Missing 'Modern Family?' From 'Boy Meets World' to 'Black-ish' and Back, the 55 Best Shows To Watch as a Family

From kid-friendly comedies to thought-provoking dramas, these are the best shows for family TV nights.

Author:
Shameika Rhymes
Updated:
Oct 28, 2022

There are so many shows streaming and on cable that it’s hard to determine which ones are appropriate for family viewing. There are shows that give insight to blended families, divorce and the ups and downs of teenage angst. or maybe you prefer shows with a dose of magic or that are set in the Star Wars universe and take you on a journey to faraway galaxies.

Regardless of whether you're in the mood to laugh, cry, rejoice or cheer on a superhero, there’s a show on this list that you can watch as a family. Here are 55 of the best family TV shows ever and shows like Modern Family, including family shows from the '90s and current family-friendly fare, shows that are appropriate for kids but still entertaining for adults.

Best Family TV Shows and Shows Like Modern Family

Modern Family

The O.G.! This award-winning show is centered around the blended Pritchett-Dunphy-Tucker family. Modern Family is a hilarious mockumentary that gives an honest look into a twisted modern family. Consisting of 11 seasons of comically based situations that real families face in everyday life, the show is perfect to watch with the entire family.

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

It’s been 30 years since a kid from West Philly ended up at a mansion in Bel Air. The theme song to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air tells the story of how Will Smith got into some neighborhood beef and his mom sends him to California to live with their rich family members. The show depicted an upper-class Black family that was still in touch with the realities of the culture in America.

Bel-Air

A reinvention of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Bel-Air takes a more serious turn as a family drama tackling social issues and racial justice. Bel-Air is a Peacock original starring newcomer Jabari Banks as Will Smith.

The Simpsons

From predicting the future to criticizing corruption (we're looking at you, Mr. Burns!), The Simpsons is as heartfelt as it is hilarious. There's a reason it's been on TV basically forever (or nearly 34 years, but who's counting?)!

The Good Witch

This Hallmark Channel drama fantasy follows the residents of Middleton, including Cassie Nightingale (Catherine Bell) and her daughter and the next-door neighbors. It’s an ongoing mystery surrounding Cassie’s family lineage and how she can magically make things happen while running her store and the local bed and breakfast. It’s a feel-good show that the entire family can enjoy because it emphasizes the importance of empathy, responsibility and being kind.

The Great British Baking Show

Do you and your kids love baking together? This show is for you. It’s filmed in the U.K. but it touches hearts and stomachs around the world. This competition series seeks to find the best of the best baker. Amateur bakers of all ages and walks of life don their aprons to compete by baking challenging pastries, cakes, breads and desserts.

Nailed It!

Imagine The Great British Baking Show if the contestants were American and the worst bakers imaginable. Then have them make really intricate and complicated desserts, and you have Nailed It!. It's a recipe for disaster, but in the best and most hilarious possible way.

Malcolm In the Middle

Before The Middle, there was Malcolm In the Middle. The series is a hilarious depiction of adolescence in a lower-middle-class family that's somehow both very of its time and timeless. Plus, you cannot possibly go wrong with Bryan Cranston.

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Bob's Burgers

Adults and kids alike will adore the absurdity that is Bob's Burgers, albeit for different reasons. From financial struggles to getting stuck in a cardboard fort on Halloween, the show mixes food, humor and music like no other—but what makes it the most meaty is its wholesomeness.

Heartland

This multi-generational family show is set in the foothills of the Rockies. The series is centered around the Heartland horse ranch as Amy Fleming (Amber Marshall), her older sister Lou (Michelle Morgan) and their grandfather Jack (Shaun Johnston) juggle the challenges of running the family business. The family drama is based on the middle school novel series, Heartland, by Lauren Brooke.

The Nanny

After cosmetics saleswoman Fran Fine (Fran Drescher) is fired from her job and dumped by her boyfriend, she unexpectedly gets a job as the nanny to the three children of a wealthy widower. Fran’s no-nonsense honesty and sharp wit bring logic and new perspective to the Sheffield family. The entire series can now be seen on HBO Max.