Parenthood

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Parenthood

PG-13

1989

2h 4m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

60 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Perfectionist Gil Buckman (Steve Martin) struggles with the deficiencies of his children, thinking they reflect poorly on his parenting -- and Gil's siblings only add to the stress of his life. One of his sisters (Dianne Wiest) faces difficulty when her teenage daughter (Martha Plimpton) becomes pregnant. Another (Harley Jane Kozak) clashes with her husband (Rick Moranis) when she asks for more children. Gil's immature brother (Tom Hulce) turns up as well, with a young son he can barely handle.

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Critics Consensus

Bolstered by a delightful cast, Parenthood is a funny and thoughtfully crafted look at the best and worst moments of family life that resonates broadly.

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Desmond Ryan

Philadelphia Inquirer

Jul 31, 2013

3/4

The fulcrum of the film is Martin. It's an adventurous and successful stroke of casting that takes advantage of what the audience expects from him.

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Jul 31, 2013

This movie has its share of laughs, but it's also Ron Howard's most personal film, and clearly his most ambitious.

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

Jul 31, 2013

3.5/4

Parenthood easily could have focused exclusively on yuppie parents and their kids; however, the script by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel is more sophisticated than that, remembering that every parent is still a child too.

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Candace Wiggins

Southern Voice (Atlanta)

May 9, 2023

This is not just a wild and crazy comedy. This is a slice of life -- contemporary Americana.

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Jul 12, 2022

Consistently pleasant. [Full review in Spanish]

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Jim Rohner

Battleship Pretension

Apr 14, 2021

What better way to deal with it than through catharsis?

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Jonathan N

@Popculture1994 Jul 17, 2026

Parenthood is an amazing Ron Howard Steve Martin coming of age comedy drama flick. It's about parents teaching kids the right way. It has a terrific ensemble casts like Mary Steenburgen, Dianne Wiest, Tom Hulce, Martha Plimpton, Keanu Reeves, Jason Robards, and Rick Moranis.

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John F

@RT84127024 May 20, 2026

Watched it again after seeing it when it came out, this time as a parent with my teenage son, and it's still relevant in how it brings up a lot of issues that get swept under the rug in U.S. society, including the dangers of gambling and sports betting in particular (an especially pertinent issue today). Howard's blindspot on race was a flaw, but otherwise a good film with a solid cast, including Wiest who is as great as ever, and a young Leaf (Joaquin) Phoenix who back then was known as "River's brother."

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William T.

@Will1 May 2, 2026

Such an excellent film. One of my all time favs. Ron Howard is one of a handful of GOAT’S when it comes to characters and character development.

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Christian K

@ckacar Mar 17, 2026

A nice slice of life story for adults. Credit to Steve Martin for being THE movie dad.

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Jack G

@Gump.jack Feb 2, 2026

Parenthood isn’t perfect, but it’s everything

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Mickey B.

@Mickerdoo Jan 24, 2026

Super relatable (since I have two girls). Reminds you that most parents are just doing their best. Good blend of drama and humor.

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Ron Howard

Director

Steve Martin

Gil Buckman

Mary Steenburgen

Karen Buckman

Dianne Wiest

Helen Buckman

Jason Robards

Frank Buckman

Rick Moranis

Nathan Huffner

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Synopsis

Perfectionist Gil Buckman (Steve Martin) struggles with the deficiencies of his children, thinking they reflect poorly on his parenting -- and Gil's siblings only add to the stress of his life. One of his sisters (Dianne Wiest) faces difficulty when her teenage daughter (Martha Plimpton) becomes pregnant. Another (Harley Jane Kozak) clashes with her husband (Rick Moranis) when she asks for more children. Gil's immature brother (Tom Hulce) turns up as well, with a young son he can barely handle.

Director: Ron Howard
Producer: Brian Grazer
Screenwriter: Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Image Entertainment Inc.
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 31, 1989, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $99.6M
Runtime: 2h 4m
Sound Mix: Surround

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