What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedKramer vs. Kramer
Robert Benton · Film · 1979
If you loved Kramer vs. Kramer, start with Fleishman Is in Trouble (Taffy Brodesser-Akner, 2022) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Kramer vs. Kramer across media.
If Kramer vs. Kramer moved you, explore these stories that dissect the messy, painful, and transformative reality of family dissolution and identity.
Books on the same thread
The Women's Room
Marilyn French · Book · 1977
Shares 2 threads with Kramer vs. Kramer: Divorce, Gender Roles.
Just as Kramer vs. Kramer examines the toll of marriage, this novel provides the essential counterpart by exploring the female perspective on the domestic limitations of the era.
Little Critter
Mercer Mayer · Book · 1975
Explores: Childhood, Mischief, Family Life.
If Kramer vs. Kramer hit, Little Critter shares the thread.
Hansel and Gretel
Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm · Book · 1986
Explores: Poverty, Abandonment, Survival.
If Kramer vs. Kramer hit, Hansel and Gretel shares the thread.
The Glass Menagerie
Tennessee Williams · Book · 1999
Explores: dysfunctional family, escapism, memory.
Like the strained household dynamic in Kramer vs. Kramer, this classic play captures the suffocating pressure of familial expectations and the desperate search for escape within the home.
Series on the same thread
The Odd Couple
Garry Marshall · Series · 1970
Shares a thread with Kramer vs. Kramer: Divorce.
While Kramer vs. Kramer treats divorce as a somber tragedy, this sitcom explores the same premise of two men navigating post-divorce life through a lens of comedic friction.
Family Ties
Gary David Goldberg · Series · 1982
Explores: Generational Conflict, Political Differences, Family Values.
If Kramer vs. Kramer hit, Family Ties shares the thread.
Fleishman Is in Trouble
Taffy Brodesser-Akner · Series · 2022
Shares 2 threads with Kramer vs. Kramer: Domestic Drama, Divorce Drama.
This series functions as a modern evolution of the themes found in Kramer vs. Kramer, focusing on the chaos of co-parenting and the disorientation of sudden marital breakdown.
Mad Men
Matthew Weiner · Series · 2007
Shares a thread with Kramer vs. Kramer: Gender Roles.
Viewers captivated by the corporate versus family conflict in Kramer vs. Kramer will recognize the same high-stakes professional environment and the resulting erosion of personal integrity and identity.
Podcasts on the same thread
boomer and zoomer
Podcast
Explores: father-daughter relationship, intergenerational relationships, age gap.
If Kramer vs. Kramer hit, boomer and zoomer shares the thread.
Pivot
New York Magazine · Podcast · 2026
Explores: corporate accountability, power dynamics, market trends.
If Kramer vs. Kramer hit, Pivot shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Kramer vs. Kramer about a marriage ending?
Yes, Kramer vs. Kramer centers on the dissolution of a marriage. After Joanna decides she can no longer stay with her husband Ted, she leaves him, forcing Ted to navigate the challenges of single parenthood and managing his household while working.
What is the primary conflict in Kramer vs. Kramer?
The primary conflict in Kramer vs. Kramer involves Ted Kramer, a career-focused man who must suddenly balance his professional life with the responsibilities of raising his young son Billy alone after his wife Joanna leaves the family.
Does Ted Kramer have to take care of his son in Kramer vs. Kramer?
Yes, in Kramer vs. Kramer, Ted Kramer is faced with the task of taking care of himself and his young son Billy. The film follows his transition into housekeeping and parenting after his wife Joanna decides she can no longer live with him.
Why does Joanna leave in Kramer vs. Kramer?
Joanna leaves in Kramer vs. Kramer because she can no longer tolerate her husband Ted’s behavior. Ted is a career-driven man who consistently prioritizes his work over his family, leading Joanna to end their relationship and leave him to care for their son.