17 Thanksgiving Films & Cartoons to Watch with Family

The whole family gathering in front of a TV is as much a part of Thanksgiving as the feast itself and the kind words of gratitude. And so is a long debate over what to watch!

Should you go for A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving? Or Little Fockers? If you don’t want to spend half an hour scrolling through Netflix to find what to pick as a family, it’s better to come prepared.

Consider watching these 17 outstanding cartoons and best movies for Thanksgiving while your dutiful cheap essay writing service takes care of the homework. They’re guaranteed to make you laugh until you get a bellyache. And they’ll create great memories to keep you warm until Christmas!

‍How to Choose What to Watch on the Thanksgiving Day

Your aunt Allison wants to put on You’ve Got Mail, but your ten-year-old nephew won’t grasp the drama of Joe and Kathleen’s relationship. Your brother isn’t in the mood for anything because he can’t stop thinking about the Odyssey analysis assignment due soon.

How do you navigate everyone’s preferences and decide what to watch on Thanksgiving day?

Here are three tips for that:

• If younger kids will be in front of the silver screen, you’ll want to go with cartoons or Thanksgiving movies for kids;
• If not, you can go for a classic or new Thanksgiving movie;
• Create a playlist for the whole evening with something for everyone!

7 Thanksgiving Cartoons Everyone Will Love

A kind-hearted cartoon is a great compromise for a big family looking for a laugh-ridden evening. Kids will get glued to the screen if a Thanksgiving cartoon is on. And adults won’t get bored, either – great Thanksgiving movies for kids are made with the whole family in mind.

Not sure which Thanksgiving movies for kids are worth putting on? Check out this list of the seven best Thanksgiving cartoons of 2022, from new releases to all-time classics.

An Arthur Thanksgiving (2020)

You probably grew up watching Arthur, and so have the next generations. And in case you’ve missed it, one of its 2020 episodes is dedicated to Turkey Day in Elmwood City.

This episode makes for a charming hour-long Thanksgiving holiday special (and one of the best Thanksgiving cartoons ever).

Arthur and his friends prepare for the Thanksgiving parade, but things go awry: Pup is missing. But, of course, the group overcomes this challenge – and learns to cherish the community in the process.

A Looney Tunes Thanksgiving (2014)

Another hour-long special, this one comes in two parts tied in with the Thanksgiving theme:

• Bugs Bunny’s Thanksgiving Diet, in which Bugs Bunny runs a diet clinic specializing in all things Thanksgiving.
• Daffy Duck’s Thanks-for-Giving Special, a collection of classic shorts centered around the Thanksgiving holiday.

This Thanksgiving turkey cartoon delivers its signature Looney Tunes vibe of ridiculous and oh-so-funny shenanigans. So, even if most of the people at your dining table are unfamiliar with Looney Tunes, it’s worth putting it on and introducing them to the world of laughs!

Free Birds (2013)

This is a full-feature Thanksgiving cartoon (or animated comedy) that stars Woody Harrelson and Owen Wilson as… turkeys!

Prepare for a deliciously insane plot, too – it helps Free Birds stand out among other Thanksgiving movies for kids. The two turkeys decide to travel back in time to prevent turkeys from becoming a traditional Thanksgiving meal!

As you can guess from the plot, this is more than just something to distract kids during the holiday. No matter your age, you’ll break up in laughter: there’s humor for everyone in this one, like in all great Thanksgiving movies for kids.

Free Birds could even serve as the essay movie review material. So, if you’re looking for a Thanksgiving funny cartoon for the entire family, Free Birds is for you!

Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving (1999)

This is one of those classics you might no longer expect to see on the list of Thanksgiving cartoons in 2022.

But if you were growing up in the 2000s, it’s a must-revisit Thanksgiving classic for you. Winnie the Pooh Thanksgiving special will plunge you right back into your childhood. Kids will also appreciate its cute and kind vibe – everything is always fine in the Hundred Acres Forest!

This hour-long special gives three Thanksgiving movies for kids in one package. All of them center around a particular holiday, and Thanksgiving is one of them.

These stories will get everyone in the holiday spirit and, perhaps, introduce a new generation to the A.A. Milne books.

Garfield’s Thanksgiving (1989)

How about spending the holidays with everyone’s favorite orange cat? You’ll probably have several people who are fond of Garfield sitting at the table. They’d be happy to revisit their fond childhood memories through this Thanksgiving turkey cartoon!

The whole plot can be summed up like this. Garfield has an appointment with a vet who will put him on a diet right before the Thanksgiving meal. Jon, in his turn, falls for the vet and invites her to the Thanksgiving feast. To avoid giving too much away, let’s say shenanigans ensue.

Which Episode Is Garfield’s Thanksgiving?

Just like most other funny Thanksgiving cartoons, Garfield’s Thanksgiving isn’t technically an episode of the Garfield and Friends TV show (1988-1994). Instead, it’s a separate special created and released outside of it.

