CrossBinge
Explore CrossBinge →
Mrs. Doubtfire adaptations: books & films
Every version of Mrs. Doubtfire — the books & films, compared across media.
The story is the same in both Madame Doubtfire and Mrs. Doubtfire: a father separated from his children by divorce disguises himself as a housekeeper to stay close to them. The world is one of fractured domesticity, custody arrangements, and a parent's stubborn devotion — the novel centres on the children caught between two difficult homes, while the film follows the father's elaborate scheme to remain in his kids' daily lives.
Mrs. Doubtfire films
Mrs. Doubtfire books
Frequently asked
Is Mrs. Doubtfire based on a book?
Yes — the 1993 film Mrs. Doubtfire is adapted from the novel Madame Doubtfire, which follows three children navigating life after their parents' divorce and the unconventional housekeeper who enters their lives.
How many versions of Mrs. Doubtfire are there?
There are two versions covered here: the source novel Madame Doubtfire and the 1993 film Mrs. Doubtfire, both telling the story of a disguised father determined to remain part of his children's lives.
Should I read the book or watch the film first?
Both stand on their own. Madame Doubtfire (the novel) centres on the children's experience of bouncing between two homes, while Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) follows the father's court-ordered separation and his scheme to get back into his children's daily lives.