Folks!

Folks!

Year: 1992

Runtime: 107 mins

Language: English

Director: Ted Kotcheff

Comedy

A slightly self absorbed yuppie takes in his parents including his senile father, after their home burns down. But his personal and professional life fall apart soon after.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Folks! yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Folks! (1992)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Folks! (1992). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Chicago, Illinois, Countryside, Illinois

Primarily set in Chicago, the urban landscape frames the life of a successful stockbroker. The family’s relocation from a city apartment to a countryside home marks a shift from affluence to hardship. The setting alternates between busy city streets and a quiet rural residence as they struggle to rebuild their lives.

🌆 Urban setting 🏡 Domestic drama 💼 Economic strain

Last Updated: December 03, 2025 at 23:57

Main Characters – Folks! (1992)

Meet the key characters of Folks! (1992), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Jon Aldrich (Tom Selleck)

A successful stockbroker whose comfortable life collapses when his dementia-stricken father moves in and the family’s finances crumble. He endures injuries and mounting stress while trying to keep the family together, revealing stubborn loyalty and resilience.

💼 Ambitious 🧑‍💼 Burdened 👨‍👩‍👧 Family man

Audrey Aldrich (Wendy Crewson)

Jon’s wife who initially leaves with the kids but eventually reconciles, recognizing the value of family. She supports Jon through the turmoil and helps the family move toward stability.

💑 Supportive 💪 Resilient 🧭 Stabilizing

Harry Aldrich (Don Ameche)

The elderly father with dementia who unintentionally disrupts the household and triggers their financial downfall. His condition also reveals a hidden wealth when a past investment becomes a future security.

🧠 Dementia 💥 Disruptive 🏦 Wealth

Arlene Aldrich (Christine Ebersole)

Jon’s sister, a self-centered gold digger who drags in her corpulent sons and colludes in insurance money schemes. Her presence complicates the family's struggle for stability.

💎 Selfish 🔒 Manipulative 👩‍👦‍👦 Family rival

Mildred Aldrich (Anne Jackson)

Harry’s wife who becomes entangled in the family's suicidal insurance plot. Her gravity and concern for the family’s future propel the conflict toward its resolution.

🤝 Loyal 😌 Anxious 🧭 Guide

Last Updated: December 03, 2025 at 23:57

Major Themes – Folks! (1992)

Explore the central themes of Folks! (1992), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Responsibility

The Aldrich family must redefine care for an aging parent while maintaining their own stability. Jon bears mounting burdens as his father’s dementia disrupts finances and security. The narrative centers on duty, sacrifice, and the attempt to keep the family intact amid crisis.

💸 Financial Downfall

Jon loses his job when his company is implicated in illegal activities, wiping out savings and security. The family slides into debt, prompting desperate plans tied to insurance money. The crisis tests trust, ethics, and the will to persevere.

🧠 Dementia and Care

Harry’s dementia drives much of the turmoil, causing accidents and emotional strain. His unpredictable happiness and memory lapses push Jon to his limits. The plot treats dementia as both a source of conflict and a catalyst for emotional moments.

🤝 Redemption and Reconciliation

Despite betrayals and dangerous schemes, Jon strives to salvage his family’s future. Audrey’s eventual return signals a renewal of love and commitment. The story resolves with renewed bonds and a plan to build a safer life together.

Last Updated: December 03, 2025 at 23:57

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about family chaos and slapstick misfortune like Folks!

When a normal life gets turned upside down by the absurd antics of family.If you liked the chaotic, high-stress comedy of Folks!, you'll enjoy these movies where orderly lives are upended by absurd family antics. This list features fast-paced comedies with slapstick humor and relentless misfortune, all leading to a heartfelt resolution.

slapstickchaoticfreneticuproariousstressfullightheartedabsurdfamily

Narrative Summary

These stories typically follow a stable protagonist who, out of a sense of duty, takes in eccentric or difficult family members. This act triggers a domino effect of calamities—job loss, financial strain, physical comedy—that rapidly escalates. The narrative is a linear downward spiral of misfortune that ultimately finds a neat, optimistic resolution, affirming family bonds through the chaos.

Why These Movies?

They are grouped by their shared farcical approach to serious topics like family responsibility, their fast-paced, escalating plot structure, and their blend of high-stress slapstick with an underlying, sincere emotional core.

Absurdist comedies with escalating trouble like Folks!

Stories where one small problem snowballs into a avalanche of hilarious disasters.Fans of Folks! will enjoy these absurdist comedies where a protagonist's life spirals into a cascade of hilarious misfortunes. Discover movies with a light tone, fast pacing, and a narrative built on one calamity leading to the next, all resolved with optimistic endings.

absurdescalatingfarcicalchaoticuproariouslightheartedunravelingmisfortune

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern is one of exponential acceleration: a relatively minor problem quickly balloons into an overwhelming series of bizarre and unfortunate events. The protagonist is often a straight man reacting to an increasingly insane world, and the plot moves rapidly from one set piece of chaos to the next. Despite the heavy themes that may be touched upon, the treatment is consistently frivolous and humorous.

Why These Movies?

They share a core comedic engine: the absurd escalation of trouble. The similarity lies in the fast pacing, the light tone used to handle potentially dark subjects, and the specific pattern of a linear, downward-comedic spiral.

Unlock the Full Story of Folks!

Don't stop at just watching — explore Folks! in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Folks! is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Folks! Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Folks!, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Folks! Summary

Folks! Timeline

Track the full timeline of Folks! with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Folks! Timeline

Folks! Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Folks! that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Folks! Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Folks!

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Folks!: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Folks!

Similar Movies to Folks!

Discover movies like Folks! that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.