What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedAbout a Boy
Nick Hornby · Series · 2014
If you loved About a Boy, start with About a Boy (Paul Weitz, 2002) — a film from the same story. Below: 3 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to About a Boy across media.
You loved About a Boy because it perfectly captures how an unlikely, transformative friendship can pull a stagnant life forward.
Start with the source
The source
About a Boy
Paul Weitz · Film · 2002
Books on the same thread
A Man Called Ove: A Novel
Fredrik Backman · Book · 2016
Explores: Grumbling protagonist, Unexpected friendship, Redemption.
Like About a Boy, this story centers on a grumpy loner whose rigid, solitary existence is disrupted by a boisterous family moving into the house right next door.
A Man Called Ove
Fredrik Backman · Book
Shares a thread with About a Boy: found family.
You will recognize the familiar dynamic of About a Boy in this curmudgeon who discovers the profound power of found family through an unexpected, life-altering connection.
Me Before You
Jojo Moyes · Book · 2012
Explores: Disability, Right to Die, Social Class Differences.
This narrative mirrors the emotional growth found in About a Boy as two people from vastly different worlds intersect and fundamentally change the trajectory of their lives.
Films on the same thread
Boyhood
Richard Linklater · Film · 2014
Explores: Childhood, Divorce, Parenting.
If you appreciated the slow-burn character development in About a Boy, this intimate study of family dynamics and the passage of time will resonate deeply with you.
Boy
Taika Waititi · Film · 2010
Shares a thread with About a Boy: Coming-of-age.
Much like the relationship between Marcus and Will in About a Boy, this film explores the complexities of a young boy navigating a world defined by absent fathers.
Mommy
Film · 2014
Shares a thread with About a Boy: Coming-of-age.
The arrival of a neighbor who alters a domestic situation mirrors the catalyst for growth seen in About a Boy, focusing on the resilience of unconventional family bonds.
About Time
Richard Curtis · Film · 2013
Explores: Time Travel, Appreciating Life, Father-Son Relationship.
This film shares the heartfelt focus on father-son relationships and personal maturation that made About a Boy such a poignant exploration of what it means to grow up.
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 male connection that Will Freeman grapples with throughout the narrative of About a Boy.
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
Explores: parasocial relationships, professional intimacy, self-deprecating humor.
Conan's search for authentic connection echoes Will's journey in About a Boy, moving from a life of superficial interactions toward the pursuit of genuine, lasting human relationships.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is the 2014 About a Boy TV series based on the same source material as the 2002 movie?
Yes, both the 2014 television series and the 2002 movie are adaptations based on the original novel About a Boy written by Nick Hornby. They follow the same premise involving Will Freeman and his life being disrupted by his new neighbors.
Should I watch the 2002 About a Boy movie before starting the 2014 TV show?
You do not need to watch the 2002 movie to understand the 2014 series. Both versions of About a Boy stand as independent adaptations of Nick Hornby's work, meaning you can watch either one without prior knowledge of the other.
What is the premise of the 2014 About a Boy television series?
The 2014 About a Boy series follows Will Freeman, a man who lives a charmed, single life after writing a hit song. His carefree existence is challenged when a single mother named Fiona and her eleven-year-old son Marcus move in next door.
How does the plot of the 2014 About a Boy series start?
The 2014 About a Boy series begins by establishing Will Freeman as an unemployed man-child enjoying his financial freedom. The plot is set into motion when his new neighbors, Fiona and her young son Marcus, arrive and disrupt his perfect, solitary lifestyle.