Ed Burns and Connie Britton dish about their new film, "Family McMullen"

Reel Perspectives

December 5, 2025

Family McMullen, the sequel to Edward Burns ' 1995 indie film The Brothers McMullen, followed three Irish American brothers navigating life, love, and relationships in Long Island, New York. The original film was a huge success, wowing critics and audiences alike and winning the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. Three decades later, Family McMullen made its streaming debut exclusively on HBO Max on Decmber 6, revisiting a wise-cracking Barry McMullen navigating a new set of family dynamics within the McMullen clan.  

When Brothers McMullen debuted in 1995 with a $238,000 budget, it took everyone by surprise and grossed a staggering 19 million, instantly making Ed Burns a household name. Thirty years later, Burns is back as Barry McMullen, and the new film tracks the romantic entanglements of a now 50-something Barry and his 20-something kids, as well as his brother and widowed sister-in-law, Molly (Connie Britton), each facing unexpected romantic hurdles of their own.

HBO MAX

We sat down with the fabulous Britton and Burns, who have returned once again as writer, director, producer, and star ahead of the film's streaming debut, to talk about their characters. Burns was quick to point out that while Barry McMullen may be thirty years older, he's definitely not wiser. His idealism in the first film has not met the reality in this hilarious and heart-warming sequel that also stars Michael McGlone, who returns as brother Patrick McMullen, Tracee Ellis Ross as Nina Martin, Juliana Canfield as Karen Martin, Pico Alexander as Thomas "Tommy" McMullen, Brian d'Arcy James as Walter, and Halston Sage as Patricia "Patty" McMullen.

Candidly sharing his vision for the new film, he knew he wanted a new family to emerge, with new relationships set in the culturally rich city of New York, where he was born and raised, revealing that the diverse relationships we see are more representative of many families today.

The sequel arrives just in time for the holiday season and perfectly blends comedy with some genuinely laugh-out-loud moments that resonate truthfully. Funny, witty, and emotionally satisfying, Burns delivers a sequel that reminds us what a modern family looks like three decades after the fairytale ending of the first film.

Family McMullen is streaming now on HBO Max.