Plenty of movies center around families and the dynamics and themes that they bring up. Movies show that families can come in all shapes and sizes, including everything from blood relatives to those linked by foster care, adoption, and a myriad other types.
Some movie families, however, leave a bigger lasting impression on viewers than others. Whether it be through their crazy misadventures or through their supportive nature towards their loved ones during times of need, these popular households have proven themselves to be among the best cinema has to offer. Some of these great movie families have been around for a long time, and others are new to the big screen.
The Addams Family
First appearing in the cartoon strips of the newspaper The New Yorker, The Addams Family are one of the oldest cinematic families. They have featured in countless adaptations, from 1998's Addams Family Reunion to the more recent animated revival. The Addams Family are a particularly weird bunch, which makes them a joy to watch.
The father Gomez is a multibillionaire who bought a swamp for "scenic value," whilst his wife, Morticia, is a witch who uses baking powder in place of make-up to spruce up her face. Their daughter Wednesday is stranger still, having been known to draw pictures of trees with human heads, and Wednesday's brother Pugsley has displayed his own eccentric tendencies, with his irrational love for bombs and destruction.
The McFlys (Back To The Future)
The Back To The Future trilogy may be largely known for the banter between Doc Brown and Marty McFly, but at the heart of the three movies is the McFly family. This household is comprised of George and Lorraine McFly, as well as their son Marty, and they act as the driving force of the trilogy's narrative.
Their strong familial bond is echoed through time, as audiences meet George and Lorraine at different points in their lives. When Marty travels back to their school days in 1955, his future parents show a deep fondness for the young teen. Meanwhile, in the then-future year of 2015, George and Lorraine display concern over their son's personal circumstances, showing that their parental love never dies.
The Elves (Elf)
Released in 2003, Elf is considered by many to be the greatest Christmas movie of all time. After climbing into Father Christmas's sack during his visit to the orphanage, Buddy is raised as a baby by Papa Elf. Buddy's adoptive father ensures that he is treated the same as the other elves, securing him a place at elf school, as well as a job in Santa's workshop.
Papa Elf accepts Buddy into his life in spite of his limitations as a human being, even to the point of making him his personal assistant. When Buddy learns he is not an elf, Papa Elf is open and honest about the location of Buddy's biological human father, which reflects a significant degree of trust between Buddy and his adoptive elf Dad.
The Incredibles
One of Pixar's most critically acclaimed features, The Incredibles' success is largely down to the titular family, who are especially well characterized. Husband and wife team Bob and Helen Parr grapple throughout the movie with the merits of vigilantism in comparison to domestic bliss, whilst their children, Dash and Violet, are thrown into a world that rejects super-powered individuals.
These themes of prejudice are present throughout, as Dash and Violet are forced to hide their powers. Dash develops a rebellious streak after being told he cannot use his super-speed at school, whilst Violet becomes more shy and withdrawn. It's an interesting angle for this super-powered family and one that perfectly evokes the comic-book genre, which often explores these ideas.
The Weasleys (Harry Potter)
Families can come in all shapes and sizes, but there are not many out there who are quite as huge as the Weasleys. This family appears throughout the Harry Potter movies and is comprised of seven kids. Parents Molly and Arthur Weasley are the heads of the household, and try their best to accommodate their children's needs.
Molly, in particular, is especially loyal to her offspring, most notably when she saves her daughter Ginny from Bellatrix Lestrange, in one of Molly's best scenes. The Weasleys also act as Harry's closest equivalent to a loving family, warmly welcoming him into their home. This family doesn't just have a big household, they also have a big heart.
The Udakus (Black Panther)
During one period in time, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was disappointingly lacking in diversity. This improved with the release of Black Panther, which placed a Black family at the forefront of a comic-book movie. The Udakus are comprised of T'Challa, his sister Shuri and his mother Ramonda, who form Wakanda's "Panther Tribe."
The family is comprised of assertive individuals: T'Challa possesses strong combative abilities as the Black Panther, whilst Shuri's great intellect allows her to craft various technological creations. Ramonda has been known to keep various weapons in her possession in order to protect herself and her loved ones. Stopping this family from achieving their goals would prove to be a particularly challenging feat.
The Kents (Superman)
Richard Donner's Superman features many impressive aspects in its screenplay, but one of the most notable is the portrayal of Superman's adoptive family, the Kents. Jonathan and Martha Kent first discovered Clark in their hometown of Smallville and decided to raise the child as their own.
The Kents act as inspirational figures for the young Clark, as they teach him the moral responsibilities behind the use of his powers. Through their expert parentage, Clark learns to use his superpowers in order to help those in need, rather than as a means to impress his friends. In turn, he supports his adopted mom, Martha, when she is left a widower by her husband's passing, using half his pay-check from The Daily Planet to support her until her death.
The Mitchells (The Mitchells Vs The Machines)
Dysfunctional or chaotic families have long been a staple of cinema, and one of the more recent examples is the Mitchells, who consist of mother Linda, Dad Rick, and their children, Katie and Aaron, as well as their dog, Doug. Debuting in The Mitchells vs The Machines, this family is constantly squabbling. The chaotic nature of their domestic situation is further escalated when Rick decides to drive Katie to university, rather than allow her to catch a flight. This results in her being unable to join her friends for the university's "Fresher's Week."
What's most remarkable about this family is how much they are able to achieve, in spite of their flaws. Not only do the Mitchells manage to defeat an army of killer Furbies, but they also overthrow the film's entire robot empire. In comparison, the seemingly faultless Posey family are kidnapped by the robots early into the narrative, suggesting that sometimes a person does not have to be perfect in order to achieve success.
The Fantastic Four
Fondly dubbed "Marvel's First Family" by fans, the Fantastic Four are arguably cinema's finest household. The family is comprised of boyfriend and girlfriend duo Reed Richards and Sue Storm, as well as Sue's brother Johnny and family friend Ben Grimm. Audiences have frequently enjoyed their exploits, with some viewers considering 2005's Fantastic Four to be one of Chris Evans' most underrated movies.
The Fantastic Four's most exceptional qualities are undoubtedly their teamwork capabilities. The family brings their unique superpowers together on a number of occasions in order to stop their universe's biggest threats. Reed's stretching abilities, Sue's invisibility, Johnny's fire powers and Ben's strength as "The Thing" help to make this family a truly unstoppable force.
The LEGO Waynes (The LEGO Batman Movie)
The Batman franchise has gone through many iterations, but none have focused quite so much on "family" as The LEGO Batman Movie. The film sees LEGO Batman accidentally adopt orphaned child Dick Grayson during Jim Gordon's retirement party. Dick moves in with Batman and his legal guardian Alfred Pennyworth, and their family unit is later joined by the Caped Crusader's girlfriend. Barbara Gordon.
Batman goes on an emotional journey throughout the narrative, as he learns to accept his new family after spending a considerable amount of time alone. Afraid that they will meet the same dark fate as his biological parents, he struggles to trust Alfred, Dick and Barbara to join his life of vigilantism. Alfred and company are understanding of Batman's reluctance, as they give him time to process his deep emotional trauma.