Kieran Culkin’s Dysfunctional Family Irony: “Where’s the Functional Family Scripts?”

Kieran Culkin, the wickedly talented star of “Succession” and now “A Real Pain,” put the spotlight on an amusing conundrum that’s haunted his family for ages—why all the scripts featuring dysfunctional families seem to land in his lap. During a recent SAG Awards chat, he humorously recalled his mom’s bemusement: “How come whenever there’s a script about a dysfunctional family they always come to us?” Honestly, can you blame her? The Culkin siblings are practically experts in the genre.

As the son of a single mother and one of seven siblings, it seems that dysfunction is quite the family affair for the Culkin clan. Beyond Kieran, there’s Macaulay, who shot to fame in “Home Alone” and “Home Alone 2,” and Rory, known for acclaimed roles in “Signs” and “Lords of Chaos.” The family’s impressive resume could fill a bookshelf full of psychological dramas, comedies, and even horror flicks. From “The Good Son,” where Kieran played a tragically twisted son to his innocent cousin (played by Elijah Wood), to Kieran’s notable role in “Igby Goes Down” and the hilariously dark “Wiener-Dog,” it seems they thrive on the chaotic familial vibes.

Speaking of chaos, Kieran’s role in “Succession” as Roman Roy has cemented his status in the realm of brutal family dynamics, grabbing that shiny statuette for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role. During his acceptance speech, Kieran showered praise on Jesse Eisenberg’s sister Hallie for influencing his casting in “A Real Pain.” He cheekily remarked, “Thank you Hallie for thinking of me and putting my name in your stupid brother’s ear,” totally stealing the spotlight with his charm and wit.

Despite a childhood filled with sibling rivalry and a daunting parental split in 1995, Kieran has taken it all in stride, joking about his upbringing and how each sibling has grown into part of the dysfunctional family narrative they often portray. In fact, the five Culkin brothers even collaborated in Kieran’s new animated series, “The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy,” marking their first shared project. So, while Kieran might be on the lookout for those elusive “functional family” scripts, it’s safe to say that the Culkin legacy is anything but ordinary.

Sources: Celebrity Storm Wire and Entertainment Weekly, PEOPLE Magazine, Variety