If you loved
Instructions Not Included
Eugenio Derbez · Film · 2013
What hooked you in Instructions Not Included was the way a sudden, life-altering change forces a reluctant protagonist to grow.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Two Is a Family
Hugo Gélin · Film · 2016
Books on the same thread
A Man Called Ove: A Novel
Fredrik Backman · Book · 2016
Shares a thread with Instructions Not Included: Redemption.
Like the protagonist of Instructions Not Included, Ove is a man whose solitary life is abruptly challenged by the arrival of an unexpected presence that demands his care and growth.
The Last Thing He Told Me
Laura Dave · Book · 2023
Explores: Missing Person, Secrets and Lies, Family Relationships.
If you enjoyed the protective instincts shown in Instructions Not Included, you will appreciate this story about a woman navigating the sudden, high-stakes responsibility of shielding a child from danger.
Fun Home
Alison Bechdel · Book · 2007
Shares a thread with Instructions Not Included: Father-Daughter Relationship.
This memoir mirrors the complex father-daughter dynamic found in Instructions Not Included, exploring how secrets and family legacy shape the way children perceive their parents as they eventually grow up.
Greenlights
Matthew McConaughey · Book · 2020
Explores: Self-discovery, Life lessons, Positive thinking.
Much like the transformation Valentin undergoes in Instructions Not Included, this memoir focuses on the intentional choices and life lessons required to overcome obstacles and find one's true path.
Series on the same thread
Jane the Virgin
Jennie Snyder Urman · Series · 2014
Shares a thread with Instructions Not Included: Family Comedy-Drama.
This show shares the chaotic, heartfelt spirit of Instructions Not Included by centering on an accidental pregnancy that forces a character to bridge the gap between their old life and new.
La familia P. Luche
Eugenio Derbez · Series · 2002
Explores: Dysfunctional Family, Suburban Satire, Absurdism.
Fans of Eugenio Derbez in Instructions Not Included will find his signature brand of exaggerated, slapstick family comedy here as he explores the absurdity of daily life and domestic conflicts.
Shameless
Paul Abbott · Series · 2011
Explores: Dysfunctional Family, Poverty, Resilience.
While Instructions Not Included depicts a loving father, this show offers a darker look at the reality of single parenthood and the resilience required to survive in a dysfunctional household.
El Chavo del Ocho
Roberto Gómez Bolaños · Series · 1973
Explores: Orphanhood, Poverty, Childhood.
If the community-driven humor of Instructions Not Included resonated with you, you will enjoy these classic stories about children finding joy and connection despite the challenges of their daily poverty.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Adventure Zone
The McElroys · Podcast · 2026
Explores: improvised storytelling, group dynamics, high fantasy satire.
The genuine family bond between a father and his children in Instructions Not Included is echoed here, as this real-life family navigates imaginative adventures and collaborative storytelling with humorous ease.
Call Her Daddy
Alex Cooper · Podcast · 2026
Explores: female empowerment, sexual autonomy, brutal honesty.
For those who appreciated the honest, direct perspective of Valentin in Instructions Not Included, this podcast provides that same level of brutal, unvarnished truth regarding modern life and personal relationships.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Two Is a Family an adaptation of Instructions Not Included?
Yes, Two Is a Family is the 2016 French-language adaptation of the 2013 Mexican film Instructions Not Included. Both films follow the core premise of a playboy whose life changes when a former fling leaves a baby on his doorstep, forcing him to relocate and raise the child.
Should I watch Instructions Not Included before watching Two Is a Family?
You do not need to watch them in a specific order as they are independent adaptations of the same story. Instructions Not Included was released in 2013, while the adaptation Two Is a Family was released in 2016. Both films explore the same central narrative regarding an unexpected fatherhood.
How does the plot of Instructions Not Included compare to Two Is a Family?
Both films share the same plot structure. In Instructions Not Included, the protagonist is a playboy in Acapulco who leaves Mexico to raise a child left on his doorstep. Two Is a Family follows this same narrative arc, presenting the same story in a different cultural setting.
Is the 2013 film Instructions Not Included the original version of this story?
Yes, the 2013 film Instructions Not Included serves as the source material for the 2016 adaptation titled Two Is a Family. The original film features Eugenio Derbez as a playboy whose lifestyle is interrupted when he suddenly becomes responsible for a baby left at his door.