The 22 Best Thanksgiving Movies on Disney+ to Watch Right After Your Holiday Dinner
Stream these classic cartoons, musicals and dramas with the entire family.
Fall is officially here, and that means we get one of the star holidays of the year: Thanksgiving. While the special occasion calls for delicious Thanksgiving dinner recipes, it's also a time to get together with your loved ones and be reminded of all the things you're grateful for. While there are many fun Thanksgiving activities the whole family can enjoy (like Thanksgiving games), there's truly nothing like sitting down and turning on the perfect Thanksgiving movie.
Speaking of holiday films, Disney+ has many options to browse through while eating the last remnants of pumpkin pie. No, they don't necessarily feature characters gathering around the dinner table to carve a turkey. But elements of the holiday are infused in these Thanksgiving movies on Disney+. Whether a character returns to their hometown or folks are energized by a game of football, there's not one that trumps the other for best Thanksgiving movie.
Interested in seeing a musical? Try out The Greatest Showman. Looking for an animated film even your youngest kids will love? It's never too late to sing the iconic music from Frozen. And if you're just looking to get into the spirit of Christmas, look no further. Home Alone will get you ready for the holiday season the minute you press play. Now, sit back, enjoy the last bit of your dessert and put that Disney+ subscription to use. Trust us when we say you'll be feeling all the gratitude by the time you're done watching the ultimate Thanksgiving movie marathon on the streamer.
National Treasure (2004)
National Treasure follows a historian and cryptographer as he goes on the exploration of a lifetime: to steal the Declaration of Independence. While he may not be the only one looking for the iconic piece of American history, he may just find a way to uncover a mystery no one has solved yet.
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The Sound of Music (1965)
Based on a true story, The Sound of Music explores a young woman becoming the governess to seven children at the height of World War II. Filled with heartfelt moments and music, it's the perfect film to get the entire family to feel a little more united.
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The Princess Bride (1987)
A fated romance between princess and peasant might not seem like the most obvious Thanksgiving movie choice on Disney+. But between all the swashbuckling, the story of The Princess Bride is told by a grandfather to his young grandson and that'll have everyone wanting to be a part of this unique fairytale.
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Cheaper By the Dozen (2003)
What movie screams more about familial love than this one? Following the lives of the Bakers, the group has to navigate the trials and tribulations of a large family while simultaneously starting over in a new town. It's a lot of hijinks, but it has a lot of heart too.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Is The Nightmare Before Christmas a Halloween movie? Is it a Christmas movie? Chances are the story of Jack Skellington (a.k.a. the mayor of Halloweentown) becoming obsessed with the holiday season can cause quite the debate amongst family members. But no matter the answer, it's still a film all can enjoy this time of year.
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Encanto (2021)
In a family whose world is laced with magic, one member stands out for her lack of abilities: Mirabel, who struggles with being the odd one out. But when she discovers that the family is losing their magic, she attempts to save her loved ones before everything — including their magical house — falls apart.
Mary Poppins (1964)
There's a reason Mary Poppins is so loved by families. It not only tells the story of a magical nanny coming to take care of the Banks children, but it makes put a spotlight on the little things in life. Plus, it's hard not to sing along to the famous tunes. A perfect end to a Thanksgiving day, right?
The Santa Clause (1994)
Get ready for the Christmas season, albeit with a unique twist. Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) finds himself becoming Santa Clause when he causes the previous one to accidentally fall off his roof on Christmas Eve. What occurs is a chase to save the holiday for all the children requesting presents.
The Greatest Showman (2017)
Warm up your vocal cords because you'll be tempted to sing along. Here, get a closer look at P. T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman) as he rises from nothing to create one of the most entertaining shows of all time, Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Frozen (2013)
Winter is coming, winter is coming! When Queen Elsa (Idina Menzel) accidentally turns Arendelle into an icy wonderland, her sister (Kristen Bell) and friends go on an adventure to save her — and the place that they love so much.
Home Alone (1990)
When Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) is abandoned by his family, he must come up with ways to defend his home from a pair of burglars — a tar-covered staircase, a scalding hot door handle, to name a few. Maybe you should wait to watch this movie until after your guests leave just in case it gives your kids some ideas.
Lilo & Stitch (2002)
Stitch said it best: "Ohana means family. Family means no one gets left behind." In this classic cartoon, Lilo (Daveigh Chase) learns the beauty of friendship — and family — after forming a bond with Stitch (Chris Sanders), a cute alien creature who escaped from another galaxy. An important reminder for us all!
Ratatouille (2007)
Even if you're stuffed, you'll still enjoy looking at all of Remy's (Patton Oswalt) homemade creations. Follow along as this ambitious little rat puts his culinary skills to the test with the help of young chef, Alfredo Linguini (Lou Romano).
Hamilton (2020)
Experience the Broadway musical right in your living room. You'll get a history lesson while you watch since the songs tell the story of Alexander Hamilton's tumultuous life and the country's fight for independence from the British.
The Emperor's New Groove (2000)
If you're looking for a good laugh, The Emperor's New Groove is your best bet. It follows the story of Emperor Kuzco (David Spade), who is turned into a llama by Yzma (Eartha Kitt), his former advisor who wants to steal his throne. It's all fun and games until Kuzco asks Pacha (John Goodman) to help him reclaim his spot.
Toy Story 2 (1999)
If you're going to watch the first one, you might as well follow it up with Toy Story 2. This time, the toys have a different mission: When a toy collector (Wayne Knight) steals Woody away, Buzz Lightyear and the others try to save him before it's too late.
101 Dalmatians (1961)
The Parent Trap (1998)
Some may argue that the 1961 version is better, but we still find the remake incredibly sweet. The fan-favorite film introduces Annie and Hallie (both played by Lindsay Lohan), who come up with a clever plan to get their separated parents back together.
Remember The Titans (2000)
Because Thanksgiving and football go hand-in-hand. On and off the field, a Virginia high school football team faces their biggest challenge yet: The local school board calls on two segregated teams to work together for the 1971 season, ultimately changing the future of football forever.
Larry Stansbury is a writer whose work has appeared in POPSUGAR, Sports Illustrated, Her Campus, Distractify and more. He covers a wide range of topics, including entertainment, lifestyle and sports. Larry graduated with a B.A. in writing and rhetoric from Syracuse University in 2018. When he’s not writing, he is either working out, eating carbs or dancing to the next Little Mix song.
As the entertainment and news editorial assistant for Good Housekeeping, Adrianna (she/her) writes about everything TV, movies, music and pop culture. She graduated from Yeshiva University with a B.A. in journalism and a minor in business management. She covers shows like The Rookie, 9-1-1 and Grey's Anatomy, though when she’s not watching the latest show on Netflix, she’s taking martial arts or drinking way too much coffee.
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