10 Modern Family cold opens that still make us laugh

Modern Family is one of the funniest mockumentary-style sitcoms from ABC that aired for 11 seasons. With chaotic, yet ever adorable characters (Dunphys, Pritchetts, and Tuckers), the episodes felt like a loving, warm embrace.

With excellent comic writing and acting from the ensemble cast, the family became so relatable that it almost convinced us of its real existence somewhere in suburban California.

But what made this show really funny apart from the character antics and sharp comic timing? Well, part of its magic was the storytelling technique with its signature cold opens. These cozy, pre-credit scenes that dropped us right into the middle of the family's daily mayhem just how they might experience them: Always in the middle of something but always finding each other for support.

Even though every fan has their own favorite, here are 10 cold opens still make us laugh years after the finale aired.

Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinion. Readers’ discretion is advised.

10 Modern Family cold opens that still make us laugh

1. The Day We Almost Died (Season 6 Episode 11)

Modern Family (Image via Amazon Prime Video)

This Season 6 cold open from Modern Family capitalizes on the signature everyday chaos of the Dunphy family. As the family leaves home to get a mundane pancake, things get dramatic when a car nearly smashes into their vehicle. As Phil quickly hits the brakes, the entire family shrieks in horror, but Luke, as nonchalant as ever, asks:

"Why'd we stop?"

The moment is short but speaks volumes about how Modern Family captures core character traits of kids, adults, and teenagers alike and blends it with slapstick humor.

What makes this episode even more relatable is the emotional setup of the event and how the masterful comic writing of the show makes any awkward situation hold a little scope of laughter.

2. Caught in the Act (Season 2 Episode 13)

This season 2 cold open from Modern Family sets up the premise for the episode title. Gloria seeks Jay's help to write a letter to Claire about a potential bake sale. But the mail was full of complaints from Gloria, who went a little too candid.

In signature Modern Family fashion, the mail gets sent to Claire, and now Gloria feels guilty. The panicked follow-up by Gloria goes:

"It sended!"

"Make it come back"

This moment is unfiltered but brings out something pure: Gloria cares about Claire. But as the episode proceeds, we get further drawn into bigger chaos when the Dunphy kids walk in on their parents.

This short scene perfectly sets up the episode's central conflict, with Gloria and Jay trying to cover up tracks, desperately trying to undo Gloria’s mistake.

3. Bringing up Baby (Season 4 Episode 1)

The pilot episode of Season 4 from Modern Family sets up the premise for another adorable new member to enter the Pritchettdunphy-tucker dynamics. Gloria finds out that she is pregnant, but she also knows how Jay wouldn't like any more surprises.

Meanwhile, Phil, along with Shorty and Jay’s other friends, plan to take Jay on a fishing session by almost kidnapping him on his 65th birthday. They put a cloth over Jay’s face and drag him down, almost like an abduction scene.

What makes it even more hilarious is how Phil, as unaware as ever, thinks that he read "between the lines" and delivered just the right surprise for Jay. Well, we can guess Jay’s reaction way ahead, and the possibility of seeing a furious Jay, makes the scene potent with sitcom brilliance of Modern Family.

4. The Party (Season, Episode 18)

In this episode of Modern Family, the cold open features Claire and Gloria as they share a spa weekend away after Claire becomes the CEO of Pritchetts Closets. Claire expresses her wish to see Gloria without makeup when they take mud facials. Claire excitedly says, pointing to Gloria:

"I cannot wait to see this one without makeup"

To which But Gloria replies

"If you do that will be the last thing you’ll ever see"

Well, if this isn't classic Gloria, then what is? The scene is followed by Gloria adding Cam to Jay’s plan of watching pay-per-view boxing. What makes the scene hilarious is how Gloria and Mitch excitedly plan a date between two people who do not look very impressed with the idea.

5. Double Click (Season 7 Episode 22)

This cold open from Modern Family traces Phil as he frantically wakes Claire up in the middle of the night, suspecting there is a girl in his bed. On the other hand, Jay is learning tech from Manny and is having a hard time understanding what a double click is.

A few scenes later, a frustrated Manny lies down on the familiar sofa from Jay and Gloria’s home, saying:

"It's the first time I’ve ever used the F-word."

The scene perfectly captures the humor built on evolving tech and the human difficulty in keeping up with the change. The dynamics between Manny and Jay make the scene a perfect, laugh-inducing moment.

6. Three Turkeys (Season 6 Episode 8)

Episode 8 from Season 6 of Modern Family focuses on Phil as he follows a new application by Nigella Lawson that helps him cook the turkey for Thanksgiving. He admits that Claire barely trusts his cooking.

What makes this otherwise mundane confession hilarious is how Phil quickly recalls his experience listening to Nigella Lawson’s recipe reading while he was driving. He says:

"There was so much whipping and beating I had to pull over…"

7. Red Alert (Season 10 Episode 16)

This cold open starts with Phil as he devastatingly barely manages to hold up for a new showing. Soon, the story traces Lilly as she reaches a crucial biological milestone: Menstruation. Cam and Mitch try hard and desperately seek ways to support Lilly.

As usual, Cam drops a funny line, and it is so oddly timed that it induces laughter in no time. He literally says:

"If she were a sheep, she’d be dealing with this every 17 days."

The moment is funny because of how clueless both Mitch and Cam are and how they walk on eggshells, fearing to mess it all up for Lilly at any moment.

8. Princess Party (Season 2 Episode 15)

This is undoubtedly one of the funniest cold opens from the show. As Claire and Hailey go over the typical mother-daughter quarrel, Hailey talks about a learning disability that makes "letters jump around on the page".

To which Claire replies that they got Hailey tested six times and ultimately "prayed for Dyslexia". The cold open is swift and organically fits into the dynamic Claire and Hailey share.

Things become funnier when Dede announces her arrival, and everybody in the house gets on their best feet to control Claire, who they suspect will turn into a "psycho."

9. See You Next Fall (Season 2 Episode 23)

The episode begins in medias res as an announcement takes place, declaring Alex Dunphy as the valedictorian. As the camera traces the Dunphys back in their home with Alex, Phil reveals that he has to leave for Vegas the next day and hence wants Claire not to have a dramatic meltdown.

Therefore, he tries to induce her tears by making her emotional. Houses apart, Jay is trying to enter his house, but somehow the gate for car entry has been locked. Jay tries to communicate with Gloria and Manny to press 9 and unlock the door.

But both cut the call as they misread Jay’s next instructions. A frustrated Jay then says:

“Every damn time!”

This is a perfect case of comic misunderstanding that once again speaks volumes about the show's ability to draw laughter out of the mundane.

10. Snapped (Season 11 Episode 2)

This cold open from Season 11 focuses on Cam and Mitchell. Cam is showing the new, AI-assistant-enabled fridge to Mitchell, and in the long list of benefits that comes with this AI assistance, Cam mentions that it can also create reminders for "celebrity gossip alerts."

When Cam storms out, leaving their gossip on Pepper incomplete, Micthell, even though skeptical at first about "talking to an appliance," comically pulls a chair and starts gossiping with the fridge.

This opening speaks for itself with its literally "smart" writing around a smart appliance.