Modern Family Premiere: Latest Season and Release Details
The Modern Family revival, officially titled Modern Family: The Legacy Continues, premiered on ABC on September 26, 2024, marking the return of the mockumentary sitcom after a 17-year original run. The series, created by Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan, originally aired from 2009 to 2020 and was produced by 20th Television and Steven Levitan Productions. The revival is structured as a limited series with a 10-episode first season, picking up with the adult versions of the original children and focusing on the Dunphy and Pritchett families. The premiere episode, titled "The Legacy Begins," aired at 8:00 PM ET on ABC and was made available on Hulu the next day for streaming subscribers. The project was first announced by ABC in January 2024, with the cast confirming their return shortly after, and the network ordered the full season in May 2024. For the original series timeline, see the Wikipedia overview of Modern Family episodes.
The Modern Family premiere drew 4.8 million viewers in its first broadcast, according to early Nielsen data reported by Variety, making it the top-rated scripted premiere of the 2024–25 broadcast season so far. The 18–49 adult demographic rating was 0.6, placing it second in its slot behind NFL football coverage on competing networks. The show also generated 2.1 million same-day linear streams on Hulu, which was the highest debut for an ABC sitcom on the platform in 2024. The revival features the original core cast, including Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson, with several new recurring characters introduced in the premiere. The production budget per episode is reported to be around $3 million, a significant increase from the original series average, reflecting updated production standards and higher talent compensation. The series is filmed at the Fox Studios lot in Los Angeles, with principal photography having wrapped in mid-August 2024.
Where to Watch Modern Family Premiere and Streaming Strategy
The Modern Family premiere is available to stream on Hulu the day after its ABC broadcast, as part of the platform's exclusive next-day streaming window for ABC content. Hulu also offers a bundle with Disney+ and ESPN+ through the Disney Bundle, which remains the primary digital subscription option for viewers wanting access to the full ABC library. The first episode of the revival is also available on Disney+ in international markets where Hulu is not offered, with local language subtitles and dubbing options. For viewers who prefer ad-free access, Hulu's ad-free plan includes the Modern Family episodes without commercial interruptions, while the ad-supported tier includes a limited number of sponsor integrations during the episodes. The streaming strategy mirrors the original series' rollout, which relied on ABC broadcasts followed by Hulu availability, and the network has confirmed that all 10 episodes of the first revival season will be available in full on Hulu by October 31, 2024.
Hulu's parent company, The Walt Disney Company, reported a 12% increase in Disney+ subscriber growth in the U.S. during the quarter that included the Modern Family premiere, though the company did not break out Hulu-only subscriber numbers in its latest quarterly earnings report. The Modern Family revival is part of a broader ABC strategy to revive legacy IP, which also includes upcoming projects like a new Abbott Elementary spinoff and a Grease musical adaptation. The network's streaming strategy is focused on driving sign-ups to Hulu and Disney+, with the Modern Family premiere serving as a key anchor title for the fall 2024 lineup. For the latest Disney financial results, see the official Disney Investor Relations earnings release.
Modern Family Premiere Reception and Industry Impact
The Modern Family premiere received mixed reviews from critics, with a 62% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on