Thanksgiving 2026 Movies for Kids and Teens: Which One?

By Abu Musa | Last updated: November 7, 2026

Six movies, six ratings. Here’s which one fits which age group this Thanksgiving week.

THE QUICK ANSWER

For Thanksgiving 2026, Hexed (PG) is our safest pick for most families, and The Cat in the Hat (PG) suits the youngest kids. Sunrise on the Reaping and Ebenezer are PG-13 teen picks, Focker-in-Law is PG-13 for older teens and adults, and Godzilla Minus Zero is R. Our age-by-age guide follows.

Key takeaways

• Best for mixed ages: Hexed, which opens Wednesday, November 25.
• Best for under 7: The Cat in the Hat, already in theaters.
• Best for teens: Sunrise on the Reaping (talk first) or Ebenezer.
• Adults only: Godzilla Minus Zero is R-rated. Focker-in-Law is PG-13 with a language warning.

In this guide

1. Pick by who’s on the couch
2. All six movies at a glance
3. If you can only pick one
4. Outside the US: dates and ratings
5. Tips for a Thanksgiving movie day
6. FAQ

Thanksgiving week is the one time a whole family wants the same outing, and this year the choices are all over the map. A PG animated adventure, three PG-13 films with very different reasons, and one R-rated monster movie are all in theaters at once.

Thanksgiving Day is November 26, and two big openers land the day before. So here’s the short version: who’s coming, and which film suits them.

A note on sources. Several of these films haven’t opened yet, so our picks come from official ratings, reported reasons and pre-release coverage. Where we’re giving opinion, we say so.

Which Thanksgiving 2026 movie fits your family?

Kids under 7: The Cat in the Hat

It’s rated PG for action, some peril, mild language and rude humor, and it’s the Dr. Seuss adaptation aimed at younger viewers. It’s been out since November 6. Our Cat in the Hat parents guide covers the toddler question.

Ages 7 to 12: Hexed

Disney’s witch adventure is listed as PG, with the reason reported as action and some rude humor. Early coverage mentions a villain queen and a mother-daughter separation, so it’s edgier than most Disney films. We see 7 to 12 as the sweet spot, and think twice under 5. The details are in our Hexed age rating guide.

Ages 13 to 15: Sunrise on the Reaping or Ebenezer

Sunrise on the Reaping is PG-13 for strong violence, bloody images, disturbing material, some smoking and teen drinking. We’d call it a teen film, with a conversation first. Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol is also PG-13, but its rating cites frightening material rather than violence, which is a different kind of intensity. Our Ebenezer parents guide has more. Not sure whether to catch up on the series first? Here’s how we’d order the Hunger Games movies.

Older teens and adults: Focker-in-Law

It’s PG-13 for strong language and suggestive references, per Movie Insider. That points to a comedy for older teens and grown-ups. The Fockers franchise started in 2000, so it’s also the most familiar name for older relatives. Our Focker-in-Law parents guide has age-by-age advice.

Adults only: Godzilla Minus Zero

It’s the first R-rated Godzilla film, citing violent content and bloody images, according to Dread Central. This isn’t a family pick. Our Godzilla Minus Zero release date and cast post has the background.

Our quick age picker for the Thanksgiving 2026 movie slate.

All six Thanksgiving 2026 movies at a glance

Movie	Rating and reason	US date	Best for
The Cat in the Hat	PG: action, some peril, mild language and rude humor	Nov 6	Under 7
Godzilla Minus Zero	R: violent content and bloody images	Nov 6	Adults
Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol	PG-13: frightening material	Nov 13	13 and up
Sunrise on the Reaping	PG-13: strong violence, bloody images, disturbing material, some smoking and teen drinking	Nov 20	13 and up, talk first
Hexed	PG: action and some rude humor (reported)	Nov 25	Ages 7 to 12, mixed groups
Focker-in-Law	PG-13: strong language and suggestive references	Nov 25	Older teens and adults

Ratings are as listed by The Numbers for The Cat in the Hat and Ebenezer, and by Lionsgate’s release notes for Sunrise. Hexed is listed as PG on Fandango, though Disney’s own page still showed “Not Yet Rated” when we checked. A few smaller adult releases also open that week, and we’re not covering them here.

