Modern Family is one of the most beloved sitcoms of the last decade, having aired on ABC since 2009. This show follows the lives of the Pritchett-Dunphy-Tucker clan, a blended family which is a source of both comedy and drama. After 12 seasons, viewers have been able to rank the best episodes and discuss their favorite moments. Here we look at the episodes that have been highly ranked by viewers, and why they have become so popular.
Written by Sophie and last updated on nov 22, 2024.
PS: The following content contains spoilers!
PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!
Mitchell is having a hard time letting go of his old life and Gloria steps in to help him say goodbye. Haley, Luke and Alex decide to throw a party at the Dunphy house when Claire and Phil leave for a trip. Dylan’s mom takes the twins for the night.
The episode was rated 7.34 from 812 votes.
Mitch and Cam help Lily overcome her insecurities about wearing a bathing suit to a pool party but discover their own. Now that Gloria’s new internship is taking up so much of her time, Jay is feeling particularly neglected.
The episode was rated 7.36 from 1041 votes.
The Dunphy house is bursting at the seams when Dylan’s hippie mother moves in and Claire’s lonely stepdad wants to pay them a visit. Jay and Gloria attempt to help Manny get over his big breakup with Sherry.
The episode was rated 7.36 from 973 votes.
Claire needs to get everyone out of the house before they make her look bad in front of a reporter from an important women’s business magazine. Jay invites Manny to a little wine tasting in an attempt to spend some quality time together.
The episode was rated 7.37 from 1120 votes.
Cam and Mitchell’s friends mistakenly assume they have split up and have definitely chosen a side. Haley attempts to cook Thanksgiving dinner as a thank you for Claire and Phil’s support with the twins. Jay invites Phil and Dylan out to fly his model plane. Phil thinks this is his chance to reclaim his dignity after their first outing 10 years ago went so wrong.
The episode was rated 7.41 from 967 votes.
Claire has landed an interview for her dream job and is thwarted on her way to the interview by Phil's tricky staircase. Cam and Mitch debate the pros and cons of adopting another baby after unexpectedly receiving a call from their adoption agency.
The episode was rated 7.45 from 850 votes.
Phil, Claire, Alex and Luke love having the twins around, but taking care of them is exhausting! However, when they realize the babies might help them with a few things on their to-do lists, they offer to give Haley the day off.
The episode was rated 7.45 from 1085 votes.
Phil pays a visit to his dad after hearing some concerning news about him; Jay gives Claire and Mitch a bunch of their old childhood memorabilia that triggers them to reevaluate a long-held story about their first family vacation.
The episode was rated 7.47 from 930 votes.
In one last family trip, they head to Paris so Jay can accept a lifetime achievement award in the closet industry, but his old nemesis comes back to haunt him. Claire has a secret rendezvous in one of the most romantic cities in the world. Cam’s lifelong dream of performing as Fizbo on the streets of Paris is about to become a reality.
The episode was rated 7.48 from 887 votes.
Phil and Claire take Haley and Dylan to dinner to reassure them they are not bad parents. While out to dinner, they run into Mitch and Cam who are chaperoning Lily’s first date, as well as Jay and Gloria after attending Joe’s school play.
The episode was rated 7.50 from 908 votes.
Cam is hoping to keep everyone happy for their annual Christmas dinner as he hides and prepares for his big interview for a head coaching position out-of-state. Haley is excited to finally be reunited with wine. Mitchell is suspicious of Cam’s holiday trip to visit his family in Missouri.
The episode was rated 7.50 from 934 votes.
Phil is determined to finally scare Claire on Halloween. Gloria feels self-conscious about her age when someone correctly assumes she is Jay's wife. Mitch and Cam head to the WeHo Halloween Carnival after Lily decides to go to her first Halloween party alone.
The episode was rated 7.50 from 1052 votes.
Alex's company puts her up at a new luxury apartment building with a number of high-profile residents that the family is eager to take advantage of. Phil is on a mission to review the restaurant's famous sliders for his food blog.
The episode was rated 7.58 from 999 votes.
Mitchell and Cam settle in on their new normal, and Phil and Claire decide that one of the kids needs to move out in order to take control of the house again. Meanwhile, as Gloria becomes more successful at work, she notices Jay, Manny and Joe don't seem to need her as much.
The episode was rated 7.86 from 781 votes.
The entire family discovers saying goodbye is much harder than it seems.
The episode was rated 8.00 from 369 votes.
