is forced to take a year off from school to return to her hometown where she struggles with her anger and insecurity when she's forced to confront her alcoholic mother, Nona, whom is ...
Style: realistic, serious, psychological, captivating, touching
Plot: college, homecoming, dysfunctional family, estrangement, family relations, family problems, parents and children, single parent, life is a bitch, alcohol abuse, mother daughter relationship, african american ...
Time: 21st century
Place: africa, washington d.c.
Is relevant ?
 6.9
 30K
The Grifters (1990)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 110 min.
Story: A young short-con grifter suffers both injury and the displeasure of reuniting with his criminal mother, all the while dating an unpredictable young lady.
Style: neo noir, sexy, tense, atmospheric, intense ...
Plot: con artists, femme fatale, betrayal, con trick, caper, swindle, con men, couples, rivalry, intrigue, motel, revenge ...
Time: year 1990, 90s, 80s, 20th century
Place: los angeles, usa, arizona, phoenix arizona
Is relevant ?
Tammy's Always Dying (2019)
Genre: Drama
Country: Canada
Duration: 85 min.
Story: A daughter's attempt to care for her ornery, ailing mother.
Style: captivating, disturbing, psychological
Plot: family problems, mother and daughter, life is a bitch, alcoholic mother, female alcoholic, alcohol abuse, mother daughter relationship, moral dilemma, terminal illness, family relations, female protagonist, bad mother ...
Is relevant ?
 6.2
 522
Bad Mothers (2019)
Genre: Drama
Country: Australia
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story: Sarah’s perfect life as a GP, wife and mother is shattered when she discovers her husband is having an affair. Then her best friend is found murdered and Sarah’s husband, Anton, is arrested. She finds unlikely sisterhood and support in a ragtag ...
Style: captivating
Plot: mother, woman, lifestyle change, family relations, relationship vs career, lifestyle, women, life, love and romance, bad mother, drastic change of life, changing lives ...
Is relevant ?
Related movie lists
 7.6
 291K
Gone Baby Gone (2007)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 114 min.
Story: When 4 year old Amanda McCready disappears from her home and the police make little headway in solving the case, the girl's aunt, Beatrice McCready hires two private detectives, Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro. The detectives freely admit that ...
Style: twist ending, suspense, detective, thought provoking, surprise ending ...
Audience: kids, adult
Plot: kidnapping, investigation, private detective, twists and turns, moral dilemma, police investigation, missing child, moral ambiguity, tragic event, murder mystery, immorality, mother daughter relationship ...
Time: year 2007, 20th century, 2000s, 21st century
Place: boston, massachusetts, usa
Is relevant ?
 7.1
 34K
White Oleander (2002)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min.
Story: A teenager journeys through a series of foster homes after her mother goes to prison for committing a crime of passion.
Style: intense, touching, disturbing, realistic, serious ...
Audience: girls' night, teens, teen drama
Plot: mother daughter relationship, coming of age, bad mother, loneliness, dysfunctional family, women's prison, teenage life, murder, mother daughter estrangement, mental illness, teenager, borderline personality disorder ...
Time: year 2002, 21st century
Place: california, usa, los angeles, nova scotia, mexico
Is relevant ?
 7.3
 116K
Precious (2009)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 110 min.
Story: Set in Harlem in 1987, Claireece "Precious" Jones is a 16-year-old African American girl born into a life no one would want. She's pregnant for the second time by her absent father; at home, she must wait hand and foot on her mother, ...
Style: bleak, depressing, emotional, rough, sad ...
Audience: teens, teen drama, adult
Plot: rape, dysfunctional family, sexual abuse, teacher, poverty, child abuse, aids, illiteracy, domestic violence, african american, life is a bitch, parents and children ...
Time: 2000s, 20th century, year 1987, 80s
Place: new york, america, harlem, new york city, usa, harlem ...
Is relevant ?
 5.7
 4K
Bloody Mama (1970)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min.
Story: Sexually abused as a young girl, Kate "Ma" Barker (Shelley Winters) grows into a violently powerful woman by the 1930s. She lovingly dominates her grown sons, and grooms them into a pack of tough crooks. The boys include the cruel Herman ...
Style: psychotronic, grindhouse, bleak, hood, cult classic ...
Plot: gang, gangster, prison, murder, female gangster, shootout, great depression, bad mother, robbery, older woman younger man relationship, strong female lead, fbi ...
Time: 1930s, year 1929
Place: america, arkansas
Is relevant ?
Tree of Knowledge (1981)
Genre: Drama
Country: Denmark
Duration: 110 min.
Story: As a group of Danish children pass into adolescence, gradually the most popular girl becomes an outcast, for trivial reasons that she never understands.
Style: cult classic, serious, realistic, touching, emotional ...
Audience: teens
Plot: coming of age, children, bullying, female nudity, troubled relationship, nordic, adolescence, school, classmate classmate relationship, new student, sexual tension, loneliness ...
Time: 20th century, 80s, year 1958, 1950s
Place: denmark, scandinavia
Is relevant ?
 7.4
 205K
Carrie (1976)
Genre: Horror, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min.
Story: Carrie White, a shy and troubled teenage girl who is tormented by her high school peers and her fanatically religious mother, begins to use her powers of telekinesis to exact revenge upon them.
Style: tense, gothic, intense, scary, suspense ...
Audience: teens, teen drama, adult
Plot: prank, bullying, vengeance, telekinesis, cruelty, rage, prom, female protagonist, revenge, abusive mother, high school, social misfits ...
Time: 20th century, year 1976, 70s, future, year 1979 ...
Place: maine, usa
Is relevant ?
 6.5
 2K
Villain (1971)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 98 min.
Story: It tells the story of ruthless East End gangster Vic Dakin and his plans for an ambitious raid on the wages van of a plastic factory. This is a departure from Dakin's usual modus operandi, and the job is further complicated by his having to ...
Style: neo noir, cult classic, independent film, banned
Plot: gangster, homosexuality, organized crime, gay, blackmail, heist, kitchen sink realism, mobster, british gangster, bad mother, criminal, politics ...
Time: year 1971, 70s
Place: brighton, scotland yard
Is relevant ?
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