Instant Family

Play trailer

2:27

Instant Family

PG-13

2018

1h 59m

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

155 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

When Pete and Ellie decide to start a family, they stumble into the world of foster care adoption. They hope to take in one small child, but when they meet three siblings, including a rebellious 15-year-old girl, they find themselves speeding from zero to three kids overnight. Now, Pete and Ellie must try to learn the ropes of instant parenthood in the hope of becoming a family.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Instant Family may not quite capture the complexity of real-life adoption, but fittingly for the unconditional bond it honors, this flawed yet well-intentioned dramedy is ultimately worth the investment.

Read Critics Reviews

Andrea Gronvall

Chicago Reader

02/22/2020

It's embarrassing to watch Tig Notaro, Octavia Spencer, Julie Hagerty, and Joan Cusack struggle to find footing in this abyss.

Go to Full Review

Simran Hans

Observer (UK)

02/17/2019

3/5

Anders and his wife are parents to three adopted children, and there's a sense of verisimilitude and attention to detail regarding both the joys and the travails of foster care.

Go to Full Review

Mark Kermode

Kermode & Mayo's Film Review

02/16/2019

I was surprisingly taken by it.

Go to Full Review

Calum Cooper

Source (Scotland)

07/14/2024

3/5

The right amount of heart is definitely in the screenplay, and the characters are fleshed out well enough that we find ourselves laughing at the funny moments and empathising with the dramatic moments.

Go to Full Review

Charlotte Harrison

Charlotte Sometimes Goes to the Movies

09/19/2022

A real surprise when it came out, a film as full of laughs as it is heart.

Go to Full Review

M.N. Miller

Ready Steady Cut

08/17/2022

3.5

Instant Family is a heartfelt mainstream comedy without the gross-out gags, yet is still funny and surprisingly moving.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Evan I.

@WhyteTiger Mar 5

It's perfect. Funny and emotional

See more

Dave P

@RT77480603 Feb 22

One of the best movies about family and the importance of family for raising children made in recent years. Worth the watch, but make sure you're prepared for tears.

See more

David S

@IH8Phags69 Jan 15

This is a stupid a$$ movie about a bunch of spoiled rotten kids who never appreciate a damn thing!!!

See more

Albert W

@CommonSenseAl Oct 4

Great family movie. I'm awarding my rare, coveted and much desired 5 star rating to this one.... and no one knows rating like I do. That I can tell you.

See more

Lu E.

@Lu-ella Sep 28

Instant family is one of my absolute favorite movies. I loved tue family dynamic, the realism that came with every relationship involved. I loved the realism thoughts and questions that came in play when adopting and the difficulties shown. I absolutely love this movie as someone who is planning on adopting in the future and have wanted to since childhood. I loved the healthy relationship of the parents and transparency between, just such a healthy relationship which leads to a healthy family. I’ve rewatched instant family about 4 times and will continue to rewatch it :) my comfort show.

See more

Pedro Henrique C

@Pedro2005 Sep 15

Instant Family (2018) is a comedy film with some adult jokes that is very fun to watch. The film also highlights the importance of children who need a home and good parents. The story is simple but effective, and it has a great cast that has a lot of fun on screen. A great surprise from Paramount.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Sean Anders

Director

Mark Wahlberg

Pete

Rose Byrne

Ellie

Octavia Spencer

Karen

Isabela Merced

Lizzy

Tig Notaro

Sharon

Instant Family: Official Clip - Nail Gun Emergency

2:12

Instant Family: Official Clip - She's Not Coming

2:09

Instant Family: Official Clip - Naked Selfies

2:13

Instant Family: Official Clip - Daddy for the First Time

1:16

Instant Family: Official Clip - Pervert Punishment

2:13

Instant Family: Official Clip - You Were What Was Missing

2:03

Instant Family: Official Clip - Cool Grandma

2:13

Instant Family: Official Clip - Christmas Dinner Hell

2:13

Instant Family: Official Clip - Smashing Therapy

2:11

Instant Family: Official Clip - Drug-Using Teenagers

2:02

View more videos

Tyler Perry's The Single Moms Club

19%

58%

Tyler Perry's The Single Moms Club

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Tyler Perry's The Single Moms Club

Ya veremos

0%

68%

Ya veremos

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Ya veremos

Summer Night

55%

22%

Summer Night

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Summer Night

The Upside

43%

82%

The Upside

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Upside

Please Stand By

58%

70%

Please Stand By

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Please Stand By

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

10 Breakout Stars of 2018

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Could Use a Bit More Magic

Instant Family: Trailer 1

2:27

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

When Pete and Ellie decide to start a family, they stumble into the world of foster care adoption. They hope to take in one small child, but when they meet three siblings, including a rebellious 15-year-old girl, they find themselves speeding from zero to three kids overnight. Now, Pete and Ellie must try to learn the ropes of instant parenthood in the hope of becoming a family.

Director: Sean Anders
Producer: Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, Sean Anders, John Morris, Marc D. Evans
Screenwriter: Sean Anders, John Morris
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Closest to the Hole
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual Material|Language|Some Drug References|Thematic Elements)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 16, 2018, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 19, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $67.3M
Runtime: 1h 59m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Most Popular at Home Now