Table of Contents
Introduction
This article explores various movies like Grown Ups, diving deep into the genre of ensemble comedies that celebrate friendship, shared history, and the often-hilarious transition into middle age. The enduring popularity of films centered on reuniting friends proves that audiences crave stories where camaraderie triumphs over the mundane realities of adult life. You’ll find that the best movies like Grown Ups perfectly blend relatable life lessons with over-the-top, laugh-out-loud set pieces.
The original film, Grown Ups, is more than just a simple summer vacation comedy; it is a narrative deeply rooted in shared history and the hilarious chaos that ensues when old friends reconnect. The plot focuses intensely on finding profound friendship in unexpected places and demonstrates courage through ultimate thrills and absolute adventure. The core of the film is about how the bonds of youth endure into adult life, making it a perfect blueprint for other successful group comedies.
If you are currently looking for movies like Grown Ups to watch next, you have reached the right place. In this detailed discussion, we will be talking about 15 epic movies like Grown Ups, carefully selected for their similar themes of found family, shared history, and high-energy humor. To discover the best and most engaging movie for you and your friends, stay connected and read the whole detailed article. You are sure to enjoy these interesting movies like Grown Ups
What Makes Grown Ups So Magical
The Ensemble Cast & Friendship Theme
The entire story of Grown Ups focuses on the powerful bond that develops between five main characters who were supposed to be regular friends but ultimately became family. This particular aspect of the plot, showing friends who reunite decades later, is what makes the story feel so unique and epic, providing a much more entertaining experience for movie lovers who value long-lasting connections.
The chemistry of the ensemble cast, particularly the classic Adam Sandler crew, elevates the film from a simple vacation story to a genuine celebration of lasting friendships. Their easy banter and established history create a believable foundation for the comedy and drama that unfolds. This is a crucial element that defines many successful movies like Grown Ups.
This core theme of friendship enduring through the years, often despite marital challenges, career stress, and the responsibilities of parenthood, is what truly resonates with a broad audience. The humor stems from seeing familiar faces regress instantly to their teenage antics, proving that some bonds are simply unbreakable.
Relatable Humor & Ensemble Chemistry
Throughout the film, the most striking features are undoubtedly the quick-witted, relatable humor and the detailed, natural chemistry of the cast. This level of visual and verbal excellence allows the movie to connect deeply with fans of ensemble comedies who appreciate humor rooted in shared experience and adult awkwardness.
The work done by the actors and writers is incredibly impressive, ensuring that every character has their own distinct personality, providing multiple angles for comedic conflict. This comedic foundation is a major reason the film became so popular, as every viewer can see a little bit of their own friend group in the fictional one on screen.
Finding other movies like Grown Ups is all about that group dynamic and the blend of raunchy comedy with genuinely sweet moments. When the humor feels authentic to the relationships, the audience is far more invested in the story.
A Powerful Coming-of-Age Story (Late Bloomer Edition)
The narrative at the heart of the film Grown Ups serves as a perfect and compelling example of a late-stage coming-of-age story, which is highly common in movies like Grown Ups. The entire plot is meticulously crafted around the personal evolution of its central characters, tracking their significant progression from successful professionals to men comfortable with their past and committed to their present.
When we are first introduced to them, the friends are portrayed as accomplished yet often socially awkward men who are constantly viewing life through the rose-tinted lens of their shared childhood. They desperately make an effort to embody the tough, professional ideals of modern life, but unfortunately, they find that this aggressive nature simply does not align with the values they cherished in their youth.
Their real journey begins with the goal of attending their coach’s funeral, but it transforms into something much greater—a lesson in valuing family and friendship above all else. They ultimately rise to the challenge and become truly effective leaders within their own families and among their peers. Their success comes from proving that their unique ability to see the world from a different perspective, with a more understanding mentality, was the exact quality their people needed all along. We will see this theme of finding strength in uniqueness as we look further in this article at other movies like Grown Ups.
