12 Movies Like Modern Family You Need to Watch
Craving smart, warm ensemble stories? Explore 12 picks with family, comedy, drama, romance, and music that capture the same charm and chaos.
If you want movies like Modern Family, this list leans into the same blend of messy households, sharp humor, and honest emotion that makes ensemble stories so easy to binge. You’ll find warm, character-first picks such as Parenthood, The Middle, and Shameless, plus more offbeat choices like United States of Tara and Beginners. There’s also room for lighter, music-friendly energy with Jonas and the family-centered drama of Tangle. Together, these titles cover comedy, drama, romance, family, and music in ways that feel familiar without copying the original show’s exact tone.
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01
Parenthood
1 Emmy nomination
comedy · drama
The trials and tribulations of the very large, colorful and imperfect Braverman family.
Directed by Lawrence Trilling, Patrick R. Norris, Michael Weaver, Allison Liddi-Brown, Ken WhittinghamCast Peter Krause, Lauren Graham, Dax Shepard, Monica Potter, Erika ChristensenParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
02
The Middle
1 Emmy nomination
comedy · family
The daily mishaps of a married woman and her semi-dysfunctional family and their attempts to survive life in general in the city of Orson, Indiana.
Directed by Lee Shallat Chemel, Phil Traill, Elliot Hegarty, Blake T. Evans, Ken WhittinghamCast Patricia Heaton, Neil Flynn, Charlie McDermott, Eden Sher, Atticus ShafferAmazon Prime VideoPeacock PremiumMore details on IMDb → -
03
United States of Tara
Won 2 Emmys Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (2009) · 6 nominations
comedy · drama · romance
Tara's multiple personalities include "T" the wild-child teenager, "Buck" the rough and tumble biker dude, and "Alice" the type-A homemaker. But with a family that loves her just the way she is, Tara never gives up hope that someday she can just be herself.
Directed by Craig Zisk, Craig Gillespie, Jamie Babbit, Tricia Brock, John DahlCast Toni Collette, John Corbett, Rosemarie DeWitt, Keir Gilchrist, Brie LarsonParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
04
Tangle
drama
The lives of two generations of two wealthy families intertwine as they clash and connect over money, sex, scandals and secrets in Melbourne.
Directed by Emma Freeman, Stuart McDonald, Jessica Hobbs, Matthew Saville, Michael James RowlandCast Justine Clarke, Catherine McClements, Joel Tobeck, Kat Stewart, Matt DayAmazon Prime VideoFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
05
Shameless
Won 4 Emmys 6x Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series · 16 nominations
comedy · drama
Chicagoan Frank Gallagher is the proud single dad of six smart, industrious, independent kids, who without him would be... perhaps better off. When Frank's not at the bar spending what little money they have, he's passed out on the floor. But the kids have found ways to grow up in spite of him. They may not be like any family you know, but they make no apologies for being exactly who they are.
Directed by Iain B. MacDonald, Mark Mylod, Christopher Chulack, John Wells, Anthony HemingwayCast William H. Macy, Ethan Cutkosky, Jeremy Allen White, Shanola Hampton, Steve HoweyNetflixMore details on IMDb → -
06
Jonas
1 Emmy nomination
comedy · family · music
The show follows the Jonas Brothers through fun and unusual situations as they try to live ordinary lives.
Directed by F. Michael Blum, Paul Hoen, Jerry Levine, Lev L. Spiro, Eyal GordinCast Kevin Jonas, Chelsea Kane, Nicole Gale Anderson, Joe Jonas, Nick JonasDisney PlusMore details on IMDb → -
07
Cougar Town
comedy · romance
Jules Cobb is a mom in her forties facing the often humorous challenges, pitfalls and rewards of life's next chapter. Along for the journey is her son, her ex-husband, her husband/neighbor and her friends who together make up her dysfunctional, but supportive and caring extended family... even if they have a funny way of showing it sometimes.
Directed by John Putch, Michael McDonald, Courteney Cox, Bill Lawrence, Gail MancusoCast Courteney Cox, Christa Miller, Busy Philipps, Dan Byrd, Josh HopkinsHuluMore details on IMDb → -
08
Brothers & Sisters
Won 1 Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (2007) · 8 nominations
drama
The close-knit Walker family deals with struggles and triumphs.
Directed by Ken Olin, Michael Morris, Michael Schultz, Bethany Rooney, Laura InnesCast Dave Annable, Calista Flockhart, Rachel Griffiths, Ron Rifkin, Patricia WettigHuluMore details on IMDb → -
09
Andi Mack
comedy · drama · family
Andi is contemplative and artistic and sheltered by overprotective parents. But on the eve of her 13th birthday, Andi's free-spirited older sister Bex returns home with a revelation that changes everything and sends Andi on an uncharted course of self-discovery.
Directed by Paul Hoen, Joe Menendez, Michelle Manning, Eyal Gordin, Adam WeissmanCast Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Joshua Rush, Sofia Wylie, Asher Angel, Lilan BowdenDisney PlusMore details on IMDb → -
10
I Love You Phillip Morris
biography · comedy · crime · drama · romance
Steven Russell leads a seemingly average life – an organ player in the local church, happily married to Debbie, and a member of the local police force. That is until he has a severe car accident that leads him to the ultimate epiphany: he’s gay and he’s going to live life to the fullest – even if he has to break the law to do it. Taking on an extravagant lifestyle, Steven turns to cons and fraud to make ends meet and is eventually sent to the State Penitentiary where he meets the love of his life, a sensitive, soft-spoken man named Phillip Morris. His devotion to freeing Phillip from jail and building the perfect life together prompts him to attempt (and often succeed at) one impossible con after another.
Directed by Glenn Ficarra, John RequaCast Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Leslie Mann, Rodrigo Santoro, Antoni CoroneNetflixAmazon Prime VideoMore details on IMDb → -
11
Offspring
comedy · drama
An exuberant drama set in Melbourne's Fitzroy, centering on Nina Proudman and her struggle to deal with her fabulously messy family, her hunt for a decent love life and her tendency to overthink and fly off into fantasy.
Directed by Kate Dennis, Emma Freeman, Shirley Barrett, Daina Reid, Ben ChessellCast Asher Keddie, Kat Stewart, Richard Davies, Linda Cropper, Jane HarberAmazon Prime VideoFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
12
Looking
comedy · drama · romance
Three friends in San Francisco who explore the fun and sometimes overwhelming options available to a new generation of gay men.
Directed by Andrew Haigh, Jamie Babbit, Ryan Fleck, Joe Swanberg, Craig JohnsonCast Jonathan Groff, Frankie J. Alvarez, Murray Bartlett, Lauren Weedman, Russell ToveyMaxMore details on IMDb →
Wrapping Up
This collection is built for anyone who enjoys stories about relationships that feel lived-in, funny, and a little chaotic in the best way. Whether you want something heartfelt like Parenthood, more dryly funny like The Middle, or emotionally messy like Shameless, there’s a strong next watch here. Bookmark this page and come back whenever you want a fresh lineup that fits your mood. We update it regularly, so the recommendations stay useful as new favorites and hidden gems keep surfacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to Modern Family?
These picks were matched by tone, themes, and story style using a similarity model trained on plot synopses, genres, and cast — not just shared genre tags — so the connection runs deeper than a simple category match.