The 36 Best Thanksgiving Movies on Netflix to Watch with the Family

It’s that time of year when families are trading in their carved pumpkins and cobwebs for floral arrangements and autumn decor. Not to mention, there’s an influx of decadent Thanksgiving recipes that are already taking over our social media feeds, from sweet potato pie to mac and cheese. But aside from organizing the traditional family dinner, we thought: Why not make the holiday extra special by watching the best Thanksgiving movies on Netflix?

The streaming platform offers a variety of great options, whether you want a cozy romance, a heartwarming comedy or a movie that inspires gratitude. Some of the films focus on the importance of family, like Yes Day and Fatherhood, while others remind us of the act of giving. And if you want to start celebrating Christmas early, we've included some festive movies to get you into the holiday spirit, like Holiday Rush and Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square. (Psst, for more options, check out our full roundup of the best family Christmas movies.)

Either way, these flicks are best enjoyed with your coziest fall pajamas and the entire family. Keep reading for the best Thanksgiving movies on Netflix.

1. Fences (2016)

• Starring: Viola Davis, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Jovan Adepo, Russell Hornsby
• Rating: PG-13

Washington is Troy Maxson, a sanitation worker who lives with his family in 1950s Pittsburgh. Feeling bitter over his missed opportunity to join the major leagues and achieve his dream, Troy projects his disappointment onto his loved ones, creating tension in the family and even threatening his son's chances of playing college football. Talk about complicated family dynamics.

2. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)

• Starring: Lily James, Michiel Huisman, Glen Powell
• Rating: PG 

Set in the aftermath of World War II, a London-based writer named Juliet Ashton develops a lasting bond with the members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—a book club they formed in Nazi-occupied Guernsey Island during the war.

3. The Curse of Bridge Hollow (2022)

• Starring: Marlon Wayans, Priah Ferguson, Kelly Rowland, John Michael Higgins
• Rating: TV-14 

If you’re still feeling the Halloween spirit but need an option that will entertain the entire family, look no further than The Curse of Bridge Hollow. The film follows Sydney Gordon, a teen who inadvertently unleashes an evil spirit that causes Halloween decorations to come to life. Sydney must team up with her dad to stop them before they wreak havoc on the town.

4. Love in the Villa (2022)

• Starring: Kat Graham, Tom Hopper, Raymond Ablack
• Rating: TV-14

Love in the Villa revolves around Julie, a kindergarten teacher and hopeless romantic who goes on a solo vacation to Italy after going through a tough breakup. However, Julie is surprised to learn that her villa was accidentally double-booked, forcing her to share her much-needed alone time with a cynical stranger. 

5. Otherhood (2019)

• Starring: Angela Bassett, Patricia Arquette, Felicity Huffman, Jake Hoffman
• Rating: PG-13

Based on William Sutcliffe's novel, Whatever Makes You Happy, Otherhood revolves around a trio of suburban moms who plan a road trip to surprise their adult sons after feeling forgotten on Mother's Day. Expect plenty of laughs—and a bit of insight on the different stages of motherhood.

6. Paddington (2014)

• Starring: Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Nicole Kidman
• Rating: PG

What better way to recover from a food coma than with a fun, feel-good comedy about an anthropomorphic bear? The film centers on a lovable bear named Paddington, who migrates from the jungle to London in search of a new home. While there, he gets taken in by the Browns—but there’s also an evil taxidermist who’s trying to capture him for his personal collection.

7. Yes Day (2021)

• Starring: Jennifer Garner, Édgar Ramírez, Jenna Ortega
• Rating: PG

If you’ve had to say “no” to the kids several times during Thanksgiving dinner, then perhaps they can live vicariously through the kids in this fun film. It follows married couple Allison and Carlos, who decide to treat their kids to a special “Yes Day,” meaning the children get to make up the rules for 24 hours. The result is a messy—but unforgettable—adventure, complete with a giant foam explosion.