Epic Comedy and Nostalgia
While Grown Ups is widely celebrated for its core themes, it is equally deserving of praise as one of the best nostalgic comedies in modern cinema. The film masterfully balances heartfelt moments with high-energy spectacle and a consistent flow of rapid-fire jokes.
The running jokes and the classic comedic setups, in particular, are an unbelievable and breathtaking creation that provides a significant thrill for the audience; this is undoubtedly one of the core reasons for the film’s immense popularity. The callbacks to their childhood, like the free-throw contest and the lake house setting, powerfully engage the viewer’s sense of nostalgia.
The sense of action and exhilarating speed is crafted so effectively that viewers feel as if they are right alongside the main characters, celebrating the good old days. A key creative choice that makes the film stand out is the focus on large, epic set pieces, from the chaotic water park scenes to the climactic final conflict. This approach makes every action sequence feel important and impactful. Throughout the story, we witness explosive, large-scale conflicts, from confronting silly local bullies to facing massive family mishaps. It is clear that the creators planned everything very thoughtfully and with tremendous dedication, resulting in high-stakes action and exceptionally exciting scenes that captivate the audience.
Top Picks: The Best Movies Like Grown Ups
The Hangover
The Hangover introduces audiences to an unforgettable bachelor party that goes hilariously wrong, following three friends who wake up in Las Vegas with no memory of the previous night, a tiger in their hotel, and a missing groom. The plot centers on the trio—Phil, Stu, and Alan—as they retrace their steps through the chaotic city, trying to piece together the evening’s events and, most importantly, find their lost friend before his wedding. Starring Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis, this 2009 comedy features a classic ensemble cast dynamic that immediately resonates with fans of movies like Grown Ups.
This film embodies the core theme of enduring male friendship found in movies like Grown Ups, but it elevates the chaos and commitment to one another in an extreme setting. Much like the friends in the Sandler movie, the Hangover trio is forced to confront bizarre situations together, with their loyalty to the groom overriding any personal discomfort or danger. The humor is derived from the collision of their mundane adult personalities (the dentist, the teacher, the oddball brother-in-law) with the wild, unpredictable environment of Las Vegas, emphasizing that deep bonds can withstand even the most unbelievable circumstances.
You can stream The Hangover on Max (formerly HBO Max), which offers various plans for streaming movies, shows, and more. The platform specifies that The Hangover is rated R and was released in 2009. Max provides options including ad-supported and ad-free tiers, allowing viewers to choose the right subscription plan to watch this riotously raunchy comedy.
Old School
Old School is a quintessential early-2000s ensemble comedy that follows three friends—Mitch, Frank, and Bernard—who are struggling with the transition into responsible adulthood after college. The story kicks off when Mitch’s girlfriend cheats on him, leading him to move into a house near a university, which his friends help him rent. To maintain control of the house after it’s zoned for student housing, the three men decide on an absurd solution: they start their own fraternity for “non-students,” inviting various misfits and older guys to join their quest for youthful glory.
This movie perfectly captures the theme of arrested development and the desperate clinging to nostalgia, making it a clear companion to movies like Grown Ups. The humor stems from the visual incongruity of grown men participating in college antics, such as Frank “The Tank” reverting to his hard-partying ways, much like the Grown Ups friends instantly regress to their childhood personas at the lake house. The deep bond between Mitch, Frank, and Bernard is the emotional anchor, justifying their absurd commitment to the fraternity as a way to reclaim the freedom of their youth.
You can find Old School available for streaming on several major platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, and AMC+ (via Apple TV Channel or Amazon Channel). It is also possible to buy or rent the movie digitally through services like Amazon Video and Apple TV. Additionally, viewers might find free streaming options on platforms like Hoopla.
