Overview
A heartfelt exploration of family dynamics and the chaos of parenting.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- witty
- warm
- poignant
- family movie night
- lazy sunday
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Parenthood as a funny, thoughtfully crafted, and emotionally observant ensemble portrait of family life, strengthened by its cast and wise screenplay.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Buckman relatives and their children receive overlapping storylines involving parenting, estrangement, romance, and family crisis.
The screenplay repeatedly places comic family incidents beside poignant observations about responsibility, disappointment, and connection.
Gil, Helen, Frank, their siblings, and the children confront different versions of parental responsibility and inherited family patterns.
Estranged relatives, eccentrics, rebellious teenagers, and parental failures coexist with loyalty and affection throughout the Buckman family.
Films like Parenthood, and why
The Family Stone
Shared comedy drama format, sprawling family ensemble, parenting pressures, and affectionate treatment of domestic dysfunction.
This Is Where I Leave You
Shared warm ensemble comedy, intergenerational family conflict, relationship anxieties, and bittersweet emotional observation.
The Royal Tenenbaums
Shared family comedy drama, parent child tensions, generational misunderstandings, and a balance of sentimentality with wry humor.
Movie Details
- Director
- Ron Howard
- Release Date
- 1989-07-31
- Runtime
- 124 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (752)
Cast
- Steve Martin
- Mary Steenburgen
- Dianne Wiest
- Jason Robards
- Rick Moranis
- Tom Hulce
- Martha Plimpton
- Keanu Reeves
- Harley Jane Kozak
- Joaquin Phoenix
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Parenthood about?
- An expansive, affectionate family comedy drama finds equal humor and heart in the chaos, compromises, and unexpected bonds of parenting.
- What is Parenthood like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Parenthood as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Parenthood violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Parenthood.
- What did critics think of Parenthood?
- Critics broadly praised Parenthood as a funny, thoughtfully crafted, and emotionally observant ensemble portrait of family life, strengthened by its cast and wise screenplay.
- Which films are like Parenthood?
- Films with a similar feel include The Family Stone, This Is Where I Leave You, and The Royal Tenenbaums.
- How long is Parenthood?
- Parenthood runs 124 minutes.
- Where can I watch Parenthood?
- In United States, Parenthood streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
