Kramer vs. Kramer

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1:32

Kramer vs. Kramer

PG

1979

1h 44m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

102 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

On the same day Manhattan advertising executive Ted Kramer (Dustin Hoffman) lands the biggest account of his career, he learns that his wife, Joanna (Meryl Streep), is leaving him and their young son, Billy (Justin Henry). Forced to raise his son alone, Ted loses his job but gains a stronger relationship with the child with the help of another single parent, Margaret (Jane Alexander). When Joanna returns to claim custody of Billy, the ensuing court battle takes a toll on everyone concerned.

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Critics Consensus

The divorce subject isn't as shocking, but the film is still a thoughtful, well-acted drama that resists the urge to take sides or give easy answers.

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Michael Blowen

Boston Globe

Aug 5, 2022

Hoffman, Streep and Henry persuade you that they are "real" people in a "real" situation, and that is a rare phenomenon in contemporary movies.

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Michael Maza

Arizona Republic

Aug 5, 2022

In concept, in casting, but especially in execution, it is easily the year's most successful motion picture and probably one of the decade's. In assessing credit one hardly knows where to begin.

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

Aug 5, 2022

4/4

Kramer vs. Kramer never loses its low-key, realistic touch. You will sit at the end of the film wondering why we don't see more pictures like this.

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

Apr 24, 2026

3/4

A crucial time-capsule movie...

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

Jun 22, 2024

4/5

The film remains a masterclass in marital (and masculine) anxiety, with precisely observed details across the board.

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Mark Johnson

Awards Daily

Jun 27, 2023

Meryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman are extraordinary in this timely tale of marital divorce and the problematic battles of child custody.

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Jayzon

Mar 17, 2026

One of the best films of all time

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Farah R

@Farah Aug 10, 2026

Still stands as one of the most compelling and deeply resonating dramas of the 20th century, Kramer vs. Kramer delivers an emotional story so grounded and believable, it rarely feels like a movie at all. Anchored by powerhouse performances, the film captures the unabashed reality of a family breakdown with incredible depth. However, it falls short of painting a fair picture by focusing heavily on Hoffman's character’s viewpoint. Highlighting Streep’s character’s side of the story with equal weight would have provided the right balance to this otherwise masterful depiction of divorce.

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Dc D

@Donnaet Jul 22, 2026

Flawless from start to finish. Not a missed note. How they even got the kid to become Billy was a feat in and of itself. Master class all around.

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tim G

@timg8747 Jun 25, 2026

i really liked kramer vs kramer where meryl streep plays the wife of dustin hoffman who leaves her husband and son and hoffman has to take care of son on his own and ends up in a custody battle in the end ,dustin hoffman earned his oscar for his performance as the single father ted kramer also i felt that howard duff who played hoffmans attorney deserved a nomination for his performance

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BGM E

@Expose Jun 22, 2026

I was shocked by the horrendous screenplay. The abusive father Hoffman is playing is nauseating. I remember liking it when it was first released but it hasn’t aged well. Hoffman plays a narcissistic, fake parent. What in the world? Dreadful. If this is what parents were like in the 70s, it explains a lot about our society.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Apr 30, 2026

Success in 1 hour and 44 minutes. All ages admitted. The worldwide gross is $173,000,000.00 over a budget of $8,000,000.00.

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Robert Benton

Director

Dustin Hoffman

Ted Kramer

Meryl Streep

Joanna Kramer

Justin Henry

Billy Kramer

Jane Alexander

Margaret Phelps

Howard Duff

John Shaunessy

Kramer vs. Kramer: Official Clip - Change of Heart

2:13

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Kramer vs. Kramer: Official Clip - Were You A Failure?

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Kramer vs. Kramer: Official Clip - Ted's Plea

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Kramer vs. Kramer: Official Clip - Billy Acts Out

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Kramer vs. Kramer: Official Clip - I Want My Son

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Kramer vs. Kramer: Official Clip - I'm His Mother

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Kramer vs. Kramer: Official Clip - Making French Toast

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Kramer vs. Kramer: Official Clip - I'm Leaving You

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Synopsis

On the same day Manhattan advertising executive Ted Kramer (Dustin Hoffman) lands the biggest account of his career, he learns that his wife, Joanna (Meryl Streep), is leaving him and their young son, Billy (Justin Henry). Forced to raise his son alone, Ted loses his job but gains a stronger relationship with the child with the help of another single parent, Margaret (Jane Alexander). When Joanna returns to claim custody of Billy, the ensuing court battle takes a toll on everyone concerned.

Director: Robert Benton
Producer: Stanley R. Jaffe
Screenwriter: Avery Corman, Robert Benton
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 19, 1979, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Runtime: 1h 44m
Sound Mix: Mono

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