27 Family Movies about Gratitude and Thankfulness

From time to time, I revisit older posts to make sure they still reflect my values. With recent conversations about accountability in the entertainment industry, I’ve updated this list to focus on the messages in these films—not the people behind them. I don’t want to promote or elevate anyone whose actions don’t align with respect, gratitude, and basic decency.

Well, so I have to update this list of family movies about gratitude and thankfulness.

I believe we can appreciate meaningful stories without excusing harmful behavior from the people who made them. That belief is why I’ve updated this post. The movies here are about gratitude, growth, and resilience—and I want the focus to stay there, not on the personal conduct of anyone involved behind the scenes.

November is typically a thankful month. Some families express gratitude at Thanksgiving dinner, others cook at serve at community kitchens or donate to food cupboards.

I’m restarting my gratitude journal with my kids. I also have plans for us to help with distributing supplies to the homeless on Thanksgiving weekend.

Before the hustle and bustle of the holiday season begins, why not curl up with your family and a good movie or show? The following shows and movies are all about gratitude, giving back, being grateful, paying it forward.

Movies about Gratitude and Giving

All that warm and fuzzy stuff. Here are my picks for movies that teach gratitude, inspiration, appreciation, being thankful for what you have and more.

I’m sure I’ll be updating and adding to this list often. Feel free to email me your suggestions.

Inspirational Family Films

1. The Revolutionary Optimists-This is an incredibly inspiring movie about a group of children living in an impoverished community who band together to change their community. This is a really well put together film–I’ve watched it twice.
   
2. It’s a Wonderful Life-James Stewart-An angel helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would have been like if he never existed.
3. Forrest Gump-Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Sally Field-Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get. But whatever life gives you, take every opportunity and make the most of it. This title is on Netflix.
4. Mr. Holland’s Opus-Richard Dreyfuss-A frustrated composer finds fulfillment as a high school music teacher. The lesson of gratitude and sacrifice comes when he sacrifices his own career to help the kids.
5. It Could Happen to You-Nicholas Cage and Bridget Fonda-A police officer promises to share his lottery ticket with a waitress in lieu of a tip. If you appreciate and give to other people more than yourself, you will receive riches far beyond lottery winnings. Charlie and Yvonne find happiness by giving their money away, but when they lose it all, they find love for each other. This is available for streaming.
6. The Blind Side-Sandra Bullock-This film has also been widely discussed as an example often cited in conversations about representation and power dynamics. I’m leaving it on the list intentionally, as many people find value in revisiting it with a more critical lens.
7. The Pursuit of Happyness-A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he’s poised to begin a life-changing professional endeavor. Despite many obstacles, greatness can be achieved.
   
8. Freedom Writers-Hilary Swank-A young teacher inspires her class of struggling students to learn tolerance, apply themselves, and pursue education beyond high school.
9. Charlie Brown Thanksgiving-animated, always a classic!
10. Hidden Figures-Three brilliant women at NASA — Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) — serve as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn (Glen Powell) into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation’s confidence, turned around the Space Race and galvanized the world.
11. Moonlight-You must see this Oscar-winning film!
12. Patch Adams-Based on the true story of a misfit medical student whose unconventional approach to healing causes headaches for the medical establishment but works wonders for the patients.

I hope that you find these 12 movies as inspirational as I have. I still have a few more to watch but so far they are definitely classics.

Newer Gratitude Movies

I am updating this to add newer movies. This list is one of the oldest resources on my site…and a lot of movies have come out in the past 10-15 years!

Here are 15 movies from the past 10 years that feature themes of gratitude and being thankful:

1. Soul (2020) – This animated film from Pixar explores the meaning of life and finding joy in everyday moments, emphasizing gratitude for life’s simple pleasures.
2. The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019) – A heartwarming story about friendship and acceptance, with a focus on appreciating each other’s unique qualities.
3. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) – Inspired by Mister Rogers, this film highlights themes of forgiveness, understanding, and being grateful for the people in our lives.
4. Wonder (2017) – A story about a young boy with appearance differences attending school for the first time, teaching lessons of kindness, acceptance, and being thankful for diversity.
5. The Farewell (2019) – A touching family drama about love, gratitude, and cultural differences, where a family where a family withholds difficult medical news from their grandmother in an effort to protect her happiness.
6. Paddington 2 (2017) – A feel-good film about a bear who sees the good in everyone, reminding us to be thankful for kindness and community.
7. Coda (2021) – A coming-of-age story about a young girl who is the only hearing member of a Deaf family, highlighting gratitude for family bonds and the importance of communication.
8. The Intern (2015) – A comedy-drama about an older man becoming an intern at a start-up, emphasizing gratitude for mentorship, growth, and intergenerational friendships.
9. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse (2022) – An animated adaptation of a popular book, sharing a gentle message about friendship, gratitude, and finding your way home.
10. The Pursuit of Happyness (2016 re-release) – This biographical drama of a struggling father shows deep themes of gratitude, resilience, and the appreciation of life’s triumphs over challenges.
11. Encanto (2021) – A Disney animated film where a family blessed with magical gifts learns to appreciate one another for who they are, not just for their abilities.
12. Chef (2014) – A comedy-drama about a chef rediscovering his passion for cooking and life, underscoring gratitude for creativity, family, and second chances.
13. The Good Dinosaur (2015) – Another Pixar film where a young dinosaur learns to appreciate his family and the world around him after being separated from home.
14. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) – A story about an ordinary man who goes on an extraordinary adventure, learning to appreciate the present and the beauty in life’s little moments.
15. Little Women (2019) – A retelling of the classic story that explores themes of family, love, and gratitude, and the importance of cherishing each moment with loved ones.

These films span a range of genres and styles, but all carry strong messages about the importance of gratitude, appreciation, and finding value in life’s experiences.

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