15 Sitcoms That Can Be Enjoyed By Both Kids & Adults

Sitcoms are one of television's oldest genres and have experienced exceptional growth since the 1950s. There is no shortage of comedies on television, maked Julie Bells but it can sometimes be difficult to find a program that's appropriate for both children and adults. Not every sitcom will pass this test, but there's plenty of acceptable programming out there to enjoy.

There have never been more options for audiences eager to find their next television obsession. The normalization of streaming services has resulted in a wealth of content to consume, much of which is interested in pushing the boundaries of what creators can accomplish in the medium and the sitcom genre specifically.

Updated July 8, 2025, by Anthony Jeanetta. Sitcoms are one of the few artistic mediums that can bridge the gap between adult and kid-focused entertainment. This list was updated with more of the best sitcoms the entire family can enjoy.

15 Full House Is Perfect for the Whole Family

Full House Has a 6.8 Score on IMDb

Full House is the ideal sitcom that appeals to all family members, regardless of age. During the show, this hodgepodge family grows closer together as they traverse life's ups and downs. The series follows Danny Tanner, a recently widowed father, as he enlists his brother-in-law and best friend to help him raise his three daughters.

These 10 Sitcom Episodes Are Perfect From Start to Finish (& They Get Better With Every Rewatch)

There are many great sitcoms out there, but there's a handful that have truly amazing episodes that no one can ever forget.

Full House has a stacked '90s cast, including Bob Saget, John Stamos, Dave Coulier and Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen. Throughout the series, the family grows, and new members enter, bringing new personalities and dynamics to the group. Due to the family's size, there's a character for everyone to laugh with and relate to.

Full House (US)

Cast

- Bob Saget

- John Stamos

14 Bob's Burgers Is a Long-Lasting Animated Sitcom

Bob's Burgers Has an 8.2 Score on IMDb

Debuting in 2013, Bob's Burgers has become one of the longest-running sitcoms currently airing. The show depicts the lives of the Belcher clan, a family consisting of father Bob, mother Linda and their three children: Tina, Gene and Louise. This blue-collar family owns and operates a restaurant in the fictional city of Seymour's Bay, New Jersey.

Like many of the best family-friendly sitcoms, Bob's Burgers has something for everyone. Likewise, kids can find plenty to laugh at and love with the younger Belchers as they go through the struggles of growing up. Parents can relate to Bob and Linda's struggles to keep their business afloat and their children out of trouble.

Bob's Burgers

Cast

- H. Jon Benjamin
Bob Belcher (voice)

- John Roberts
Linda Belcher (voice)

Bob Belcher runs his dream restaurant with his wife and three children as their last hope of holding the family together.

13 Black-ish Presents a Family Dynamic That's Less Common on TV

Black-ish Has a 7.3 Score on IMDb

Black-ish, created by Kenya Barris, tracks the various exploits of the Johnson family. This upper-class family differs from many other sitcoms in that they're Black, giving it a distinctly different point of view. Accordingly, the series has a great blend of poignant social commentary and humor.

Black-ish's Johnson family includes parents Dre and Rainbow, and their children: Zoey, Junior, Jack and Diane. The show was so successful it generated two spin-off series, Grown-ish and Mixed-ish. Adding to this zany cast are grandparents Ruby (Jennifer Lewis) and Earl (Laurence Fishburne). Altogether, this ensemble shines, effortlessly moving between comedy and drama and providing humor for viewers of all ages.

Black-ish

Cast

- Anthony Anderson
Andre Johnson

- Gary Cole
Harrison

- Nat Faxon
Joseph Everton

- Tracee Ellis Ross
Rainbow Johnson

A family man struggles to gain a sense of cultural identity while raising his kids in a predominantly white, upper-middle-class neighborhood.

12 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Was an Onscreen Breakthrough for Will Smith

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Has a 7.9 Score on IMDb

While there is a rich history of Black sitcoms, such as Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons and Different Strokes, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was notable for several reasons. First, it was a breakout for series star Will Smith, who would go on to become one of the biggest movie stars after the show's conclusion. Second, the series had significant crossover appeal to audiences of all races.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air tracked Smith, playing a fictionalized version of himself, who moved in with his wealthy family members in California after relocating from inner-city Philadelphia. In addition to a rich sense of humor, the show delved into serious social issues including racial profiling, substance use disorder and police brutality. Behind Smith's stardom and the stellar supporting cast, the series expertly explores not just the differences between white and Black Americans, but also those between Black people of varying social classes.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Cast

- Will Smith

- James Avery

A streetwise, poor young man from Philadelphia is sent by his mother to live with his aunt, uncle and cousins in their Bel-Air mansion.

11 Abbott Elementary Is an Uproarious Portrayal of Public Schools

Abbott Elementary Has an 8.2 Score on IMDb

Abbott Elementary differs from many other shows on this list in that it is a workplace sitcom. However, the show's unique workplace, an inner-city public school, provides ample opportunities for both adults and children to laugh at. Typically, such series don't have the broad appeal of more family-focused sitcoms.

