20 Shows To Watch If You Love Modern Family

Though the award-winning sitcom was an unimitable hit, there are plenty of series to appeal to fans of Modern Family. Following the various households of a larger extended family, Modern Family showed that there is no such thing as a typical family anymore, and they all have their share of dysfunction. When Modern Family ended in 2020, fans had to say goodbye to the lovable characters and their outrageous misadventures. The ability to turn to television and see the best of family and relationships can be a true comfort and motivator, and while Modern Family did this perfectly, it’s far from the only show to capture that magic.

Luckily for fans of the Dunphy clan, there are some other great shows like Modern Family that capture that same heart and humor. From family dramas to animated comedies about growing up, these shows are perfect for Modern Family fans. Life is sad, funny, mundane, and even absurd, and seeing an encapsulation of someone’s journey through it all can make viewers feel seen and understood, as well as properly entertained.

20 The Simpsons (1989-)

The Animated Classic Shows An Imperfect TV Family

Modern Family has a lot of fun with the wacky situations and outrageous characters in the family. However, when it comes to shows about dysfunctional families, so many modern shows owe a lot to The Simpsons. The animated series was hilariously absurd and over-the-top in its depiction of the life and relationship of the titular family, but there was something oddly relatable about seeing a television family that was far from perfect. The show has cemented itself as one of the most important series in television history with endless jokes and classic episodes worth looking back on.

19 Full House (1987-1995)

Families Merge Into One Loving Unit

The era of 90s family sitcoms brought a lot of classics, but Full House stood out in popularity and impact. Like Modern Family, the show dealt with the struggles of parents as well as the youthful adventures of the children, while also depicting an unorthodox family. The show follows a widower who raises his three daughters with the help of his cool brother-in-law and wacky best friend. The chaos and love of the family could veer into cheesy territory at times, but the Full House ensemble cast kept the series funny, sweet, and entertaining.

18 3rd Rock From The Sun (1996-2001)

Aliens Posing As Humans Make For A Relatable Family

As 3rd Rock from the Sun is a sitcom about aliens visiting Earth in disguise, it might not seem to be a show like Modern Family, which is a much more grounded series. However, 3rd Rock from the Sun saw these unusual extraterrestrials attempting to pass as humans by forming what seemed like a typical American family, albeit one in which the dynamics are never really defined. Seeing the characters get used to Earth customs and make plenty of mistakes along the way made them relatable and more human than they realized. The series was a funny and charming ride with a great cast led by John Lithgow’s brilliant comedic performance.

17 Frasier (1993-2004)

Adult Siblings Deal With Their Father And His Old-School Ways

Most shows like Modern Family fit nicely into the family sitcom mold, focusing on parents with young children. However, Frasier manages to capture a similar feel while dealing with adults and their relationship with siblings and older parents. A spinoff of the iconic sitcom Cheers, Frasier managed to make its own legacy as a witty and delightful sitcom about Frasier Crane moving back to his home of Seattle and living with his older father while reconnecting with his even more pretentious younger brother. The sharp writing and fun characters resulted in the show winning 37 Primetime Emmy Awards during its run. Now, the Frasier reboot attempts to carry on that legacy.

16 Everybody Loves Raymond (1996-2005)

A Family Where Distance Is Never An Issue

The best humor in Modern Family comes from the familiarity of those combative moments in a marriage as well as the challenging relationships that can exist within a loving family. Few sitcoms pulled it off as well as Everybody Loves Raymond, which follows a married family man who lives across the street from his intrusive parents. Similar to the way the Modern Family crew is constantly in each other’s lives, Everybody Loves Raymond hilariously examines the very relatable ways in which that kind of closeness can be trying at times. Also, the recognizable conflicts between Raymond and Debra feel similar to the entertaining battles Phil and Claire experience.

15 The Middle (2009-2017)

Different Personalities In The Same Family Can Clash

The Middle focuses on the Hecks, a lower-class family in Indiana doing their best to make their way through life as a complicated (but hilarious) household of personalities. The show is narrated by Frankie, the mom of three children: Axl, Sue, and Brick. Axl deals with popularity and academic apathy, Sue struggles to succeed in social situations, and Brick is a bookworm introvert. Showing a normal family with all its flaws and charm is what makes shows like Modern Family and The Middle so popular. The scenarios the Hecks get into are just as funny as their relationships are heartwarming and relatable.

