Better Things (2016)
An unflinching FX comedy-drama about a single actress navigating motherhood, career, and life in Los Angeles with three daughters and zero filter.
Better Things - Series Information
- Original Title: Better Things
- First Air Year: 2016
- Last Air Year: 2022
- Created by: Pamela Adlon, Louis C.K.
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Comedy, Drama
- Content Rating (US): TV-MA
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (23 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 5
- Number of Episodes: 52
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: September 8, 2016 (United States - TV-MA), September 8, 2016 (Canada - 14+), September 8, 2016 (Germany - 12), September 8, 2016 (France - 18), September 8, 2016 (Australia - MA 15+), September 8, 2016 (Brazil - 16), September 8, 2016 (Mexico - AA), September 8, 2016 (Spain - 18)
- Networks: FX
- Alternative Titles: По-добри неща (BG), Хай завтра буде краще (UA)
- Production Companies: Pig Newton, 3 Arts Entertainment, FX Productions
- Production Countries: United States of America
Better Things - Plot
Sam Fox is a single, working actor with no filter trying to raise her three daughters – Max, Frankie and Duke – in Los Angeles. She is mom, dad, referee and the cops.
Better Things - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and get a taste of Sam Fox's wonderfully chaotic world:
Family gets real.
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Better Things - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Pamela Adlon
- Louis C.K.
Main Cast
- Pamela Adlon
- Celia Imrie
- Mikey Madison
- Hannah Riley
- Olivia Edward
- Diedrich Bader
- Kevin Pollak
- Rebecca Metz
- Rosalind Chao
- Mather Zickel
Writers
- Pamela Adlon
- Louis C.K.
- Ira Parker
- Joe Hortua
- Sarah Gubbins
Executive Producers
- Pamela Adlon
Better Things - FAQs
Is Better Things based on a true story?
Better Things is heavily autobiographical. Creator and star Pamela Adlon drew directly from her own life as a single mother and working actress in Los Angeles. The show mirrors her real experiences raising three daughters while maintaining an active career in Hollywood, though names and specific events are fictionalized.
Who are the main actors in Better Things?
Better Things stars Pamela Adlon as Sam Fox, alongside Celia Imrie, Mikey Madison, Hannah Riley, Olivia Edward, Diedrich Bader, Kevin Pollak, Rebecca Metz, Rosalind Chao, and Mather Zickel. Adlon anchors every episode and also serves as the series' sole executive producer.
How many seasons does Better Things have?
Better Things ran for five seasons on FX, comprising 52 episodes in total. Season 1 and 2 each contained 10 episodes, Season 3 had 12, and Seasons 4 and 5 returned to 10 episodes each. The series concluded in 2022.
Where can you stream Better Things?
Better Things is available to stream on Hulu with a subscription. All five seasons can also be purchased digitally on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. Hulu remains the most accessible option for subscribers looking to binge the complete series.
Is Better Things worth watching?
Better Things earned widespread critical acclaim throughout its run, holding strong scores on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised Pamela Adlon's raw, fearless performance and the show's honest portrayal of motherhood, aging, and female identity. Audiences responded warmly to its unconventional structure and emotional authenticity.
What is the content rating for Better Things?
Better Things is rated TV-MA, meaning it is intended for mature audiences only. The series contains strong language, adult themes, frank discussions of sexuality, and candid depictions of family conflict. Viewer discretion is advised for audiences under 17.
Why did Better Things end after Season 5?
Pamela Adlon chose to conclude Better Things on her own terms after Season 5, feeling the story had reached a natural endpoint. She stated in interviews that she wanted to end the series while it was still at its creative peak rather than continue past its natural conclusion, giving Sam Fox's journey a satisfying close.
What genre is Better Things?
Better Things is a comedy-drama series. It blends sharp, irreverent humor with deeply emotional storytelling, exploring themes of single parenthood, female identity, aging, and the chaotic beauty of family life. The show resists easy genre classification, often shifting tone fluidly within a single episode.
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