Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

Instant Family

  • 20182018
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
104K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,042
209
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Gustavo Escobar, Isabela Merced, and Julianna Gamiz in Instant Family (2018)
When Pete (Mark Wahlberg) and Ellie (Rose Byrne) 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 (Isabela Moner), 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 hopes of becoming a family.
Play trailer1:00
4 Videos
93 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama

A couple find themselves in over their heads when they foster three children.A couple find themselves in over their heads when they foster three children.A couple find themselves in over their heads when they foster three children.

IMDb RATING
7.3/10
104K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,042
209
  • Director
    • Sean Anders
  • Writers
    • Sean Anders
    • John Morris
  • Stars
    • Mark Wahlberg
    • Rose Byrne
    • Isabela Merced
Top credits
  • Director
    • Sean Anders
  • Writers
    • Sean Anders
    • John Morris
  • Stars
    • Mark Wahlberg
    • Rose Byrne
    • Isabela Merced
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 697User reviews
    • 157Critic reviews
    • 57Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 5 nominations

    Videos4

    Now Playing
    Trailer 1:00
    Now Playing
    Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:28
    Trailer #1
    How Jordan Peele's Impression Skills Helped 'Us' Cast Play Doppelgängers
    Interview 4:35
    How Jordan Peele's Impression Skills Helped 'Us' Cast Play Doppelgängers
    The Trailer Trailer for the Week of September 10, 2018
    Video 0:53
    The Trailer Trailer for the Week of September 10, 2018

    Photos93

    Tig Notaro, Octavia Spencer, Sean Anders, and Kenneth Israel in Instant Family (2018)
    Instant Family (2018)
    Tig Notaro, Octavia Spencer, Sean Anders, and Kenneth Israel in Instant Family (2018)
    Instant Family (2018)
    Instant Family (2018)
    Instant Family (2018)
    Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Gustavo Escobar, Isabela Merced, and Julianna Gamiz in Instant Family (2018)
    Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Gustavo Escobar, Isabela Merced, and Julianna Gamiz in Instant Family (2018)
    Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Gustavo Escobar, Isabela Merced, and Julianna Gamiz in Instant Family (2018)
    Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Gustavo Escobar, Isabela Merced, and Julianna Gamiz in Instant Family (2018)
    Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Gustavo Escobar, Isabela Merced, and Julianna Gamiz in Instant Family (2018)
    Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Gustavo Escobar, Isabela Merced, and Julianna Gamiz in Instant Family (2018)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Mark Wahlberg
    Mark Wahlberg
    • Peteas Pete
    Rose Byrne
    Rose Byrne
    • Ellieas Ellie
    Isabela Merced
    Isabela Merced
    • Lizzyas Lizzy
    Gustavo Escobar
    Gustavo Escobar
    • Juanas Juan
    Julianna Gamiz
    Julianna Gamiz
    • Litaas Lita
    Octavia Spencer
    Octavia Spencer
    • Karenas Karen
    Tig Notaro
    Tig Notaro
    • Sharonas Sharon
    Tom Segura
    Tom Segura
    • Russas Russ
    Allyn Rachel
    Allyn Rachel
    • Kimas Kim
    Britt Rentschler
    Britt Rentschler
    • Lindaas Linda
    • (as Brittney Rentschler)
    Jody Thompson
    Jody Thompson
    • Jimas Jim
    Margo Martindale
    Margo Martindale
    • Grandma Sandyas Grandma Sandy
    Julie Hagerty
    Julie Hagerty
    • Janas Jan
    Michael O'Keefe
    Michael O'Keefe
    • Jerryas Jerry
    Joan Cusack
    Joan Cusack
    • Mrs. Howardas Mrs. Howard
    Gary Weeks
    Gary Weeks
    • Dirkas Dirk
    • (as Edson Gary Weeks)
    Joy Jacobson
    Joy Jacobson
    • Danaas Dana
    Andrea Anders
    Andrea Anders
    • Jessieas Jessie
    • Director
      • Sean Anders
    • Writers
      • Sean Anders
      • John Morris
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    Daddy's Home 2
    6.0
    Daddy's Home 2
    Game Night
    6.9
    Game Night
    9 Inches
    7.9
    9 Inches
    Tag
    6.5
    Tag
    Neighbors
    6.3
    Neighbors
    Why Him?
    6.2
    Why Him?
    Mile 22
    6.1
    Mile 22
    Patriots Day
    7.3
    Patriots Day
    Ted
    6.9
    Ted
    Deepwater Horizon
    7.1
    Deepwater Horizon
    Ted 2
    6.3
    Ted 2
    The Change-Up
    6.3
    The Change-Up

