Besides my brother-in-law’s famous green bean casserole, I’m excited to gather around the table this year and think about all the things I’m thankful for. And what I’m really looking forward to is spending quality time with my friends and family all in the same room. After the feast is over, the first thing I’m doing is changing out of my Thanksgiving outfit and slipping into my favorite lounge set. Because the best way to end the day is by settling on the couch and turning on a movie that gives all the fall and Thanksgiving vibes.
So, if you’re like me and you plan on staying in and doing all your Black Friday shopping online, get comfy and stream one of these Thanksgiving movies to finish out your family-filled day. While all of these films aren’t about Thanksgiving per se, they have memorable Thanksgiving scenes. Plus, if a film has a theme of gratitude or an autumn aesthetic, then it has the thumbs up to be considered a Thanksgiving movie. From episodes to watch with your toddler to movies for the whole family, we’ve got you covered if all you want to do for the rest of the evening is have a movie marathon.
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Best Thanksgiving Episodes for Toddlers and Kids
1. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
Rated: PG | Run Time: 24m | Where to Watch: Apple TV+
Join Charlie and the whole gang for Thanksgiving! Charlie Brown may be going to his grandmother’s to celebrate, but that won’t stop him from going to Peppermint Patty’s Thanksgiving feast. Plus, see what Snoopy concocts for their celebratory dinner.
2. Sesame Street: A Very Sesame Street Thanksgiving
(Season 48, Episode 1)
Rated: TV-Y | Run Time: 25m | Where to Watch: HBO max
Explore all the different Thanksgiving traditions on our favorite neighborhood street, along with Elmo, Big Bird, Rosita, Alan, and more.
3. Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: Margaret’s First Thank You Day
(Season 5, Episode 13)
Rated: TV-Y | Run Time: 26m | Where to Watch: YouTube
If your little one loves Daniel Tiger, teach them all about thankfulness on “Thank You Day.” In this episode, Daniel is showing Margaret all the way to say “thank you.”
4. Llama Llama: Thanks-For-Giving Day
(Season 2, Episode 9)
Rated: TV-Y | Run Time: 24m | Where to Watch: Netflix
When it comes to any holiday, finding a Llama Llama episode to watch is so fun for the kids. Llama and his friends are planning a special day to say ‘thank you’ to the community. But when he keeps losing sight of his grandparents’ duck, it makes for an eventful holiday.
5. Blue’s Clues & You: Thankful with Blue
(Season 3, Episode 2)
Rated: TV-Y | Run Time: 23m | Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Learn about Josh’s Thankful Book and all the things he’s thankful for. Plus, play Blue’s Clues to find exactly what Blue is thankful for, too. When you’re done watching the episode, it’s a fun opportunity to make a Thankful Book of your own with your little ones this season!
6. Arthur: An Arthur Thanksgiving
(Season 23, Episode 102)
Rated: TV-Y | Run Time: 56m | Where to Watch: PBS
It’s an important time to celebrate the holiday with all your friends and family. But for Arthur, things aren’t turning out too well when Pal goes missing. Arthur goes on an adventure to find his friend.
7. Wild Kratts: Happy Turkey Day!
(Season 2, Episode 6)
Rated: TV-Y | Run Time: 27m | Where to Watch: YouTube
Learn all about turkeys with the Kratts brothers. This time, they’re on a mission to properly celebrate the wild turkey and prevent Gourmand from hunting their turkey friend.
8. Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures: Mickey’s Thanksgiving Fun Race! / Happy Thanksgiving Helpers!
(Season 3, Episode 7)
Rated: TV-Y | Run Time: 23m | Where to Watch: AppleTV+
It’s not any race. This time around, Mickey and his friends are driving in a Thanksgiving-themed race. Who is going to win, and who will make it to Thanksgiving dinner this year?
