The most mature evolution in blended family cinema is the treatment of the ex. In 1980s films, the ex was a caricature of bitterness. In 2024, think of (2019). While not exclusively about a blended family, the film’s climax—where Adam Driver’s Charlie reads a letter about Nicole’s (Scarlett Johansson) new partner—is a revelation. The new partner isn't a joke. He’s a decent guy who can tie shoelaces better than Charlie.