Opened: December 19, 1979

Directed by: Robert Benton

Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Justin Henry & Jane Alexander

A heartbreaking film about what happens to a child stuck in-between his divorcing parents, Kramer vs. Kramer will hit you in your core.

Unhappy in her life and marriage, Joanna Kramer (Meryl Streep) leaves her husband Ted (Dustin Hoffman) and young son Billy (Justin Henry) to fend for themselves. After a few bumps, Ted gets the hang of fatherhood, but Joanna comes back in their lives to gain custody of Billy.

A rare film where you might not root for Streep’s character, Hoffman and Henry have great chemistry and convince you of their father and son routine.

The themes in this movie are progressive for the time of its release. There are challenges to the standard gender roles, work-life balance and challenges of being a single parent among others.

Final say: You’ll feel warm inside while also feeling completely broken. ★★★★★