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Kramer vs. Kramer

  • 1979
  • PG
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
159K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,899
169
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
2 Videos
99+ 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.

  • Director
    • Robert Benton
  • Writers
    • Avery Corman
    • Robert Benton
    • Meryl Streep
  • Stars
    • Dustin Hoffman
    • Meryl Streep
    • Jane Alexander
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    159K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,899
    169
    • Director
      • Robert Benton
    • Writers
      • Avery Corman
      • Robert Benton
      • Meryl Streep
    • Stars
      • Dustin Hoffman
      • Meryl Streep
      • Jane Alexander
    • 286User reviews
    • 99Critic reviews
    • 77Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 5 Oscars
      • 41 wins & 26 nominations total

    Videos2

    Kramer Vs. Kramer -- Trailer
    Trailer 1:31
    Kramer Vs. Kramer -- Trailer
    Shailene Woodley's Acting Philosophy and Her Movie-a-Day Plan
    Video 7:02
    Shailene Woodley's Acting Philosophy and Her Movie-a-Day Plan
    Shailene Woodley's Acting Philosophy and Her Movie-a-Day Plan
    Video 7:02
    Shailene Woodley's Acting Philosophy and Her Movie-a-Day Plan

    Photos179

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    + 172
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    Top cast38

    Edit
    Dustin Hoffman
    Dustin Hoffman
    • Ted Kramer
    Meryl Streep
    Meryl Streep
    • Joanna Kramer
    Jane Alexander
    Jane Alexander
    • Margaret Phelps
    Justin Henry
    Justin Henry
    • Billy Kramer
    Howard Duff
    Howard Duff
    • John Shaunessy
    George Coe
    George Coe
    • Jim O'Connor
    JoBeth Williams
    JoBeth Williams
    • Phyllis Bernard
    • (as Jobeth Williams)
    Bill Moor
    • Gressen
    Howland Chamberlain
    Howland Chamberlain
    • Judge Atkins
    Jack Ramage
    • Spencer
    Jess Osuna
    Jess Osuna
    • Ackerman
    Nicholas Hormann
    Nicholas Hormann
    • Interviewer
    Ellen Parker
    • Teacher
    Shelby Brammer
    • Ted's Secretary
    Carol Nadell
    • Mrs. Kline
    Donald Gantry
    • Surgeon
    Judith Calder
    • Receptionist
    Peter Lownds
    • Norman
    • Director
      • Robert Benton
    • Writers
      • Avery Corman
      • Robert Benton
      • Meryl Streep
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Best Picture Winners by Year

    Best Picture Winners by Year

    See the complete list of Best Picture winners. For fun, use the "sort order" function to rank by IMDb rating and other criteria.
    See the complete list
    Poster
    List

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    Storyline

    Edit

    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.

    • Crazy credits
      The synthesizer fanfare by Suzanne Ciani usually heard over the Columbia Pictures logo was absent. Instead, for this film the whole logo sequence is silent.
    • 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 reviews286

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10

    Very interesting

    This was one movie that I always wanted to watch but never got around to it. I have just finished it, and the main thing that caught my attention was how neutral and unjudgmental this movie was, because it would have been very easy, and I would say easier, for the director to give us a more biased view of the happenings on the screen. However, I strongly am sided with one of the parents, but the inner dialogues I had with myself during the movie were very interesting to observe.

    Overall, nice story, beautifully scripted and superbly acted. A must watch.
    • DanielLowery96
    • Apr 21, 2019
    • Permalink

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    FAQ21

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 19, 1979 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Kramer Versus Kramer
    • Filming locations
      • The Mall, Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA(where Billy learns to ride a bike, and is reunited with Joanna)
    • 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

    Tech specs

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

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