Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- warm
- awkward
- lazy sunday
- quiet movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film pleasant, heartfelt, and well acted, while also viewing it as mild, predictable, and less engaging than its cast suggests.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jake's collapsed entrepreneurial venture forces him to reassess adulthood through caregiving and family responsibility.
Jake moves in with his pregnant sister and becomes nanny to his three-year-old nephew.
The film centers on Jake, Justine, Danny, and their household rather than spectacle or large-scale external conflict.
The critical reception specifically highlights the three-year-old as the most mature person in the room amid adult neurosis.
Films like Adult Beginners, and why
The Skeleton Twins
shared warm indie comedy, adult dysfunction, and family reconciliation
The Giant Mechanical Man
shared bittersweet workplace failure, sibling tension, and emotionally grounded humor
The Savages
shared ensemble dramedy, arrested adulthood, and suburban family intimacy
Jeff, Who Lives at Home
shared awkward comedy, personal reinvention, and sibling-centered emotional stakes
Movie Details
- Director
- Ross Katz
- Release Date
- 2014-09-08
- Runtime
- 90 min
- Rating
- 5.4 / 10 (210)
Cast
- Nick Kroll
- Rose Byrne
- Bobby Cannavale
- Joel McHale
- Caitlin FitzGerald
- Bobby Moynihan
- Josh Charles
- Jane Krakowski
- Paula Garcés
- Jason Mantzoukas
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Starz Apple TV channel, Howdy Amazon Channel
- 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 Adult Beginners about?
- After a spectacular entrepreneurial collapse, a self-absorbed young man discovers that suburban childcare and family obligations demand a more mature version of himself.
- What is Adult Beginners like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Adult Beginners as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Adult Beginners violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Adult Beginners.
- What did critics think of Adult Beginners?
- Critics broadly found the film pleasant, heartfelt, and well acted, while also viewing it as mild, predictable, and less engaging than its cast suggests.
- Which films are like Adult Beginners?
- Films with a similar feel include The Skeleton Twins, The Giant Mechanical Man, The Savages, and Jeff, Who Lives at Home.
- How long is Adult Beginners?
- Adult Beginners runs 90 minutes.
- Where can I watch Adult Beginners?
- In United States, Adult Beginners streams on Amazon Prime Video, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Starz Apple TV channel, Howdy Amazon Channel.