Thanksgiving Movies for Tweens and Teens
9. Instant Family
Rated: PG-13 | Run Time: 1h 58m | Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Instant Family was released right before Thanksgiving in 2018, and since then, it’s stood up to its title as a Thanksgiving movie for the family. For Pete and Ellie, played by Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne, fostering three siblings isn’t easy, but it just goes to show that a family can be formed in so many ways.
10. Spider-Man (2002)
Rated: PG-13 | Run Time: 2h 1m | Where to Watch: Disney+
For the Spidey-obsessed kids and for the friends and family members who want a more action-packed film, get a hint of Thanksgiving in Spider-Man, starring Tobey Maguire and James Franco. In the Thanksgiving scene, Green Goblin starts to sniff out who Spider-Man really is.
11. The Prince & Me
Rated: PG | Run Time: 1h 50m | Where to Watch: Paramount+
If you have a tween or teen who’s into the nostalgic 2000s rom-coms, The Prince & Me is a perfect movie to watch together. When an ordinary college girl falls in love with a Danish prince who hides his identity, she must decide if it’s really true love. The part of the movie that gives a thumbs up to being considered a Thanksgiving movie is when Paige brings Prince Eddie to her family’s farm to celebrate Thanksgiving.
Movies to Watch As a Family This Thanksgiving
12. Miracle on 34th Street
Rated: PG | Run Time: 1h 37m | Where to Watch: Disney+
If you’re the type of family who loves going straight from the Thanksgiving holiday into all things Christmas, watch the film classic Miracle on 34th Street, which starts off with celebrating the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. When a man named Kris Kringle gets hired as Santa Claus for the season, he has everyone questioning whether they believe in Santa or not.
13. The Santa Clause
Rated: PG | Run Time: 1h 38m | Where to Watch: Disney+
This beloved Disney holiday classic isn’t about Thanksgiving, but the turkey that Scott Calvin burns on Christmas Eve night is enough to make it a Thanksgiving-to-Christmas movie. For the Santa believers and non-believers, The Santa Clause will have you wishing your own dad accidentally turned into the one and only Santa.
14. Paul Blart: Mall Cop
Rated: PG | Run Time: 1h 30m | Where to Watch: Starz
Are you wanting to stay in and forego any Black Friday mishaps? No worries. Experience Black Friday in this family-friendly comedy, starring Kevin James. Security officer Paul Blart saves Black Friday from a group of burglars at a suburban mall.
15. Fantastic Mr. Fox
Rated: PG | Run Time: 1h 28m | Where to Watch: Disney+
Based on the book written by Roald Dahl, get all the fall vibes in Fantastic Mr. Fox. When a sly fox reverts to his old ways, he sets out to plan the greatest chicken heist anyone has ever seen.
16. Mrs. Doubtfire
Rated: PG-13 | Run Time: 2h 5m | Where to Watch: Disney+
Making Thanksgiving dinner isn’t easy, and if you want to laugh it off, watch Mrs. Doubtfire and the iconic scene where she burns the entire Thanksgiving meal, including her outfit. In this feel-good family comedy, a divorcee dad disguises himself as his kids’ nanny in order to spend time with them.
17. Home Alone (1990)
Rated: PG | Run Time: 1h 44m | Where to Watch: Disney+
I know what you may be thinking—Home Alone is a Christmas movie. But if you’re the type of family who quickly transitions from turkey to presents, then Home Alone is the perfect movie to watch on Thanksgiving. Kevin is accidentally left home alone at Christmas and must defend his house from two bumbling burglars, Harry and Marv. This movie’s magic is in its timelessness. As an adult, you can still relate to Kevin, but you may now also see yourself in Mr. and Mrs. McCallister.
18. The Blind Side
Rated: PG-13 | Run Time: 2h 3m | Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+
This feel-good movie is based on the true story of Michael Oher, an American NFL player who was the first round pick, and his relationship with Leigh Anne Tuohy, who aided in getting him there. In the film, Tuohy invites Oher to join her for Thanksgiving, making it a memorable moment that welcomes him into the family.
