Family conflict is at the heart of the majority of TV shows. It’s a subject that is endlessly compelling, incredibly dynamic, and often relatable. We all have a family of some sort, and it’s not always sunshine and roses, so it is somewhat comforting to viewers who might find themselves in similar situations to see such dynamics represented on screen.
Thanksgiving can be a complicated holiday for many, so whether you’re looking to connect with your family some more, or you just want something to quietly pass the time, why not sit down this year and check out a good TV show? Some of the best shows about dysfunctional families explore complex dynamics within groups, and feature unforgettable scenes that stay with viewers long after the season is over. From Peaky Blinders to The Sopranos, these are the best dysfunctional family shows, ranked by dysfunctionality.
35
‘George Lopez’ (2002–2007)
Created by George Lopez, Bruce Helford, and Robert Borden
A major pop culture icon of the 2000s, this ABC sitcom stars comedian George Lopez, in a fictionalized portrait of himself and his family life. In George Lopez, George is a worker at the Powers Brothers aviation factory, raising his daughter, Carmen (Masiela Lusha), and a dyslexic son, Max (Luis Armand Garcia), along with his wife, Angie (Constance Marie). The show focuses on their daily lives and how George deals with his marriage, growing children, and a slew of peculiar characters, especially his neglectful, alcoholic mother, Benny (Belita Moreno).
George Lopez is hearty, humorous, and relatable to many and has drawn a large family audience over the years. The Lopez family’s daily misadventures and eccentric dynamics provide ample material for big laughs in every episode, even if some jokes and plotlines feel coarse, clichéd, and long-winded. A fun comedy series, George Lopez resonates with classic family comedies like Everybody Loves Raymond, and makes for a nostalgic watch. —Maddie P
George Lopez
- Release Date
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2002 – 2006
- Network
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ABC
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George Lopez
George Lopez
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Constance Marie
Angie Lopez
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Luis Armand Garcia
Max Lopez
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34
‘Married…With Children’ (1987–1997)
Created by Michael G. Moye and Ron Leavitt
Before Modern Family, Ed O’Neill gained stardom in this family sitcom as Al Bundy, a former high school football player turned down-on-luck shoe salesman seeking desperate ways to escape the monotony of his dysfunctional family life. Set in Chicago, Married…With Children focuses on the twisted family dynamics between Al, his lazy, shopaholic wife, Peggy (Katey Sagal), dim-witted daughter, Kelly (Christina Applegate), and boastful son, Bud (David Faustino).
A show ahead of its time, Married…With Children refutes the conventional, picture-perfect imagery of American sitcom families, which roused controversies during its run but eventually inspired similar shows in the future. The Bundys and their warped dynamics make for sharp humor and an honest depiction of realistic issues within family relationships. Even though the family members mostly insult and belittle each other, they always come together against outside forces. The jokes in Married…with Children might be sexually charged and often too blunt, but the show offers great laughs and important lessons about family life. —Maddie P
Married… With Children
- Release Date
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1987 – 1996
- Network
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FOX
- Showrunner
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Ron Leavitt
- Directors
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Ron Leavitt
- Writers
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Ron Leavitt
33
‘Modern Family’ (2009–2020)
Created by Steven Levitan
Steven Levitan‘s Modern Family could not be missing from such a list, especially when it has received plenty of accolades — including Emmys — and love from general audiences. Counting on 11 seasons, this silly fun series follows three different, but related, families as they face trials and tribulations in their own unique, hilarious ways.
Part of Modern Family‘s charm is the incredible result of well-cast stars: the talented actors it features were all perfectly picked and embody their different characters believably. Modern Family is surely the television series for lovers of dysfunctional family dynamics portrayals on television, providing audiences with an absorbing and undeniably fun time in front of the screen and even serving as a comfort show for some.
32
‘Kim’s Convenience’ (2016–2021)
Created by Ins Choi
In the lighthearted sitcom Kim’s Convenience, a Korean-Canadian family runs a convenience store. Mr. Kim (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee) and Mrs. Kim (Jean Yoon) manage the store. In the meantime, their adult children, Janet (Andrea Bang) and Jung (Simu Liu), navigate their own lives.
Like other shows on this list, Ins Choi’s heartfelt series delves into themes of generational trauma while exploring family dynamics and cultural clashes. Like the fan-favorite A24 Best Picture winner Everything Everywhere All at Once, it intriguingly sheds light on the tension between immigrant parents and their children. Still, despite their complexities, Kim’s Convenience highlights the family’s care for each other, resulting in a relatable watch that will probably resonate with some viewers.
