Fatherhood

After his wife dies in childbirth, Matt finds himself suddenly the sole caregiver to his infant daughter Maddy. The film follows his effort to balance grief, practical duties, and the demanding schedule of a new parent in a world that has little time for sleep. He fumbles with bottle warmers, clip-on car seats, and late night feedings while trying to keep up at work and stay connected to friends and family who offer support. As Matt learns to trust his instincts and build routines, he discovers unexpected humor in the chaos and a stubborn love that refuses to give up. The story is rooted in a real life account and built with warmth and honesty.

Directed by Paul Weitz and adapted from Matt Logelin's memoir by Dana Stevens, Fatherhood arrived on Netflix in 2021. Film stars Kevin Hart as Matt, with Melody Hurd as Maddy and including Alfre Woodard, DeWanda Wise and Lil Rel Howery.

Critics generally welcomed Hart's restrained performance and the film's warm approach to grief and parenting, even as some noted the script treads familiar ground. The story centers on Matt learning to juggle care for Maddy with work and loss, aided by Marian and Lizzie, and it stresses resilience, support networks, and the daily choices that shape family life. Humor softens the heavier moments without undercutting the truth.

The film adds to conversations about modern fatherhood showing a man navigating parenthood without romanticizing hardship. It features a diverse ensemble and foregrounds a father's bond with his daughter, offering a visible example of single parenting in a mainstream comedy drama.

Box office figures for this Netflix release are not publicly disclosed, since streaming platforms rarely publish earnings. No traditional theatrical run is reported, and Netflix typically tracks view counts rather than global box office, so verifiable numbers are unavailable official.