Thanksgiving is a time for loved ones to gather for turkey, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and all the other trimmings — a traditional spread that pairs perfectly with a movie (or two, or even a back-to-back marathon of films if you’re in the mood). Whether playing a favorite watch while preparing sides in the kitchen or putting on something new while crashing on the sofa in a food coma, it’s a simple yet wonderful way to enjoy the holiday with family and friends.
This Thursday, stream these 14 family-friendly movies with your loved ones. These titles will go great with whatever you’re serving on your Thanksgiving dinner table.
Calling all dog lovers: This movie is for you. This furry adventure is a reboot featuring everyone’s favorite ‘70s crime-stopping dog, a lovable mutt who always happens to be in the right place at the right time. In this case, it’s to help Frankie (Darby Camp) and her brother, Carter, (Gabriel Bateman) who were kidnapped by a couple of robbers. Benji (Cooper) has to try to save the day and even help mend a troubled family.
Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown plays the titular sleuth, with Henry Cavill portraying the well-known pipe-smoking detective (and Enola’s older brother), Sherlock Holmes. If you have fun watching this first film, in which Enola looks into the mysterious disappearance of her mother (Helena Bonham Carter), make it a double feature with Enola Holmes 2, in which the two siblings work together to solve the case of a missing girl.
This heartfelt adaptation of Matthew Logelin’s best-selling memoir stars Kevin Hart as a man who finds himself a new father and a widower all at once, after his wife dies shortly after giving birth to their first child. Also featuring Alfre Woodard and Lil Rel Howery, the dramedy affirms the universal sacrifices of parenthood and serves as a warm reminder of how strong family bonds can be.
Don’t sleep on this sibling story. This animated movie follows Stevie and her brother, Elliot, who journey into the wild and unpredictable landscape of their own dreams to ask the wish-granting Sandman to make their dreams come true. Simu Liu, Cristin Milioti, and Craig Robinson star in this intriguing tale, which thoughtfully explores the harder moments families sometimes face — and how they can be faced together.
This animated musical comedy is about a charming but disgruntled classroom pet who is having a midlife crisis at the ripe old age of 74 and decides to share his wisdom with the quirky students at the school. The movie is a whole family affair: Leo is voiced by Adam Sandler, who also co-wrote the film; Sandler’s wife, Jackie, and daughters, Sunny and Sadie, also voice characters in the film.
It’s the most popular Netflix movie of all time for a reason. This animated flick follows the superstar trio of HUNTR/X who secretly protect the world from supernatural enemies with their music. Watch this one to see how they handle a charming boy band of demons in disguise, and hear all the catchy original songs. Even better: Play the sing-along version of the movie so the whole fam can jam out together.
The bonds between parents and kids can be a struggle sometimes, and even harder to talk about. This hilarious animated movie tackles the topic with humor, as a college move-in day with the whole family (dog included) gets interrupted by the world’s electronic devices coming to life in a global uprising. The voice cast of the Oscar-nominated adventure features Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Eric André, and Olivia Colman.
A young girl discovers a mixtape that was made by her parents, who died when she was very young, but she’s unable to play it on her Walkman. With the reluctant help of a not-so-friendly music store owner, she goes on a journey to learn more about the different songs that are on the tape — and her mom and dad, who chose each and every one. Come for the sweet story, stay for the great soundtrack. Starring Gemma Brooke Allen, Nick Thune, and Julie Bowen.
This is an out-of-this-world adventure about a young girl, Fei Fei, who builds a rocket ship to meet Chang'e, the goddess who lives forever on the moon, accompanied by her companion, a jade rabbit. Based on a famous Chinese myth, the animated musical is fun while tackling tough topics like grief and acceptance, and features a voice cast including Phillipa Soo, Ken Jeong, Ruthie Ann Miles, Margaret Cho, and Sandra Oh.
This movie is all about bedtime stories, but it’s anything but a snooze. Based on the early 20th-century comic strip Little Nemo in Slumberland, this fantasy film centers on a young girl who grew up listening to her father’s tales about the titular place. But is Slumberland real, and can it really be visited? Jason Momoa, Kyle Chandler, and Chris O’Dowd are part of the cast of the onscreen adventure.
In this fun animated musical adventure, Rachel Zegler voices a tenacious teenage princess, Ellian, who has been harboring a major secret: Her parents, the king and queen, have been transformed into monsters. Even more so, they’ve suddenly escaped the confines of the palace, sparking panic throughout the kingdom. Can the spell be reversed? Javier Bardem, Nicole Kidman, Jenifer Lewis, Tituss Burgess, and Nathan Lane are also in the movie, with original songs by composer Alan Menken.
Being a teenager is tough enough, but being 16 years old and over 6 feet tall is its own kind of torture. Just ask high-schooler Jodi (Ava Michelle). This coming-of-age movie explores all the adolescent sentiments: struggling to fit in with others at school, feeling like the odd one out at home, and having a big crush on the newest student. Whether you’re still in school or have long since graduated, the feel-good film is one everyone in the family can connect with: a reminder that you can face any challenge with your head held high.
In this animated film about what having a "rich" family really means, when a working-class college student in Shanghai, Din Song (Jimmy Wong), gets his hands on a magical teapot with a wish dragon, he must try to use his three wishes as wisely as he can. Might it be possible to rekindle a bond with a now-wealthy childhood friend, even though they live very different lives? John Cho voices the comical request-granting creature, Long, joined by a cast including Constance Wu, Jimmy O. Yang, and Ronny Chieng.
Here’s a game plan for what to do when you have, without a doubt, the most wretched mother and father ever: Collaborate with your siblings and hatch a plan to get rid of the parents you’ve got and go find the ones you want. Based on Lois Lowry’s book of the same name, the animated adaptation features Martin Short, Terry Crews, Alessia Cara, Jane Krakowski, Maya Rudolph, and Will Forte.
Additional reporting by Ashley Lee.
