What Makes a Family (2001): cast, story & where to watch
2001 · Film · ★ 6.6
Released in 2001, What Makes a Family is a drama and tv movie film directed by Maggie Greenwald, running about 120 minutes. “Based on the controversial true story” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Janine and Sandy are a lesbian couple who decide to have a baby, but after a few years Sandy dies. This tragedy is exploited by Sandy's parents to snatch the girl from Janine's care. But then, and despite having the laws against her, Janine decides to fight in order to regain custody of her daughter.
Who’s in it. What Makes a Family stars Brooke Shields as Janine Nielssen, Cherry Jones as Sandy Cataldi, Whoopi Goldberg as Terry Harrison and Anne Meara as Evelyn Cataldi, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.6/10, What Makes a Family has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch What Makes a Family page.
If you liked it. Fans of What Makes a Family tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch What Makes a Family (2001)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for What Makes a Family change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is What Makes a Family worth watching?
- What Makes a Family holds an audience score of 6.6 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and tv movie. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in What Makes a Family?
- What Makes a Family stars Brooke Shields, Cherry Jones, Whoopi Goldberg, Anne Meara and Al Waxman.
- When was What Makes a Family released?
- What Makes a Family was released in 2001, with a runtime of about 120 minutes.