Wedding Crashers
Wedding Crashers introduces the dynamic duo of John Beckwith (Owen Wilson) and Jeremy Grey (Vince Vaughn), two divorce mediators who moonlight as professional wedding crashers, operating under a set of rigid rules to meet and impress women. Their successful, yet emotionally shallow, existence is challenged when they crash a massive, high-society wedding hosted by a prominent politician. The plot then follows John as he falls for the politician’s daughter, Claire, forcing him and Jeremy to navigate the complex social dynamics of her eccentric, wealthy family.
The core strength of this film, which places it among the best movies like Grown Ups, is the unbreakable bond and impeccable chemistry between its two lead characters. Like the Adam Sandler crew, John and Jeremy operate as an inseparable unit, using their shared history and quick-witted banter to navigate complex social situations. The film focuses heavily on their loyalty to one another, which is tested as John begins to prioritize a deeper relationship over their established, carefree lifestyle, ultimately leading them both to a more mature understanding of friendship and commitment.
Wedding Crashers is widely accessible across many major digital platforms. You can currently stream the 2005 comedy on various services, or you may choose to rent the film starting from $3.99. It is also available to buy digitally for a price around $14.99. Specifically, you can find the movie available to stream or purchase on services like Fandango at Home, Apple TV, and Prime Video.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is a hilariously absurd journey into the male-dominated world of 1970s San Diego television news, centered on the egotistical yet charming Channel 4 News Team anchor, Ron Burgundy, played by Will Ferrell. Ron’s seemingly perfect, chauvinistic world is turned upside down by the arrival of the ambitious Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate), a new female reporter who challenges his position and the status quo of his all-male news team.
This film serves as a brilliant parallel to movies like Grown Ups because it focuses on a dysfunctional, fiercely loyal “work family” whose members are forced to adapt to change. Ron Burgundy and his news team—Brick Tamland, Brian Fantana, and Champ Kind—may be ridiculously out of touch, but their loyalty to Ron and to each other is absolute, mirroring the enduring childhood bonds in Grown Ups. The humor stems from their extreme immaturity and their collective inability to function outside their bubble of male privilege, forcing them to grow up (just a little) to accommodate Veronica.
You can watch Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy on the streaming service Paramount+, which offers full access to the movie. The film is also available to buy or rent on various digital platforms, including Apple TV. Released in 2004, the movie has a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes and is rated R.
Step Brothers
Step Brothers centers on Brennan Huff and Dale Doback, two aimless, middle-aged men—both still living at home—who are unexpectedly forced to become roommates when their single parents get married. Starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, the film depicts the two men’s initial violent clashing before they eventually discover a shared immaturity and an intense, unexpected bond, becoming the titular stepbrothers. The plot follows their attempts to form a band and find jobs to prevent their parents from divorcing, which would force them apart.
Like the best movies like Grown Ups, Step Brothers is driven entirely by the unique and unbreakable nature of its central relationship, demonstrating that family can be found in the most unexpected places. The core theme is arrested development; Brennan and Dale are essentially two overgrown children whose shared immaturity becomes the foundation of their genuine, brotherly affection. Their chaotic antics and utter disregard for adult responsibilities deliver the high-energy comedy, while their fierce loyalty to one another provides the film’s heartwarming, if bizarre, emotional core.
The 2008 R-rated comedy Step Brothers is available to stream in its entirety on Paramount+, which features Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. The film has a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes and is listed as a comedy. In addition to Paramount+, the movie is available on various platforms for renting or purchasing digitally, providing multiple options for viewers to watch this classic of modern absurdity.
Just Go With It
Just Go With It features Adam Sandler as Danny Maccabee, a plastic surgeon who uses a fake marriage story to avoid commitment, only to find himself in a complicated situation when he falls for a much younger woman. To prove his nonexistent “imminent divorce,” Danny recruits his loyal assistant, Katherine (Jennifer Aniston), and her two children to pose as his soon-to-be ex-family. The elaborate deception leads the entire fake family on an unexpected and hilarious vacation to Hawaii.
