Love the fun and chaos of Cheaper by the Dozen? You are in for a treat!
If you are searching for movies similar to Cheaper by the Dozen, we have got just the list for you. From hilarious misadventures to heartfelt family bonds, these films are packed with laughs, love, and relatable moments.
Perfect for your next movie night, this roundup includes timeless favorites and hidden gems that capture the spirit of big, lovable families.
Let’s jump into the best family comedies from the past three decades!
What Makes Cheaper by the Dozen Special?
Released in 2003, Cheaper by the Dozen is more than just a funny family movie; it is a heartwarming story that celebrates the joys and challenges of everyday family life.
Here is what makes it stand out:
- Big family fun: With twelve kids, the Baker household is full of energy, chaos, and love. The mix of sibling rivalry, pranks, and sweet moments keeps things entertaining and relatable.
- Light-hearted tone: The movie balances humor with touching family moments, making it feel both fun and meaningful.
- Relatable themes: It shows real-life situations like moving, growing up, and supporting each other through change that resonate with families of all kinds.
1995–2005: Classic Comfort Family Comedies
This era brought us heartwarming and hilarious films that perfectly blend family chaos, love, and laughter just like Cheaper by the Dozen.
1. Matilda (1996)
Based on Roald Dahl’s classic novel, Matilda is a gifted little girl who uses her smarts and telekinetic powers to overcome her neglectful parents and villainous school principal, finding family among friends and a caring teacher.
- Director: Danny DeVito
- Main Cast: Mara Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Pam Ferris, Embeth Davidtz
- Producer: Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher, Danny DeVito
- Availability: Regularly available to stream on platforms like Netflix and available for rent or purchase online.
2. Dr. Dolittle (1998)
Dr. John Dolittle is an ordinary doctor until he discovers that he can talk to animals. His unusual gift leads to a series of wacky animal-filled adventures that upend his life but ultimately bring his family closer together.
- Director: Betty Thomas
- Main Cast: Eddie Murphy, Ossie Davis, Oliver Platt, Peter Boyle
- Producer: John Davis
- Availability: Available for rent or streaming, typically on Disney+, Hulu, or Prime Video.
3. The Parent Trap (1998)
Twin sisters, separated at birth and raised on different continents, meet by chance at summer camp and hatch a plan to reunite their long-divorced parents.
Family mischief, heartwarming moments, and classic pranks make this a must-see for all ages.
- Director: Nancy Meyers
- Main Cast: Lindsay Lohan, Dennis Quaid, Natasha Richardson, Elaine Hendrix
- Producer: Charles Shyer, Bruce A. Block
- Availability: Available to stream on Disney+, as well as to rent or buy digitally.
4. Big Fat Liar (2002)
When a teenage boy’s creative writing project is stolen by a devious movie producer, he sets off on an adventure with his best friend to Hollywood, determined to expose the truth and get revenge with over-the-top pranks.
- Director: Shawn Levy
- Main Cast: Frankie Muniz, Amanda Bynes, Paul Giamatti, Amanda Detmer
- Producer: Michael Goldman, Brian Robbins
- Availability: Available for streaming and rent on platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
5. Freaky Friday (2003)
A magical fortune cookie causes a mother and daughter to swap bodies for a day, forcing them to see life from the other’s point of view. This witty, spirited film offers plenty of laughs and gentle life lessons.
- Director: Mark Waters
- Main Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan, Mark Harmon, Chad Michael Murray
- Producer: Andrew Gunn
- Availability: Streaming on Disney+ and available for rent online.
6. Daddy Day Care (2003)
After losing their jobs, two fathers start a day care center in their home. With no real experience but plenty of enthusiasm, they wrangle a wild bunch of children and learn the ups and downs of parenting in this heartfelt, comedy-packed tale.
- Director: Steve Carr
- Main Cast: Eddie Murphy, Jeff Garlin, Steve Zahn, Regina King
- Producer: John Davis
- Availability: Frequently available on platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and DVD.
7. Nanny McPhee (2005)
A mysterious, magical nanny arrives to help a widowed father with his seven unruly children. With a tap of her stick, discipline and wonder change the family in this British comedy.
- Director: Kirk Jones
- Main Cast: Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Kelly Macdonald, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Angela Lansbury
- Producer: Lindsay Doran, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner
- Availability: Available to stream on platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, as well as on DVD.
