Thanksgiving is a time for families to come together and enjoy each other's company, and watching movies can be a great way to bond. While there aren't as many Thanksgiving-specific movies as there are for other holidays like Halloween movies or Christmas movies, there are still plenty of films that capture the spirit of Thanksgiving and are suitable for family viewing and enjoy a football game, Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, and some good Thanksgiving movies after the Thanksgiving feast is over. Watching Thanksgiving movies all November long is a great way to get in the spirit and I highly recommend watching movies and relaxing on Black Friday too!

Snuggle up with the whole family and enjoy these Thanksgiving films.

Best Thanksgiving Movies to Watch for the Whole Family

Here are some of the best Thanksgiving movies for families to watch listed by rating.

Kid-friendly Thanksgiving Movies rated G / PG:

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving 1973 (G): Charlie Brown and his friends attempt to have a Thanksgiving feast but face various mishaps along the way in this Thanksgiving tradition of a movie to watch. This holiday special is a classic and must watch for young children featuring favorites like Peppermint Patty.
Free Birds 2013 (PG): Animated turkeys embark on a time-traveling adventure to prevent turkeys from becoming a Thanksgiving meal.
Pocahontas 1995 (G): Disney's animated film tells the story of Pocahontas, a Native American woman, and her interactions with English settlers, including the Thanksgiving feast.
Garfield's Thanksgiving 1989 (NR/G): Garfield the cat gets into holiday antics as he and his friends celebrate Thanksgiving.
The Mouse on the Mayflower 1968 (NR/G): An animated special that narrates the journey of the Mayflower and the first Thanksgiving from the perspective of a mouse.
Home for the Holidays (G): An animated movie about a young woodchuck named Willy's adventure to reunite with his family in time for Thanksgiving.
The Thanksgiving That Almost Wasn't (1972 G) - An animated special that tells the story of the first Thanksgiving and the friendship between Pilgrims and Native Americans.
An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving (2008) G - Based on a short story by Louisa May Alcott, this Hallmark Channel movie is a heartwarming tale of family and Thanksgiving.
Alice's Restaurant (1969) PG - Based on the Arlo Guthrie song, this film follows a young man's adventures on Thanksgiving Day, including a memorable encounter with the draft board. It's a counterculture classic.
Turkey Hollow -2015 PG As part of the Thanksgiving holidays, a recently divorced man named Ron Emmerson takes his children Tim and Annie to the farm of Ron's eccentric Aunt Cly in the town of Turkey Hollow which has no technology. Tim and Annie find themselves caught up in searching for the "Howling Hoodoo," an elusive 10 ft. monster that has been considered a legend to the citizens of in Jim Henson's Turkey Hollow.
Winnie the Pooh Thanksgiving - A Winnie the Pooh Thanksgiving is a 1998 made-for-TV holiday classic. The Thanksgiving special shows Pooh and his friends lin the hundred acre wood earning the true meaning of Thanksgiving. It was nominated for Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Children's Program
Youve Got Mail - 1998 PG - You’ve Got Mail is a romantic comedy film released in 1998. The movie revolves around the story of Kathleen Kelly (played by Meg Ryan) and Joe Fox (played by Tom Hanks). Kathleen is the owner of a small children’s bookstore, while Joe is set to open a big-box bookstore in the same neighborhood. Unbeknownst to each other, they develop an anonymous online relationship and fall in love. The film explores themes of love, relationships, and the impact of technology on personal connections.
Miracle on 34th Street (1947 and remake 1994) PG - While primarily a Christmas movie, this heartwarming tale of belief and goodwill can be enjoyed as a Thanksgiving film too, as it takes place during the Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City.
A Family Thanksgiving (2010) PG Claudia (Daphne Zuniga) is a successful trial attorney who graduated at the top of her class from Harvard Law School. She's working hard to become the first female partner at a high-powered law firm and believes her life is perfect. The day before their family is set to gather for Thanksgiving, Claudia's sister requests that she make a homemade apple pie for the event. Meanwhile, Claudia is directed to assist a corporate client in reversing an injunction so that it can demolish a park to build an enormous development. In order to realize this, she insists her subordinate employees work on Thanksgiving Day, Claudia meets Gina (Faye Dunaway), a mysterious older woman who makes it her goal to teach Claudia some moral lessons. Gina takes Claudia to an alternative world, where Claudia is a lower profile happily married minivan-driving 'soccer mom' with two children.Claudia is perplexed by the situation she is now in, but while experiencing her new life, the way it could have been, she learns that she is missing out on a lot; Watch this Thanksgiving movie to see what Claudia decides to do.
American Experience: The Pilgrims 2015 PG Recounts the founding (1620) and early years of the Plymouth Colony in the 17th century. Includes the real story of the "First Thanksgiving".
Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade 2012 G - An eager Thanksgiving parade coordinator is shocked when a wealthy consultant is hired to analyze its finances. Faced with teaching him that the parade means so much more to her than money, she finds herself reluctantly falling for him.

