What Is the Found Family Trope? Elements & Examples

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The found family trope in books, movies, and TV shows

Co-authored by Annabelle Reyes

Last Updated: January 6, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Found Family Trope Definition
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• Elements of the Found Family Trope
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• Examples
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• Why People Love This Trope
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• Other Literary Tropes

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If you’re an avid reader, you may have heard of the “found family trope.” But what exactly does this term mean, and what are some examples of it in books, shows, and films? If you’re looking for the answers to these questions, you’re in the right place! We've compiled a complete guide on the found family trope, including an extensive list of examples, and insights into why this trope resonates so deeply with people. Keep reading for everything you need to know!

Found Family Trope 101

The “found family trope” is a literary device about the connections between a group of characters who form deep, lasting bonds with each other, even though they aren’t blood-related. In many cases, these characters have been separated from their biological family, so they find love, support, and trust in their “chosen family,” instead.

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Section 1 of 5:

What is the “found family” trope?

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1. This trope follows characters who become a "chosen family.” It explores the relationships between people who are not related by blood, but love and support each other as if they were. Usually, the characters have been separated from (or abandoned by) their biological families, so they create their own makeshift family units with close friends. These “chosen families” bring unconditional love and acceptance to characters who don't receive these things from blood relatives.
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Section 2 of 5:

What elements create the “found family” trope?

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   Lack of support from biological families In most media with this trope, the group of characters gravitate toward each other because they don’t receive the love and support they crave from their actual biological families. These blood relatives might be neglectful in some cases, or even cruel and harmful in others.

   • For example, in the Harry Potter series, Harry values his found family at Hogwarts so much because his parents passed away, his biological aunt and uncle were neglectful and completely unsatisfactory as parent figures, and his unkind cousin Dudley was not an affectionate sibling figure.
   • In some cases, characters might not have support from their biological family simply because they’ve passed away, like in Lilo & Stitch. After their parents pass away, sisters Nani and Lilo end up finding a chosen family in aliens Pleakley, Jumba, and Stitch, as well as social worker Mr. Bubbles, and Nani’s boyfriend David.
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   Shared experiences & mutual trust The relationships between found families are often based on an intense shared experience. A sense of camaraderie and understanding develops out of this experience, leading the characters to bond in a profound way.

   • For example, in The Hunger Games, Katniss, Peeta, and Haymitch become each other’s found family because they go through the harrowing experience of the games together, and they deeply understand each other because they've all had the uncommon experience of being a "tribute."
   • This is also the case in Grey’s Anatomy. In the show, a group of doctors bond while going through the surgical residency program at Seattle Grace Hospital. Their shared experience of this elite and extremely challenging program forms the basis for their deep familial relationships with each other.
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   Unconditional acceptance & affirmation Found families in media also tend to be made up of characters who are social outcasts to some degree. When these characters are shunned by their families or by society, they find comfort, acceptance, and unwavering affirmation from the friends who become their chosen family.

   • For example, this is the case in the show Pose. The cast of gay and trans characters face discrimination from both society and their families, but they find a sense of love, belonging, and celebration in their relationships with each other.
   • This is also the case in the movie musical Rent, which follows a group of characters facing a range of obstacles, including discrimination, addiction, health battles with HIV/AIDS, and poverty. In the midst of these experiences, they build deep friendships with each other based on understanding and acceptance.
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Section 3 of 5:

Found Family Trope Examples

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   Books One of the most well-known examples of the found family trope would be the Harry Potter series. In the books, Harry doesn’t receive adequate love from his biological family, but after learning he’s a wizard, he builds deep bonds with his classmates, teachers, and mentors. Characters like Ron, Hermione, Hagrid, Professor Dumbledore, Professor Lupin, Sirius Black, and the Weasleys end up comprising Harry’s found family. Here are a few more examples:

   • The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien
   • The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan
   • The Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson
   • The Mysterious Benedict Society series by Trenton Lee Stewart
   • Howl’s Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones
   • Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
   • The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
   • Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
   • One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
   • Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero
   • The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
   • A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
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   Movies The found family trope makes an appearance in a wide variety of movies, including the Guardians of the Galaxy series. In these films, a group of non-blood-related characters must work together to defeat a supervillain with plans to take over the world. In the process, they end up forming lasting relationships, and they eventually become each other’s chosen family. Other examples include:

   • The Avengers movies (2012-2019)
   • Lilo & Stitch (2002)
   • Paddington (2014)
   • Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)
   • School of Rock (2003)
   • Rent (2005)
   • The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
   • A League of Their Own (1992)
   • The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
   • The Dead Poet’s Society (1989)
   • The Holdovers (2023)
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   TV Shows A prime example of the found family trope in TV would be Glee. In this show, a group of misfits (and some popular kids) connect over their love of singing in their school’s show choir. Although the characters aren’t blood related, they end up supporting each other like family, especially when members of the club face bullying at school or struggles at home. Here are a few more shows to check out if you’re looking for this trope:

   • Pose
   • Stranger Things
   • Friends
   • The Mandalorian
   • The Good Place
   • Daisy Jones and the Six
   • Grey’s Anatomy
   • Outer Banks
   • The Office
   • New Girl
   • How I Met Your Mother
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Section 4 of 5:

Why do people love the found family trope?

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1. The found family trope is a heartwarming and comforting plot device. Many people have experienced some form of rejection or struggle with their biological families, and the idea that it’s possible to find a “chosen family” full of love and acceptance is a particularly inspiring one for these people. It’s also heartwarming to watch a cast of misfits or outcasts find a sense of belonging with people who truly understand them.

   • The found family trope also resonates in a particularly deep way for members of the LGBTQ community, who can sometimes be rejected or shunned by their biological families when they come out.
   • For these people, the found family trope can be an inspiring reminder that love comes in all kinds of forms, that there's more to family than blood, and that there are people out there who will accept them unconditionally.

Section 5 of 5:

Other Literary Tropes

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1. There are many common tropes to look out for in books, shows, and movies. In fact, you’ve probably come across a few of them in your favorite media! Here are a few common ones to check out:

   • The “chosen one” trope: Common in the Sci-Fi and Fantasy genres, this trope centers around a main character who is fated or destined to save the world. Examples include the Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Dune series.
   • The “orphan hero” trope: Common in “coming of age” stories. Follows a main character who is an orphan as they grow up and take charge of their life. Examples include David Copperfield and Jane Eyre. The Harry Potter series could also fit into this category (as well as the “chosen one” trope).
   • The “quest” trope: Popular in the Fantasy genre, follows a group of characters or one hero as they embark on an epic quest. Examples include The Odyssey, The Lord of the Rings, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
   • The “hidden world” trope: Also popular in the Fantasy genre, involves a group of characters who discover a hidden or secret world that exists alongside the real world. Examples include Harry Potter, Labyrinth, and The Magicians.
   • The “enemies to lovers” trope: Popular in the Romance genre, this plot device explores the relationship of two characters who start out disliking each other but eventually fall in love. Examples include the books Pride and Prejudice and Red, White, and Royal Blue, and movies The Proposal and 10 Things I Hate About You.
   • The “friends to lovers” trope: Also popular in the Romance genre, follows the relationship between two friends who eventually develop romantic feelings for each other. Examples include the novel Emma by Jane Austen and the movies When Harry Met Sally, Made of Honor, and 13 Going on 30.
   • The “love triangle” trope: Follows the complicated romantic relationships between three characters. This trope is super common, but a few popular examples include The Hunger Games (Peeta, Katniss, and Gale) and Twilight (Bella, Jacob, and Edward).
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