Modern Family Seasons, Ranked

When Modern Family premiered on ABC in 2009, it was an immediate hit. Few other sitcoms have been able to upstage it since then. Every aspect of the unique series captured the attention and hearts of audiences — from the subtle, awkward humor, to the likable characters and family dynamic, to the important social issues it addressed. Not only was Modern Family loved among viewers, it was also lauded by critics and won countless awards across its 11-season run. That makes it interesting to see how all the Modern Family seasons fare when ranked together.

Presented in a mockumentary style, Modern Family followed the Pritchett, Dunphy, and Tucker-Pritchett families in suburban Los Angeles through their everyday shenanigans. As the series went on, the families expanded with significant others, babies, and pets joining the gang. Though the entire series was incredibly well done, some Modern Family seasons stood out in contrast to others.

Updated December 6th by Isaac Williams: Modern Family remains a beloved and nostalgic sitcom years after its final episodes, but fans still disagree over its best and worst seasons. This list has been updated to fit CBR’s current formatting standards and to give an even closer ranking of Modern Family’s seasons.

11 None of Season 9’s Storylines Stuck Out To Viewers

Modern Family Season 9 followed the Pritchetts, Dunphys, and Tucker-Pritchetts at a pivotal moment in their collective lives. The kids, save for Lily and Joe, were all adults. Claire was still working as partner to her CEO father in Closets Closets Closets. Baby of the family Joe was five years old, and Lily hit puberty while Cam and Mitchell struggled with how to parent her through it.

Regardless of how important this chapter was for the family, Season 9 was Modern Family‘s least memorable. The overall plot was not as interesting and the jokes weren’t as humorous. Add in the fact that it wasn’t nominated for any notable awards (save for a Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series), and Season 9 was forgettable at best. It comfortably occupies the bottom spot on this list of best Modern Family seasons for being what a sitcom should never be: unmemorable.

10 Season 10 Passed Without Much Notice

In Modern Family Season 10, the Dunphys, Pritchetts, and Tucker-Pritchetts underwent many coming-of-age milestones together. The season focused heavily on Haley, as she and Dylan prepared to have twins. Stepping into parenthood is monumental, and thus, the rest of the family was affected as well — especially Claire and Phil, who became grandparents.

Notable episodes in Modern Family‘s tenth season included “Good Grief” (in which the families dealt with the death of Mitch and Claire’s mother Dede) and “SuperShowerBabyBowl” (when Jay tried to host his Super Bowl party simultaneously with Haley’s baby shower). Sadly, Modern Family Season 10 received few accolades compared to other seasons. It was nominated for one Emmy Award and a GLAAD Media Award, among a handful of others.

9 Season 11 Alleviated The Slump Before The End

Season 11 wasn’t a favorite, but it was still memorable. Modern Family‘s characters were in completely different stages of life than they were 10 years earlier. Haley was raising twins, Alex took a job in Switzerland and Manny and Luke were off to begin their lives as adults. Meanwhile, Claire was still killing it in the workforce. Jay and Gloria continued to be busy with Joe, while Cam and Mitch were raising preteen Lily and newborn baby Rex while making the move to Missouri.

Season 11 received fair reviews from critics, with Rotten Tomatoes giving it 79%, saying the season was a “touching tribute to the show and a fitting enough farewell to one of TV’s favorite families.” It received three Emmy nominations but wasn’t able to stand up to the show’s heyday as one of the best seasons of Modern Family.

8 Season 8 Felt Too Much Like What Came Before

Modern Family Season 8 saw the three families doing what they did best — getting into humorous situations while their love for each other kept them close. But eight years into the series, these 22 episodes weren’t too impressive. Although its storylines broke new ground for Modern Family, they didn’t do so in a way that stood out from its more shocking and unexpected early years.

Significant plot points included Haley dating Rainer Shine, a man much older than her. Gloria, Phil, and Cam formed an alliance to cope with the difficulties of being a spouse to a Pritchett. Phil and Claire’s sexy alter egos, Juliana and Clive Bixby, also made a reappearance that landed Claire in the hospital. Season 8 was nominated for two Emmys, a GLAAD Media Award, and a People’s Choice Award.

7 Season 7 Leaned Too Hard On Familiar Dynamics

Though it received mixed reviews, Modern Family Season 7 still delivered. The season contained pivotal plot points for multiple characters that set the show’s course for the next four seasons. Alex left for college. Claire took over Jay’s closet company, which created space for Phil — who felt like a housewife — to raise a flock of baby ducks at home. Gloria stepped into the business world by selling her family’s secret sauce and Jeremy Maguire was added to the cast as toddler-aged Joe.