This movie fits the theme of movies like Grown Ups because it centers on the complications of adult relationships, the value of found family, and Adam Sandler’s signature brand of heartfelt comedy. The plot, like Grown Ups, uses a vacation setting to create a pressure cooker environment where the characters are forced to drop their facades and confront their real feelings. The “fake” family unit that forms during the trip quickly develops genuine chemistry and emotional bonds, reinforcing the idea that commitment and love can be found in the most chaotic circumstances.
You can stream Just Go With It on Peacock, the streaming service owned by NBCUniversal. The movie, released in 2011 and rated PG-13, is also available on Max (formerly HBO Max), starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston. Both Peacock and Max offer different subscription tiers, allowing you to choose whether you want to watch the movie with or without ads.
Vacation (2015)
The 2015 comedy Vacation acts as a continuation and soft reboot of the beloved National Lampoon’s Vacation series, following a now-grown Rusty Griswold (Ed Helms) as he attempts to recreate the magical road trip of his childhood for his own family. Hoping for some family bonding and a break from the routine of adult life, Rusty surprises his wife and two sons with an ill-fated, cross-country drive back to America’s favorite family fun park, Walley World.
This film is a natural successor to the themes found in movies like Grown Ups as it is specifically about a group of adults trying to recapture the nostalgia of their youth through a shared family experience. The entire plot is predicated on the idea that the “good old days” were simpler and funnier, but the reality of an adult road trip is pure, chaotic disaster. The humor is derived from Rusty’s optimistic determination contrasting with the horrific string of events that befall his family, ultimately showing that true connection is found in surviving the disaster together.
You can watch the 2015 film Vacation on Max (formerly HBO Max), which features the cross-country trip back to Walley World. Max offers various subscription plans for streaming, including basic, standard, and platinum tiers. Released in 2015, the movie is rated 13+ and falls under the comedy genre.
The Heat
The Heat is an action-comedy centered on the wildly mismatched pairing of Sarah Ashburn (Sandra Bullock), an arrogant, meticulous FBI Special Agent, and Shannon Mullins (Melissa McCarthy), a foul-mouthed, rough-around-the-edges detective from Boston. The two women are forced to team up to track down a ruthless drug lord, leading to a series of escalating comedic and dangerous encounters. Despite their vastly different personalities and investigative methods, they form an unexpected bond.
This film beautifully mirrors the “unlikely friendship” core of movies like Grown Ups, where a collection of misfits must overcome their differences to form a fiercely loyal unit. The humor is derived from their cultural clash—Ashburn’s sterile perfectionism against Mullins’s street-smart chaos—which ultimately reveals their strengths and weaknesses. The film succeeds by highlighting that their professional partnership evolves into a genuine personal friendship, much like the Grown Ups friends’ bond is tested and strengthened by their shared chaos.
You can stream The Heat on Hulu or YouTube TV, which are the primary streaming platforms for the movie. The film, which is an R-rated comedy from 2013, is also available for purchase or rental digitally on several services. These purchase options include platforms like Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango At Home.
This Is 40
This Is 40 is a raw, relatable comedy that serves as a spin-off from Judd Apatow’s Knocked Up, focusing on the married life of secondary characters Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann). The plot follows the couple as they navigate a series of personal and professional crises that coincide with their milestone 40th birthdays, forcing them to confront the realities of their marriage, their careers, and raising their two daughters.
This film is one of the most realistic and insightful movies like Grown Ups because it shifts the focus from childhood friendship to the enduring, chaotic, and often hilarious bond of marriage and parenthood. The humor is deeply rooted in the universal challenges of turning 40—financial stress, aging bodies, and the struggle to maintain passion. Much like Grown Ups explores how friends keep a marriage exciting, This Is 40 explores the hilarious tension between a man and woman trying to forgive, forget, and ultimately love each other through all the chaos.
This Is 40, a romantic comedy released in 2012, is widely available on digital rental and purchase platforms. You can stream the movie by renting it through services like Prime Video, Fandango at Home, or Apple TV. The film stars Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann, and it explores how a long-married couple must figure out how to enjoy the rest of their lives together, or else they might end up killing each other.