That said, the creators know when the story is taking place. The whole plot occurs in season two of Garfield and Friends.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)

Another all-time classic, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is a must-see for all generations that gather around the Thanksgiving dinner table. It’s a delight to watch – and it’s guaranteed to instill nostalgia in some of your family members!

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving centers around Peppermint Patty and her friends’ unprompted Thanksgiving visit to Charlie Brown’s for the holiday dinner.

In haste, the Peanuts gang tries to throw together a holiday dinner on the go – and you’ll have to watch the special to find out if they succeed.

Is There a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Episode?

That’s a common question, and the answer is, ‘Yes, of course!’ Just be mindful that all classic Charlie Brown episodes were television specials. In other words, there was no Charlie Brown or Peanuts TV show, to begin with.

But if you’re looking for that one episode that featured the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving dinner, this is it – you’ve found it!

What Does Charlie Brown Say About Thanksgiving?

This is more than just a Thanksgiving funny cartoon for many people, and it’s not just nostalgia talking. The special, albeit short (25 minutes), has a kind message. As Linus says, ‘Thanksgiving is a very important holiday.’

It also takes a swing at the common Thanksgiving traditions – and how some traditions appear and others fade away.

As Lucy put it, ‘Isn’t it peculiar how some traditions just slowly fade away?’

Is This Special Available on Netflix?

If you’re looking for a way to watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, your Netflix subscription won’t help you out this time. But, unfortunately, you won’t find it on this streaming platform.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t watch it at all! It’s available on Apple TV at the moment. (It used to be hosted by ABC, but that changed in 2020.)

Plus, perhaps, you’ll be able to download it elsewhere – but be careful which websites you trust!

Donald Duck’s Soup’s On (1948)

If you want to go for the holy grail of the classic funny Thanksgiving cartoons, this is the one for you.

It’s only seven minutes long – but it’ll be a delight for the grandparents at the table to revisit. Plus, aren’t you curious about what Donald Duck looked like in 1948?

In this animated short, Donald Duck’s mischievous troublemaker nephews go on a standoff with their uncle on Thanksgiving evening. The reason? Fighting over the turkey and getting themselves dirty. The result? Watch and find out!

10 Best Thanksgiving-Themed Movies for All Tastes

Once the younger kids get tired of watching cartoons and want to run around and play, the adults in the room can watch a Thanksgiving movie or two.

But then, once again, you’ll need to reconcile the oh-so-different tastes of everyone in the whole family – and find the middle ground.

Think you won’t have time for cartoons and a couple of family Thanksgiving movies? Then, let a college essay writing service take your mind off your homework. Quality time with your family matters more than an assignment!

But what should be on your holiday-watching shortlist, to begin with? Then, you’re in the right place: below, you’ll find the ten best Thanksgiving movies for various audiences. They include both good-old classics and new holiday films that are a mix of comedy and heartfelt conclusions.

3 Old Movies for the Family Thanksgiving Dinner

When you think of good movies for Thanksgiving, one of the entries below must come to your mind. That’s because these are time-tested and universally beloved Thanksgiving movies for kids and adults alike. They’ve been bringing together generations for years!

They’ll inspire nostalgia in the generation of your parents. Younger family members are guaranteed to enjoy watching them for the first time, too. So, don’t miss out on the following three classic Thanksgiving family movies this holiday season!

Addams Family Values (1993)

If you’re looking for a comedy saturated with dark humor, Addams Family Values still holds up as one of the best Thanksgiving movies in 2022!

It’s straight-out hilarious –and if you have one or several teenagers at the table this year, they’ll adore this comedy for how dreadful it is. So, don't hesitate to put it on – it's one of the funniest Thanksgiving movies for kids!

In this story, the Addams family has a new addition: a baby boy. But, of course, not everyone is excited! So Wednesday and Pugsley start plotting how to get rid of him.

In the meantime, the nanny Morticia and Gomez hire for the boy turns out to have something evil in stock for Fester. So what is the family to do?

Home for the Holidays (1995)

Wondering what to watch on Thanksgiving Day if you’re looking for an ironic take on holiday? Here’s a classic movie for you!

Home for the Holidays’ protagonist isn’t happy to spend the holidays with her family. She’s not sure she’ll be able to put up with their crazy antics.

This gem of a Thanksgiving movie deserves this title, not just for an unusual take on Thanksgiving itself. You’ll probably see a reflection of your family's Thanksgiving dinners in its scenes.

Plus, the intertwined humor and drama in Home for the Holidays make it a pleasant emotional rollercoaster!

You’ve Got Mail (1998)

You’ve Got Mail is one of those Thanksgiving films that weren’t intended to become holiday season classics. But this romantic comedy inspires warmth and happiness in viewers so easily that it’s now a tradition to watch it on Thanksgiving Day!