8. Stuart Little (1999)

• Starring: Geena Davis, Hugh Laurie, Jonathan Lipnicki, Michael J. Fox
• Rating: PG

A charming anthropomorphic mouse gets taken in by the Littles, but he doesn't get the warmest welcome. There's George, who's disappointed to have a mouse for a brother, and then there's the family cat, Snowbell, who's determined to get rid of him. Even so, Stuart is determined to win them over—and George starts to accept that great brothers come in all shapes and sizes. 

9. Mr. Bean's Holiday (2007)

• Starring: Max Baldry, Emma de Caunes, Willem Dafoe, Karel Roden
• Rating: G

Mr. Bean's Holiday features one of most iconic food scenes of all time, so it’s only fitting that we include this classic on the list. In the movie, Mr. Bean wins a vacation and ventures to Cannes, France, for a getaway. But chaos ensues when he’s mistaken for a kidnapper and a famous filmmaker.

10. This Christmas (2007)

• Starring: Delroy Lindo, Idris Elba, Loretta Devine, Chris Brown
• Rating: PG

Whether you have a giant, blended family or a smaller group of relatives, you’ll appreciate this festive comedy drama. For the first time in four years, Shirley Ann Whitfield and her partner, Joe, are hosting a big family reunion for the holiday season. Unfortunately, tensions rise as old secrets come to light, making for a rather awkward dinner.

11. Liar Liar (1997)

• Starring: Jim Carrey, Maura Tierney, Jennifer Tilly, Swoosie Kurtz
• Rating: PG-13

Fletcher Reede is a hotshot lawyer whose entire career is built on lying. But his luck changes when he's forced to only tell the truth for a day, making it much harder to do his job and reconcile with his ex-wife. Per usual, Carrey is a comedic genius.

12. Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square (2020)

• Starring: Dolly Parton, Christine Baranski, Jenifer Lewis
• Rating: PG

Our favorite country queen teaches us the importance of community and getting into the Christmas spirit in this heartfelt musical. When a cold-hearted makes plans to sell her town during the holidays, an angel arrives and gives her one final chance to redeem herself.

13. Midnight at the Magnolia (2020)

• Starring: Natalie Hall, Evan Williams, Hannah Gordon
• Rating: TV-G

Midnight at the Magnolia follows radio co-hosts and good friends Maggie and Jack, who decide that faking a romantic relationship will ultimately get their show syndicated. Of course, the pair get a whole lot more than they bargained for. (Yes, it’s predictable, but the effortless chemistry between the leads makes it a must-watch.)

14. Holiday Rush (2019) 

• Starring: Romany Malco, Sonequa Martin-Green, Deon Cole
• Rating: TV-PG

Eager to kick off the holiday season? Start with Holiday Rush, which follows a successful radio DJ who suddenly loses his job right before Christmas. Unfortunately for his wife and kids, he must scale back on expensive gifts. Could this setback be a blessing in disguise?

15. Holiday in the Wild (2019)

• Starring: Rob Lowe, Kristin Davis, Fezile Mpela, John Owen Lowe
• Rating: PG

Kate tries to surprise her husband with a second honeymoon trip to Africa, but she gets the ultimate curveball when he confesses he's no longer in love with her and ends the marriage. Still, she decides to do her honeymoon solo and gets a second chance at love. Although the movie is not specifically about Thanksgiving, it touches on themes like generosity, love and selflessness.

16. You Are My Home (2020)

• Starring: Alyssa Milano, Angel Parker, Cristián de la Fuente
• Rating: TV-PG

You might want to keep tissues nearby when you watch this touching drama, which tackles themes like loss, family, foster care and immigration. The movie is about an 11-year-old girl who gets separated from her mother by ICE agents. With the help of a kind social worker, she gets paired with a guardian who is also dealing with loss. As the holiday season draws near, the two form an unbreakable bond.

17. Wedding Season (2022)

• Starring: Suraj Sharma, Pallavi Sharda, Rizwan Manji, Veena Sood
• Rating: TV-PG

If you're tempted to bring a fake date to your family's Thanksgiving celebration, then this movie will make you think twice. Tired of dealing with their parents’ incessant questions about marriage, Asha and Ravi—two single strangers who meet online—pretend to be each other’s dates at a series of weddings. Their arrangement gets complicated when they start to develop real feelings for each other.

