Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

Kramer vs. Kramer

  • 19791979
  • PGPG
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
143K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,120
219
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, and Justin Henry in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
A just-divorced man must learn to care for his son on his own, and then must fight in court to keep custody of him.
Play trailer1:31
4 Videos
96 Photos
  • Drama

After his wife leaves him, a work-obsessed Manhattan advertising executive is forced to learn long-neglected parenting skills, but a heated custody battle over the couple's young son deepens... Read allAfter his wife leaves him, a work-obsessed Manhattan advertising executive is forced to learn long-neglected parenting skills, but a heated custody battle over the couple's young son deepens the wounds left by the separation.After his wife leaves him, a work-obsessed Manhattan advertising executive is forced to learn long-neglected parenting skills, but a heated custody battle over the couple's young son deepens the wounds left by the separation.

IMDb RATING
7.8/10
143K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,120
219
  • Director
    • Robert Benton
  • Writers
    • Avery Corman(from the novel by)
    • Robert Benton(written for the screen by)
  • Stars
    • Dustin Hoffman
    • Meryl Streep
    • Jane Alexander
Top credits
  • Director
    • Robert Benton
  • Writers
    • Avery Corman(from the novel by)
    • Robert Benton(written for the screen by)
  • Stars
    • Dustin Hoffman
    • Meryl Streep
    • Jane Alexander
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 258User reviews
    • 96Critic reviews
    • 77Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 5 Oscars
      • 39 wins & 25 nominations total

    Videos4

    Kramer Vs. Kramer -- Trailer
    Trailer 1:31
    Kramer Vs. Kramer -- Trailer
    Shailene Woodley's Acting Philosophy and Her Movie-a-Day Plan
    Full Episode 7:02
    Shailene Woodley's Acting Philosophy and Her Movie-a-Day Plan
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 7
    Video 27:32
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 7
    Sneak Previews Season 2 Episode 14
    Video 29:38
    Sneak Previews Season 2 Episode 14

    Photos96

    Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, and Justin Henry in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
    Justin Henry in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
    Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, and Justin Henry in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
    Dustin Hoffman, Robert Benton, and Stanley R. Jaffe in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
    Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
    Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, and Justin Henry in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
    Dustin Hoffman and Jane Alexander in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
    Dustin Hoffman and Justin Henry in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
    Meryl Streep and Howard Duff in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
    Meryl Streep in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
    Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
    Meryl Streep and Justin Henry in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dustin Hoffman
    Dustin Hoffman
    • Ted Krameras Ted Kramer
    Meryl Streep
    Meryl Streep
    • Joanna Krameras Joanna Kramer
    Jane Alexander
    Jane Alexander
    • Margaret Phelpsas Margaret Phelps
    Justin Henry
    Justin Henry
    • Billy Krameras Billy Kramer
    Howard Duff
    Howard Duff
    • John Shaunessyas John Shaunessy
    George Coe
    George Coe
    • Jim O'Connoras Jim O'Connor
    JoBeth Williams
    JoBeth Williams
    • Phyllis Bernardas Phyllis Bernard
    • (as Jobeth Williams)
    Bill Moor
    • Gressenas Gressen
    Howland Chamberlain
    Howland Chamberlain
    • Judge Atkinsas Judge Atkins
    Jack Ramage
    • Spenceras Spencer
    Jess Osuna
    Jess Osuna
    • Ackermanas Ackerman
    Nicholas Hormann
    Nicholas Hormann
    • Intervieweras Interviewer
    Ellen Parker
    • Teacheras Teacher
    Shelby Brammer
    • Ted's Secretaryas Ted's Secretary
    Carol Nadell
    • Mrs. Klineas Mrs. Kline
    Donald Gantry
    • Surgeonas Surgeon
    Judith Calder
    • Receptionistas Receptionist
    Peter Lownds
    • Normanas Norman
    • Director
      • Robert Benton
    • Writers
      • Avery Corman(from the novel by)
      • Robert Benton(written for the screen by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    Out of Africa
    7.1
    Out of Africa
    Driving Miss Daisy
    7.3
    Driving Miss Daisy
    Ordinary People
    7.7
    Ordinary People
    Rain Man
    8.0
    Rain Man
    The Graduate
    8.0
    The Graduate
    Tootsie
    7.4
    Tootsie
    Midnight Cowboy
    7.8
    Midnight Cowboy
    Terms of Endearment
    7.4
    Terms of Endearment
    Annie Hall
    8.0
    Annie Hall
    The English Patient
    7.4
    The English Patient
    All the President's Men
    7.9
    All the President's Men
    Shakespeare in Love
    7.1
    Shakespeare in Love

    Storyline

    Edit
    Ted Kramer is a career man for whom his work comes before his family. His wife Joanna cannot take this anymore, so she decides to leave him. Ted is now faced with the tasks of housekeeping and taking care of himself and their young son Billy. When he has learned to adjust his life to these new responsibilities, Joanna resurfaces and wants Billy back. Ted, however, refuses to give him up, so they go to court to fight for the custody of their son. —Leon Wolters <wolters@strw.LeidenUniv.nl>
    • marriage
    • divorce
    • repetition in title
    • injured child
    • single father
    • 142 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • There are three sides to this love story!
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Dustin Hoffman planned the moment when he throws his wine glass against the wall during the restaurant scene with Meryl Streep. The only person he warned in advance was the cameraman, to make sure that it got in the shot. Streep's shocked reaction was real, but she stayed in character long enough for writer and director Robert Benton to yell cut. In the documentary on the DVD, she recalls yelling at Hoffman as soon as the shot was over for scaring her so badly.
    • Goofs
      The trees are green in scenes which supposedly take place in New York at Halloween and Christmas.
    • Quotes

      Billy Kramer: Daddy?