8. Yours, Mine & Ours (2005)
This remake tells the story of Frank Beardsley and Helen North, both widowed parents who fall in love and get married, blending their 18 children into one hectic household.
Hilarity and chaos ensue as the new family faces all the challenges of coming together.
- Director: Raja Gosnell
- Main Cast: Dennis Quaid, Rene Russo, Danielle Panabaker, Sean Faris, Miranda Cosgrove
- Producer: Robert Simonds
- Availability: Usually available to stream or rent on platforms like Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video, or Apple TV.
2005–2015: Modern Family Mayhem
During these years, family comedies took a fresh spin, mixing modern challenges with the same lovable chaos and warmth found in Cheaper by the Dozen.
9. Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005)
The Baker family heads to a lake for a summer vacation, only to enter into a friendly but wild rivalry with another large family. This sequel delivers more zany family antics as parents and kids compete and bond in new ways.
- Director: Adam Shankman
- Main Cast: Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt, Hilary Duff, Eugene Levy, Tom Welling
- Producer: Ben Myron, Adam Shankman
- Availability: Available on various platforms, including Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV.
10. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
The dysfunctional Hoover family embarks on a cross-country trip in support of young Olive’s dream to become a beauty queen. The film masterfully blends comedy and pathos, showing how support and love thrive amid chaos.
- Director: Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris
- Main Cast: Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Steve Carell, Alan Arkin, Abigail Breslin
- Producer: Marc Turtletaub, David T. Friendly, Peter Saraf, Albert Berger, Ron Yerxa
- Availability: Often available on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Netflix.
11. Night at the Museum (2006)
Larry, a night security guard at New York’s American Museum of Natural History, finds out that the exhibits magically come to life at night. His efforts to maintain order led to wild escapades and unexpected friendships.
- Director: Shawn Levy
- Main Cast: Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Carla Gugino
- Producer: Shawn Levy, Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan, Mark Radcliffe
- Availability: Regularly on Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and other services.
12. The Game Plan (2007)
Joe Kingman, a star football quarterback, finds his world turned upside down when he learns he has an eight-year-old daughter. Adapting to parenthood brings laughter and heartwarming father-daughter growth.
- Director: Andy Fickman
- Main Cast: Dwayne The Rock Johnson, Madison Pettis, Kyra Sedgwick, Roselyn Sanchez
- Producer: Mark Ciardi, Gordon Gray
- Availability: Available on Disney+, Apple TV, and for digital rental.
13. Imagine That (2009)
Struggling executive Evan’s career gets unexpected help from his daughter’s imaginary world. As he accepts her creativity, they reconnect amidst whimsical fantasy and genuine emotional growth.
- Director: Karey Kirkpatrick
- Main Cast: Eddie Murphy, Yara Shahidi, Thomas Haden Church, Nicole Ari Parker
- Producer: Lorenzo di Bonaventura
- Availability: Frequently found on Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV.
14. Hotel for Dogs (2009)
Orphaned siblings Andi and Bruce find an abandoned hotel and secretly transform it into a shelter for stray dogs. With the help of friends, they use creativity and teamwork to care for dozens of dogs and build a new family.
- Director: Thor Freudenthal
- Main Cast: Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin, Kyla Pratt, Don Cheadle, Lisa Kudrow
- Producer: Lauren Shuler Donner, Ewan Leslie, Jason Clark
- Availability: Often available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, and other platforms.
15. Ramona and Beezus (2010)
Based on Beverly Cleary’s books, the film follows imaginative grade-schooler Ramona Quimby and her older sister Beezus through family ups and downs, school troubles, and heartfelt sibling adventures.
- Director: Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum
- Main Cast: Joey King, Selena Gomez, John Corbett, Bridget Moynahan, Josh Duhamel
- Producer: Denise Di Novi, Alison Greenspan
- Availability: Available for rent or streaming on platforms such as Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV.
16. Parental Guidance (2012)
Old-school grandparents Artie and Diane are called in to babysit their three grandkids, leading to plenty of generational clashes and heartfelt moments as everyone learns new lessons about family life.
- Director: Andy Fickman
- Main Cast: Billy Crystal, Bette Midler, Marisa Tomei, Tom Everett Scott
- Producer: Billy Crystal, Peter Chernin
- Availability: Frequently available on streaming platforms like Disney+, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
2015–2025: Fresh Faces & New Family Favorites
In this recent wave of family films, new characters and stories continue to deliver the laughs, heart, and relatable moments that fans of Cheaper by the Dozen love.