If you can only pick one

CineDecode’s take (opinion): Hexed for families, Sunrise on the Reaping for teens, Focker-in-Law for grown-ups.

Hexed is the easiest group decision. It’s PG, it opens right before the holiday, and listings put it at roughly 99 to 109 minutes, which is short for a family film. Sunrise is the strongest pick if your household is mostly teens, but it runs reportedly about 2 hours 38 minutes and carries the heaviest rating line on the list. Focker-in-Law is the one to plan around the adults.

Mixed ages, one ticket? Hexed. Split groups, two screens? Hexed plus one PG-13 for the older kids.

Outside the US: dates and ratings

Release dates and classifications differ by country, so check your local listings before planning.

• Sunrise on the Reaping: reportedly opens in the UK on November 20 with a 12A. Treat that as reported until the BBFC listing confirms it.
• Focker-in-Law: reports say the international rollout starts November 26, with Australia among the first markets.
• Hexed: the UK date is reportedly November 27.
• Ebenezer: reported for US and UK theaters on November 13.

We haven’t verified Australian or Canadian classifications for these films yet.

Tips for a Thanksgiving movie day

1. Read the rating reason, not just PG or PG-13. The three PG-13 films here are PG-13 for very different things.
2. Expect crowds on the 25th. Hexed and Focker-in-Law both open the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, so opening-day showings may fill up.
3. Plan for length. Sunrise is reported at about 2 hours 38 minutes, Focker-in-Law at about 105 minutes, and Hexed listings vary.
4. Preview the trailer together if you’re unsure about a tween. It’s the fastest read on tone.
5. Keep a backup. If one film sells out, The Cat in the Hat and Ebenezer are already in theaters.

Planning more movie nights?

• Jumanji watch order before the next film
• Is Wildwood too dark for kids?
• Inside Out 2 parents guide and age rating
• Upcoming horror movies, November and December 2026

FAQ

What movies are in theaters for Thanksgiving 2026?

Hexed and Focker-in-Law open on November 25. Sunrise on the Reaping (November 20), Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol (November 13), The Cat in the Hat and Godzilla Minus Zero (both November 6) are still in theaters.

What’s the best Thanksgiving movie for young kids?

The Cat in the Hat suits kids under 7. Hexed works for ages 7 to 12, and we’d think twice under 5.

Is Hexed rated PG?

It’s listed as PG, with the reason reported as action and some rude humor. Disney’s own page still showed “Not Yet Rated” when we checked.

Is Focker-in-Law okay for kids?

It’s PG-13 for strong language and suggestive references. We’d point it at older teens and adults.

Is Sunrise on the Reaping okay for a 12-year-old?

PG-13 warns that some material may be inappropriate for under-13s, and this one’s reasons include strong violence and bloody images. We’d wait or preview the trailer first.

Are any of these movies R-rated?

Yes. Godzilla Minus Zero is rated R and isn’t a family pick.

What’s on your Thanksgiving movie list this year, and who gets the final vote?

Sources

• Box Office Pro: long-range forecast and release dates
• Fandango: Hexed listing
• Celebration Cinema: Hexed listing
• The Numbers: The Cat in the Hat rating
• The Numbers: Ebenezer rating
• BroadwayWorld: Sunrise on the Reaping rating and release
• Movie Insider: Focker-in-Law rating
• Dread Central: Godzilla Minus Zero R rating
• Drawpie: Sunrise on the Reaping UK date and rating report
• NetflixJunkie: Focker-in-Law international release
• Cineparenting: Ebenezer release and rating