What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Kids Are All Right
Lisa Cholodenko · Film · 2010
If you loved The Kids Are All Right, start with The Kids Are Alright (Tim Doyle, 2018) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Kids Are All Right across media.
If you loved The Kids Are All Right, you clearly crave messy, authentic explorations of how modern families navigate complex, evolving relationships.
Books on the same thread
Fun Home
Alison Bechdel · Book · 2007
Explores: Father-Daughter Relationship, Sexual Identity, Family Secrets.
Much like the domestic discovery in The Kids Are All Right, this memoir dissects the emotional friction of family secrets and the complicated path toward defining one's own identity.
The Corrections
Jonathan Franzen · Book · 2001
Explores: Dysfunctional family dynamics, Midwestern ennui, Intergenerational conflict.
If The Kids Are All Right captured your interest with its nuanced look at family dynamics, this novel offers a deeper, sharper examination of intergenerational conflict and Midwestern ennui.
Such a Fun Age
Kiley Reid · Book · 2020
Explores: Racial dynamics, Performative allyship, Class privilege.
Just as The Kids Are All Right explores the boundaries of modern parenting, this story masterfully probes the uncomfortable intersections of class, privilege, and the expectations placed on mothers.
The Essential Dykes to Watch Out for
Alison Bechdel · Book · 2008
Explores: Lesbian relationships, LGBTQ+ identity, Feminism.
Fans of the LGBTQ+ perspective in The Kids Are All Right will appreciate this collection for its honest, long-form look at lesbian relationships and the evolution of queer community identity.
Series on the same thread
Better Things
Pamela Adlon · Series · 2016
Explores: single motherhood, female perspective, raising teenagers.
This show mirrors the chaotic, heartfelt single-parent experience found in The Kids Are All Right, focusing on the raw, filterless reality of raising children while maintaining a personal life.
Family Ties
Gary David Goldberg · Series · 1982
Shares a thread with The Kids Are All Right: Coming of Age.
The generational clashes that define The Kids Are All Right are at the heart of this classic sitcom, which uses political and cultural differences to test family bonds.
The Fosters
Bradley Bredeweg · Series · 2013
Shares 2 threads with The Kids Are All Right: Family Dynamics, Coming of Age.
Viewers drawn to the blended family structure of The Kids Are All Right will find a familiar warmth in this drama about the complexities of adoption and modern kinship.
The Kids Are Alright
Tim Doyle · Series · 2018
Shares a thread with The Kids Are All Right: Coming of Age.
Sharing a title and a focus on domestic life, this show captures the boisterous, crowded family dynamics that make The Kids Are All Right feel so grounded and relatable.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
If you enjoyed the character-driven depth of The Kids Are All Right, these cinematic stories offer a similarly intimate look at the human condition through diverse, experimental narrative lenses.
Up a River
Aural Stories · Podcast
Explores: grief recovery, romantic idealism, life transitions.
This podcast explores the aftermath of life-altering family transitions with the same emotional honesty that makes the domestic comedy of The Kids Are All Right so deeply resonant.
Common questions
Is The Kids Are All Right based on a true story?
The Kids Are All Right is a 2010 film directed by Lisa Cholodenko. It follows a fictional narrative about two mothers, Nic and Jules, and their children who decide to contact their sperm donor. There is no indication that this specific plot is based on a true story.
What is the primary conflict in The Kids Are All Right?
The primary conflict in The Kids Are All Right arises when the children contact their biological father behind their mothers' backs. This action initiates a complex process where the donor, the two mothers, and the children begin to form new, unexpected attachments that challenge their existing family dynamics.
Who are the main characters in The Kids Are All Right?
The main characters in The Kids Are All Right are two women named Nic and Jules. They are the mothers of a son and a daughter who were conceived through artificial insemination. The plot centers on how their family life changes after the children seek out their biological father.
Does The Kids Are All Right involve the children meeting their donor?
Yes, the plot of The Kids Are All Right centers on the children reaching the age where they decide to go behind their mothers' backs to meet their donor. This meeting leads to the father, the two mothers, and the children becoming attached to one another.