What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedHome Movies
Brendon Small · Series · 1999
If you loved Home Movies, start with Home Alone (Chris Columbus, 1990) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Home Movies across media.
If you loved Home Movies, you likely crave stories that capture the awkward, creative, and often messy reality of growing up.
Books on the same thread
Fun Home
Alison Bechdel · Book · 2007
Explores: Father-Daughter Relationship, Sexual Identity, Family Secrets.
Like Home Movies, this graphic novel explores the complexities of a difficult father-child relationship while navigating the sensitive emotional landscape of adolescence through a deeply personal and artistic lens.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
and Jeff Kinney · Book
Explores: Middle school struggles, Adolescent awkwardness, Social hierarchy.
If Home Movies hit, Diary of a Wimpy Kid shares the thread.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Jeff Kinney · Book · 2007
Explores: social awkwardness, sibling rivalry, middle school survival.
You will recognize the same brand of middle school social awkwardness found in Home Movies as this story captures the trials and trivialities of growing up in suburbia.
Dear Mr. Henshaw
Beverly Cleary · Book · 2009
Shares a thread with Home Movies: Divorce.
Much like the domestic life of Brendon Small, this novel tackles the weight of divorce and absent parents with a grounding, realistic tone that mirrors the series' emotional honesty.
Films on the same thread
Home Alone
Chris Columbus · Film · 1990
Explores: Child Protagonist, Home Invasion, Holiday Mishaps.
If Home Movies hit, Home Alone shares the thread.
Welcome to the Dollhouse
Todd Solondz · Film · 1996
Explores: Adolescent Angst, Bullying, Social Outcast.
This film captures the same stinging suburban isolation and parental detachment seen in Home Movies, focusing on a social outcast finding his footing amidst a sea of indifferent adults.
Vincent
Tim Burton · Film · 1982
Explores: Childhood Imagination, Hero Worship, Escapism.
The imaginative escapism of a young boy obsessed with his own creative world makes this a perfect companion to the filmmaking spirit that defines the protagonist of Home Movies.
Boyhood
Richard Linklater · Film · 2014
Shares 2 threads with Home Movies: Childhood, Divorce.
If you appreciate the way Home Movies depicts the slow, formative years of childhood within a divorced family, this film offers a similarly authentic and deeply patient exploration.
Podcasts on the same thread
Brody Animates
Podcast
Explores: animation, art, creative journey.
If Home Movies hit, Brody Animates shares the thread.
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
If Home Movies hit, Small Town Murder shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the premise of Home Movies?
Home Movies follows the life of Brendon Small, an eight-year-old visionary. He spends his time directing over a thousand homemade films with the help of his friends Jason and Melissa. The series explores his daily experiences at school and his interactions with his divorced parents and soccer coach.
Who are the primary characters in Home Movies?
The primary characters in Home Movies include Brendon Small, an eight-year-old filmmaker, and his two friends, Jason and Melissa. These two friends serve as the actors for the many homemade films that Brendon directs throughout the course of the series.
How does Home Movies handle the topic of divorce?
In Home Movies, the protagonist Brendon Small has divorced parents. The show presents this as a common situation that does not feel strange to him, as many other children he knows also have divorced parents. In contrast, his friend Jason feels upset because his own parents are still together.
What is Brendon Small's hobby in Home Movies?
In Home Movies, Brendon Small is a young visionary who focuses his energy on filmmaking. He manages to direct over a thousand homemade films, utilizing his friends Jason and Melissa as his primary actors while also balancing his school life and soccer practice.