Honestly, nothing quite replaces that feeling of watching the Braverman family talk over each other at a backyard dinner. The overlapping dialogue, the messy kitchen counters, the way Zeek could be a total pain one minute and your hero the next. It felt real.
If you just finished the series finale and you’re sitting there wondering where all that heart went, you aren't alone. Finding tv shows similar to parenthood is tricky because Parenthood wasn't just about "parenting." It was about adult siblings, aging parents, and that weird, beautiful friction that happens when you've known people your entire life.
You want that specific vibe. Not just a drama, but a show that feels like a warm blanket—even when it's making you cry.
The immediate successor: This Is Us
If you haven't seen this yet, stop reading and go.
It’s the most obvious comparison for a reason. Both shows deal with the weight of family history, but where Parenthood keeps things mostly linear, This Is Us jumps through time like a pro. You see the parents as young kids, the kids as parents, and everything in between.
It’s heavier. I’ll be real with you—the "cry factor" is dialed up to eleven. While Parenthood had those joyous dance parties in the barn to balance out the cancer arcs or the struggles with Max’s Asperger’s, This Is Us leans hard into the tragedy. But the payoff? It's huge. You get to see how one small decision in 1980 affects a granddaughter in 2026.
The "Same DNA" pick: Friday Night Lights
Look at the credits. Jason Katims is the mastermind behind both, and you can feel it in every frame.
The shaky-cam style, the improvised-feeling dialogue, the sense of a real community. Even if you hate football, you’ll love the Taylors. Coach Eric Taylor and his wife Tami are arguably the best TV couple of all time. Period.
They deal with the same stuff the Bravermans did: raising teenagers, career shifts, and supporting a town that puts too much pressure on kids. Plus, you’ll see some familiar faces. Michael B. Jordan and Matt Lauria both spent time in Dillon, Texas before they ever showed up in the Parenthood universe.
The "Secret Twin" show: Brothers & Sisters
This one is kooky because it’s almost too similar.
- Large family based in California? Check.
- Matriarch and Patriarch with decades of secrets? Check.
- Adult siblings who are constantly in each other's business? Check.
- A sister named Sarah and a sister/sister-in-law named Julia? Believe it or not, yes.
Brothers & Sisters is a bit more "soapy" than Parenthood. It’s got more wine-throwing and high-stakes political scandals, but the core—the five Walker siblings—is pure gold. Sally Field plays the mother, Nora, and she is a force of nature. If you loved Camille Braverman but wished she had a bit more of a temper, Nora Walker is your woman.
A Million Little Things and the "Chosen Family"
Sometimes family isn't about blood. This show follows a group of friends in Boston who are forced to reevaluate their lives after one of them unexpectedly dies by suicide.
It hits those same emotional beats. It’s about the secrets we keep and the way we show up for people when things get ugly. It’s got that ensemble feel where every character is struggling with something different—infidelity, cancer, career failures—but they’re all tethered to each other.
Why The Fosters is better than you think
Don't let the fact that it aired on Freeform (formerly ABC Family) fool you.
The Fosters is gritty. It follows a multi-ethnic family of biological, adopted, and foster children raised by two moms. It tackles the foster care system, identity, and social justice in a way that feels incredibly grounded.
Like Parenthood, it doesn’t shy away from the "unpleasant" parts of kids growing up. The mistakes the kids make feel like real teenager mistakes, not TV-writer mistakes. It’s heart-wrenching and hopeful at the same time.
Finding the humor in the mess
If you need a break from the sobbing, there are a couple of shows that capture the family dynamic through a comedic lens without losing the "soul."
Modern Family is the obvious one, but it’s a sitcom. It’s great, but it lacks the long-form character growth that makes you feel like you know the Bravermans.
Instead, try Life in Pieces. It’s told in four short stories per episode, all following different branches of the Short family. It’s hilarious, but because the actors (like James Brolin and Dianne Wiest) are so good, the sentimental moments actually land.
Shrinking on Apple TV+ is another one. It’s technically about a therapist (Jason Segel) grieving his wife, but the way it explores his relationship with his daughter and his "chosen family" of coworkers feels very Katims-esque. It's funny, foul-mouthed, and deeply moving.
The "Grown-Up" Dramas: Six Feet Under and Succession
If you want the family drama but you’re tired of the "wholesome" vibe, these two are the elite options.
Six Feet Under is a masterpiece. It’s about a family that runs a funeral home. Peter Krause (Adam Braverman himself!) stars as the eldest son. It’s darker, weirder, and much more philosophical than Parenthood, but it explores the sibling bond better than almost any show in history.
Succession, on the other hand, is what happens when you take the Braverman family and give them billions of dollars and zero morals. It’s a tragedy disguised as a comedy. You won't "like" these people the way you like Crosby or Sarah, but you will be obsessed with their dysfunction.
What makes a show "Parenthood-adjacent"?
When we talk about tv shows similar to parenthood, we’re usually looking for three specific things:
- Multi-generational Storytelling: We want to see the kids, the parents, and the grandparents.
- Relatable Stakes: The "villain" isn't a serial killer; it's a looming divorce or a kid struggling in school.
- The Ensemble Magic: No single lead. Everyone has a story.
Many shows try this and fail because they make the characters too perfect. Parenthood worked because the characters were frequently annoying. They made bad choices. They were selfish. But they always came back to the table.
If you’re ready to start a new binge, I’d suggest starting with Friday Night Lights if you want that same "feeling" or Brothers & Sisters if you want the exact same "structure." Both will fill that void for at least a few weeks.
Check your local streaming listings, as many of these have shifted platforms recently—Parenthood itself has hopped between Netflix, Hulu, and Peacock over the last couple of years. Once you find your next family, lean into the mess. That's where the good stories are.
To get started, pick one of these based on your current mood:
- For a good cry: This Is Us
- For a sense of community: Friday Night Lights
- For fast-paced family bickering: Brothers & Sisters
- For a fresh perspective on adoption: The Fosters