What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedCrossroads
Jonathan Franzen · Book · 2021
If you loved Crossroads, start with Revolutionary Road (Sam Mendes, 2008) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Crossroads across media.
If you loved Crossroads, you appreciate how the messy, internal lives of family members collide with their rigid social environments.
Films on the same thread
Scenes from a Marriage
Film · 1974
Explores: Marital dissolution, Infidelity, Emotional intimacy.
Much like the Hildebrandts in Crossroads, this intimate portrait examines the painful dissolution of a marriage, stripping away domestic facades to reveal the raw, uncomfortable truths hidden within.
Revolutionary Road
Sam Mendes · Film · 2008
Explores: Existential Crisis, Midlife Disillusionment, American Dream Critique.
This film mirrors the midlife disillusionment found in Crossroads, capturing the stifling atmosphere of suburban life and the desperate, often destructive attempts to escape a conventional, joyless marriage.
The Grapes of Wrath
John Ford · Film · 1940
Explores: Economic hardship, Family resilience, The American Dream disillusionment.
While the setting differs, the focus on family resilience amidst crushing disillusionment echoes the underlying emotional weight of Crossroads, showcasing characters struggling to maintain dignity in changing times.
Little Children
Todd Field · Film · 2006
Explores: Adultery, Suburban Discontent, Sexual Frustration.
You will recognize the suburban discontent and moral ambiguity of Crossroads here, as the characters navigate their own secret temptations and vulnerabilities within a constrained, judgmental community setting.
Series on the same thread
This Is Us
Dan Fogelman · Series · 2016
Explores: Intergenerational relationships, Family secrets, Trauma and healing.
The complex, intergenerational exploration of family secrets and trauma in this series will resonate with anyone who was captivated by the layered character dynamics presented in Crossroads.
Bridgerton
Chris Van Dusen · Series · 2020
Explores: Forbidden Love, Social Class, Family Secrets.
If Crossroads hit, Bridgerton shares the thread.
Your Friends & Neighbors
Jonathan Tropper · Series · 2025
Shares a thread with Crossroads: suburban malaise.
If Crossroads hit, Your Friends & Neighbors shares the thread.
Patrick Melrose
David Nicholls · Series · 2018
Explores: Trauma, Addiction, Upper-class dysfunction.
The deep dive into the lasting impact of childhood trauma and dysfunctional family legacies makes this an essential companion to the psychological depth established throughout Crossroads.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Archers
Podcast
Explores: family life, community, farming.
If Crossroads hit, The Archers shares the thread.
boomer and zoomer
Podcast
Explores: father-daughter relationship, intergenerational relationships, age gap.
If Crossroads hit, boomer and zoomer shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Crossroads part of a series?
The provided information identifies Crossroads as a 2021 novel by Jonathan Franzen. It depicts the Hildebrandt family at a specific moment in December 1971. There is no indication that Crossroads is part of a series or has sequels, as it focuses on this singular family crossroads.
What is the setting of Crossroads?
Crossroads is set in suburban Chicago during the winter of 1971. The narrative takes place on December 23, 1971, centering on the Hildebrandt family as the patriarch, Russ, considers leaving his marriage while navigating his role as an associate pastor at a local church.
Who is the author of Crossroads?
Crossroads was written by Jonathan Franzen and published in 2021. The novel is noted for the author's ability to combine depth and vividness of character with a broad social vision, specifically through the lens of the Hildebrandt family's domestic struggles during the early 1970s.
What happens to the Hildebrandt family in Crossroads?
In Crossroads, the Hildebrandt family reaches a turning point on December 23, 1971. The patriarch, Russ, is an associate pastor who is prepared to end his marriage. His wife, Mari, is described as brilliant but unstable, and the family dynamic serves as the central focus of the novel.