    Storyline

    Edit
    Married couple Pete and Ellie Wagner, feeling a void in the marriage, visit a foster care center. Two social workers, Karen and Sharon, guide the hopeful parents on the steps to getting into becoming adoptive parents. The couples are brought to a fair where they have the chance to go up to kids that they are interested in adopting. Pete and Ellie walk by the teenagers, although Ellie shows hesitance over raising a teen, one of the teens, Lizzie, informs Ellie that they all know no one wants to adopt the teens. Pete and Ellie talk to Karen and Sharon over potentially taking in Lizzie. The social workers inform the couple that Lizzie's mother is a drug addict who is currently in jail, and she set their home on fire because she left the crack pipe lit. They also find that Lizzie has two younger siblings, Juan and Lita. Although this seems like more of a challenge for Pete and Ellie, they agree to meet the siblings. Pete and Ellie have Thanksgiving dinner with Ellie's family, where they all make comments about never having confidence in the Wagners adopting kids. Ellie has enough and decides that they will go through with the foster care to prove that they can be good parents.
    • parenting
    • adoption
    • support group
    • adoptive family
    • adoptive mother adoptive son relationship
    • 310 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Just add chaos laughter awkwardness mistakes love.
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, sexual material, language and some drug references
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      While drawing pictures of their dream children, October draws a football player with the number 74, which was Michael Oher's jersey number in the film The Blind Side (2009). The film is a recurring joke about her character, who tries to emulate Leigh Anne Tuohy.
    • Goofs
      During the Thanksgiving dinner, Ellie has a red necklace appear and disappear multiple times.
    • Quotes

      Grandma Sandy: You get reminded what a sack of shit you are five times a day, after a while, you can't believe *anyone* could ever love you.

    • Crazy credits
      Photos of real life foster families are seen throughout the end credits, interspersed with footage of Isabela Moner performing the end credits song, 'Stay with you'.
    • Alternate versions
      For the film's Australian release, the distributor chose to remove a single use of strong language in order to obtain a PG classification. This edited version of the film was later used for its DVD/Video release. An uncut M classification was available.
    • Connections
      Featured in Good Morning Britain: Episode dated 14 February 2019 (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      Insane in the Brain
      Written by Jerry Corbitt, B-Real (as Louis Freeze), Deejay Muggs (as Larry Muggerud) & Sen D.O.G. (as Senen Reyes)

      Performed by Cypress Hill

      Courtesy of Columbia Records

      By arrangement with Sony Music Entertainment

    User reviews697

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Better than 10 stars
    First, let me say that my wife and I go to the movies every Friday. We see a LOT of movies. We usually agree about how good or bad a film was, and we both agreed on Instant Family. It's fantastic. I wish I could give it more than 10 stars because the current score of 7.3 is really not doing this film justice. It's simply a perfect movie. My wife and I cried a lot, laughed a lot, and left the theater happy. Based on a true story...they did a wonderful job of re-telling it for the screen. Reminds me of Wonder, which was also underrated. If I could vote for the Oscar's, it would've been Wonder last year and Instant Family this year. I don't even need to see the other contenders. Wish movies like this would get an Oscar nom... but it's usually the serious dramas that get them. Wahlberg should be very proud. He produced it and co-starred in it. Very happy for him. Hope this means more films like this and less violence in the future. Please go see it and give it your review here. It will help get the word out.
    helpful•371
    79
    • danielchannels
    • Nov 17, 2018

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 16, 2018 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Con Nuôi Bất Đắc Dĩ
    • Filming locations
      • Atlanta, Georgia, USA
    • Production companies
      • Closest to the Hole Productions
      • Leverage Entertainment
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $48,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $67,363,237
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $14,504,315
      • Nov 18, 2018
    • Gross worldwide
      • $120,556,201
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 58 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

    Related news

    ‘Red Right Hand’: Mo McRae, Brian Geraghty & More Round Out Cast Of Ian And Eshom Nelms’ Action-Thriller
    ‘Red Right Hand’: Mo McRae, Brian Geraghty & More Round Out Cast Of Ian And Eshom Nelms’ Action-Thriller
    Apr 25Deadline Film + TV
    Michael Patrick Jann To Direct Western Horror Film ‘Organ Trail’ For Paramount Pictures; Zoé De Grand Maison, Olivia Applegate, Clé Bennett, Sam Trammell & More To Star
    Michael Patrick Jann To Direct Western Horror Film ‘Organ Trail’ For Paramount Pictures; Zoé De Grand Maison, Olivia Applegate, Clé Bennett, Sam Trammell & More To Star
    Mar 16Deadline Film + TV

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Gustavo Escobar, Isabela Merced, and Julianna Gamiz in Instant Family (2018)
    Top Gap
    What was the official certification given to Instant Family (2018) in Japan?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The 10 Most Anticipated Marvel and DC Movies
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.