31
‘The Middle’ (2009–2018)
Created by Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline
Perfect for anyone who is looking to cuddle up with a great, lighthearted comedy series, The Middle illustrates the struggles of a married woman (Patricia Heaton) and her dysfunctional family, portraying their attempts to survive life, including parenthood, work, and general familial anxieties, in the town of Orson, Indiana.
Created by Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline, The Middle is a must-see in this niche subgenre, perfectly depicting the average small-town, lower-class American family and providing audiences with a fun, at times even relatable time in the meantime. The characters are also well-written, though this isn’t always obvious and their stories are gradually better developed as the show progresses. The Middle is far from being the best series of all time. However, it is nonetheless absorbing and does a great job of keeping boredom at bay.
30
‘Schitt’s Creek’ (2015–2020)
Created by Dan Levy
Dan Levy‘s highly popular, fan-favorite Schitt’s Creek sees a man named Johnny Rose (Eugene Levy) and his family who, after being a victim of fraud, go from extremely wealthy to penniless overnight. The result is, needless to say, not fantastic, and the only asset left to them is a small, unsophisticated town: Schitt’s Creek. They relocate there, but culture shock quickly ensues.
Anyone into comedy shows involving dysfunctional families will probably enjoy Levy’s series, whether that be for the funny narrative, memorable characters, or even the show’s touching season finale. With that said, Schitt’s Creek is the kind of show that gets better with each passing season, making for the perfect choice for anyone looking to immerse themselves in a humorous yet touching family narrative.
29
‘This Is Us’ (2016–2022)
Created by Dan Fogelman
Although it reached full stop just two years ago, Dan Fogelman‘s Emmy-winning 2016 show is worth checking out for its incredibly touching narrative. This Is Us tells the story of a unique set of triplets (Justin Harley, Chrissy Metz, and Sterling K. Brown), their struggles, and their incredible parents.
While it can be incredibly heartwarming and moving, the high-quality production This Is Us explores mental health issues and dysfunctional family dynamics in an engaging way, tackling not only sibling rivalry—and how it affects each one’s self-worth—but also self-identity and generational trauma. It also deals with themes of grief and loss, including the emotional scars left behind and their impact on the family.
This Is Us
- Release Date
-
2016 – 2022-00-00
- Network
-
NBC
28
‘Malcolm in the Middle’ (2000–2006)
Created by Linwood Boomer
What has now become a classic, Malcolm in the Middle tells the story of the titular character, a bright and brilliant teenager and the middle child of the Wilkerson family, who navigates living with his dysfunctional family while grappling with adolescence. Narrated from Malcolm’s (Frankie Muniz) point of view, the show follows the daily happenings in their middle-class household, focusing on the no-frills mother, Lois (Jane Kaczmarek), the exhausted father, Hal (Bryan Cranston), and his troublesome older and younger brothers.
Malcolm in the Middle is a lighthearted and fun show about a family with oddball characters. While they might not be as bad as the Bluths of Arrested Development or even the Harpers of Two and a Half Men, the Wilkersons deliver a lot of laughs and sometimes tender moments with their ill-fitting dynamics. Malcolm in the Middle earned widespread popularity during its run for its relatable characters and easy storytelling. —Maddie P
27
‘Raising Hope’ (2010–2015)
Created by Greg Garcia
Although canceled, Greg Garcia‘s Raising Hope is still worth checking for a number of reasons: one of them being its engrossing plot surrounding 23-year-old Jimmy (Lucas Neff) who becomes a single parent to a little girl after her mother, with whom he had a one-night stand, ends up on Death Row.
Anyone who argues that Raising Hope is an underrated show is not lying. Garcia’s equal parts heartwarming and humorous series counts on a truly entertaining, absurdist storyline that can even feel a bit relatable to some, whether that is because of the situation that the protagonist finds himself in or even some of the characters’ traits. Overall, it is a dysfunctional family essential in television that tackles parenthood and helps keep audiences entertained.
26
‘The Simpsons’ (1989–)
Created by Matt Groening
Matt Groening‘s show is one of the earliest shows to use humor to critique various aspects of our society, with a satire of the American family life at its center. Featuring half-hour episodes, The Simpsons follows a working-class family in the misfit city of Springfield, illustrating how they go on about their days and their intriguing connection.
It’s not hard to grasp how Groening’s iconic series has captured the attention of many: Whether because of its memorable characters or the relatable topics it analyzes (apparently, to the point of some Simpsons episodes predicting future events), The Simpsons is an entertaining show that resonates for younger and mature audiences. Part of the series’ charm is the highly dysfunctional family that anchors it and how they stand together no matter what.
The Simpsons
- Release Date
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December 17, 1989
- Network
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FOX
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Homer Simpson / Abe Simpson / Barney Gumble / Krusty (voice)
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Julie Kavner
Marge Simpson / Patty Bouvier / Selma Bouvier (voice)
