19 Thanksgiving Movies for Kids

When the dishes are finally done and everyone’s in that cozy, pie-and-stuffing haze, there’s nothing better than curling up together with a good Thanksgiving movie for kids.

I love this tradition because it keeps everyone snuggled in one place — kids, cousins, even grandparents — and gives us something lighthearted to share after a long day of cooking and chaos.

Over the years, I’ve watched (and re-watched) quite a few Thanksgiving specials with my own family and in my classroom. Some are heartwarming, some are downright silly, and a few… well, let’s just say they haven’t aged as gracefully.

• Add to the festive fun with these silly turkey jokes for kids!

Here are my favorite Thanksgiving movies for kids — complete with real run times, themes, and a few honest notes from me.

In this post:

• Best Thanksgiving Movies for Kids
• My Honest Take on “First Thanksgiving” Movies
• Thanksgiving Movies for kids to AVOID
• Tips for a Cozy Family Movie Night
• A Few “Cozy Fall Mood” Alternatives

Best Thanksgiving Movies for Kids

1. Dora the Explorer: Dora’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (2013)

Rating: TV-Y
Age: 2+
Length: 24 minutes
Theme: Teamwork, community, celebration

This short Nickelodeon special is a lifesaver for toddlers who love Dora.

The plot is simple — Dora and Boots have to rescue the parade balloons — but the bright visuals, songs, and parade theme make it perfect background fun while you prep dessert.

I’ve used this one during Thanksgiving week — it keeps little ones engaged and happy without overstimulation.

2. Paw Patrol: Pups Save Thanksgiving (2018)

Rating: TV-Y
Age: 2–5
Length: 24 minutes
Theme: Teamwork, problem-solving, helping others

This short Paw Patrol special is my go-to for little ones when I want something festive but simple.

The parade’s balloon floats go rogue (of course!), and the pups have to save the day before the big Thanksgiving celebration. It’s bright, upbeat, and easy for toddlers to follow — and I appreciate that it keeps the focus on teamwork and gratitude rather than food or shopping.

I usually pop this one on while finishing up the last of the cooking — it buys you just the right amount of peace before dinner!

3. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)

Rating: TV-G
Age: 3+
Length: 25 minutes
Theme: Friendship, gratitude, simplicity

There’s something timeless about this one. Charlie Brown trying to host a Thanksgiving dinner with toast and popcorn never fails to make kids laugh — and Snoopy’s antics are always the highlight.

I love how this special shows that Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be fancy to be meaningful. It’s short, sweet, and perfect for little attention spans.

• Check out more Charlie Brown specials in this list of Halloween movies for kids!

4. A Winnie the Pooh Thanksgiving (1998)

Rating: G
Age: 3+
Length: 25 minutes
Theme: Gratitude, friendship, community

A lesser-known Pooh special that’s separate from Seasons of Giving. This one focuses on everyone in the Hundred Acre Wood working together to plan a perfect Thanksgiving meal — and realizing perfection isn’t the point. The calm tone, music, and sweet message make it a preschooler favorite.

• Check out more festive Winnie the Pooh and Christmas movies for kids!

5. An Arthur Thanksgiving (2020)

Rating: TV-Y
Age: 3+
Length: 56 minutes
Theme: Responsibility, gratitude, community

This PBS special feels just like a warm hug — familiar, calm, and full of heart.

Arthur and his friends are busy preparing for Elwood City’s Thanksgiving parade when his dog, Pal, goes missing. The search brings everyone together in the sweetest way, with gentle reminders about gratitude and helping others.

I love that it captures the true spirit of Thanksgiving without ever feeling forced. It’s perfect for preschoolers or early elementary kids who already know and love Arthur’s world.

6. The Berenstain Bears Meet Bigpaw (1980)

Rating: TV-G
Age: 4+
Length: 24 minutes
Theme: Generosity, kindness, community

This one has such a nostalgic charm.

Brother and Sister Bear hear a scary legend about a giant named Bigpaw who’s supposedly coming to town for Thanksgiving . But when he finally shows up, they learn that kindness and understanding matter more than fear.

It’s old-school animation, but the message still holds up.

I love using this one as a conversation starter about not judging others too quickly.

7. The Thanksgiving Movie (2020)

Rating: G
Age: 4+
Length: 77 minutes
Theme: Kindness, friendship, looking beyond appearances

This animated adventure is a little hidden gem.

Butterball the turkey and Missy the dodo team up to save Thanksgiving after a mix-up threatens the holiday.

It’s colorful, a little silly, and full of gentle lessons about kindness and understanding others who are different.

My kids love the quirky humor, and I love that it sneaks in a few meaningful takeaways about gratitude and teamwork. It’s not a classic but silly enough to keep kids’ attention.

