From 'Ratatouille' to 'Free Birds,' the 13 Best Thanksgiv...

From 'Ratatouille' to 'Free Birds,' the 13 Best Thanksgiving Movies That Your Kids Will Love

Linus, Snoopy, Charlie, Sally, Peppermint Patty, and Franklin gathered around a table in 'A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving'Image via CBS

By Dyah Ayu Larasati Updated 46 minutes ago Dyah (pronounced Dee-yah) is a Senior Author at Collider, responsible for both writing and transcription duties. She joined the website in 2022 as a Resource Writer before stepping into her current role in April 2023. As a Senior Author, she writes Features and Lists covering TV, music, and movies, making her a true Jill of all trades. In addition to her writing, Dyah also serves as an interview transcriber, primarily for events such as San Diego Comic-Con, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Sundance Film Festival. Dyah graduated from Satya Wacana Christian University in October 2019 with a Bachelor's degree in English Literature, concentrating on Creative Writing. She is currently completing her Master's degree in English Literature Studies, with a thesis on intersectionality in postcolonial-feminist studies in Asian literary works, and is expected to graduate in 2026. Born and raised between Indonesia and Singapore, Dyah is no stranger to different cultures. She now resides in the small town of Kendal with her husband and four cats, where she spends her free time cooking or cycling. Sign in to your Collider account follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, and all the fun of the little kids' table. Be honest, we all know that the little kid table is always the coolest and most fun place to be for Thanksgiving. They get away with everything, they have the best conversations, and they certainly have the greatest movies of all! Who wants football when you can watch a kid's movie?

In a holiday that is dominated by awkward family visits and adults wearing tights trying to steal a ball from each other, the most important things in life come to light: silly and sometimes poignant Thanksgiving movies for the whole family to enjoy. From Charlie Brown to Paul Blart, there are so many amazing family movies to watch this Thanksgiving.

1 'Mrs. Doubtfire' (1993)

Robin Williams looking surprised as Mrs. Doubtfire in Mrs. DoubtfireImage via 20th Century Studios

Need a helping hand? Look no further than Mrs. Doubtfire. The larger-than-life actor Daniel Hillard (Robin Williams) cares for his children. But his good intentions don’t translate well into his actions. When he takes his antics too far with his son’s birthday party, his wife, Miranda, decides to call it quits. Not long after, Daniel notices an ad put out by his ex-spouse looking for a nanny. With the power of makeup and costume, Daniel transforms into Mrs. Doubtfire.

A family classic, Mrs. Doubtfire is nothing short of comedic slapstick in true Williams style. Keep an eye out for the dinner scene, where the disguised Daniel is forced to cook a full homemade dinner for the first time. Let’s just say that the food isn’t the only thing that’s burnt crisp. Laughs aside, Mrs. Doubtfire is an important film about the meaning of family, especially when they're torn apart. Whatever happens between Daniel and Miranda, they’ll always love their kids, no matter what. — Dyah Ayu Larasati

2 'Migration' (2023)

A family of ducks standing on a sidewalk in a park in 'Migration'Image via Illumination

These docile ducks go wild in Migration. A family (or flock) of ducks has lived in New England for most of their lives. As the man of the pond, Father Mack Mallard (Kumail Nanjiani) hates the idea of venturing out to unknown lands. That’s about to change real quick. Upon the insistence of his much more outgoing wife, Pam (Elizabeth Banks), they decide to fly south for the winter. With their two kids, Dax (Caspar Jennings) and Gwen (Tresi Gazal), and Mack’s Uncle Dan (Danny DeVito) joining the ride, their trip to Jamaica is about to hit some turbulence.

When viewers think of fathers, they think of someone the family can depend on. Mack's the opposite of that. Following an encounter with a gang of pigeons, it's Pam who hilariously confronts them with a 67/33 split of their food. But Mack's imperfections are the heart of Migration. Mark eventually lets down his walls and acknowledges his vulnerabilities, serving as the movie's biggest lesson. Family will still love you, flaws and all, so long as you’re honest with yourself. — Dyah Ayu Larasati

3 'Ratatouille' (2007)

Technically, Thanksgiving isn't considered a national holiday in Europe. But if there's one thing Americans and the French love to celebrate, it's good food. Ratatouille is a love letter to the art of cooking. A sewer rat named Remy (Patton Oswalt) has lofty dreams of becoming a great French chef. But animals like him are considered a health hazard in the kitchen. Following a chance encounter with garbage boy Linguini (Lou Romano), Remy is about to prove Auguste Gusteau's words right: anyone can cook.

Nothing about Ratatouille is logical — and that's what makes it so unique to kids. In no way should a rat be even allowed to cook in the first place. But when Remy and Linguini develop their iconic "puppet" system, their antics, plus the frantic kitchen environment around them, make the perfect setup for physical humor. Ratatouille also helps kids develop a greater appreciation of food. They're not just meals to fuel us — they're also part of our memories. — Dyah Ayu Larasati

4 'A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving' (1973)

Snoopy and Woodstock in A Charlie Brown ThanksgivingImage via Apple TV

One of the most beloved Thanksgiving movies for kids, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving follows the titular protagonist and his friends as they prepare their own Thanksgiving meal to share. Linus (Stephen Shea) provides a nice retelling of the original Thanksgiving, and each character learns a new lesson in being thankful.