17. Daddy’s Home (2015)
Stepdad Brad is determined to be the best father he can be until Dusty, the kids’ biological dad, unexpectedly returns. The dads’ over-the-top competition spirals into comic chaos as the family navigates blended bonds.`
- Director: Sean Anders
- Main Cast: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini, Thomas Haden Church
- Producers: Will Ferrell, Chris Henchy, Adam McKay, John Morris
- Availability: Available to rent or stream on major online platforms.
18. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (2017)
The Heffley family hits the road for a family reunion, but Greg secretly aims to attend a video game convention. His plans lead the whole family into a series of comic road trip disasters and mishaps.
- Director: David Bowers
- Main Cast: Jason Ian Drucker, Alicia Silverstone, Tom Everett Scott, Charlie Wright
- Producers: Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson
- Availability: Available to rent or stream on platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
19. Instant Family (2018)
Inspired by a true story, a couple decides to foster three siblings, plunging them into the unpredictable adventure of instant parenthood, full of love, laughter, and growing pains.
- Director: Sean Anders
- Main Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Isabela Merced, Gustavo Quiroz, Julianna Gamiz, Octavia Spencer
- Producers: Sean Anders, Mark Wahlberg, John Morris
- Availability: Available to rent or stream on major online platforms.
20. Playing with Fire (2019)
A team of rugged firefighters is forced to look after three energetic siblings after a rescue.
Their orderly world descends into chaos, but they discover that taking care of kids is their wildest challenge yet and maybe the most rewarding.
- Director: Andy Fickman
- Main Cast: John Cena, Keegan-Michael Key, John Leguizamo, Brianna Hildebrand, Judy Greer
- Producers: Todd Garner, Sean Robins
- Availability: Available for streaming or rental on popular platforms.
21. The War with Grandpa (2020)
Young Peter is forced to share his beloved bedroom with his grandfather, leading to an all-out prank war. Through the tricks and antics, both generations learn about respect, family, and forgiveness.
- Director: Tim Hill
- Main Cast: Robert De Niro, Uma Thurman, Rob Riggle, Oakes Fegley, Jane Seymour
- Producers: Marvin Peart, Rosa Peart, Phillip Glasser
- Availability: Available to rent or stream on common digital platforms.
22. The Sleepover (2020)
Two siblings’ routine night takes a turn when they discover their mother’s thrilling secret past. Thrust into an action-packed rescue mission, the family faces danger, laughter, and newfound respect for one another.
- Director: Trish Sie
- Main Cast: Sadie Stanley, Maxwell Simkins, Cree Cicchino, Ken Marino, Malin Åkerman
- Producers: Michael Glassman, Scott Holroyd, Mickey Liddell, Jennifer Monroe, Alison Semenza King, Pete Shilaimon, Nicole Stojkovich
- Availability: Available on Netflix.
23. Yes Day (2021)
Allison and Carlos, known for saying “no” to their kids, grant them a single Yes Day, where all the kids’ wishes are granted within reason.
As wild adventures ensue, the family reconnects and learns the value of fun and compromise.
- Director: Miguel Arteta
- Main Cast: Jennifer Garner, Édgar Ramírez, Jenna Ortega
- Producers: Miguel Arteta, Ben Everard, Jennifer Garner, among others
- Availability: Streaming on Netflix.
24. Family Switch (2023)
After a rare cosmic event, the Walker family wakes up with parents and kids swapped into each other’s bodies.
Forced to handle each other’s school, work, and personal challenges, everyone discovers a new perspective and plenty of laughter while struggling to get their lives back.
- Director: McG
- Main Cast: Jennifer Garner, Ed Helms, Emma Myers, Brady Noon
- Producers: Jennifer Garner, McG, Lawrence Grey, Ben Everard, Nicole King, Mary Viola
- Availability: Exclusive to Netflix.
Final Thoughts
Family comedies have a special way of making us laugh, cry, and appreciate the beautiful mess that is family life. They remind us that it is okay to be imperfect as long as we stick together.
No matter if you are bonding with siblings, parenting little ones, or just looking for feel-good fun, these movies deliver.
Pick a favorite from any decade, grab some popcorn, and enjoy a movie night filled with heart, humor, and unforgettable moments.
There’s something here for everyone in the family to love.