Abbott Elementary follows a close-knit group of teachers at the titular school, who, along with their wacky principal and janitor, strive to support their students despite the odds stacked against them. The series employs a mockumentary format, similar to other modern workplace sitcoms, such as The Office or Parks and Recreation, by creating fantastic jokes through straight-to-camera interviews with the characters. Each of these aspects makes Abbott Elementary one of the best sitcoms since 2020.

Abbott Elementary

Cast

- Quinta Brunson
Janine Teagues

- Tyler James Williams
Gregory Eddie

- Sheryl Lee Ralph
Barbara Howard

- Lisa Ann Walter
Melissa Schemmenti

-
-
-

-
-
-
-
-

10 The Amazing World of Gumball Is a Fun Cartoon for the Whole Family

The Amazing World of Gumball Has an 8.4 Score on IMDb

The Amazing World of Gumball is an animated sitcom that is part of Cartoon Network's most iconic programming. Although it primarily targets children, and Gumball's extravagant aesthetic might put off many adults, it's truly a show for both adults and children. The series follows a young cat, Gumball, and his adoptive fish brother, Darwin, as they navigate family life and school.

10 TV Sitcoms With No Bad Seasons

Some sitcoms manage to defy the odds and keep their audience in stitches year after year.

However, nothing in this show is what it seems. Adults will get the true depths of The Amazing World of Gumball, while younger audiences will love the characters, their design and the different adventures they embark on. There are many different and even absurd characters, and episodes are always cleverly crafted to include metatextual jokes, satire, and parodies of other media.

The Amazing World of Gumball

The life of a twelve-year-old boy who happens to be a blue cat as he lives with his family and other strange creatures.

9 One Day at a Time Is a Modern Take on the Family Sitcom

One Day at a Time Has an 8.1 Score on IMDb

Netflix's 2017 One Day at a Time remake is funny, wholesome and contains lots of representation. The mom recently divorced and lives with her two teenage children and her traditional mom. The show follows a Cuban-American family trying to survive in the modern world and negotiating their own values.

Like most sitcoms where children aren't technically the target audience, kids won't truly understand everything that happens in One Day at a Time. One Day at a Time is a feel-good show that teaches great values, and people of all ages will surely fall in love with the main characters. However, there are plenty of jokes for the whole family, and the show's heartwarming writing will teach them to be loved and accepted for who they are.

One Day at a Time

-

Follows three generations of the same Cuban-American family living in the same house: a newly divorced former military mother, her teenage daughter and tween son, and her old-school mother.

8 Boy Meets World Is a '90s Classic Comedy

Boy Meets World Has an 8.1 Score on IMDb

A sitcom that aired from 1993 to 2000, Boy Meets World is the quintessential sitcom for the whole family. The series keeps all the jokes and storylines age-appropriate as the main character is 11-year-old boy, Cory Matthews. While the lead character is a kid, the series is amusing for all audiences.

CBR Report

CBR Report

Not only will older audiences get a massive hit of nostalgia and share a classic TV show with their children, but Boy Meet Worlds is even great for adults who haven't watched it before. However, Cory's adventures will be the main hook for children. The jokes are clever, with good doses of sarcasm.

Boy Meets World

An adolescent with two siblings tests his various theories about life as he endures the trials of growing up alongside a good friend.

7 The Simpsons Has Always Welcomed All Audiences

The Simpsons Has an 8.7 Score on IMDb

The Simpsons is an animated sitcom for adults. However, unlike other adult animated comedy series, it is a good show for people of all ages. It keeps inappropriate content to a minimum, and the family's shenanigans are amusing for everyone.

Of course, what makes The Simpsons such a beloved series for adults is its incredible insight into American culture, but children won't pay any attention to that. While the show's dark humor appeals to adults, it will thoroughly entertain kids with its dynamic and accessible plots. The earlier seasons are especially great for younger audiences, as they used to focus more on Bart Simpson, the family's young son.

The Simpsons

The satiric adventures of a working-class family in the misfit city of Springfield.

6 Modern Family Lets Its Young Audience Grow Old With the Dunphy Kids

Modern Family Has an 8.5 Score on IMDb

It stands to reason that some of the most accessible sitcoms actually represent a wide range of age demographics within the series. That’s no easy feat, and it's evidence of the cultural phenomenon it became. Modern Family is one of the biggest family sitcoms of the past decade, and it produced more than 250 episodes across 11 seasons.

While the final seasons aren’t as strong as Modern Family's debut years, the show remains charming and true to itself. This decade of television allows the children in the Dunphy family to realistically grow older and mature along with Modern Family’s younger audience. Following the adventures of both children and adults, Modern Family is the perfect sitcom to watch with the family.

Modern Family

-
-
-

WHERE TO WATCH

-
-
-
-

-
-

Three different but related families face trials and tribulations in their own uniquely comedic ways.

Google is updating how content is shown. Don't miss our industry-leading content, written by humans, by setting CBR as a preferred source.