At first taste, this seems like a prestige riff on the modern schlock classic, Orphan. Unfortunately, it turns out it’s a pretty awful true story about adoptive parents who were low key inspired by the modern schlock classic, Orphan.
How to watch Good American Family in New Zealand
Good American Family is streaming in New Zealand exclusively on Disney+ from March 19, 2025 with the first two episode dropping at once, and the following six coming out weekly.
Good American Family: Miniseries
What is Good American Family about?
Hark to the tale of American couple Michael and Kristin Barnett, who in 2010 adopted seven-year-old Ukrainian orphan Natalia Grace, who has dwarfism. Somewhere along the line, Michael and Kristin became convinced—most likely after a viewing of modern schlock classic, Orphan—that Natalia was an adult posing as a child. They even went so far as to get a court order that legally changed her birth year from 2003 to 1989. Then they abandoned her in an apartment they rented for her before fleeing to Canada.
But surprise, surprise, she really was just a little orphan girl. This eight-part miniseries dramatises the events, which were already covered by the documentary series The Curious Case Of Natalia Grace.
The cast of Good American Family
Ellen Pompeo is Kristine Barnett; Mark Duplass is Michael Barnett; Imogen Faith Reid is Natalia Grace; Dulé Hill is Brandon Drysdale, a detective who investigates the Barnetts for abuse allegations; Sarayu Blue is Valika; Christina Hendricks is Cynthia Mans; and Kim Shaw is Jennifer.
Good American Family trailer
Why we’re excited about Good American Family
Well, it’s certainly fascinating, in a horrible car crash sort of way. We can’t imagine the Barnett’s come out of this one looking too crash hot, but the subject of international adoption is a thorny and interesting one. If Pompeo and Duplass manage to make the central couple in any way sympathetic, they deserve all the awards.
