The film has received critical acclaim since its release. Rotten Tomatoes gives a score of 97% based on 29 reviews, with an average score of 8.4/10. At Metacritic it scored 82% based on reviews from 9 critics, considered "universal acclaim". Acclaimed film critic Roger Ebert awarded the film 4 out of 4 stars and quote, "I was completely absorbed from beginning to end. What a courageous first feature this is, a film that sidesteps shopworn stereotypes and tells a quiet, firm, deeply humanist story about doing the right thing". Kevin Uhlich of Time Out New York awarded the film 5 out of 5 stars and wrote "No doubt you've noticed the nearly three-hour runtime, but please don't let that dissuade you: Every moment counts in this gripping tale". Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter called the film "deeply humanistic, profoundly touching work representing independent cinema at its finest". Paul Brunick of The New York Times said, "Mr. Wang's slow-reveal psychological drama isn't just a showcase for his excellent ensemble cast. Beautifully modulated and stylistically sui generis, In the Family is also one of the most accomplished and undersold directorial debuts this year". Rob Humanick of Slant magazine liked the film and awarded the film 4 out of 4 stars and wrote in his review "An acutely felt, altogether devastating family drama as intimate and affecting as it is sprawling and untamed." Robert Abele from the Los Angeles Times and said in this positive review "Deliberate and marked by uncommon grace, In The Family manages to feel politically and culturally acute without ever resorting to melodrama, or having to wave banners for issues or causes, except perhaps in its quiet way for a renewed humanism in movies and a return to stories about everyday lives" and "These days, a movie so invested in the highs and lows of caring for others can only be a remarkable, cherished thing." Andrew Schenker of Village Voice said of 'In the Family' that "With an incisive understanding of character, believably naturalistic acting, and lengthy scenes that don't feel stretched out so much as given room to breathe, In the Family proves that smart direction and an innate feeling for one's material trumps potentially precious subject matter."