      Ted Kramer: Yeah?

      Billy Kramer: I'm sorry.

      Ted Kramer: I'm sorry too. I want you to go to sleep because it's really late.

      Billy Kramer: Daddy?

      Ted Kramer: Now what is it?

      Billy Kramer: Are you going away?

      Ted Kramer: No. I'm staying here with you. You can't get rid of me that easy.

      Billy Kramer: That's why Mommy left, isn't it? Because I was bad?

      Ted Kramer: Is that what you think? No. That's not it, Billy. Your mom loves you very much... and the reason she left has nothing to do with you. I don't know if this will make sense, but I'll try to explain it to you. I think the reason why Mommy left... was because for a long time... I kept trying to make her be a certain kind of person. A certain kind of wife that I thought she was supposed to be. And she just wasn't like that. She was... She just wasn't like that. I think that she tried for so long to make me happy... and when she couldn't, she tried to talk to me about it. But I wasn't listening. I was too busy, too wrapped up... just thinking about myself. And I thought that anytime I was happy, she was happy. But I think underneath she was very sad. Mommy stayed here longer than she wanted because she loves you so much. And the reason why Mommy couldn't stay anymore... was because she couldn't stand me. She didn't leave because of you. She left because of me. Go to sleep now because it's really late, okay? Good night. Sleep tight.

      Billy Kramer: Don't let the bedbugs bite.

      Ted Kramer: See you in the morning light.

      Billy Kramer: Daddy?

      Ted Kramer: Yeah?

      Billy Kramer: I love you.

      Ted Kramer: I love you too.

    • Alternate versions
      When aired on commercial TV, the shots of Phyllis naked, and her unexpected interaction with Billy, are darkened completely. Most commercial prints also omit the sound of Billy urinating.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Take 2: Love Stories (1979)
    • Soundtracks
      Sonata for Trumpet and Strings: 2. Adagio 3. Presto
      Henry Purcell

      Adapted by John Kander

      Conducted by Paul Gemignani

    User reviews258

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    An Intelligent and Solid Film About Divorce
    After a decade of turbulent unrest, American movies began to switch gears and turn their cameras away from war-torn battlefields, political corruption, and general social unease to the more intimate world of family dysfunction. The toll the selfish Baby Boomers began to take on the American family as they grew up and had kids of their own was making itself felt.

    "Kramer vs. Kramer" is one of the first of these dysfunctional family dramas that would continue to be so popular throughout the 1980s, and it's one of the best. It gets a rather bum rap now, because it's known as the film that beat "Apocalypse Now" for the 1979 Best Picture Academy Award, but comparing these two films is like comparing a banana to a marinated chicken breast: they're not remotely the same, but can't we enjoy them both? Director/writer Robert Benton doesn't try to do anything fancy with his movie; its strength lies in its performances, those of Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep particularly, playing a divorced couple fighting childishly and selfishly over their son. The courtroom scene in which they duke it out for custody, and in which each is forced to hurt the other in terrible ways, is devastating, and feels authentic. The movie doesn't present Hoffman's solid dad as a hero, or Streep's straying mom as a villain. They're neither good or bad as people -- they're simply bad at being married.

    The film is tear-jerky at the finale, but not in a manipulative way. It earns its right to elicit sobs.

    Grade: A
    helpful•102
    13
    • evanston_dad
    • Nov 9, 2007

    FAQ2

    • Is 'Kramer vs. Kramer' based on a book?
    • How does the movie end?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 19, 1979 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Kramer Versus Kramer
    • Filming locations
      • Tweed Courthouse - 52 Chambers Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Stanley Jaffe Production
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $8,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $106,260,000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $106,260,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Streaming Review: "Still Of The Night" (1982) Starring Roy Scheider And Meryl Streep (Amazon Prime)
    Streaming Review: "Still Of The Night" (1982) Starring Roy Scheider And Meryl Streep (Amazon Prime)
    Apr 30Cinemaretro.com
    ‘Coda’ Has an Army of Detractors, but It’s a Best Picture Winner With a Legacy (Column)
    ‘Coda’ Has an Army of Detractors, but It’s a Best Picture Winner With a Legacy (Column)
    Mar 28Variety Film + TV

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, and Justin Henry in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
    Top Gap
    What is the Hindi language plot outline for Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The 10 Most Anticipated Marvel and DC Movies
    See the full list
    Image caption not available
    2:14
    The Most Anticipated Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.