Family Disunion

Think of the most dramatic, traumatic and tumultuous event in your life. Now completely disregard it, because it doesn't even compare to a large family gathering.

In fiction, the most life-changing events must happen at family gatherings. No family is immune, but especially not at a reunion or funeral. You can double the chance of chaos if the family happens to be black. If you are planning any sort of family gathering, you should always expect shocking revelations, death, divorce or even attempted murder. You can also expect a brief mention of a Noodle Incident, or it will become one (but only if there's a sequel). If this makes family gatherings sound dangerous, don't worry. There is always reconciliation in the end. And everyone comes out of it learning valuable lessons about life, love and the value of family.

Related to Picture Day and Dinner and a Show.

Tyler Perry is rather fond of this trope.

Examples of Family Disunion include:

Film

• This Christmas
• Madea's Family Reunion
• Soul Food
• Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins
• Meet the Browns
• Death at a Funeral (both versions)
• National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
• Four Christmases
• Home For The Holidays
• Everybody's Fine (big time): One daughter is secretly questioning her sexuality while the other is divorcing her husband. Meanwhile, one of his sons is mildly unhappy while the other is dead, likely due to a drug overdose.
• Nothing Like the Holidays
• The Lion in Winter
• When Do We Eat?
• Our Family Wedding
• Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
  • and its Race Lift remake, Guess Who
• The Family Stone