What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedAbout a Boy
Paul Weitz · Film · 2002
If you loved About a Boy, start with About a Boy (Nick Hornby, 2014) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to About a Boy across media.
What hooked you in About a Boy was the way an unlikely, intergenerational bond forces two mismatched souls to finally grow up.
Start with the source
Adaptation
About a Boy
Nick Hornby · Series · 2014
Books on the same thread
A Man Called Ove: A Novel
Fredrik Backman · Book · 2016
Shares a thread with About a Boy: Unexpected friendship.
Like the central relationship in About a Boy, this story hinges on a grumpy man whose solitary, rigid life is cracked open by the unexpected arrival of new neighbors.
Where the Wild Things Are
Maurice Sendak · Book · 2009
Explores: Imagination, Anger Management, Adventure.
Much like the emotional journey of Marcus in About a Boy, this classic captures the turbulent and imaginative ways a young boy processes his complex feelings and reality.
The Little Prince
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry · Book · 1943
Explores: Friendship, Loss of innocence, Spiritual journey.
This fable explores the same profound themes of friendship and personal growth found in About a Boy, reminding us how meaningful connections can reshape our entire perspective on life.
A Wizard of Earthsea
Ursula K. Le Guin · Book · 2012
Explores: magic school, responsibility, consequences.
If you appreciated the coming-of-age arc in About a Boy, you will recognize the weight of responsibility and the necessity of growth as this young protagonist matures.
Series on the same thread
Boy Meets World
Michael Jacobs · Series · 1993
Explores: First love, Friendship, Family relationships.
This series mirrors the long-term character development seen in About a Boy, tracking the everyday lessons and intimate transitions that define a boy becoming a man.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Andy Borowitz · Series · 1990
Shares 2 threads with About a Boy: Personal growth, Coming-of-age.
This show shares the fish-out-of-water charm found in About a Boy, focusing on how a new, non-traditional family dynamic can fundamentally change a person's outlook on the world.
How I Met Your Mother
Carter Bays · Series · 2005
Explores: Friendship, Dating, Nostalgia.
The focus on male friendships and the messy process of growing up in this sitcom echoes the core comedic and emotional beats that defined About a Boy.
Moone Boy
Chris O'Dowd · Series · 2012
Explores: Imaginary Friends, 1980s Nostalgia, Small Town Life.
The use of an imaginary friend to navigate childhood quandaries mirrors the eccentric, supportive bond between Marcus and Will in About a Boy as they face life together.
Podcasts on the same thread
To Be A Boy
Podcast
Explores: raising boys, toxic masculinity, male friendships.
This podcast digs into the same questions about masculinity and boyhood that About a Boy explores through its narrative, offering a real-world look at the path to maturity.
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
Explores: parasocial relationships, professional intimacy, self-deprecating humor.
Much like Will Freeman’s search for connection in About a Boy, this show centers on the humorous and honest pursuit of genuine friendship in a lonely adult world.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is About a Boy a television series or a movie?
About a Boy exists in two formats. There is the original 2002 movie directed by Paul Weitz, which follows the story of Will Freeman and Marcus, and there is also a separate television series adaptation that was released in 2014.
What is the 2002 About a Boy movie about?
The 2002 movie About a Boy tells the story of Will Freeman, a bachelor who avoids responsibility. He meets a geeky 12-year-old named Marcus after inventing an imaginary son to date single mothers, leading to an unlikely friendship where they teach each other valuable life lessons.
Should I watch the 2002 About a Boy film before the 2014 television series?
While the 2014 television series and the 2002 movie share the title About a Boy, they are separate adaptations. You can watch either one independently, though the 2002 movie serves as the original cinematic source material for the story of Will and Marcus.
How does Marcus change Will in About a Boy?
In the 2002 film About a Boy, Will Freeman starts as a man avoiding responsibility. As he interacts with the 12-year-old Marcus, Will learns meaningful lessons about life, while simultaneously attempting to teach the boy how to be cool.