With Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day in cinemas today, we look at the Top 13 most well-loved families.
The big screen spoils us week in, week out with an abundance of fantastic films and to celebrate the release of the new, hilarious family comedy, ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY in UK cinemas today, we have decided to take a look at the most well-loved families on the silver screen.
Trying to limit them to 10 was a tough challenge as the choice is so extensive – and so brilliant. So instead, take a look at our Top 13Â well-loved families in film:Â
1) Meet the Parents/Fockers – The Focker family
What is there not to love about this film? The Fockers have become one of the big screen’s most popular families, purely for their dysfunctional ways and utter comical hilarity. In-laws can be tough, but for Gaylord Focker, his new father-in-law brings out the very worst in him. In the series that began with Meet the Parents, two wildly different families continuously put a marriage to the test.Â
2) Home Alone – The McCallister’s
Like most kids, Kevin McCallister has moments where he wishes his family would just leave him alone. Frankly with a family as big as his, who can blame him? When his family leaves for vacation and leaves him behind, at first it’s all fun and games, but when two criminals try to rob his home, he misses the family that was always there for him and on Christmas morning receives the present he didn’t know he wanted: his family back. It’s cute, it’s endearing and definitely a must-see family we all want to see in the festive season.
3) Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day – The Cooper’s
Starring Steve Carell Disney’s ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY hits UK cinemas today and this heartwarming family film will definitely provide the giggles. It follows the unfortunate exploits of the Cooper family as they endure a hilariously disastrous day, in which everything that can go wrong does go wrong. Some of us may be able to relate to having a dysfunctional family and the chaos that comes with it, but what is the best thing about the Cooper’s? They rally together and realise that sometimes you need to have the bad days in order to appreciate the good.
4) The Sound of Music – The Von Trapp’s
The Von Trapp family is huge, talented and absolutely unforgettable. It was an exceptionally successful film in the mid-1960s – at the time of its release, it surpassed GONE WITH THE WIND as the number one box office hit of all time. Baron Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer), the father of the family and also a widower, runs his home near Salzburg like the ship he once commanded and he is rather strict and military-like with his children, who are all adorable and eel behaved. That changes when Maria (Julie Andrews) arrives from the convent to be the new governess of the seven children. Their romps through the hills inspire all to sing and to find joy in the smallest things — like raindrops on window panes. We can’t help but sing-a-long to the infamous soundtrack and wish we were part of that adorable family.
5) What We Did On Our Holiday – The McLeod’s
The film tells the story of Doug (David Tennant) and Abi (Rosamund Pike) and their three children who travel to the Scottish Highlands for Doug’s father Gordie’s (Billy Connolly) birthday party.
It’s soon clear that when it comes to keeping a secret under wraps from the rest of the family, their children are their biggest liability. The family are all over the place, argumentative and dealing with many issues, but they all pull together when tragedy strikes. It is a fantastic film with an an even more brilliant family. Don’t believe us? Then take a look at our review of the film.
6)Â Bridget Jones – The Jones’s
She is definitely one of the most famous Bridget’s on the planet, brought to life by Renee Zellweger and we love her and her wacky family. The undateable, chain-smoking, diet-obsessive Bridget is as loveable as her family. Her parents are rather out there, with her mother’s need to be noticed and cherished by her husband and Bridget’s complacent father is very relaxed with his wife’s excessiveness and demands and the hilarious romantic outings of his daughter. Despite their wacky ways, Bridget’s family is what remains important to her and are the people she turns to in her time of need. We love Bridget!
7) Frozen – Ana and Elsa
When the Disney animated film hit the big screen last year, the world went FROZENÂ crazy, with sing-along screenings, searing song downloads, toys galore and of course the impending musical adaptation of the film. Â Ana and Elsa may be very different from each other and struggle to keep their family united, but in the end, their love shines through and it helps them to save each other. This is one family that we enjoy watching again and again.Â
8) The Royal Tenenbaums – The Tenenbaums
The Tenenbaums are quite possibly one of film’s most dysfunctional, but infamous families, as three child prodigies grow up to become resentful of their father Royal. When Royal fakes being ill to gather his family together, they quickly realise they still harbour the same strong feelings of dislike. The family never completely forgives each other for past failures, but rather learn to grow from past mistakes and accept each other for who they are, faults and all.
9)Â Father of the Bride – The Banks’s
George Banks (Steve Martin) is an ordinary, middle-class man whose 21 year-old daughter Annie has decided to marry a man from an upper-class family, but George can’t think of what life would be like without his daughter. He becomes slightly insane, but his wife tries to make him happy for Annie, but when the wedding takes place at their home and a foreign wedding planner takes over the ceremony, George must try to handle the fact that people grow up.
10) The Addams Family
The film is a joy in all sorts of ways, being funny, ghoulish, and visually exciting, and featuring a pitch-perfect cast – particularly in the form of Raul Julia as Gomez, Anjelica Huston as Morticia, and Christina Ricci as Wednesday. Despite Halloween being upon us, this beloved family does not have to be enjoyed only seasonally, but all year round.Â
11) Little Miss Sunshine – The Hoover’s
The Hoover family in LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE couldn’t be more awkward and represent three generations of odd-bods, but we love them! With a grandfather addicted to heroin, a suicidal uncle and a son who’s taken a vow of silence, they and the audience know that a trip to a beauty pageant with the entire family will probably be hell. But the Hoover’s beautifully put together a group of people who may never come in first, but at least they’ll show together.
12) The Simpsons MovieÂ
The Family are perhaps more known in the world of TV rather than movies, but they are one of the most famous families in the history of popular culture. The Simpsons are no role models, they are definitely not like The Waltons, but they are thoroughly redeemed by their obvious love for one another. Homer and Marge’s parenting skills may not always be the most practical, but the Simpsons are a family that have kept us entertained for many years and for that, we thank them.
13) The Incredibles – The Parr’s
They may not seem much more than the regular family with their own squabbles and problems, but as The Incredibles, the Parr’s become a family that utilises the best of what everyone has to offer to work together as a great team. With Pixar’s first film starring human characters, the animation studio brought more depth to family dynamics than most live-action films do.
Not seen your favourite film family on here? Who would you add to the list?
