The story of Are We Done Yet? and its suburban chaos
Are We Done Yet? picks up where its predecessor left off, following newlyweds Nick and Suzanne as they make the leap from city life to suburban domesticity. Their mission: create the perfect home for their blended family, complete with space for the kids to run around and a yard that doesn't exist on a fire escape. But here's the thing — their dream house comes with a catch. A contractor with a completely unorthodox approach to business enters the picture, and what should be a straightforward renovation becomes a series of escalating disasters. The film's tagline sums it up perfectly: "New house. New family. What could possibly go wrong?" Spoiler: everything. The 92-minute runtime doesn't waste time getting to the mayhem, and the premise taps into a universal anxiety that'll resonate with anyone who's ever tried to renovate anything, ever.
Behind the making of Are We Done Yet? and its box office journey
Are We Done Yet? arrived in 2007 as the second installment in the Are We There Yet? franchise, directed by Steve Carr and anchored by Ice Cube reprising his lead role. The film's screenplay, penned by Hank Nelken, draws inspiration from the 1948 classic Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House — a smart move that grounds the family comedy in a time-tested premise about the perils of home ownership. Production involved a constellation of studios: Revolution Dream Productions, Revolution Studios, Cube Vision, and RKO Pictures, with Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Releasing handling distribution. Financially, the film performed respectably, grossing $58 million worldwide against its $28 million budget, proving there was still an audience for Ice Cube's family-friendly output in the mid-2000s. That said, critics weren't particularly kind to the film, and it landed with an IMDb rating of 5.8/10 — a score that reflects the gap between commercial appeal and critical acclaim that often defines studio comedies aimed at younger viewers.
What makes Are We Done Yet? stand out in family comedy
What's striking about Are We Done Yet? is how it manages to juggle multiple relationship dynamics without completely losing the plot. There's the newlywed tension, the stepparent-stepchild adjustment (which is harder than it looks on screen), the moving-day stress, and the contractor-from-hell subplot all competing for screen time. Ice Cube, known primarily for his dramatic and hip-hop credentials, leans into his comedic timing here — there's a scene early on where his character tries to communicate with the contractor's crew that's genuinely funny, even if the film around it doesn't always land. The stepfamily angle deserves credit too; it's not treated as a throwaway detail but as the emotional core that the whole renovation chaos revolves around. The film doesn't pretend blending a family is easy, and that honesty — however light the comedic touch — gives it some grounding. I keep coming back to the fact that this was made during a specific era of family comedy when studios believed you could just throw together a high-concept premise and a recognizable star and audiences would show up. Sometimes they did; sometimes they didn't. This one split the difference.
Where to stream Are We Done Yet? online
Are We Done Yet? is available on several major OTT services, and you can check the exact current platforms using the "Where to Watch" widget at the top of this page — streaming rights shift frequently, and that widget updates in real time so you don't waste time hunting. If you're the type who likes to plan a family movie night and want to know where to find it before the kids are already bouncing off the walls, Movie OTT tracks availability across Netflix, Prime Video, and other major platforms, making it easy to see which service has it in your region. The film's 92-minute runtime makes it perfect for a weekend afternoon when you need something that won't demand total silence and won't leave you emotionally devastated — it's designed for exactly that kind of viewing.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is Are We Done Yet? a sequel?
Yes, it's the second film in the Are We There Yet? franchise, following the 2005 original of the same name. Both films star Ice Cube and follow similar themes of family and relationship-building, though this installment shifts focus to suburban life and home renovation.
Q: Who directed Are We Done Yet??
Steve Carr directed the film. Carr has worked extensively in family and comedy cinema, bringing a straightforward, accessible style to the material.
Q: Is Are We Done Yet? based on a true story?
No, but the screenplay draws inspiration from the 1948 film Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, which dealt with similar themes of homeownership complications and family adjustment.
Q: How long is Are We Done Yet??
The film runs 92 minutes, making it a brisk watch that doesn't overstay its welcome.
Q: What's the movie's rating?
Are We Done Yet? is rated PG, making it appropriate for family viewing, though parents should note it contains some mild language and comedic situations.
Q: How much money did Are We Done Yet? make?
The film grossed $58 million worldwide against a $28 million budget, making it a profitable venture for the studios involved despite receiving mixed critical reviews.
Final thoughts on Are We Done Yet?
Are We Done Yet? won't change your life, and it probably won't end up on any "best of" lists. But that's not really what it's trying to do. It's a straightforward family comedy that understands its audience — kids who think construction mishaps are hilarious, parents who need 90 minutes of relatively harmless entertainment, and anyone who's ever felt the stress of moving and blended family dynamics. The film doesn't pretend to be anything more than it is, and there's something refreshingly honest about that. If you're looking for something on Movie OTT that won't require intense concentration and will keep the household entertained on a lazy afternoon, this fits the bill. It's comfort-watch material, plain and simple.
