Discover The Best Movies and TV Shows Like According to Jim

*According to Jim* centers on Jim, a larger-than-life, blue-collar suburbanite from Chicago who prides himself on being an unapologetic "everyman." Jim is married to Cheryl, a sharp-witted, patient woman who constantly balances her husband’s immature schemes with the realities of raising a family. Together, they live in a comfortable suburban home with their growing brood: daughters Ruby and Gracie, and later, twin boys Kyle and Jonathan. Despite his rough edges, lazy tendencies, and obsession with sports, blues music, and shortcuts, Jim's primary motivation is his deep love for his family, even if his execution of fatherhood frequently leads to chaotic results.A major catalyst for much of the series’ family friction and comedic drama is Cheryl’s sister, Dana, and later, her husband, Ryan. Dana lives close by and serves as Jim’s chief foil, constantly calling out his laziness, sexism, and questionable logic. Their relationship is defined by a fierce war of words, though beneath the constant bickering lies a genuine familial bond. Meanwhile, Jim’s slacker best friend and brother-in-law, Andy, is a frequent partner in crime. Andy is deeply insecure, gullible, and perpetually unlucky in romance, often dragged into Jim’s hair-brained plots—ranging from sneaking out to attend sports events to building disastrous DIY home renovations behind Cheryl’s back.As the series progresses, the dramatic stakes revolve around the everyday negotiations of marriage, parenting, and navigating mid-life insecurities. Jim constantly attempts to outsmart the system to do as little work as possible, which inevitably backfires, forcing him to rely on emotional pleas or grand, humbling gestures to win back Cheryl's approval. Cheryl serves as the emotional anchor, frequently exasperated by Jim's Peter Pan syndrome, yet fiercely protective of their life together. The arrival of the twins shifts the family dynamic, testing Jim and Cheryl’s stamina and forcing Jim to occasionally confront the realities of aging and responsibility.Throughout the later seasons, dramatic tension occasionally shifts toward career changes, sibling rivalries—particularly as Dana and Ryan start a family of their own—and the kids growing older and developing independent attitudes that challenge Jim's authority. However, the core narrative always returns to equilibrium. Jim's schemes may fail, and his laziness may be exposed, but his unwavering loyalty to Cheryl and his children cements his role as the well-meaning, lovable patriarch of the household.