

A Family Thing
"With family, everything is relative."
Overview
Earl Pilcher Jr. runs an equipment rental outfit in Arkansas, lives with his wife and kids and parents, and rarely takes off his gimme cap. His mother dies, leaving a letter explaining he's not her natural son, but the son of a Black woman who died in childbirth; plus, he has a half brother Ray, in Chicago, she wants him to visit. Earl makes the trip, initially receiving a cold welcome from Ray and Ray's son, Virgil. His birth mother's sister, Aunt T., an aged and blind matriarch, takes Earl in tow and insists that the family open up to him.
Movie Details
Revenue
$10.1M
$10,125,417
Languages
English
Studio
United Artists
+2 more
Key Crew

Richard Pearce
Director

Billy Bob Thornton
Writer

Robert Duvall
Producer

Todd Black
Producer

Randa Haines
Producer
Cast

Robert Duvall
Earl Pilcher Jr.

James Earl Jones
Ray Murdock

Michael Beach
Virgil

Irma P. Hall
Aunt T.

Grace Zabriskie
Ruby

Regina Taylor
Ann

David Keith
Sonny

Jacqueline Williams
Woman at Hospital

Mary Jackson
Carrie

Paula Marshall
Karen

Phillip Edward Van Lear
Club Manager

Meg Thalken
Doctor
Richard Lexsee
Truckjacker

Xander Berkeley
Sunburned Man
James N. Harrell
Earl Pilcher Sr.
Lauren Leigh Phillips
Kindra
Ashleigh Jordan
Danielle
Sandra Quarterman
Young Aunt T.
Rufus Thomas
Tommy

Reggie Hayes
Virgil's Friend