8. VeggieTales: Madame Blueberry (1998)

Rating: G
Age: 4+
Length: 37 minutes
Theme: Contentment, gratitude

It’s not technically a Thanksgiving story, but it fits the theme beautifully.

Madame Blueberry learns that more “stuff” doesn’t make her happy — and the catchy “Thankfulness Song” honestly stays stuck in your head for days.

It opens the door to real conversations about gratitude in a way kids totally get.

9. The Mouse on the Mayflower (1968)

Rating: TV-G
Age: 5+
Length: 45 minutes
Theme: History, courage, faith

I have mixed feelings about this one.

The animation is charming in that old Rankin-Bass way, but the story — a mouse aboard the Mayflower witnessing the first Thanksgiving — feels dated. It was made with good intentions, but it simplifies and sanitizes history in ways that don’t sit quite right anymore.

I usually use it as a conversation starter rather than a history lesson, helping kids think about whose stories are missing from early depictions of Thanksgiving.

10. Alvin and the Chipmunks: Alvin’s Thanksgiving Celebration (2008)

Rating: G
Age: 5+
Length: 89 minutes
Theme: Family, teamwork, gratitude

If you need something upbeat and silly after a long day of cooking, this one’s perfect.

It’s a collection of classic Chipmunks Thanksgiving episodes full of music, mischief, and plenty of chaos. My kids love the energy, and I love that it keeps the focus on fun and togetherness.

It’s light-hearted, harmless entertainment — and the songs will definitely get stuck in your head.

11. The Mayflower Voyagers (1988)

Rating: TV-G
Age: 6+
Length: 24 minutes
Theme: Early American history, cooperation

This is actually part of This Is America, Charlie Brown — and while it’s done in the familiar Peanuts style, I have the same reservations here as with The Mouse on the Mayflower.

It tries to teach kids about the Pilgrims, but it leaves out Indigenous perspectives.

I sometimes use short clips as conversation starters — and then follow up with a book or story told from a Wampanoag viewpoint.

12. Molly’s Pilgrim (1985)

Rating: Not rated (family-friendly short)
Age: 6+
Length: 24 minutes
Theme: Inclusion, empathy, identity

This short live-action film hits a little deeper.

Based on the beloved children’s book, it follows Molly, a recent immigrant who feels out of place during her class’s Thanksgiving celebration — until she realizes her family’s story is a modern version of the Pilgrims’ search for freedom.

It’s touching, thoughtful, and one I think older kids (and parents) really benefit from watching together.

13. Free Birds (2013)

Rating: PG
Age: 7+
Length: 91 minutes
Theme: Friendship, time travel, rewriting history

This one’s pure fun — talking turkeys, a time machine, and plenty of wild energy.

It’s not a history lesson, and that’s honestly why I like it better than some of the “first Thanksgiving” retellings out there.

My kids laughed out loud at the slapstick humor, and it actually sparked a good conversation about how traditions can change over time.

14. Jim Henson’s Turkey Hollow (2015)

Rating: TV-PG
Age: 8+
Length: 89 minutes
Theme: Family, mystery, adventure

This one surprised me!

It’s live-action, with Henson-style puppets and a whimsical small-town mystery. It’s about a dad and his two kids spending Thanksgiving in a rural town filled with strange creatures and legends.

It’s got that cozy fall-weekend feel and just enough adventure to keep older kids interested.

15. An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving (2008)

Rating: TV-G
Age: 8+
Length: 88 minutes
Theme: Family reconciliation, forgiveness

Based on Louisa May Alcott’s story, this simple story can be good for older kids.

It’s a slower pace — best for tweens or family viewing with grandparents — but I love the themes of family, forgiveness, and pride.

It’s one I like to have on in the background while baking or wrapping up leftovers.

16. A Family Thanksgiving (2010)

Rating: TV-G
Age: 8+
Length: 90 minutes
Theme: Gratitude, family vs. career

A high-powered lawyer wakes up to find herself living an alternate life as a stay-at-home mom.

It’s predictable, yes, but it’s heartfelt and has that warm Hallmark vibe.

It’s nice for older kids or tweens who enjoy “what if” stories and holiday magic.

17. The Thanksgiving Treasure (1973)

Rating: TV-G
Age: 8+
Length: 90 minutes
Theme: Forgiveness, friendship, empathy

This one’s an old gem!

A sequel to The House Without a Christmas Tree, it follows a girl named Addie who invites her father’s old rival to Thanksgiving dinner.

It’s slower-paced, but heartfelt and beautifully written. I first saw it as an adult, and I was surprised by how tender it is — definitely a good one for families who enjoy quieter, story-driven films.

