What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedBeginners
Mike Mills · Film · 2011
If you loved Beginners, start with Navillera (2021) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Beginners across media.
If you loved the tender way Beginners navigates the intersection of grief, family secrets, and the courage required to reinvent your life.
Books on the same thread
Fun Home
Alison Bechdel · Book · 2007
Shares a thread with Beginners: Self-Discovery.
Much like Beginners, this graphic memoir explores the complicated emotional legacy left by a father whose hidden identity forces a child to re-evaluate their entire shared history.
The Optimist's Daughter
Eudora Welty · Book · 2011
Shares a thread with Beginners: Self-Discovery.
This novel mirrors the quiet, reflective tone of Beginners, capturing the bittersweet process of processing a parent's death while navigating the complex, often surprising dynamics of surviving family members.
The Sense of an Ending
Julian Barnes · Book · 2011
Explores: Unreliable narrator, Memory distortion, Existential regret.
Fans of the introspective narrative style in Beginners will appreciate this examination of memory and the way our past experiences shape our understanding of present relationships and personal growth.
The Fault in Our Stars
John Green · Book · 2012
Explores: Teenage Cancer, Love and Loss, Existentialism.
If the emotional vulnerability of Beginners resonated with you, this story offers a similar focus on finding profound, life-altering connection while grappling with the heavy shadow of mortality.
Series on the same thread
Shrinking
Brett Goldstein · Series · 2023
Explores: Grief, Therapy, Unconventional Methods.
This series captures the same tonal balance found in Beginners, blending the raw, messy reality of personal grief with the humor necessary to survive life's most unexpected transitions.
Navillera
Series · 2021
Explores: Mentorship, Late-Life Dreams, Overcoming Obstacles.
This story echoes the core spirit of Beginners by highlighting how intergenerational connection and the pursuit of late-life dreams can provide a transformative path forward after years of stagnation.
Please Like Me
Josh Thomas · Series · 2013
Shares 2 threads with Beginners: Self-discovery, Dramedy.
This show reflects the authentic, character-driven exploration of self-discovery and sexual identity that defined Beginners, all while maintaining a grounded look at the complexities of modern family relationships.
Master of None
Alan Yang · Series · 2015
Shares a thread with Beginners: Dramedy.
Much like the protagonist of Beginners, Dev navigates the transitional anxieties of adulthood with a blend of indie charm and existential curiosity that makes his personal evolution feel deeply relatable.
Podcasts on the same thread
Begin Again with Davina McCall
Podcast
Explores: Personal Growth, Empowerment, Life Transitions.
If the themes of reinvention in Beginners inspired you, these stories of midlife transformation provide a real-world look at how people redefine their lives and embrace their second acts.
Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel
Podcast
Explores: relationships, marriage, family dynamics.
This podcast offers the same intimate, unfiltered look at human connection found in Beginners, providing a space to unpack the profound complexities of relationships, family, and personal life transitions.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Beginners based on a true story?
Beginners is a 2011 film written and directed by Mike Mills. The narrative follows Oliver, whose father Hal Fields comes out as gay at age 75 after 44 years of marriage, reflecting the personal experiences of the filmmaker regarding his own father's life journey.
What is the main plot of Beginners?
Beginners centers on Oliver, a man processing the recent death of his father, Hal Fields. The story explores Oliver's budding relationship with Anna alongside his memories of Hal, who spent his final years living an energized and open gay life following the loss of his wife.
Does Beginners feature the character Hal Fields?
Yes, Hal Fields is a central character in Beginners. He is the father of the protagonist Oliver. Following the death of his wife of 44 years, Hal reveals he is gay and begins to live a full and tumultuous life, which includes starting a relationship with a younger boyfriend.
How does the death of his mother affect Oliver in Beginners?
In Beginners, Oliver experiences the loss of his father, Hal Fields, shortly after his mother has passed away. These events trigger a flood of memories for Oliver as he navigates his own new relationship with Anna while reflecting on his father's late-in-life decision to come out of the closet.