5 great kids movies to watch on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a holiday all about family, but for parents, it’s also an extended break from school where kids need entertainment. If you’re struggling to find something for you and your kids to watch that won’t drive everyone crazy, we’ve got you covered. We’ve pulled together five great Thanksgiving movies that are perfect for kids.

These movies are available across a variety of different streaming platforms, so there should be something you can check out no matter where you’re subscribed. Sit back and enjoy knowing that for the next two hours, your kids will be occupied.

We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best kids movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.

Free Birds (2013)

The premise of Free Birds is absolutely insane, but the movie itself has much of what you might want from a kids’ Thanksgiving movie. The film follows a turkey who the president pardons, and is therefore saved from being cut up and served for dinner. When he meets a fellow turkey, the two go back in time to change history in order to prevent the very first turkeys from becoming a Thanksgiving staple.

You don’t get any movies about birds that also feature time travel, but that’s part of the reason Free Birds proves to be such a loopy, wacky good time.

You can watch Free Birds on Amazon Prime Video.

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

A brilliant stop-motion comedy from Wes Anderson, Fantastic Mr. Fox is adapted from a Roald Dahl story of the same name. The film version follows a fox patriarch who unadvisedly steals from a nearby farm, only to find that his entire family is in danger when the farmers seek their revenge.

In addition to being absolutely stunning on a visual level, Fantastic Mr. Fox features an ensemble of incredible vocal talent led by Meryl Streep and George Clooney, two performers who should definitely work with Anderson again at some point in his career.

You can watch Fantastic Mr. Fox on Disney+.

Remember the Titans (2000)

What is Thanksgiving for if not football? Remember the Titans is really more of a family movie, but it will certainly be popular with any sports-loving children in your family. The film tells the story of a newly integrated Virginia high school in the 1960s and the Black coach who was brought in to lead the team.

Although the story of racial reconciliation may feel a little too neat and tidy, at least by today’s standards, Denzel Washington (Gladiator II) delivers a powerhouse performance, and the movie itself features a slew of young talent and some great football scenes.

You can watch Remember the Titans on Disney+.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009)

Paul Blart: Mall Cop is one of the stupidest movies ever made. It’s basically one extended Die Hard riff set in a mall as the holiday season approaches. If your kids like stupid movies, though, you can’t do much better, and Mall Cop benefits from being genuinely funny, at least in spurts.

Kevin James’ brilliance is on full display here, and he proves himself to be surprisingly adept at action movies. Does the movie feel a little dated because of the total death of malls? Sure, but Paul Blart is just as funny, silly, and stupid as it’s always been.

You can watch Paul Blart: Mall Cop on Netflix.

Ratatouille (2007)

OK, this movie is not explicitly about Thanksgiving, but it is definitely a kids movie for all the foodies out there. Telling the story of a rat who longs to be a high-end chef, Ratatouille is a story about the truism that greatness can come from anywhere.

The movie’s beautiful animation, subtle storytelling, and commitment to its central characters has long made it one of the most popular Pixar movies. Ratatouille ends with a meal, and just like every Thanksgiving movie, it’s a reminder of the ways food and community make something beautiful.

You can watch Ratatouille on Disney+.