18. The Blind Side (2009)

Rating: PG-13
Age: 11+
Length: 129 minutes
Theme: Generosity, family, gratitude

This one is for older kids or family viewing with tweens and teens.

While not a “Thanksgiving movie,” it has one of the best Thanksgiving dinner scenes ever — when Leigh Anne Tuohy pulls Michael up from eating alone and seats him at the family table.

It’s a powerful picture of kindness and inclusion, and it always sparks great conversation about giving thanks for people, not things.

19. Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)

Rating: R (for language, but there’s a TV-edited PG version available on streaming and TV)
Age: 11+ (for the edited version)
Length: 93 minutes
Theme: Patience, kindness, empathy

Hear me out! If your kids are older, the edited-for-TV version of this classic John Hughes comedy is an excellent Thanksgiving watch.

Steve Martin and John Candy are stranded travelers trying to get home for Thanksgiving — chaos and heart ensue. It’s hilarious, relatable, and ends with a truly touching message about compassion and human connection.

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My Honest Take on “First Thanksgiving” Movies

As someone who values real conversation with kids, movies about “the first Thanksgiving” are tricky.

Most of them leave out Indigenous perspectives and simplify a painful history. When I do show them, I make sure to pair them with age-appropriate discussions or picture books that share Native voices and a more complete story.

Kids can handle honest conversations when we frame them with empathy and curiosity.

Thanksgiving Movies for Kids to AVOID

Here are two movies that I’d avoid altogether due to problematic theme around food.

• A Looney Tunes Thanksgiving (2003 Compilation Special)

Rating: TV-G
Age: 5+
Length: 50 minutes
Theme: diet culture

The special includes “Bugs Bunny’s Thanksgiving Diet.” The entire premise centers on Bugs Bunny acting as a doctor “treating” characters who’ve eaten too much. It’s played for laughs — pies, turkeys, and overstuffed bellies everywhere — but the underlying joke is about guilt around food.

• Characters are ridiculed for overeating or lacking willpower.
• “Going on a diet” is presented as the punishment for enjoying food.
• The humor frames food as something to feel bad about rather than enjoy in moderation.

From an early childhood perspective, this reinforces diet culture and food moralizing, which can confuse kids still developing a healthy relationship with eating.

• Garfield’s Thanksgiving (1989)

• Rating: TV-G
• Age Range: 4+
• Length: 24 minutes
• Theme: humor, dieting

The biggest issue is that the entire plot revolves around Garfield being forced to go on a diet right before Thanksgiving. Jon drags him to the vet, who prescribes a restrictive diet — and Garfield spends most of the special feeling miserable and guilty about wanting food.

For adults, it plays as a harmless gag about a gluttonous cat. But for kids, it can unintentionally normalize restrictive dieting, food guilt, or the idea that wanting to eat is “bad.”

• Garfield’s weight and appetite are constantly mocked.
• “Good” and “bad” foods are moralized.
• There’s no real redemption or positive message about balanced eating — it just ends with Garfield finally getting to overindulge again.

Tips for a Cozy Family Movie Night

• Keep it simple: Pick one short and one full-length movie — you’ll never make it through a marathon after that turkey.
• Set the mood: Dim lights, fuzzy blankets, hot cocoa, and leftover pie make everything better.
• Make space to talk: Ask kids what they noticed, what made them laugh, and what they’re thankful for.
• Build a tradition: Try a new movie each year — it’s a fun way to mark the passing seasons together.

A Few “Cozy Fall Mood” Alternatives

If you’ve already seen all the Thanksgiving movies but still want something that feels like the season, here are a few non-Thanksgiving favorites that still carry that warm, grateful, togetherness vibe:

• Christopher Robin (2018) — nostalgic, slow-paced, and full of heart.
• The Secret Life of Pets (2016) — family, home, belonging.
• Charlotte’s Web (2006) — kindness, empathy, community.
• The Good Dinosaur (2015) — courage, gratitude, family bonds.
• Coco (2017) — about remembering loved ones and celebrating connection (great for the same season).
• Fantastic Mr. Fox — family, cleverness, gratitude, autumn vibes.
• The Willoughbys (2020) — family, independence, belonging

Final Thoughts on Thanksgiving Movies for Kids

Whether you’re introducing your kids to timeless classics like A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving or discovering new favorites like Free Birds and The Willoughbys, there’s something comforting about gathering together for a good story after a big meal.

Watching Thanksgiving movies for kids isn’t just about entertainment — it’s about creating calm, joyful moments that remind little ones (and us!) what the holiday is truly about.

So grab a blanket, pass the leftover pie, and press play on something that fills your home with laughter, warmth, and gratitude.

• Add to the fall season with these Thanksgiving books for kids!