Home Movies (1999)
A cult animated comedy about an eight-year-old filmmaker, his quirky friends, and one unforgettable soccer coach.
Home Movies - Series Information
- Original Title: Home Movies
- First Air Year: 1999
- Last Air Year: 2004
- Created by: Brendon Small, Loren Bouchard
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Animation, Comedy
- Content Rating (US): TV-PG
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (26 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 4
- Number of Episodes: 52
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: April 26, 1999 (United States - TV-PG), April 26, 1999 (Canada - 14+), April 26, 1999 (United Kingdom - 15)
- Networks: UPN, Adult Swim
- Production Companies: Burns & Burns Productions, Tom Snyder Productions, Soup2Nuts, Warner Bros. Television
- Production Countries: United States of America
- Alternative Titles: ホームムービーズ (JP), Películas caseras (VE), Filmes Caseiros (BR), Der kleine Meisterregisseur (DE), Домашнее видео (RU)
Home Movies - Plot
TV series about the life of Brendon Small, an eight-year-old visionary who, using his friends Jason and Melissa as actors, have managed to direct over a thousand homemade films. His parents are divorced, but it doesn't feel strange since so many other kids' parents are divorced. His friend Jason actually feels upset because his parents are still together. At school, he is taught soccer by his coach John McGuirk, or as he calls him, "that weird Irish guy".
Home Movies - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and get a taste of Brendon Small's world:
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Home Movies - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Brendon Small
- Loren Bouchard
Main Cast
- Brendon Small
- H. Jon Benjamin
- Melissa Bardin Galsky
- Janine Ditullio
- Loren Bouchard
- Ron Lynch
- Sam Seder
- Jonathan Katz
- Laura Silverman
- Louis C.K.
Writers
- Brendon Small
- Bill Braudis
- Loren Bouchard
- Janine Ditullio
Home Movies - FAQs
Where can you stream Home Movies online?
Home Movies is available to stream on HBO Max, HBO Max via Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, and Adult Swim — the last of which offers free access. Spectrum On Demand also carries the series for free. It's a surprisingly easy show to track down given its cult status.
Who voices Coach McGuirk in Home Movies?
H. Jon Benjamin brings Coach John McGuirk to life — and it's one of the great voice performances in animated television. Benjamin also voices Jason Penopolis, Brendon's best friend. His deadpan, rambling delivery as McGuirk became the show's comedic backbone and helped launch his career.
Is Home Movies based on a true story?
Not literally, but creator Brendon Small drew heavily from his own childhood experiences and love of filmmaking to shape the series. The show's improvisational style and emotionally grounded humor give it an autobiographical feel, even if the specific events are fictional. Small even voices the main character, who shares his name.
Why did Home Movies get cancelled on UPN so quickly?
UPN pulled Home Movies after just five episodes in 1999, citing low ratings. The show's understated, dialogue-driven humor didn't fit UPN's programming strategy at the time. Adult Swim picked it up in 2001, gave it creative freedom, and the series thrived there for four full seasons before ending on its own terms in 2004.
How many seasons and episodes does Home Movies have?
Home Movies ran for four seasons with 13 episodes each, totaling 52 episodes. The series aired from 1999 to 2004, first briefly on UPN and then on Adult Swim, where it found its true audience and completed its run.
What makes Home Movies different from other animated comedies?
Much of the dialogue was improvised, giving the show a loose, naturalistic rhythm unlike most animated series. The humor is low-key and character-driven rather than gag-based, and the show handles themes like divorce, loneliness, and creative ambition with surprising warmth and honesty for a cartoon.
What is the content rating for Home Movies?
Home Movies carries a TV-PG rating in the United States. While it aired on Adult Swim alongside more mature programming, the show itself is relatively gentle in tone — though its dry, adult-leaning humor means it resonates most with older teens and grown-ups rather than young children.
Who created Home Movies and what else have they made?
Home Movies was created by Brendon Small and Loren Bouchard. Small went on to create the metal-themed animated series Metalocalypse and the live-action comedy Galaktikon. Bouchard became the creator of Bob's Burgers and Central Park, two of the most beloved animated comedies of the past decade.
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