Thanksgiving Movies Rated PG 13

Addams Family Values PG 13 (1993) - While not a traditional Thanksgiving movie, this dark comedy features a memorable Thanksgiving play scene at a summer camp. It's a quirky and entertaining choice for families with a taste for the unusual.
Home for the Holidays (1995) - This comedy-drama directed by Jodie Foster follows a dysfunctional family as they gather for Thanksgiving. It's a humorous and touching exploration of family dynamics during the holiday season.
Tower Heist - 2011 PG-13 - The plot follows employees of an exclusive apartment building who lose their pensions in the Ponzi scheme of a Wall Street businessman and enlist the aid of a criminal, a bankrupt businessman, and an immigrant maid to break into his apartment and steal back their money while avoiding the FBI agents in charge of his case. The break in is scheduled on Thanksgiving Day during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Pieces of April 2003 PG 13 Pieces of April is a movie about a young woman named April Burns who invites her dysfunctional, estranged family over for a Thanksgiving dinner. The movie explores themes like racing against time due to Joy's cancer and the expectation that it will be her last Thanksgiving with her alive. It is a story of forgiveness and redemption and relationships of people.
What's Cooking (2000) PG-13 What's Cooking is a comedy that revolved around 4 different households coping with Thanksgiving in their own ways. Set in LA on Thanksgiving Day this movie follows ethnically diverse families - Vietnamese, Latino, Jewish and African American - as they gather for their own meal. Each family has its own way of cooking their Thanksgiving holiday meal and has its own set of problems. The Thanksgiving movie explores differences and families with laughter, anger, and the connecting power of love that binds them all.
The New World (2005) PG 13 - For older kids and teens, this historical drama directed by Terrence Malick explores the story of the Jamestown settlement and the interactions between Native Americans and English settlers.
Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) PG 13 Hannah and Her Sisters is a 1986 American comedy drama film which tells the intertwined stories of an extended family over two years that begins and ends with a family Thanksgiving dinner. The film was written and directed by Woody Allen, The story is told in three main arcs with most of it occurring during a 24-month period beginning and ending at Thanksgiving parties, held at THe Langham hosted by Hannah, and her husband, Elliot. Hannah serves as the stalwart hub of the narrative; most of the events of the film connect to her.
Son in Law1993 PG 13 18-year-old Rebecca “Becca" Warner (Carla Gugino) moves from her small South Dakota farm town to attend college at the fictional University of Los Angeles. On her first day, she and her parents Walter (Lane Smith) and Connie (Cindy Pickett) meet Crawl (Pauly Shore) resident advisor of Becca's coed dormitory. After they leave, the clash of cultures causes Becca to consider returning home, but Crawl convinces her to give the college a chance. She soon begins to acclimate, cutting and dyeing her hair, dressing in a Californian style, and even getting a tattoo of a butterfly on her ankle. Becca invites Crawl to spend the Thanksgiving break with her family back home.
Grumpy Old Men 1993 - PG 13 In Wabasha, Minnesota, retirees John Gustafson and Max Goldman are feuding next-door neighbors. Living alone, they spend their time ice fishing, trading insults, and pulling cruel practical jokes on each other, including John leaving a dead fish in Max's truck. Their rivalry irritates their friend Chuck, owner of the town bait shop, and Max's son Jacob, who is running for mayor. Dodging the attempts of IRS Agent Elliot Snyder to collect a serious debt, John supports his daughter Melanie when she separates from her husband Mike.John and Max both find themselves attracted to Ariel Truax, a free-spirited English professor who moves in across the street. Chuck has Thanksgiving dinner with Ariel, prompting John and Max to compete for her affections.

