Awful parents can be a reoccurring theme in films, due to the story potential involved. Some films involve awful stepfathers, or those that act as father figures, to evoke emotion and sympathy for a character that remains victim to such an abusive parental relationship.
Considering there’s been plenty of great on-screen dads, there are bound to be some downright awful on-screen dads too. Movies can teach audiences a lot, and one common theme seems to be how not to be a stepfather. It’s a good guide for those stepdads that want to be great with their new kids to avoid the examples below.
8 Dr. Robert Doback - Step Brothers
By no means is Robert Doback an awful stepfather in the sense he will try and kill his children, or abuse them entirely, but Robert is unamused by the bond of the child-like Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. This character certainly would not see Minions: The Rise of Gru with his kids.
Richard Jenkins plays the stepfather of Brennan Huff after marrying his mother, Nancy Huff. The film is a great comedy that follows the ridiculous antics of Brennan and Robert’s son, Dale. As the film progresses, Robert grows increasingly irritated by the duo, until it forces a divorce between Nancy and Robert. The stepbrothers’ tears make Robert happy, and he asks for a photo to celebrate the moment.
7 Vernon Dursley - Harry Potter
As a Muggle, Vernon Dursley had no time nor care for magic. Technically he was an uncle by marriage, and “helped” to raise Harry Potter. The franchise of Harry Potter features Vernon Dursley in a few scenes across the films, and each one is a heavy emphasis on just how unwanted Harry Potter is, and how evil Vernon can be to the young wizard.
Although Vernon was not a stepfather, he was the male legal guardian of Harry Potter, after his wife’s sister, Lily Potter, was killed by Voldermort. Vernon feels like a harsher Martin Short character. Vernon kept Harry Potter under a staircase and tried to destroy the letters from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to show detest of all things magic.
6 Sheev Palpatine - Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
When fans were reintroduced to the Star Wars universe in 1999, many expressed their excitement when the demonic-looking Darth Maul ignited his dual-wielded red lightsaber. How could one grow to be so evil on the dark side of the Force? Look no further than Sheev Palpatine, future Emperor of the galaxy far, far away.
When visiting Dathomir, Palpatine sensed the potential of Maul from youth. Palpatine took Maul and raised him in his image. He was raised in torturous environments, to grow his hatred and his Dark Side power. He grew up in a heated environment, which only festered more so once Obi-Wan Kenobi cut him in two.
5 Obi-Wan Kenobi - Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith
After the climactic battle between Darth Maul, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Qui-Gon Jinn, the latter died at the hands of Maul. Qui-Gon was the Jedi Master to Kenobi and had planned to leave Kenobi as a Jedi Knight to train a young Anakin Skywalker. In his death, he gave Kenobi his dying wish, a promise to raise the boy, Anakin.
Anakin Skywalker needed a father, and what he received in Kenobi was a brother. Despite being the closest thing Anakin had to a father, it was not enough, and he sought further guidance from the corrupting Palpatine. Obi-Wan and Anakin fought on Mustafar with the destruction of the Jedi Order already established.
4 Jerry Blake - The Stepfather
Jerry Blake, a family man with a multitude of families and identities, finds himself alone after each one meets a murderous end. Jerry then sets his sights on Susan, a widower, and her daughter Stephanie. The headstrong daughter of Susan grows suspicious of Jerry, and this tense thriller and slasher flick is bound to have a confrontation.
This stepfather is quite literally a serial killer. The character changes his identity and has an adoration for killing families. It’s quite hard to be a worse stepfather than Jerry Blake, considering that he takes pleasure in murdering families.
3 Vito Corleone - The Godfather
As the highly respected Don of the Corleone crime family, Vito Corleone loves his wife and four children very much. Vito’s adoration for Sonny, Fredo, Michael, and Connie is felt throughout the first film, and even in the prequel moments of The Godfather Part 2. What makes Vito a poor father isn’t his love for his children, but his acceptance of them into his criminal enterprise.
One such child, Tom Hagen, is a victim of Vito Corleone’s love. Tom was an orphan who was unofficially adopted by Vito. The two shared a great bond, and had a high intellect together, with Vito putting Tom through the schools needed to become a great lawyer and consigliere. Vito’s grooming of Tom into the crime business is what makes him a bad stepfather.
2 Terminator - Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines
After the events of Terminator 2: Judgement Day, the future was forever changed thanks to the destruction of all evidence of Terminators and Skynet. Out of paranoia, and from the lessons of his now-deceased mother, Jon Connor lives off the grind in Los Angeles, California. Without Sarah Connor, and with a new Terminator, the T-X, hunting him, there’s only one machine that can save the day.
The Terminator for Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, is once again played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, this Terminator unit was reprogrammed to protect John Connor and is not the same one that John grew up with. They share no memories and have no relationship. The only thing they know about each other is that this specific Terminator killed John Connor in the future. It’s a pretty bad idea of a father.
1 Dwight Hansen - This Boy’s Life
In this coming-of-age drama film, Leonardo DiCaprio plays Tobias Wolff, a young boy whose mother, Caroline Wolff, takes them to Seattle to start a new life. Here, Caroline marries a charming mechanic, Dwight Hansen. It doesn't take long for Tobias and Caroline to discover that Dwight is an abusive and evil alcoholic man.
This character is played by the talented Robert De Niro, who portrays such a horrid person. Audiences will want to jump at the screen and attack the awful man themselves, to protect the innocent mother and son that are at the mercy of his abuse.