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Meet the Parents

*Meet the Parents* is a 2000 American romantic comedy film directed by Jay Roach and written by Jim Herzfeld and John Hamburg.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Meet the Parents is a 2000 American romantic comedy film directed by Jay Roach and written by Jim Herzfeld and John Hamburg. The film stars Ben Stiller as Greg Focker, a nurse who tries to impress his girlfriend's parents, especially her intimidating father Jack Byrnes played by Robert De Niro. It was a box-office hit and launched a comedy film series.

Plot

Greg Focker travels to meet his girlfriend Pam's family and hopes to ask for her hand in marriage. The visit spirals into a series of awkward and escalating mishaps, largely driven by Jack Byrnes's distrust of Greg.

Production and release

The film was released in 2000 and distributed as an American studio comedy. It was directed by Jay Roach, with a screenplay by Jim Herzfeld and John Hamburg.

Reception

The film was widely successful with audiences and became one of the notable comedy hits of 2000. It also received recognition such as Ben Stiller's comedy award wins and a People's Choice Award for Favorite Comedy Motion Picture.

Sequels and franchise

Meet the Parents was followed by Meet the Fockers in 2004 and Little Fockers in 2010. Together, the three films form the core of the Meet the Parents film series. A fourth film, Focker-in-Law, was reported as planned for 2026.

Key facts

  • The film follows Greg Focker as he visits his girlfriend Pam's parents before proposing.
  • Jack Byrnes, Pam's father, is a former CIA agent and is suspicious of Greg.
  • The film stars Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro in the lead roles.
  • It was directed by Jay Roach and written by Jim Herzfeld and John Hamburg.
  • The film became a commercial success and inspired two sequels.
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Canadian context

The film is widely known in Canada through North American theatrical release, home video, and television distribution, and it remains a familiar example of early-2000s Hollywood comedy for Canadian audiences.

Frequently asked questions

What is *Meet the Parents* about?
It is about Greg Focker, who visits his girlfriend's parents before proposing and repeatedly embarrasses himself while trying to impress her father.
Who stars in *Meet the Parents*?
The film stars Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Teri Polo, Blythe Danner, and Owen Wilson.
Who directed *Meet the Parents*?
Jay Roach directed the film.
When was *Meet the Parents* released?
It was released on October 6, 2000.
Is *Meet the Parents* part of a series?
Yes. It was followed by *Meet the Fockers* and *Little Fockers*, and a fourth film, *Focker-in-Law*, was reported as planned for 2026.
What genre is *Meet the Parents*?
It is a romantic comedy film.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meet_the_Parents
    Supports: Basic film identification, cast, plot premise, writer/director credits, sequel information, and awards mentions.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meet_the_Parents_(film_series)
    Supports: Series composition, box office total for the trilogy, and planned fourth film.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0212338/
    Supports: Plot synopsis and principal cast.
  4. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/meet-the-parents-2000
    Supports: Plot framing and character descriptions.
  5. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/meet_the_parents
    Supports: Release date, genre, runtime, rating, and box office gross.
  6. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Meet-the-Parents
    Supports: Director, cast, box-office success, and sequel context.