Ten Thanksgiving Movies for Kids of All Ages

The fourth Thursday in November is Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. Watching movies is the perfect way to spend time with family and digest after a nice Thanksgiving feast. Many of these heart-filled, funny family films can be found on TV during the Pilgrim holiday. The following Thanksgiving videos for kids are just as enjoyable for adults.

10. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (Rated G) One of the most popular Thanksgiving movies is a short Peanuts classic, Emmy Award-winning, cartoon the whole family will enjoy. Charlie prepares Thanksgiving dinner for Peppermint Patty and friends, with Snoopy and Woodstock helping out in the kitchen. A bonus Thanksgiving movie for kids is available on the DVD - a short educational cartoon, The Mayflower Voyages.

9. Dennis the Menace(Rated PG) Dennis (Mason Gamble) is a holy terror, despite his good intentions, and is the perfect antagonist for Mr. Wilson (played wonderfully by Walter Matthau). Written and produced by John Hughes (writer/producer of Home Alone1-3).

An excellent Thanksgiving comedy, the action/comedy really starts when Dennis runs into of a bum who is burglarizing the town. The bum learns the hard way that although Dennis is a nice kid, he is a disaster looking for a place to happen.

8. The Little Rascals (1994) (Rated PG) A perfect Thanksgiving video for kids and adults. Starring Travis Tedford, Bug Hall, Brittany Ashton Holmes, Kevin Jamal Woods, Jordan Warkol.

When Spanky and the gang of He-Man Women-Haters find out that Alfalfa has been courting Darla, they have a trial and sentence him to forget about her and other girls forever. Meanwhile, their clubhouse burns down, the go-cart race is coming up and Spanky and Alfalfa dress like girls. This is a sweet, funny, feel-good family movie for all ages.

7. Dutch (Rated PG-13) Ed O'Neill (TV's Married with Children star) plays Dutch, a working class man that falls for Natalie (JoBeth Williams), the divorcee to a rich, snobby businessman.Dutch, motivated by wanting to marry Natalie and become closer with her son, Doyle (Ethan Embry), volunteers to go on a road trip to her son's private school and bring him home for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Dutch and Doyle are at odds from the moment they meet and are faced with many adversities during their trip - losing their car in a freak accident, hitching a ride with hookers, and spending a night in a homeless shelter. Dutch's incredible control in dealing with a spoiled brat leaves you cheering for him throughout this Thanksgiving film. An under-rated Thanksgiving movie kids and adults will get lots of laughs and life lessons from.

6. How to Eat Fried Worms (Rated PG) Most kids love gross and this Thanksgiving movie delivers it. A fifth grader encounters a bully and ends up accepting a dare that could tip the scales of power within the class. This family movie will give parents an added opportunity to discuss topics like bullies, friendship and fairness with their child.

5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid(Rated PG) Based on the #1, best-selling kid series, written by Jeff Kinney, it stars Zachary Gordon as Greg, Steve Zahn as Greg's dad and Rachael Harris as Greg's mom. Greg has a 'mean' older brother, Rodrick, a funny but 'annoying' little brother, Manny, and an 'embarrassing' best friend, Rowley.

The film covers Greg's first year of middle school. Other character favorites from the book series featured in this movie include Fregley, Chirag, and Patty Farrell. Although, it does have some crude language and humor, this comedy is a wonderful Thanksgiving movie selection for the whole family.

4. Where the Wild Things Are (Rated PG) From the picture book by Maurice Sendak. Written by Dave Eggers (Being John Malkovich), written and directed by Spike Jonze, produced by Tom Hanks, and starring a fabulous cast, comes one of the most beloved children's books of all time to the big screen. A nine-year old named Max, has an over-active imagination that leads him to a world of large wild beasts where he becomes king of the land of Wild Things. This animated film is one of the best Thanksgiving movies for the whole family because adolescents will relate to the plot of feeling misunderstood and it also reaffirms the notion that there is no place like home.

3. Nim's Island (Rated PG) Thanksgiving movies remind us to give thanks for what we have and this family film does just that. Nim (Abigail Breslin) is an independent adolescent that lives with her microbiologist father on a private island. Her imagination, love for Alex Rover books, and adventurous nature prevent her from becoming lonely. The drama begins when Nim's father goes missing and the reclusive Rover novelist (Jodie Foster) makes her way to Nim's Island.

2.It's a Wonderful Life (1946, no rating but I rate it PG) Directed by Frank Capra, Jimmy Stewart plays George Bailey, who wishes he'd never been born. An angel appears and takes George back in time to make him realize how important his life has been and what life would be like had he never been born. This movie is the best movie ever, the plot is perfect for a day of giving thanks, and it stars my favorite actor of all time.

1. Curly Sue (Rated PG) The #1 Thanksgiving videos for kids and families stars James Belushi, who perfectly plays the role of Bill Dancer, a scam artist with a young orphan side-kick, Curly Sue (Alisan Porter) that he has taken care of since her birth. The two scam attorney Grey Ellison (Kelly Lynch) for a hot dinner and a warm, cozy bed.

Curly Sue is adorable and quickly steals the heart and compassion of Grey. While Grey's stuffy fiancée tries to break the newfound bond with the homeless duo, Grey begins to fall deeper and takes the pair in. Dancer feels he has found a home for Sue and plans to take off but Sue has other plans. If you have never seen this film, you are missing out! It is one of the best heart-warming and funny family movies of all time that will stay with you for years to come.

Thanksgiving movies after a family and/or turkey feast are a popular tradition in the U.S. The movies for kids listed here are great comedy, family movies for Thanksgiving or anytime that adults can equally enjoy.

See also:

Top 10 TV Movies: Lifetime Original Movies by Ranee Wright

Best Christmas Movies for Kids and Adults by Ranee Wright