Thanksgiving Movies that are Rated R

Scent of a Woman (1992) R - This drama starring Al Pacino tells the story of a retired Army officer and a young student who spend Thanksgiving weekend together in New York City. It's a film about friendship and personal growth.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) R - This classic comedy starring Steve Martin and John Candy follows two mismatched travelers trying to get home for Thanksgiving. It's a hilarious and heartwarming film that explores the challenges of holiday travel.
Krisha 2015 R - Tensions rise at a Thanksgiving gathering when a troubled woman (Krisha Fairchild) reunites with the extended family that she abandoned years earlier. The main character is Krisha (played by Krisha Fairchild), a sixty-something year old who is joining her family for Thanksgiving dinner – after a 10 year absence. Emotionally heavy but a wonderful movie.
The Oath 2018 R In the near future, American citizens are asked, though not required, to sign a legal document swearing allegiance to the United States government by Black Friday the day after Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, couple Chris and Kai live a quiet suburban life with their young daughter, while Chris is deeply disturbed by the oath. As Black Friday approaches, the young couple hosts their latest Thanksgiving dinner for their extended family and the movie follows what happens!
Friendsgiving (2020) R Molly, a movie actress, and Abby are best friends who have planned to spend a quiet Thanksgiving together. Molly is mom to a five-month old baby boy and is going through a divorce, while Abby, who came out as lesbian when she was 29 years old, has spent the past year getting over being dumped by her first girlfriend.What was supposed to be a low-key holiday with just the two of them becomes a large Friendsgiving dinner party
Thanksgiving 2023 R After a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy, a mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts - the birthplace of the infamous holiday. This movie will be released on November 17, 2023 making it a great new release this Thanksgiving season.
The Ice Storm 1997 R- The Ice Storm is a 1997 American drama film directed by Ang Lee, based on Rick Moody's 1994 novel of the same name. The film features an ensemble cast of Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Tobey Maguire, Christina Ricci, Elijah Wood, Katie Holmes, Glenn Fitzgerald, Jamey Sheridan, and Sigourney Weaver. Set during Thanksgiving 1973, The Ice Storm is about two dysfunctional New Canaan, Connecticut, upper-class families who are trying to deal with tumultuous social changes of the early 1970s, and their escapism through alcohol, adultery, and sexual experimentation.
The New World is a 2005 R historical romantic drama film written and directed by Terrence Malick, depicting the founding of the Jamestown, Virginia, settlement and inspired by the historical figures Captain John Smith, Pocahontas of the Powhatan tribe, and Englishman John Rolfe.
Prisoners 2013 R - In Conyers, Pennsylvania, the Dover and Birch families celebrate Thanksgiving together. After dinner, girls Anna Dover and Joy Birch go missing after playing on a parked RV. This Thanksgiving based thriller is perfect for older viewers!
Hollidaysburg 2014 R - Upon returning for Thanksgiving break from their first semester at college, a group of high school close friends reunite in their hometown, Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. Tori (Rachel Keller) has to deal with the awkwardness of living with her family and with the waning friendship between her and her best friend, Katie (Kate Boyer). On the first day of the holiday break, Scott (Tobin Mitnik), a former prom king, is dumped by his girlfriend, Heather (Claire Chapelli), before re-establishing a connection with his old friend, Tori, when she accidentally bumps into him with her car following a reunion party.
The Turkey Bowl 2019 R- The Turkey Bowl is a 2019 American sports comedy film directed by Greg Coolidge, and starring Ryan Hansen and Matt Jones. Tricked into returning after being falsely told his high school buddy Mitchell (Jones) died in a car accident, Patrick Hodges (Hansen)—a former high school quarterback-turned-Chicago businessman who is (unofficially) engaged to Ashley Sinclair (Bomar), the daughter of a U.S. Senator considering running for president—is lured back to his Oklahoma hometown of Putnam over Thanksgiving weekend to help his old friends finish The Turkey Bowl, a legendary football game between his alma mater Putnam Badgers and the crosstown rival Noble Knights

Find these Thanksgiving movies on Apple TV, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and more!

Remember to consider the age and preferences of your family members when choosing a movie and enjoy some quality time together during the Thanksgiving holiday. Share this list of the best Thanksgiving movies with the entire family and plan which family Thanksgiving perfect movie you will watch first!

Please note that ratings may vary by region and over time, so it's a good idea to check the specific rating for your location before watching these movies with your family. Additionally, the "NR" rating stands for "Not Rated," which often indicates that the film may not have received an official rating but is generally considered suitable for all audiences or falls into the G (General Audiences) category.

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