Summary

• Some of the funniest Modern Family episodes feature interconnecting storylines and family through relatable struggles, making them rewatchable.
• Episodes like "Up All Night" and "The Bicycle Thief" showcase Phil's hilarious reactions and bold parenting tactics that often lead to comedic chaos.
• Cam's rivalries and feuds, such as in "Spring-A-Ding-Fling," provide plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, while the show also excels in mixing humor with relatable domestic mishaps, as seen in "Great Expectations."

It's no easy task picking the funniest Modern Family episodes out of all 250 in existence. Throughout the show's entire run from 2009 to 2020, Modern Family was the definitive American sitcom. With 85 Emmy nominations and 22 wins under its belt as well as strong ratings for ABC, it still remains a popular streaming option for people looking to laugh out loud. The lovable cast of characters and clever situations brought those big laughs to the tale of this extended family, with a few standout episodes really highlighting the show's humor.

Up until the Modern Family in 2020, the best episodes made great use of the ensemble and their funny, relatable struggles with one another. But no matter how hard some conversations or situations were, the three families ed each other and talked through their misgivings and secrets. From the episodes that wonderfully interconnect three different stories to the big ensemble episodes with the whole family on vacation to the memorable holiday celebrations, the funniest Modern Family episodes are among the most rewatchable of any sitcom.

40 The Incident

Season 1, Episode 4

All the core cast of Modern Family have helped the show's popularity and enduring legacy in their own way. However, many of the recurring characters also add to the charm, and one of the most instantly impactful was DeDe, Jay's ex-wife and Claire and Mitchell's mother. "The Incident" is one of the best Modern Family episodes because of DeDe, and it both introduced her to audiences and remained one of the funniest performances from Shelley Long as the character.

DeDe's relationship with her children and ex-husband is strained at best. Gloria, however, always speaks of DeDe with barely-concealed hatred. While this at first could be seen as Gloria simply disliking her husband's former spouse "The Incident" revealed there's more to the story. DeDe was at Jay and Gloria's wedding and made an incredibly, incredibly inappropriate toast that saw her having to be escorted from the venue. It's an unforgettable moment from the earliest seasons of Modern Family, and remains one of the definitive episodes of the show.

39 Airport 2010

Season 1, Episode 22

"Airport 2010" arrives towards the end of the first season, and it remains one of the best Modern Family episodes simply because it's so relatable. The plot sees Gloria treating Jay to a vacation in Hawaii. However, while Jay at first thinks he's going to have a romantic getaway, he's dismayed to find that the entire family is tagging along. While the episode that takes place in Hawaii is perhaps more fondly ed, "Airport 2010" would still stand even if the events of the vacation itself hadn't been shown.

This Modern Family season 1 episode perfectly captures all the chaos of air-travel with a large group, especially one that includes teenagers and young children. It's filled with now-classic moments throughout, and also features Jay at his disgruntled best. Everything that could go wrong does in "Airport 2010", with the family having to deal with forgotten ports, fear of flying, and everything in-between.

38 Hit And Run

Season 3, Episode 5

"Hit and Run" is one of the best Modern Family episodes because it captures one of the key strengths of the mockumentary sitcom. While many of the most memorable installments are those where all the family are involved in the same storyline, "Hit and Run" proves that the show is just as funny when it juggles multiple narratives. It's an episode where each of the main characters are seemingly involved in their own isolated adventures, and each of them is just as hilarious as the others.

In "Hit and Run", Gloria is trying to help Jay and Manny deal with work/school stress but gets continually rebuffed, Phil and Claire fall afoul of a local councilman, and Mitch and Cam have to track down a car that hit theirs and then flees before insurance details can be exchanged. In typical Modern Family fashion, all these separate plot threads converge by the end of the episode, making it a textbook example of the masterful storytelling that makes the show so beloved.

37 Go Bullfrogs!

Season 3, Episode 6

For many fans, Phil is perhaps the standout character of Modern Family. He perfectly epitomizes the archetype of a "lovable idiot", who, for all his failings, is only ever acting with the best intentions of his loved ones in mind. It's no surprise then that many Phil-centric episodes rank among the best Modern Family has to offer, with season 3's "Go Bullfrogs" giving viewers a glimpse into Phil's life at college.

The episode sees Phil take Haley on a tour of his old college, which then quickly turns into him getting lost in whimsical nostalgia and trying to cope with the fact that times have changed since he was a student. The secondary stories in the episode are just as funny and relatable too, with Claire insisting Cam and Mitch take her on a night out while Phil is away, and Jay and Gloria trying to amp up the courage to have "the talk" with Manny.

