X

2005
Not Rated
Two Spirit Productions
1 h 14 m

2005
Not Rated
Two Spirit Productions
1 h 14 m

Paternal Instinct

Summary Mark and Erik have been together for ten years, and they've decided it's time to have kids. But they don't want to adopt. Is there a woman out there willing to serve as a surrogate mother and help them realize their dream? Paternal Instinct chronicles two years in the life of these New Yorkers on their journey to become fathers. (HBO/Ci...

Directed By: Murray Nossel

2005
Not Rated
Two Spirit Productions
1 h 14 m

2005
Not Rated
Two Spirit Productions
1 h 14 m

Paternal Instinct

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 5 Critic Reviews

65

User Score Generally Unfavorable Based on 5 User Ratings

2.8

My Score

Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Summary Mark and Erik have been together for ten years, and they've decided it's time to have kids. But they don't want to adopt. Is there a woman out there willing to serve as a surrogate mother and help them realize their dream? Paternal Instinct chronicles two years in the life of these New Yorkers on their journey to become fathers. (HBO/Ci...

Directed By: Murray Nossel

Top Cast

Erik

Self

Mark Eisenhardt

Self

Barbara Eisenhardt

Self - Mark's Mother

Larry

Self - Mark's Father

Marit

Self - Erik's Mother

Wendy Murphy

Self

Simon

Self - A Friend

Deb

Self - Neighbor

Drew

Self - Wen's Son

Sarah Ackerly

Self - Midwife

Curtis

Self - Wen's Husband

John Eisenhardt

Self - Mark's Brother

View All Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews

Metascore

Generally Favorable Based on 5 Critic Reviews

80% Positive
4 Reviews

20% Mixed
1 Review

0% Negative
0 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

Metascore

Generally Favorable Based on 5 Critic Reviews

80% Positive
4 Reviews

20% Mixed
1 Review

0% Negative
0 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

The three are appealing characters, and you can't help but root for them in their quest, which gives a whole new meaning to the term "family values."

By V.A. Musetto FULL REVIEW

The New York Times

Warm and fuzzy documentary.

By Stephen Holden FULL REVIEW

As intimate as a home movie, Instinct has only one flaw: its length.

Endearing nature of the personalities involved makes a fine argument for weighing parental suitability on terms more profound than the prospective parents sexual orientation.

By Dennis Harvey FULL REVIEW

Christian Science Monitor

Has touching and instructive moments.

By David Sterritt FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

User Score

Generally Unfavorable Based on 5 User Ratings

0% Positive
0 Ratings

40% Mixed
2 Ratings

60% Negative
3 Ratings

User Reviews

User Score

Generally Unfavorable Based on 5 User Ratings

0% Positive
0 Ratings

40% Mixed
2 Ratings

60% Negative
3 Ratings

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

Production Company Cinemax Reel Life, Two Spirit Productions, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Release Date Jun 10, 2005

Duration 1 h 14 m

Rating Not Rated

Genres

Tagline The road to fatherhood is not always a straight one

View All Details

Awards

GLAAD Media Awards

• 1 Nomination

Related Movies

Hoop Dreams

Universal Acclaim

Man with a Movie Camera

Universal Acclaim

Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

Universal Acclaim

I Am Not Your Negro

Universal Acclaim

Woodstock

Universal Acclaim

Collective

Universal Acclaim

Amazing Grace

Universal Acclaim

Stop Making Sense

Universal Acclaim

We Were Here

Universal Acclaim

Faces Places

Universal Acclaim

David Byrne’s American Utopia

Universal Acclaim

Shoah: Four Sisters

Universal Acclaim

Our Body

Universal Acclaim

Sherpa

Universal Acclaim

The Decline of Western Civilization

Universal Acclaim

Brother's Keeper

Universal Acclaim

Crumb

Universal Acclaim

One More Time with Feeling

Universal Acclaim

Sugarcane

Universal Acclaim

The Act of Killing

Universal Acclaim

De Humani Corporis Fabrica

Universal Acclaim

Menus Plaisirs - Les Troisgros

Universal Acclaim

Related News

2024 Movie Release Calendar

2024 Movie Release Calendar

Jason Dietz

Find release dates for every movie coming to theaters, VOD, and streaming throughout 2024 and beyond, updated weekly.

Every Zack Snyder Movie, Ranked

Every Zack Snyder Movie, Ranked

Nick Hyman

With the arrival of Zack Snyder's latest Rebel Moon chapter on Netflix, we rank every one of the director's films—from bad to, well, less bad—by Metascore.

Every Guy Ritchie Movie, Ranked

Every Guy Ritchie Movie, Ranked

Nick Hyman

We rank every one of the British director's movies by Metascore, from his debut Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels to his brand new film, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.

April Movie Preview (2024)

April Movie Preview (2024)

Keith Kimbell

The month ahead will bring new films from Alex Garland, Luca Guadagnino, Dev Patel, and more. To help you plan your moviegoing options, our editors have selected the most notable films releasing in April 2024, listed in alphabetical order.

DVD/Blu-ray Releases: New & Upcoming

DVD/Blu-ray Releases: New & Upcoming

Jason Dietz

Find a list of new movie and TV releases on DVD and Blu-ray (updated weekly) as well as a calendar of upcoming releases on home video.