14 Friday Night Dinner (2011-2020)

Family Gatherings Never Go As Smoothly As Planned

Modern Family shows the kind of hijinks that can ensue with a simple get-together, as with the frequent family dinners on the show. That concept is used to great effect in the British comedy, Friday Night Dinner, which focuses on the weekly Shabbat dinner between the Goodman parents and their two sons, Adam and Jonny. Often, dinner is interrupted by unexpected guests, family pranks, or other wacky scenarios that viewers can expect from dry British comedy. The Goodman family is reminiscent of writer Robert Popper’s own secular Jewish upbringing, lending it an organic authenticity that’s hard to fabricate.

13 Single Parents (2018-2019)

Different Parenting Dynamics In The Same Extended Family

Single Parents debuted in 2018 on ABC and follows a divorced parent in his 30s named Will. Will feels lost in his identity, having focused so much of his energy on raising his daughter. This spurs the school’s other single parents to help bring him out of his “father cocoon” and onto the dating scene. The show provides great writing and scenarios for the cast (which includes Leighton Meester and Brad Garrett).

Both shows are a refreshing take on the formula by subverting both the traditional family sitcom and the single bachelor hang-out routine. Taking a more contemporary look at family dynamics rather than classic sitcoms allowed Modern Family to stand out just like Single Parents.

12 The Mick (2017)

Flawed Adults Make For Interesting Guardians

Kaitlin Olson is best known as Dee Reynolds in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, but she also headlined her own series with The Mick. Olson plays Mickey, a woman who relocates to Greenwich and ends up becoming the parental guardian for her estranged niece and nephew when their parents are arrested by the FBI for fraud and tax evasion.

Mickey is left to raise their three spoiled children who have known only wealth and privilege their whole lives. Modern Family refreshingly shows that even those who have been parents for years can be far from perfect, and The Mick embraces the idea of a less-than-suitable guardian learning how to raise kids with all the ups and downs.

11 One Day At A Time (2017-2020)

Cultural Celebration Makes A Family Richer

One Day at a Time is Netflix’s reboot of the 1970s show of the same name, but it follows a different family than the original run. The show focuses on Penelope, a Cuban-American army veteran and a newly single mom of two children. The show focuses on the everyday challenges and moments the family goes through, such as Penelope’s work life, their ever-present landlord, and the trials and tribulations of her children.

For heartwarming and unique sitcoms to enjoy alongside family, One Day at a Time fits the bill perfectly. Much like Gloria’s Columbian heritage provides the family with a different perspective, this family story gives a unique and hilarious take on the American household.

10 Malcolm In The Middle (2000-2005)

A Family Where The Kid Seems More Mature Than The Parents

Looking at the Dunphys on Modern Family feels similar to Malcolm’s family on Malcolm in the Middle. It follows a family going through the struggles and triumphs of children growing up. This series is told from the perspective of Malcolm, the middle child with very different brothers, a strict mother, and a ridiculous father who resembles Phil Dunphy more than a little. From pre-teen drama to growing up, parents working, fighting, and finding things out, this hilarious show is perfect for anyone who grew up in a dysfunctional family of their own. It is a beloved series with many fans still waiting for the Malcolm in the Middle revival.

9 Kim’s Convenience (2016-2021)

Joys And Struggles Of An Immigrant Family

The Canadian sitcom Kim’s Convenience is largely known for starring Shang-Chi star Simu Liu, but it’s also another terrific look at a modern sitcom family. Kim’s Convenience is centered on the adventures and misadventures of a Korean-Canadian family running a convenience store in Toronto. Kim’s Convenience will especially appeal to anyone who understands the experience of growing up with immigrant parents and the difficulty in combining those two cultures. However, no matter the viewer’s background, the fresh humor and quick wit of Kim’s convenience makes it a must-watch among shows like Modern Family.

8 Black-Ish (2014-2022)

A Family Confronting The Modern World Together

This critically acclaimed comedy about a 21st-century family upbringing spawned two spin-offs (Grown-Ish and Mixed-Ish) and it’s easy to see why viewers who also appreciate Modern Family highly recommend it. Black-Ish follows an upper-middle-class Black family attempting to figure out their place in the neighborhood (and in the larger world) and struggling with all the usual family drama on top of it. While the show definitely addresses some weightier topics (predominantly race), it does so with style and humor and gives a unique sitcom that is willing to comment on topical scenarios.