18. A California Christmas (2017)

• Starring: Lauren Swickard, Josh Swickard, Amanda Detmer
• Rating: TV-G

A charming playboy is so determined to keep his rich lifestyle that he poses as a ranch hand, hoping to convince a farmer to sell her family's dairy farm before Christmas. His plans take a turn, however, when he starts to fall for the hardworking farmer.

19. A Week Away (2021) 

• Starring: Bailee Madison, Kevin Quinn, David Koechner, Sherri Shepherd
• Rating: TV-PG

This feel-good musical centers on a troubled teen named Will, who has been to several foster homes due to his rebellious behavior. When he’s forced to choose between juvenile detention and a Christian summer camp, he opts for the latter, where he connects with a loving father figure, forms new friendships and finds love.

20. Home Team (2022)

• Starring: Kevin James, Taylor Lautner, Rob Schneider, Jackie Sandler
• Rating: PG

Just three years after his team wins the Super Bowl, Sean Payton, coach of the New Orleans Saints, gets suspended from the NFL due to his connection to the Bountygate scandal. When he returns to his hometown, he agrees to coach his 12-year-old son in hopes of reconnecting with his family.

21. A Perfect Pairing (2022)

• Starring: Victoria Justice, Adam Demos, Luca Asta Sardelis, Samantha Tolj
• Rating: TV-14

After quitting her job as a wine company executive, Lola embarks on a mission to launch her own wine business. But she can’t do it without landing a major client. Determined to get her company off the ground, she travels to Australia and agrees to work as a ranch hand in hopes of signing her first client, but it proves to be way more challenging than she thought. The family-friendly flick touches on sibling relationships and includes positive messages about second chances.

22. Persuasion (2022)

• Starring: Dakota Johnson, Cosmo Jarvis, Nikki Amuka-Bird
• Rating: PG

Based on Jane Austen's namesake novel, the swoon-worthy romance follows Anne Elliot, who finds herself torn between following her heart and leaving the past behind after Frederick Wentworth, an old flame, comes back into her life. Cue the family drama.

23. Hubie Halloween (2020)

• Starring: Kevin James, Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, Ray Liotta, Rob Schneider, June Squibb, Kenan Thompson
• Rating: PG-13

The comedy horror, which was co-written by Sandler, follows Hubie Dubois, who volunteers to patrol his hometown during the Halloween season. When a real murder occurs, he realizes that Salem is facing an imminent threat and gets involved in the investigation. Does he have what it takes to save the town?

24. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)

• Starring: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish, Anna Cathcart
• Rating: TV-14

Craving a charming teen romance? Meet your match. To All the Boys follows high schooler Lara Jean, who isn’t the type to confront her crushes. Instead, she writes them secret love letters, with no intention of sending them. However, Lara’s life is turned upside-down when her sister decides to mail them. (No shade to Lara Jean and Peter's romance, but the healthy sibling dynamic between the Covey sisters is one of the best things about the film.)

25. Love Hard (2021)

• Starring: Nina Dobrev, Jimmy O. Yang, Darren Barnet
• Rating: TV-MA

After meeting her dream guy on a dating app, an L.A. writer named Natalie decides to fly to his hometown to surprise her crush for Christmas. Upon her arrival, she quickly learns that she’s been catfished. (This will make you think twice about catching a flight to meet someone you’ve met online.)

26. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)

• Starring: Forest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, Hugh Bonneville, Anika Noni Rose, Phylicia Rashad
• Rating: PG

When a toy inventor gets betrayed by his trusted apprentice, he loses everything, including his most prized creation. But three decades later, his granddaughter comes along and makes it her mission to save his life’s work. Jingle Jangle’s catchy musical numbers will have you up and dancing in no time.