Horrible Bosses
Horrible Bosses is a dark comedy centered on Nick, Kurt, and Dale, three best friends who are pushed to their breaking point by their respective, truly intolerable bosses. Realizing their awful employers are standing in the way of their happiness and professional success, the trio drunkenly devises an elaborate, and increasingly absurd, plan to murder their bosses permanently. The execution of this plan, of course, goes completely off the rails.
This movie is a strong inclusion in the category of movies like Grown Ups because it emphasizes the intense loyalty and dysfunctional synergy of the three main friends. The entire plot is driven by their commitment to one another’s happiness, leading them down a path of extreme, albeit comedic, criminal behavior. The humor is generated by the collision of their mundane lives as regular guys with the high-stakes world of crime, much like the Grown Ups crew’s normal lives collide with their chaotic vacation.
Horrible Bosses, released in 2011 and rated R, is available for digital purchase or rental across major platforms. Viewers can find the movie streaming on platforms like Prime Video or Fandango at Home. Additionally, the film is available to buy on Apple TV, where the description highlights the friends’ plan to rid themselves of their respective employers permanently.
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby focuses on the life and career of NASCAR stock car racing sensation Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell), a man whose entire existence is driven by the mantra “If you aren’t first, you’re last”. His talent is aggressively challenged by the arrival of the flamboyant, highly skilled French Formula One driver Jean Girard, who forces Ricky to re-examine his life, career, and core beliefs.
This film fits perfectly among movies like Grown Ups because it is, at its heart, about the deep, often competitive, bonds between men and the absurdity of American machismo. The most crucial “found family” relationship in the film is the partnership between Ricky and his best friend, Cal Naughton Jr., whose extreme loyalty allows them to operate as an inseparable duo both on and off the track. The movie uses its epic, sports-themed backdrop to deliver a massive dose of star-driven, quotable comedy and explore the theme of self-discovery after a major life setback.
You can watch the 2006 comedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby on Max (formerly HBO Max), where it is fully available to stream. The film is rated 13+ and falls under the comedy and offbeat genres. Max provides various plans, including Basic with Ads and Standard options, for viewers to catch this classic Will Ferrell performance.
We're the Millers
We’re the Millers centers on David Clark (Jason Sudeikis), a small-time pot dealer who is robbed and forced by his supplier to smuggle a “smidge” of weed across the border from Mexico. To look less suspicious at the border, David hires his neighbors—a cynical stripper, a runaway punk girl, and an overly wholesome boy—to pose as his wholesome, vacationing family, the “Millers”. This fake family then embarks on a chaotic, cross-country adventure.
The brilliance of this movie, which makes it one of the best movies like Grown Ups, is its focus on a “found family” unit that starts from entirely selfish motives but develops genuine emotional bonds. Much like the friends in Grown Ups eventually prioritize their true family over their immaturity, the Millers find themselves defending each other and acting like a real, functioning (albeit highly dysfunctional) family by the end. The comedy stems from the moral and cultural clash of the four misfits forced into a ridiculous, high-stakes situation.
We’re the Millers, a comedy and crime movie released in 2013, is available to purchase or rent on various digital services. The film is listed as being available on Apple TV. In addition to digital purchases, the film may be found on other major streaming platforms through rental or purchase options, allowing fans of ensemble comedies to enjoy this chaotic
The Other Guys
The Other Guys is a hilarious buddy-cop action-comedy that pairs the highly ambitious but meek desk detective Allen Gamble (Will Ferrell) with the short-tempered, reluctant Detective Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg). The two misfit detectives are relegated to desk work, dreaming of glory but stuck doing paperwork, until an opportunity knocks and they stumble onto the most important case in years. This forces them to work as a team, leading to explosions, car chases, and, of course, extreme verbal conflict.