7 Life In Pieces (2015-2019)

One Extended Family With A Variety Of Experiences

Though it never attracted the same level of success in the ratings and awards as other family-centric sitcoms, Life in Pieces is an underrated gem. Like Modern Family, this sitcom follows an extended family and their ups and downs — with stories of different events and milestones told by various family members. Expect the same age range and similar hilarity to Modern Family, but with an entirely new group of strange characters and oddball family members to laugh with.

6 This Is Us (2016-2022)

Generations Of One Loving Family

This Is Us may not be a comedy, but it is a brilliant depiction of family life on the small screen that has a lot in common with Modern Family despite the difference in tone. It shares a similar format to Modern Family as it deals with the various households within a larger family but with a twist. Told in various different timelines, it is the story of three triplets as adults, as kids, and their parents’ romance before they were born. The series is absolutely heartbreaking, but somehow heartwarming at the same time. This is Us ended in 2022, marking a poignant and emotional journey for these characters.

5 Big Mouth (2017)

Animated Series Exploring The Awkwardness Of Growing Up

Over the course of Modern Family‘s run, the children of the show grew and went through their respective awkward years, adding a decent amount of crude humor to the later seasons. Likewise, Big Mouth follows a group of tweens as they start to cope with the changes of their age — from the physical to the emotional. Brilliantly, though, the series also frequently delves into fantasy territory, introducing Hormone Monsters (and a range of other anthropomorphized emotions and concepts) who exist to “help” guide kids through puberty. Big Mouth is riotously funny, often cringe-worthy, and incredibly relatable.

4 Fresh Off The Boat (2015-2019)

Love And Humor Keeping A Family Together In The ’90s

Fresh Off the Boat is another look at a family much different than those in Modern Family but filled with the same love and humor. This brilliant sitcom combines family conflicts, culture shock, and a little helping of nostalgia, too. Fresh Off The Boat is based on the memoir of Eddie Huang, following a Taiwanese family as they move from Washington to Orlando in the ’90s. Culture shock piles on culture shock as both kids and parents try and fit in — and the Dad struggles to keep his uber-American cowboy restaurant afloat. Funny, light, and filled with ’90s tunes, Fresh Off The Boat will resonate for anyone who had to move as a kid.

3 Schitt’s Creek (2015-2020)

A Dysfunctional Family Helps Each Other Grow

Viewers watched as the lovable characters of Modern Family grew and evolved over the series, much like the Schitt’s Creek characters whose fish-out-of-water experience made them better people. Schitt’s Creek starts when an ultra-wealthy family is suddenly bankrupt thanks to a shady business manager and forced to relocate to a small town. Watching people used to billions try and get used to nothing is hilarious on its own, but the family dynamic is especially brilliant — this is not a close and loving family at the start, but they learn a lot from their new life.

2 The Goldbergs (2013-2023)

Nostalgic Look At Dysfunction Among A Loving Family

Another show like Modern Family that leans into nostalgia-viewing, The Goldbergs is set in the ’80s in Pennsylvania and is based on the real-life childhood of showrunner Adam F Goldberg. Expect the usual family dynamic hilarity, experiences of life before cellphones and social media but this isn’t a show about completely over-the-top experiences. Instead, the humor comes from very relatable and realistic family members, and the way that love really is at the heart of everything they do. There are many similarities between the Goldbergs and the Dunphys, at least when it comes to the obstacles they face.

1 Arrested Development (2003-2018)

An Extended Family’s Endless Misadventures

A lot of the fun of Modern Family comes from the dysfunctional nature of the family. However, they seem picture-perfect compared to the Bluths on Arrested Development. The Bluth family, their eccentric ways, their impossible approach to dealing with money, and their attempts to keep it under control are well-known. One of the most acclaimed sitcoms of all time, Arrested Development is sharply written in a way that makes it a joy to rewatch. It is full of endlessly quotable moments, and the likes of Jason Bateman, Jessica Walter, Michael Cera, and more in the cast ensure every episode is utterly hilarious.