Is this the movie about the gay teenager in the UK?

No. There is a well-known 1998 movie with the same title, but this is the 1999 FOX television series starring Anne Hathaway. They are completely different stories.

Where can I actually watch this?

It is notoriously difficult to find. It hasn't been widely released on streaming or modern digital platforms. You're mostly looking at rare DVD sets or unofficial uploads.

Is it too mature for a 12-year-old?

It's on the edge. It deals with high school themes like sex and drinking. If your kid has seen shows like Gilmore Girls or The O.C., they’ll be fine with this.

Why was it canceled so quickly?

It struggled to find an audience in a crowded 1999 TV schedule. FOX was also shifting its branding at the time, and the show got lost in the shuffle despite decent reviews.

Get Real – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Get Real

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show1999

52%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Before she was a princess or an Oscar winner, Anne Hathaway was navigating the messy, pre-smartphone drama of the Green family.

67%

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Get Real

show

TV-14, 1999

52%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Before she was a princess or an Oscar winner, Anne Hathaway was navigating the messy, pre-smartphone drama of the Green family.

67%

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67%

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Screenwise Verdict

If you're an Anne Hathaway completionist, this is the Holy Grail. For everyone else, it's a solid but dated family drama that hasn't aged particularly well. It’s the kind of show that felt 'real' in 1999 but feels like a curated relic in 2026.

The main hurdle isn't the content—it's the availability. It’s barely streaming anywhere, so unless you're digging through old DVDs or questionable YouTube uploads, it’s mostly a ghost of TV past. If you do find it, it's a harmless, slightly cynical look at suburban life.

Age Fit

Best for 13 and up. Younger kids will likely be bored by the domestic drama, and the themes of teen rebellion and sexual health are aimed squarely at the high school crowd.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It centers on a family unit trying to navigate real-world friction. While it leans into the 'edgy' 90s FOX vibe, the core is about siblings and parents actually talking to each other.

Imaginative

This is a standard domestic dramedy set in suburban Los Angeles. It doesn't break new ground in format or concept, sticking strictly to the 'troubled teen' tropes of its era.

Safe

As a late-90s network TV show, it stays within TV-14 boundaries. Expect discussions about sex, some underage drinking, and standard teenage rebellion, but nothing that would shock a modern high schooler.

Enriching

The show offers a decent look at family dynamics and early career performances from major stars, but it doesn't provide significant educational or ethical depth beyond basic empathy for the characters.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Early star power from Anne Hathaway and Eric Christian Olsen in their first major roles.
90s nostalgia is heavy here, from the fashion to the lack of social media, making it a weirdly fascinating time capsule.
Realistic sibling friction that avoids the overly polished feel of modern teen soaps.

⚠

What to Watch For

The show tries hard to be 'edgy' for 1999, which means some dated slang and social tropes that might feel cringey or offensive today.
It deals with teen sex and drinking in a way that was meant to be provocative at the time, though it's fairly tame compared to modern streaming dramas like Euphoria.

Conversation Starters

"How would the Green family's problems be different if they all had iPhones and TikTok?"
"Do the parents in the show seem like they're actually listening, or are they just reacting?"
"Why do you think 90s shows focused so much on 'angst' compared to what you watch now?"

Deep Dive

The FOX Counter-Culture Era

In the late 90s, FOX was trying to be the 'cool' network compared to the earnestness of 7th Heaven or the soapiness of Dawson's Creek. Get Real was their attempt at a gritty, honest family drama. It didn't last long—only one season—but it left a mark because of who was in it.

Seeing Anne Hathaway play Meghan Green is a trip. She’s already showing the range that would make her a star, even if the scripts are standard-issue 90s angst. The show centers on the three Green siblings, with Kenny (the youngest) often breaking the fourth wall to narrate. It’s a gimmick that worked better back then, but it gives the show a self-aware vibe that modern kids might actually appreciate.

Why it's hard to watch now

The pacing is the biggest issue. This was made in the era of 22-episode seasons where 'nothing' happens for three episodes at a time. Modern viewers used to the tight, 8-episode arcs of Netflix shows might find the plot progression glacial.

There's also the 'pre-digital' factor. The drama often hinges on things that wouldn't happen today—like not being able to reach someone because they aren't home, or a secret staying a secret because there's no digital trail. It’s a great way to show your kids what 'the old days' looked like without it being a history documentary.

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