Earl Pilcher Jr. runs an equipment rental outfit in Arkansas, lives with his wife and kids and parents, and rarely takes off his gimme cap. His mother dies, leaving a letter explaining he's not her natural son, but the son of a Black woman who died in childbirth; plus, he has a half brother Ray, in Chicago, she wants him to visit. Earl makes the trip, initially receiving a cold welcome from Ray and Ray's son, Virgil. His birth mother's sister, Aunt T., an aged and blind matriarch, takes Earl in tow and insists that the family open up to him.
You can now watch A Family Thing online on the following streaming providers in the United States.
| Directing | Richard Pearce | Director |
| Writing | Billy Bob Thornton | Writer |
| Writing | Tom Epperson | Writer |
| Camera | John S. Robertson | Dolly Grip |
| Production | Robert Duvall | Producer |
| Production | Scott Ferguson | Associate Producer |
| Production | Todd Black | Producer |
| Editing | Mark Warner | Editor |
| Production | Victoria Thomas | Casting |
| Art | Ric McElvin | Set Decoration |
| Art | James Nedza | Art Direction |
| Production | Michael Hausman | Executive Producer |
| Costume & Make-Up | Joe I. Tompkins | Costume Design |
| Camera | Fred Murphy | Director of Photography |
| Art | Linda DeScenna | Production Design |
| Production | Randa Haines | Producer |
| Production | Jason White | Extras Casting Assistant |
