Skip to content
MovieCove
Sister Cities

Sister Cities

Four sisters. Four different lives. One mother of a secret.

TV movie201686 minMidcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films
Director
Sean Hanish
Starring
Jacki Weaver, Jess Weixler, Stana Katic, Michelle Trachtenberg

Based on the internationally-acclaimed play by Colette Freedman, the story of 4 estranged sisters who reunite for their mother’s alleged suicide.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Sister Cities?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Sister Cities streaming on Prime Video, The Roku Channel (free) and Tubi (free) and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Subscription

FreeFree

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Sister Cities?

Sister Cities earns 2 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Preferred by Women.

Reception

Is Sister Cities worth watching?

Sister Cities' Midcredits score is the 73rd percentile of all films, from 2.5K ratings across 4 sources. 68% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

73rd percentile

Better received than 73% of films

75th percentile among Drama73rd percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)67th
Approval (how many liked it)76th

66 /100

67th percentile of all films

69th percentile among Drama66th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.3 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

68% liked it

76th percentile of all films

78th percentile among Drama77th percentile among 2010s
68% rated it 7–1032% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

73rd percentile

2.5K ratings across platforms

76th percentile among Drama76th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 17% in 30 days

Box office

Domestic gross$9.5K

What reviewers say

Common ground

A family drama about four estranged sisters reuniting after their mother's death from ALS.

Fans praised

  • Flawless, emotionally resonant acting from the ensemble cast
  • Witty, fast-paced dialogue balancing humor and pathos
  • Well-written, distinct characters with depth and chemistry

Detractors panned

  • Unbelievable, contrived family relationships and plot
  • Slow pacing with excessive filler and unnecessary scenes
  • Forced, pretentious tone with clichéd character writing

What stands out

ActingDivisive82

Praised as flawless and riveting; detractors call it forced and unconvincing

CharactersDivisive75

Fans laud distinct, well-fleshed-out sisters; detractors find them superficial and clichéd

DialogueDivisive70

Praised as witty, fast-paced, and natural; one detractor calls it poorly convincing

Plot and storyDivisive60

Fans cite compelling twists and emotional story; detractors say it's unbelievable and slow to build

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Women

Women scored it 40 points higher than men.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • US vs non-US even

Watch experience

What is Sister Cities like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Moving and bittersweet: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready for heavy feelings, and you want a story that moves you and leaves an ache.

It is intense and leaves you devastated. Skip it when you want an easy night.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Room for heavy feelings.

What it feels like

Moving and bittersweet.

The answer rests on this: Moods
MelancholicTenseCathartic
Heaviest: middle
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Tender · 13% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its heavy subject matter straight, treating the emotional and moral dilemmas with earnest gravity.
The rideA somber reunion, rising tensions as the investigation reveals secrets, leading to an emotional climax in the middle acts before resolution.
StructureThe story unfolds in a straightforward chronological manner as the sisters gather and confront the past, with flashbacks implied but not structurally dominant.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Devastated.

The answer rests on this: Devastating · 3% of filmsThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayThe film's raw depiction of terminal illness and assisted suicide, woven with family conflict, leaves an emotionally heavy and morally lingering impression.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous endingTwist

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MysteryEnigma
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7% (this title): Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2% (this title)
  • No archetype 22%

Mystery: A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered. · Enigma: The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).

7% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe film is driven by the mystery of the mother's death and the dark secret that emerges, but the focus is on family dynamics rather than a puzzle the audience can solve.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfFamilybonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9% (this title)
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% (this title) · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Family bondsGrief · 6% of filmsDeception · 9% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe film centers on the fractured bond between four sisters, tested by grief over their mother's death and the revelation of a family secret.
StanceThe film questions what family loyalty demands when a dark secret is revealed, presenting the sisters' choice as genuinely difficult rather than celebrating an easy answer.

The world

ContemporaryDomesticRuralRealistic
Orchestral classicalSupportive music · original score · James T. Sale
SettingA family home in a small New England town where the sisters gather to mourn.
MusicScored by James T. Sale, likely providing emotional support without overwhelming the dialogue-driven drama.

Content guide

Is Sister Cities okay for kids?

As of August 31, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its sexual content at mild (25/100) and drug and alcohol content at intense (67/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Overall
needs 3 or more scored categories
not ranked
Sex & Nudity
Mild
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Intense
too few votes to rank (1 vote)

Overall standing needs at least three scored categories; this title has 2.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Sister Cities have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Sister Cities?

Cast

1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Jacki Weaver
as Mary Baxter
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Jess Weixler
as Austin Baxter
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Stana Katic
as Carolina Baxter
Michelle Trachtenberg
as Dallas Baxter
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Troian Bellisario
as Baltimore Baxter
Alfred Molina
as Mort Stone
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Kaia Gerber
as 13 year old Carolina
First film: No prior film role; they had worked in television.
Tom Everett Scott
as Chief Barton Brady
Aimee Garcia
as Sarah
Kathy Baker
as Janis Schwartz
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Sister Cities?

Movies like Sister Cities include Don't Worry, I'm Fine (2006), You Can Count on Me (2000) and Love Streams (1984). Of the 9 closest matches, most are stories about siblings, and most are chamber dramas.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

6 of these 9 share its subject: grief. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Sister Cities?

3K other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: chamber drama. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.