Season 7 maintained Modern Family‘s traditional quirky humor and warped character dynamics, but only received a 67% score on Rotten Tomatoes — considerably lower than some other seasons. Many felt that Modern Family was becoming a spent creative force by its seventh season, attempting to play the same things for laughs and finding fewer each time.

6 Season 5’s Highlights Couldn’t Save It

Modern Family‘s fifth season has some genuine highlights. However, these come amid a season that continues the show’s downward trend. The characters and their dynamics regress to a more shallow version of themselves. This comes despite some highly-recognized storylines, including Mitch and Cam’s wedding in the two-part season finale.

Season 5 of Modern Family has some other well-liked episodes, including “The Old Man & the Tree” and “Las Vegas.” These standouts aren’t enough to elevate the season as a whole, however. They keep it higher on this list than some other seasons, but Season 5 also contains some contenders for Modern Family‘s worst episode ever.

5 Season 4 Began To Show Modern Family’s Limits

Season 4 was one of Modern Family‘s less favorable seasons among critics. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 67%, saying it “still has charm to burn and boasts a uniformly excellent cast, but the series’ subversive edge has dulled.” However, Season 4 still had its enjoyable moments, with “The Butler’s Escape” and “Heart Broken” being two of the best episodes.

Although Modern Family‘s fourth season doesn’t represent a definitive decline for the show, it does show the cracks that would form in later seasons. The show becomes too mundane compared to what it once was, relying too much on conventional family life rather than mocking its absurdities. As a result, it’s below many of Modern Family‘s best seasons on this list.

4 Season 6 Was Held Aloft By Many Standout Episodes

Season 6 brought about several milestones for the characters of Modern Family. Haley turned 21. Alex graduated from high school. Gloria earned her American citizenship. Claire and Jay tried to shoot a commercial for the closet company. The hijinks and comedic plot lines that only Modern Family could pull off were very much present.

Notable episodes in Modern Family‘s sixth season included “Marco Polo,” the Thanksgiving episode “Three Turkeys,” “The Day We Almost Died,” “The Big Guns,” “Patriot Games” and “American Skyper.” The season’s well-liked repertoire of successful episodes showed fans that Modern Famiily‘s best seasons weren’t all in the past, even though it marked the last true high point.

3 Season 2 Avoided A Sophomore Slump

After the massive success that was Modern Family‘s first season, Season 2 had high expectations — and it did not disappoint. Season 2 included many of the show’s best, funniest and most unforgettable episodes, including “The Old Wagon,” “Halloween,” “Dance Dance Revelation,” “Slow Down Your Neighbors,” “Caught in the Act,” “Regrets Only,” “Two Monkeys and a Panda,” “The Musical Man” and “Mother’s Day.”

Season 2 of Modern Family did well by all accounts. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a score of 86%, but the audience score rated it at a noteworthy 95%. It was bolder than the first season without many strikeout episodes. Many fans consider Season 2 to be Modern Family‘s best season, although it comes lower on this list than a handful of other standouts.

2 Season 3 Lets Modern Family Come Into Its Own

Earning a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Modern Family Season 3 ranks third on this list. The characters were firmly established and the audience was invested in them. Season 3 boasted several unforgettable moments, including Mitch and Cam’s multiple attempts to adopt another baby, Claire’s valiant run for city council against Duane Bailey, the three families rallying for “Express Christmas,” Lily learning her first swear word and two hilarious family trips to Disneyland and Wyoming.

Modern Family‘s third season marks the point when the show became fully comfortable with its characters and its tone to explore the more ridiculous side of life. It also came at a time when the show’s signature tropes and storytelling techniques still felt fresh. This combination makes it a shoo-in for many fans’ opinions of Modern Family‘s best season.

1 Season 1 Began Things On A Near-Perfect Note

With the 24 episodes that started it all, Season 1 is the best outing and one of the funniest Modern Family seasons. Audiences and critics alike were captivated by this new kind of family with their hilarious antics and dynamic personalities. The show was a funny and outlandish sitcom, while also being real and relatable. Noteworthy episodes included “Coal Digger,” “Fizbo,” “Undeck the Halls,” “Not in My House,” “Airport 2010,” “Hawaii” and “Family Portrait.”

Modern Family‘s first season was highly lauded by critics. It earned a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It received nine Emmy nominations, three of which it won. The show’s debut run was also nominated for a Golden Globe, a GLAAD Media Award, and a Screen Actor’s Guild Award. Despite being the show’s very first outing, the first season takes the top spot on this list of the best Modern Family seasons for the sheer universal adoration it earned.