Thanksgiving is a time to spend with family and friends enjoying yummy food and catching up. One of my favorite things to do with family leading up to the holidays is to watch the very Best Thanksgiving Movies.
There are so many fantastic movies out there that are perfect for a Thanksgiving movie marathon. I love feel-good movies that warm your heart and have some humor in them. So gather the family and settle in for a wild ride watching the best Thanksgiving movies together. You won’t regret it.
Looking for Christmas movies? Check out my Ultimate Disney Christmas Movie List, it includes a free printable checklist!
A Winnie The Pooh Thanksgiving
I wanted to start off by telling you about one of my favorite Thanksgiving movies of all time. It doesn’t get any more classic than A Winnie The Pooh Thanksgiving. Pooh and all of his best friends end up learning all about the real meaning of Thanksgiving.
It’s a heartwarming story that shows you that even when everything goes wrong, you still have your friends and family. Celebrating Thanksgiving is about so much more than cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and dinner rolls. It’s about being thankful for what you have and who you have in your life. The writers of this movie did a wonderful job sending this message.
Believe it or not, this was a made-for-tv movie back in 1998, but it still rings true today. You’ll love this movie, the kids will love this movie, it’s just an all-around win.
How to Watch: A Winnie the Pooh Thanksgiving is part of Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving. It is available for sale on Amazon or to rent on Vudu.
Miracle on 34th Street
This charming movie was made in 1947 and has been a traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas movie in many households for years. The story is about a Santa who is found to be intoxicated by an old man. Because this is happening during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, they must have a Santa that can do the job. The older gentleman gets talked into portraying Santa.
Guess what? Everyone loves him and he does an amazing job. The old man believes he is the real Santa Claus and he has to deal with some people who think he is crazy. This movie warms your heart and you will be feeling great by the end of this movie. You’ll probably want this to be a tradition!
How to Watch: Movie is available to rent on Amazon Prime, Vudu, YouTube, iTunes, and Google Play. Many times the movie is aired on CBS right after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade.
Free Birds
The entire family is sure to have many laughs with this funny tale of Reggie and his desire to stop Thanksgiving. Reggie has figured out that when Thanksgiving comes, that means everyone eats turkey and he just so happens to be one.
After Reggie meets his new friend Jake a plan is developed to go back in time and make sure no turkeys are served for Thanksgiving dinner! Surprisingly, these turkeys were able to make a time machine and they traveled back in time. Be ready for a fun ride watching this movie!
How to Watch: Movie is available to rent on Amazon Prime, Vudu, YouTube, iTunes, and Google Play.
Check out these Free Bird Printable Activities from Classy Mommy!
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
Don’t you just love some good old Charlie Brown? I sure do and this adorable Thanksgiving movie is perfect for the entire family. It was made in 1973 and has been a classic for many years.
Charlie Brown and the gang attempt to make a Thanksgiving dinner. For their meal, they eat lots of fun food like popcorn and pretzels. So in the spirit of the show, I recommend enjoying it with some playful snacks as they had!
How to Watch: Movie is available to rent on Amazon Prime and Vudu. In 2018 ABC played it during prime time television so I expect the same for 2019.
An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving
This 2008 movie is about a woman who has lost her husband and is caring for her 3 daughters after the civil war. Life isn’t easy, and they have some difficult times. Unfortunately, they have so little money they can’t even afford to have a turkey for Thanksgiving.
One of the daughters decided to write a letter to her wealthy grandma about their financial struggles. There will be some trials and tribulations throughout the movie, and in the end, they all come together in triumph. Watching this movie is a great way to spend the afternoon if you ask me.
How to Watch: This is available on iTunes and you can buy the DVD from Amazon.
The Santa Clause
This playful and fun movie came out in 1994, and people have been enjoying and laughing at it ever since. It’s about a guy named Scott who stumbles upon Santa one night. Santa ends up telling Scott to put on his Santa suit if anything happens to him. Coincidentally, Santa falls off of a roof, so Scott saves Christmas by putting on the outfit and delivering gifts.
He ends up talking to the elves at the North Pole, and they give him until Thanksgiving Day the following year to get his life in order and take over his newly acquired Santa duty.
It’s impossible not to laugh and giggle throughout this fun tale. You don’t want to miss this one.
How to Watch: Movie is available to rent on Amazon Prime, Vudu, YouTube, iTunes, and Google Play. This will also be available on Disney+.
Rudy
The movie Rudy came out in 1993, and it’s still a family favorite today. While the movie doesn’t just revolve around the holidays, it’s still a great movie to watch during Thanksgiving. What goes together more than Thanksgiving and football?
It’s practically impossible to watch this movie without tears in your eyes. It’s relatable, and it gives a great message. Don’t give up on what your dreams are, no matter who tells you they can’t come true.
How to Watch: Rudy is available to rent from Amazon.
Garfield’s Thanksgiving
Everyone’s favorite grumpy cat will keep you entertained during this 1989 movie. Garfield and his friend and companion Odie are up to their usual and try to get out of taking Garfield to the vet.
It’s a cute and funny show that the kids (and adults) will go wild for. This classic never gets old and is only 24 minutes long, so it’s worth watching year after year.
How to Watch: Garfield’s Thanksgiving is available to rent from Amazon.
What is your favorite Thanksgiving movie? Let me know in the comments!