In case you’re unfamiliar with the plot, here it is. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan play two characters who fall for each other online.

The only caveat? In real life, they’re rivals: he’s trying to shut down her bookstore. So, how will they reconcile this rivalry with their feelings for each other?

7 Newer Releases to Watch on Thanksgiving Holiday

Are you done with the classics? Or would you rather watch something from this millennium? Hollywood has you covered: new Thanksgiving movies get released every year.

But the sheer number of new Thanksgiving movies creates a problem instead. Which ones are worth your family’s precious time together?

Don’t worry: here are the seven handpicked best Thanksgiving movies for 2022. With them, you’re guaranteed to have a good time in front of the silver screen!

Funny People (2009)

In the mood for a Thanksgiving surprise with some risqué R-rated humor? Funny People with Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen has you covered!

It features George (Adam Sandler), a successful comedian diagnosed with cancer. The perspective of dying pushes him to bond with a novice performer (Seth Rogen) – and get involved in other shenanigans.

Is It Fine to Watch Funny People with Kids?

While it deserves to be among the good movies for Thanksgiving, Funny People isn’t a watch for everyone. It mixes edgy humor with a heavy topic: a near-death experience.

In other words, it might not be your typical split-your-sides comedy for a movie night. And it can hardly be called one of the appropriate Thanksgiving movies for kids or family movies, either.

Little Fockers (2010)

Already seen Meet the Parents or Meet the Fockers – the two movies that frequently make it to ‘what to watch on Thanksgiving’ lists? Then this sequel will feel like revisiting an old story with a new twist.

(And if you haven’t watched the first two Thanksgiving movies, they're among the best ones, too. So, have a movie night while your custom writers take care of your homework!)

In Little Fockers, Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro are back as Greg and his father-in-law, Jack. They’ve managed to get along, but it took a decade. And two little twins were born into the family.

However, Jack gets back on his horse of suspicion after Greg starts moonlighting for a drug company. Will Greg convince his father-in-law he can be trusted for good this time?

Jim Henson’s Turkey Hollow (2015)

Are you looking for an adventure comedy for the entire family? Turkey Hollow is one of those wholesome good movies for Thanksgiving Day that will grasp the attention of viewers of any age. So, if you're looking for Thanksgiving movies for kids, this one is worth your time!

Turkey Hollow also comes with a good portion of laughs – and a quest to find a monster!

Two siblings, Annie and Tim, find themselves at Aunt Cly’s farm for Thanksgiving. The town has no internet connection, however. So, of course, they get bored. So they find a way to keep themselves busy – by looking for the ‘Howling Hoodoo’ monster!

Lez Bomb (2018)

Lez Bomb is one of those Thanksgiving films that take a regular holiday season setup and add a twist to it.

The movie’s protagonist, Lauren, is a closeted lesbian who finally decides to come out to her family. But when she arrives with her girlfriend, nothing goes according to plan.

Don’t overlook this Thanksgiving film simply during your movie marathon because of its woman-dates-woman premise. It’s not its key strength or purpose, anyway.

Lez Bomb has all the markings of a hilarious family film with a warm-hearted message about the importance of your close ones.

The Turkey Bowl (2019)

Are there any football fans at the Thanksgiving table? If so, this is one of the new Thanksgiving movies that’s a must-watch turkey dinner family film for you!

Why? The Turkey Bowl’s central plot is about a grand football showdown between two teams to finish the game interrupted a decade ago.

And if you had to move from a rural hometown to a big city, you’ll relate to the main character. Patrick Hodges moved to Chicago and became a businessman. But after getting tricked into returning to Oklahoma, he reconnects with his buddies and family.

Holidate (2020)

In the mood for discovering new Thanksgiving films full of comedy and romance? How about a classic pretend-to-real relationship story in a new package for your movie night, then?

Meet Sloane and Jackson. These two young people make a pact to be each other’s platonic plus-ones every holiday. All of that is to avoid the nagging questions from their families – and the feeling of loneliness, too.

But, of course, it wouldn’t be one of those romantic comedy Thanksgiving movies if they didn’t eventually fall in love with each other for real!

Friendsgiving (2020)

Spending the holidays with friends and can’t decide what to watch on Thanksgiving Day together? If family-centered Thanksgiving movies are getting a bit too stale for your taste, Friendsgiving should be on your Thanksgiving menu.

Its plot revolves around a laid-back friends-only celebration – until it goes awry thanks to unexpected guests, of course.

Abby and Molly, two best friends, want to spend Thanksgiving together, without any grand Thanksgiving feast or noisy company. But Molly’s boyfriend, her mom, and Molly's old flame crash the Thanksgiving dinner.

Spoiler alert: this Thanksgiving movie also features a shaman-in-training and a Fairy Gay Mothers trio!