More directly, (2023) gives us a subtle but brilliant blended dynamic. Miles Morales has two very different dads—Jeff (biological) and Aaron (uncle figure). But watch the way his parents interact with Rio’s energy. It’s a family that has found its rhythm, even if it’s jazz.

They are hard. They are weird. There are often too many rules about screen time and whose house the video game controller lives at. But the best movies today show that the cracks in the family portrait are where the light gets in.

And honestly? It’s way more interesting to watch. What are your favorite modern films that get blended family dynamics right? Drop a comment below.

Whether it’s a stepparent finally earning a “love you too” or two step-siblings teaming up against a common enemy (usually the parents’ terrible cooking), the new normal on screen is finally starting to look like the real world.