While it's easy to be swept up by the grandeur of Thanksgiving, the true essence of the holiday is quite simple. The true heart of Thanksgiving is neither the roasted turkey nor the pumpkin pie: it's the act of gratitude. The beauty of a Thanksgiving meal isn't in its grandiose dishes or how huge the spread is, but rather the people we are surrounded by over the dinner table. In an era that tends to commercialize the holidays with excessive splurges and spending, these values seem like a radical notion. The fact that it's shown to kids makes A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving an important must-watch. — Dyah Ayu Larasati & Adam Lowe

5 'Free Birds' (2013)

Reggie (Owen Wilson) and Jake (Woody Harrelson) as turkeys in 'Free Birds'Image via Relativity Media

In this wildly ridiculous take on Thanksgiving, we see the Pardoned Turkey going back in time to the first Thanksgiving in an attempt to take turkeys off the Thanksgiving menu. When Reggie (Owen Wilson) gets pulled into Jake's (Woody Harrelson) plot to go back in time, absolute hilarity ensues in Free Birds.

This fresh look at Thanksgiving is sure to cause non-stop laughter and wholesome fun for the entire family. It may not have the best execution, but its original take and humor keep this a holiday classic. The comedic cast brings this Thanksgiving favorite to life. — Adam Lowe

6 'Addams Family Values' (1993)

Wednesday Addams (Christina Ricci) in a Native American costume with a match in 'Addams Family Values'Image via Paramount Pictures

While not a traditional Thanksgiving movie, this one does have one of the most memorable Thanksgiving scenes in any film. Addams Family Values catches up with the titular (and iconic) family as they welcome a new child and try to balance family life with a new nanny.

In this film, there is one of the most fantastic Thanksgiving scenes. As Wednesday Addams (Christina Ricci) is at a summer camp, she performs in a Thanksgiving play where she does a legitimate re-enactment of the original Thanksgiving, and it is horrifically hilarious. — Adam Lowe

7 Jim Henson's 'Turkey Hollow' (2015)

Two creatures sitting at a table in 'Jim Henson's Turkey Hollow'Image via Lifetime

In this Lifetime Channel presentation of a Jim Henson creation, we follow a recently divorced man (Jay Harrington) as he takes his kids (Graham Verchere and Genevieve Buechner) to stay with his wacky aunt (Mary Steenburgen) in the town of Turkey Hollow. Throughout the remainder of the film, the kids end up searching for a huge monster, considered a legend in the town.

In what feels like a tribute to the great Jim Henson classics of the past, Turkey Hollow brings fun and excitement for everyone to enjoy. It's an off-the-beaten-path type of TV movie adventure that has a unique sense of wonder. — Adam Lowe

8 'A Winnie the Pooh Thanksgiving' (1998)

Characters from Winnie the Pooh sitting around a table having ThanksgivingImage via ABC

This lovely film brings Pooh and his whole crew together to celebrate Thanksgiving together in the Hundred Acre Wood. Each brings their own dish of acorns, honey, thistles and ice cream, but Rabbit (Ken Sansom) tells everyone that they need a legitimate feast, and so everyone scatters to find the real food.

In such a delightful film about togetherness and working together, A Winnie the Pooh Thanksgiving shows the importance of being together and working towards communication and cooperation with those around us, which can be difficult during this season. You might be able to catch this classic on TV this holiday season. — Adam Lowe

9 'Pocahontas' (1995)

Pocahontas and John Smith looking at each otherImage via Walt Disney Animation

While not technically a Thanksgiving film, it is a great one to watch this Thanksgiving season as it opens up discussion about the first Thanksgiving and how Pocahontas likely helped to pave the way for the survival of the colonists with her connection to John Smith.

Including the vocal talents of Mel Gibson, Christian Bale, Billy Connolly, and several others, this movie shows the dynamic between Pocahontas (Irene Bedard) and John Smith (Gibson) and how that relationship became fruitful despite the difficult beginnings. Pocahontas is available on Disney+ along with its sequel as well. — Adam Lowe

10 'We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story' (1993)

A group of dinosaurs together in Manhattan in 'We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story'Image via Universal Pictures

In We’re Back: A Dinosaur’s Story, a scientist wants to help children experience the incredibly exciting nature of real-life dinosaurs, so he goes back in time and brings back four real-life dinosaurs after giving them the gift of intelligence through a cereal called Brain Grain. In an attempt to reach the Museum of Natural History, they end up being part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

With an amazing voice cast of John Goodman, Walter Cronkite, Jay Leno, Julia Child, Martin Short, and Rhea Perlman, among others, this movie pulls no punches with the talent it brings to the table. The love for this movie doesn't deserve to go extinct! — Adam Lowe

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