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Instant Family

  • 2018
  • PG-13
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
128K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
538
448
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
36 Videos
99+ Photos
Coming-of-AgeComedyDrama

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.

  • Director
    • Sean Anders
  • Writers
    • Sean Anders
    • John Morris
  • Stars
    • Mark Wahlberg
    • Rose Byrne
    • Isabela Merced
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    128K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    538
    448
    • Director
      • Sean Anders
    • Writers
      • Sean Anders
      • John Morris
    • Stars
      • Mark Wahlberg
      • Rose Byrne
      • Isabela Merced
    • 741User reviews
    • 164Critic reviews
    • 57Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos36

    Now Playing
    Trailer 1:00
    Now Playing
    Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:28
    Trailer #1
    Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:28
    Trailer #1
    Instant Family: Potato Chip Fight
    Clip 1:04
    Instant Family: Potato Chip Fight
    Instant Family: Three Kids (Extended)
    Clip 1:04
    Instant Family: Three Kids (Extended)
    Instant Family: Leather Interior
    Clip 0:51
    Instant Family: Leather Interior
    Instant Family: Break Things
    Clip 0:54
    Instant Family: Break Things

    Photos112

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    Top cast89

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

    User reviews741

    7.3127.5K
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    Featured reviews

    8orliesgirl_28

    A blessing in the skies

    What a great film! This movie is so funny and has such a good story. Great cast. Loved that Russ guy. So funny. His wardrobe was on point. His jeans were High and tight. Try it out! Makes you want to be home here now!
    Gordon-11

    A heartwarming comedy

    This film tells the story of a couple who decides to adopt three children.

    The story is funny, heartwarming and just makes you want to watch it. Things can be a bit exaggerated at times, and yet it still manages to be believable. Hopefully this film encourages people to share their love with children who needs a home.
    7paul_haakonsen

    This was a very beautiful and enjoyable movie...

    Alright, well granted I hadn't really expected much from a movie such as "Instant Family", believing it to be just another quick run-of-the-mill comedy with pseudo-action star Mark Wahlberg. But still, I decided to sit down and watch this 2018 movie.

    It turns out that this was actually one of the better movies with Mark Wahlberg in the lead for some time, and I honestly can say that I prefer him better in the comedy genre than I do in the action genre. But naturally he wasn't the sole force carrying this movie. He had some great help by the rest of the cast, and also the fact that the storyline was so warm and heartfelt.

    This is the story of Pete (played by Mark Wahlberg) and Ellie (played by Rose Byrne) whom decide to adopt three children, Lizzy (played by Isabela Moner), Juan (played by Gustavo Escobar) and Lita (played by Julianna Gamiz). And it turns out that adopting three children might be a bit more than what the couple thought they were in for and bargained for. Of which there comes some great funny moments and so clashes of heads.

    While the story is indeed mostly driven by the comedy, there is also a more serious aspect to it, the part of adopting children and the role adopted children have in a foster family. And I think that director and writer Sean Anders really handled that quite well, managing to mix comedy and grave seriousness together in a very nice combination.

    The movie also had some great support appearances from Tig Notaro and Octavia Spencer, whom each individually brought something wonderful to the story, and they had really great on-screen chemistry.

    "Instant Family" might actually have you in tears towards the end. Why? Well, I will not spoil that, although it is quite easy to guess why, given the synopsis of the story and the concept of the storyline. But still, it was a warm and heartfelt story and a very uplifting ending to the movie, although you saw it coming from the moment you started watching the movie.

    If you haven't already seen "Instant Family", then I can warmly recommend that you do so if you are given the chance, because it is a beautiful story, and one that will stick with you for some time.
    7Ruskington

    It's not easy to make such a well-rounded comedy about such a sad subject matter

    Ok so it's a bit sugar-coated in places but Instant Family is a surprisingly powerful tearjerker featuring a lot of well-crafted jokes and unusually poignant performances from both Rosie Byrne and Mark Wahlberg.
    10sorvis_gilneas

    As someone who was a foster child...

    I've literally NEVER reviewed anything before. I've never felt I needed to...

    That being said - As I was a foster child this hit me square in the face. It was one of the hardest movies for me to watch. Its depiction of how the kids act is 100% accurate. Its one of the hardest things to see and admit now - Being that I'm older.

    This movie needs more attention and I hope that my rating helps with that. It needs to be watched by all... I was laughing AND crying (I'm ex-Navy and a very stoic person).

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    Storyline

    Edit

    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
      When Pete and Lizzy wreck a kitchen, the glass pane of the top right cupboard door alternates between being broken and intact many 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: Thursday 14th February 2019 (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      Insane in the Brain
      Written by Jerry Corbitt, B-Real (as Louis Freeze), DJ 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

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    FAQ19

    • How long is Instant Family?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 16, 2018 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Site
      • Paramount Pictures (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Familia al instante
    • Filming locations
      • Atlanta, Georgia, USA
    • Production companies
      • Paramount Pictures
      • Closest to the Hole Productions
      • Leverage Entertainment
    • 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
      • $120,989,830
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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

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