27. A Jazzman's Blues (2022)

• Starring: Joshua Boone, Amirah Vann, Solea Pfeiffer
• Rating: R

There's nothing quite like forbidden love during the holidays. Directed by Tyler Perry, the drama film follows Bayou and Leanne, who meet as teenagers and then fall in love, but they’re torn apart because of Leanne's disapproving family. Throughout their adulthood, they deal with family drama and attempt to stay in each other’s lives, even though Leanne leads a new life passing as white. 

28. Fatherhood (2021)

• Starring: Kevin Hart, Alfre Woodard, Frankie R. Faison, Lil Rel Howery
• Rating: PG-13

Kevin Hart stars as Matthew, a father who must take care of his daughter alone after his wife tragically passes away during childbirth. Naturally, his loved ones go above and beyond to offer their support, but he soon realizes that his mom and mother-in-law might be getting in the way of him raising his own daughter. It’s not your typical Hart comedy, but you can expect plenty of funny, heartwarming moments.

29. The Willoughbys (2010)

• Starring: Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Alessia Cara, Terry Crews
• Rating: PG

Four siblings, including Tim, Jane and a set of twins both named Barnaby, embark on a mission to get rid of their neglectful parents and find new ones. And during their search, they discover the real meaning of family.

30. The Guide to the Perfect Family (2021)

• Starring: Louis Morissette, Catherine Chabot, Émilie Bierre
• Rating: TV-MA

The French-language film follows a couple in Québec as they struggle to raise their kids in the modern world. The story mainly revolves around their 16-year-old daughter Rose, an overachiever who secretly battles with anxiety and depression. Although the movie resembles a breezy comedy, it tackles deep issues like mental health, stress and harmful parenting techniques. 

31. Matilda the Musical (2001)

• Starring: Alisha Weir, Lashana Lynch, Stephen Graham, Andrea Riseborough
• Rating: PG-13

When a whip-smart 5-year-old develops the gift of telekinesis, she uses her abilities to deal with her selfish parents and her school's cruel headmistress. As much as we love the original film, this fun reboot features plenty of catchy numbers the whole family will love.

32. Really Love (2020)

• Starring: Stephanie Allain, Kim Coleman, Latisha Fortune, Sanford Grimes
• Rating: TV-MA

Set in D.C, a struggling artist named Yusef Davis is determined to launch his painting career. But when he meets a brilliant law student named Chenai Hungwe, they pursue a whirlwind romance. As Yusef tries to balance this new relationship with his art, Chenai is already getting job offers from firms across the country. Can their romance survive long distance?

33. My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016)

• Starring: Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Lainie Kazan, Michael Constantine
• Rating: PG-13

In this follow-up to My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Toula and Ian are now married with a teenage daughter and experiencing marital issues. While planning for another family wedding, Toula learns a big secret that may fix her strained marriage. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, but the movie also explores the challenges of parenting, maintaining a marriage and keeping up with family traditions.

34. A Madea Homecoming (2022)

• Starring: Tyler Perry, Cassi Davis-Patton, David Mann, Tamela Mann, Gabrielle Dennis
• Rating: MA

If you thought your family's Thanksgiving dinner parties were awkward, just wait until you see A Madea Homecoming. In the film, Madea and her family reunite to celebrate her great-grandson's college graduation party, but chaos ensues as surprise guests turn up and old secrets emerge.

35. Death at a Funeral (2010)

• Starring: Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, Danny Glover, Regina Hall
• Rating: R

Problematic family members, old rivalries and family secrets are just a few things we deal with on Thanksgiving—and the same can be said for Aaron and his family. Drama ensues when they reunite for the funeral of Aaron's dad.

36. Sextuplets (2019)

• Starring: Marlon Wayans, Bresha Webb, Michael Ian Black, Molly Shannon
• Rating: TV-14

If you're down for a goofy, guilty pleasure film that'll deliver all the laughs (and make you appreciate your siblings), you need to watch Sextuplets. It follows Alan, a soon-to-be dad who discovers that he was born a sextuplet. With the help of his brother, he sets out to reunite with his five siblings.