36 Goodnight Gracie

Season 4, Episode 24

While many of the best Modern Family episodes stand out because they're the funniest the sitcom has to offer, this is far from always the case. A key reason Modern Family is so beloved is that it's one of the most relatable sitcoms ever made, and this means that it has plenty of emotional episodes thrown into the mix. "Goodnight Gracie" from Modern Family season 4 is a textbook example of the show at its emotive best, and is still ed by many as one of the biggest tear-jerkers across all 11 seasons.

It wouldn't be Modern Family without plenty of comedic moments too, and sub-plots like Gloria having to evade an outstanding arrest warrant in Florida create plenty of laugh-out-loud situations to counterbalance the heavier scenes.

The episode has a simple yet instantly-emotional premise. Phil's mom, Gracie, es away, and so the family travels down to Florida for her funeral. "Goodnight Gracie" is filled with no shortage of highly impactful scenes, which the cast pull off incredibly well. Of course, it wouldn't be Modern Family without plenty of comedic moments too, and sub-plots like Gloria having to evade an outstanding arrest warrant in Florida create plenty of laugh-out-loud situations to counterbalance the heavier scenes.

35 Up All Night

Season 1, Episode 11

One of the earliest and best examples of the show's ability to weave storylines together, "Up All Night" follows the three separate families as they deal with late-night mishaps. This includes the first appearance by Manny's often-absent father, Javier, as well as Cam and Mitch dealing with sleep training Lily. However, the funniest storyline is dedicated to the Dunphys as Phil experiences severe stomach pain and has to go to the hospital.

There is also a fun set-up at the beginning of the episode with all of the kids talking about the most confusing parental advice they have gotten.

Phil's pained and dramatic reactions are mixed with the subplot of his feeling jealous over Claire's reaction to the local firefighters is paid off in a hilarious reveal that makes for a classic Phil moment. There is also a fun set-up at the beginning of the episode with all of the kids talking about the most confusing parental advice they have gotten only for all that advice to be heard throughout the episode.

34 Express Christmas

Season 3, Episode 10

Modern Family's Christmas episodes are always a highlight, rewatching them makes for great holiday season viewing. This includes one of the best Christmas episodes, season 3's fast-paced and exciting "Express Christmas."

Realizing that none of them are going to be together over the actual holidays, the three families decide to stage an impromptu celebration as they all rush to make it happen. What makes it the most fun is that the ensemble splits into teams to get the job done.

There are some great pairings in the episode as the family splits up, with the highlight being Cam's attempts to give a special Christmas gift to Jay only to become self-conscious about their relationship. It is a lot of fun seeing the chaos of the holiday season intensified with this mad rush of the family trying to get it all done in hours, hitting one roadblock after another.

33 Coal Digger

Season 1, Episode 5

The relationship between Jay and Gloria has been the subject of some hilarious moments on the show as well as some controversy among the characters. This is revealed most directly in the season 1 episode "Coal Digger," in which the family is forced to deal with some of their tension when Manny and Luke fight at school.

The sometimes combative relationships within the family make for the most compelling episodes, and the truth behind the boys' fight is a hilarious reveal. It sets the stage for a charged family gathering that builds to a sweet family moment in the end.

This is another reminder of how excellent the early episodes of Modern Family were with the show finding its footing very quickly. It also is a good one to look back on with the tension between Claire and Gloria feeling a lot more intense only to come to a resolution by the end which changes their relationship for the better.

32 Arrested

Season 4, Episode 7

While Haley Dunphy goes through a lot of growth over the course of the series, she was still a little immature by the time she got to college. This resulted in Haley finding herself in more trouble than ever in the episode "Arrested" as she faces getting kicked out of school for a night of wild partying. This leads to Phil and Claire bringing the only lawyer they know to defend her, and Mitch is not exactly up to the task.

The episode sees a rare instance of Phil being the tough parent, showing his disappointment in his daughter and inspiring her to take responsibility for her actions. However, this leads to a hilarious unexpected conclusion. The side storyline involving Cam babysitting Luke and Alex also goes horribly wrong with some classic scenes of Cam panicking, which always makes for big laughs.

31 Moon Landing

Season 1, Episode 14

Jay is not great at getting along with people and that includes those in his family. While he and Cam find some common ground when they begin going to the gym together, an awkward encounter hilariously shakes Jay, showing how immature the patriarch of the family can be.

The title of the episode is given hilarious context with Jay and Cam's run-in which makes for a great joke to end the episode. Jay is not always the most likable character on the show, but it is episodes like this in which his childishness is laughed at.

There is also a great B-plot with Claire meeting up with an old friend and becoming insecure about her mundane life. Her attempt to show off her happy family in the end makes for a brilliant reveal that highlights the Dunphys' chaotic household.