19. The Pursuit of Happyness
Rated: PG-13 | Run Time: 1h 55m | Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+
This movie, based on a true story, encompasses everything about thankfulness and gratitude. Chris Gardner, played by actor Will Smith, does everything he can to provide for his family. And when he gets an internship at a stock brokerage firm, all his hardships and perseverance are part of his pursuit of happiness.
Thanksgiving Movies for Adults
20. Rocky
Rated: PG | Run Time: 1h 54m | Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
What makes this iconic movie a Thanksgiving film is its Thanksgiving vibes and the scene where Paulie flings a turkey in an alley. Philadelphia boxer Rocky Balboa is on a mission to beat Apollo Creed in this well-known pop culture film. Plus, it gives you even more of an excuse to put on comfier attire—like Rocky’s famous grey tracksuit—after Thanksgiving dinner has concluded.
21. You’ve Got Mail
Rated: PG | Run Time: 1h 54m | Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Nora Ephron’s ‘90s movie rom-com gives all the Thanksgiving and holiday vibes. Anyone else instantly become Kathleen Kelly the moment you see a fall leaf? Kathleen Kelly, the owner of an independent bookstore, The Shop Around the Corner, is up against a large chain, Fox Books, and needs to save her business. Little does she know that the man she becomes pen pals with, Joe Fox, is the same person who’s connected to the very bookstore she’s competing with. The scene that gets the Thanksgiving movie stamp of approval is when Kathleen is unable to pay cash for her items at Zabar’s supermarket, and Joe comes to help her.
22. Little Women (2019)
Rated: PG | Run Time: 2h 9m | Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
This book-to-movie adaptation automatically ranks to be a Thanksgiving or holiday movie. Set in the 1860s, Little Women tells the story of sisters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, sharing their lives as women and sisters, and what it’s like to live by society’s standards.
23. Holidate
Rated: TV-MA | Run Time: 1h 44m | Where to Watch: Netflix
Sometimes, the holidays can be better when you’re not alone. When Sloane Benson is tired of hearing how single she is from her family, she and Jackson Pieretti agree to be each other’s fake dates throughout the holidays.
24. Soul Food
Rated: R | Run Time: 1h 54m | Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Families can be loving, fun, and dysfunctional all at the same time. When the matriarch of the family suffers from a stroke, 11-year-old Ahmad takes it into his own hands to make sure the family stays tight-knit.
25. Friendsgiving
Rated: R | Run Time: 1h 35m | Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Coming together for the holiday season means that Thanksgiving can bring a lot of chaos. In Friendsgiving, dinner isn’t the only thing Molly is prepping for. Gird your loins for all the craziness that ensues at Friendsgiving.
26. Julie & Julia
Rated: PG-13 | Run Time: 1h 35m | Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+
If you’re the one doing all the prep for Thanksgiving this year, get in the mood by streaming Julie & Julia. Journalist Julie Powell is inspired by culinary queen Julia Child to take on French cooking.
27. Knives Out
Rated: PG-13 | Run Time: 2h 10m | Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+
Dive into a murder mystery this holiday season in Knives Out. While this film isn’t about Thanksgiving, it gives off the autumn aesthetic. After all, just like Thanksgiving, everyone is gathering together—minus the murder part, of course.
28. Home for the Holidays
Rated: PG-13 | Run Time: 1h 43m | Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
For some, going home for the holidays isn’t always fun. When Claudia Larson, played by Holly Hunter, goes home for Thanksgiving, she’s met by her unstable family. Thanksgiving becomes a wild ride for Claudia.
Patty Schepel, Editorial Assistant
As the editorial assistant, Patty works with The Everymom’s team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, inputting freelance articles, and more. With Patty’s passion for writing, experience as a mother of two, and expertise as a pediatric nurse, she brings a thoughtful and informative perspective to The Everymom.