This film is a prime example of movies like Grown Ups because it features a classic comedic duo forced into a partnership that evolves into a legitimate friendship. Like the Grown Ups friends, Gamble and Hoitz are two grown men dealing with professional insecurities and personal demons, and their constant bickering is the engine of the film’s comedy. Their loyalty, however, is never in question, as they ultimately back each other up in the face of dangerous villains and skeptical police superiors.
You can watch The Other Guys on Max (formerly HBO Max), which explicitly offers the movie for streaming. Max notes that the movie features Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg as Allen Gamble and Terry Hoitz, two misfit detectives who stumble onto a major case. Streaming is available through Max’s various plan options, making it easy to access this buddy-cop comedy, which is a perfect fit for fans of movies like Grown Ups.
Game Night
Game Night centers on Max and Annie, a couple whose weekly game night with friends is taken to an insane new level when Max’s charismatic, competitive brother, Brooks, hosts a murder mystery party. The party takes a truly bizarre turn toward reality when Brooks is suddenly and violently kidnapped, leaving the friends uncertain of what is a game and what is truly happening. The group must then race across the city to solve the mystery.
This film is perhaps the most structurally similar to movies like Grown Ups in terms of its adult ensemble focus, its theme of competitive friendship, and its reliance on the chemistry of the core group. The entire plot is predicated on the lifelong bonds and established rivalries within the friend group, with the escalating chaos pushing their relationships to the limit. The humor is sharp and fast-paced, proving that a group of ordinary adults can become effective, if hilarious, action heroes when their friends are in trouble.
Game Night, a comedy and action film released in 2018, is available for streaming on Max (formerly HBO Max). Max features Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams as Max and Annie, whose game night is interrupted by a kidnapping. The film is also available for purchase or rental digitally on Apple TV.
Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy takes the ensemble concept and launches it into space, following Peter Quill, a brash space adventurer, who finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by the powerful villain Ronan. To escape Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with four disparate misfits: the gun-toting Rocket Raccoon, the treelike humanoid Groot, the enigmatic Gamora, and the vengeance-driven Drax the Destroyer.
This Marvel film belongs on any list of movies like Grown Ups because it is a definitive example of the “found family” theme, using comedy to cement the bonds between its highly unique members. Much like the friends in Grown Ups are different but inseparable, the Guardians are aliens, criminals, and outcasts who eventually learn to rely on one another, forming a deeply loyal, dysfunctional family unit. The humor comes from their constant bickering and clashing personalities, while their heroism is rooted in their collective, growing affection for one another.
You can rent or buy Guardians of the Galaxy through digital services like Google Play Movies & TV. The film, which is rated PG-13 and was released in 2014, is also available through subscription services like Spectrum On Demand (often requiring a STARZ add-on). The movie is an action-packed, epic space adventure that is essential viewing for fans of ensemble dynamics.
More Recommendations by Theme
If You Loved the Ensemble Cast & Nostalgia...
The ensemble cast and the powerful theme of nostalgia are the heart and soul of movies like Grown Ups, offering audiences a chance to reconnect with their own childhood memories through the characters on screen. These films successfully blend high-energy comedy with a heartwarming message about the importance of old friends.
Watching a group of adult characters revert to their immature, youthful dynamics provides a unique comedic angle that is both hilarious and emotionally resonant. The laughter often comes from the visual contrast of seeing fully grown, sometimes highly successful, people act like they are still teenagers, demonstrating that true friendship never fades, only matures (sometimes reluctantly).
The search for the “good old days” is a compelling narrative thread that fuels many of these comedies, often showing that while you can’t truly go back in time, the shared experience of surviving a chaotic adventure with your friends is just as good as a trip down memory lane. This blend of heart, humor, and history is what keeps fans coming back to the best movies like Grown Ups time and again.
Game Night
Game Night introduces the happily married, but overly competitive, Max and Annie, who host a regular game night for their friends, including a hilariously creepy neighbor. The plot quickly spirals when Max’s more successful, competitive brother hosts the night, leading to what is thought to be a staged kidnapping that turns out to be very real. The friends must solve the crime, forcing them to rely on their wits and their deep knowledge of one another’s eccentricities to survive the night.
This movie is perhaps the most structurally similar to movies like Grown Ups because its entire comedic engine is fueled by the dynamics of a mature friend group. The competitive spirit, the in-jokes, and the shared history between the couples drive both the plot and the humor. The film’s tension comes from the friends’ inability to distinguish between the staged game and the deadly reality, which creates a series of increasingly absurd and genuinely dangerous scenarios that force them to bond even further.
Game Night is available for streaming through Max (formerly HBO Max), a major platform for recent comedy and action films. The movie, released in 2018, is also available for purchase or rental digitally on Apple TV. It is highly recommended for those who appreciate the rapid-fire dialogue and high-stakes chaos found in movies like Grown Ups.
If You Loved the Found Family & Friendship...
The foundation of all successful movies like Grown Ups is the concept of a “found family”—a group of people who are not related by blood but are bound by shared experience, deep loyalty, and mutual, often immature, affection. These films reassure the audience that whether through old friends or new, you can always find your people.
These movies often use extreme circumstances, like a wild party, a disastrous road trip, or a criminal plot, to strip away the characters’ adult facades and reveal their need for connection. The resulting comedy comes from watching fully grown adults try to maintain their composure while their emotional support system—their friends—is either falling apart or enabling their worst behavior.
Ultimately, the strength of the relationships is what makes these comedies enduring classics, showing that the loyalty between friends or an adopted family unit can overcome any obstacle, whether it’s an ex-boyfriend, a bad business deal, or a maniacal supervillain. These are the comedies that prove true connection is the greatest adventure of all.
Paddington 2
Paddington 2 tells the charming story of the highly polite, talking bear, Paddington, who is happily settled with the Brown family in London. His grand adventure begins when he takes on various odd jobs to save money for a rare pop-up book to give his Aunt Lucy for her 100th birthday. However, the book is stolen, and Paddington is falsely accused of the crime and sent to prison, forcing the Brown family to prove his innocence and find the real thief.
This delightful film is a surprising inclusion in a list of movies like Grown Ups, but it perfectly embodies the theme of “found family” and the power of kindness. The Brown family takes in the talking bear, offering him shelter, and together, this unlikely group must face and escape from every difficulty that comes their way. The story celebrates how the bear and his new human family learn to rely on one another to overcome all obstacles, proving that family can be found in the most unexpected of places.
The charming story of Paddington Bear is widely available for streaming and purchase on various digital platforms, offering a heartwarming alternative to the raunchier movies like Grown Ups. You can find the film on platforms such as Prime Video and others for digital rental or purchase, allowing viewers to easily access this tale of enduring kindness. The high quality and positive tone of the film make it an enjoyable watch for both adults and children alike, fulfilling the “family” element of the Grown Ups theme.
Daddy's Home
Daddy’s Home centers on Brad (Will Ferrell), a mild-mannered, deeply committed stepfather who works hard to earn the affection of his wife’s two children. His carefully constructed, comfortable life is thrown into chaos when the children’s biological father, Dusty (Mark Wahlberg), an extremely cool and rugged man, unexpectedly returns to town. The two men then engage in an increasingly absurd and hilarious competition to win the love and attention of the children.
This film directly engages with the theme of “blended family chaos,” which is a recurring comedic obstacle in many movies like Grown Ups. The humor comes from the escalating one-upmanship between Brad and Dusty, two men who are essentially acting like competing teenagers, much like the friends in Grown Ups regress to their childish antics. Ultimately, the film moves beyond rivalry to show how the men must learn to cooperate and respect one another for the sake of the children, establishing a new, complicated, but loving family unit.
You can watch the film Daddy’s Home on various digital platforms, where it is available for rental or purchase. This includes major services like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and other digital retailers. The movie, released in 2015, is known for its strong comedic chemistry between Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, making it a great choice for fans of ensemble, star-driven comedies like movies like Grown Ups.
If You Loved the Comedy Legends...
The success of movies like Grown Ups is inextricably linked to the star power of its comedic ensemble, particularly the presence of Adam Sandler and his core group. These films prioritize a smooth delivery of jokes, often relying on the established personas and improvisational chemistry of beloved comedic actors.
These comedy-legend films often feature outlandish premises—a ridiculous fraternity, a ludicrous crime plot, or a completely absurd sports rivalry—that serve as a springboard for the comedians to fully unleash their talents. The audience trusts the ensemble to turn any high-stakes situation into a purely comedic spectacle.
Whether it’s the signature absurdity of Will Ferrell, the dry sarcasm of Jason Bateman, or the high-energy chaos of the Sandler crew, these movies deliver a consistent, high-quality stream of quotable lines and memorable physical comedy. For fans looking for more films starring their favorite funny people in a group setting, these are the essential movies like Grown Ups to watch next.
Blades of Glory
Blades of Glory follows two rival figure skaters, Chazz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell) and Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder), who are stripped of their medals and banned from singles competition after causing a disastrous brawl at the Winter Olympics. The two mortal enemies discover a loophole in the rules that allows them to return to the sport as the first-ever male pair skating team. Forced to put aside their intense hatred, they must learn to work together to compete in the pairs competition and win gold.
The film is a masterful example of the “odd couple” friendship trope, where two opposite personalities are forced to rely on each other for success. The humor is derived from the collision of Chazz’s hyper-masculine, reckless attitude with Jimmy’s graceful, sensitive persona. Like the friends in movies like Grown Ups, their competitive rivalry is only overcome when they recognize that their shared goal and their dependence on one another are more important than their personal differences.
Blades of Glory is widely available for streaming and purchase on digital platforms. You can typically find it for rental or purchase on services like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and other major digital retailers. This 2007 comedy, featuring Will Ferrell’s signature absurdity, is a fantastic choice for fans looking for more star-driven, high-concept, ensemble comedies like movies like Grown Ups.
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story centers on Peter LaFleur (Vince Vaughn), the charismatic but lazy owner of the run-down Average Joe’s Gym, which faces foreclosure by the ruthless, ultra-fit rival gym owner, White Goodman (Ben Stiller). To save his gym, Peter and a ragtag team of misfit patrons, including a sarcastic accountant and a bizarre pirate, must enter a high-stakes Las Vegas dodgeball tournament to win the $50,000 grand prize.
This movie shares the ensemble spirit of movies like Grown Ups by relying on the collective effort and unique chemistry of an unlikely group of heroes. The “found family” here is the group of Average Joe’s patrons, who are united by their common goal (saving the gym) and their common enemy (White Goodman). The humor is derived from the sheer absurdity of the dodgeball matches and the intense, immature rivalry between Peter and White, making it a great movie for fans of high-energy comedic conflict.
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story is widely available for streaming and purchase on various digital platforms. You can find the film available for rent or purchase on major sites like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies & TV. This is a great choice for fans of movies like Grown Ups who enjoy the competitive ensemble comedy dynamic with a strong element of absurdity and a satisfying underdog story.
Conclusion: What's Your Next Adventure?
As this comprehensive journey through the world of ensemble comedy has shown, there is no shortage of truly excellent movies like Grown Ups available today. Whether you appreciate the nostalgic reflection on old friendships, the absurd chaos of the adult world, or the heartwarming theme of found family, these 15 films all capture the spirit and humor of the original. They prove that the most successful comedies rely not just on jokes, but on the unbreakable bonds between their characters.
We trust this detailed list has guided you to your next laugh-out-loud movie night. Now it’s your turn: head to the comments to share your favorite movie from this list, or suggest another classic that fits the mold of movies like Grown Ups. Thank you for reading, and enjoy the show!