New Family Movies in November 2026: Thanksgiving Weekend and Age Guide

November is the busiest family-movie month of the fall, and it is also the month when rating mix-ups are most likely: a Disney animated film, a Dr. Seuss adaptation and a Hunger Games prequel all land within three weeks, along with a darker Christmas Carol that is not aimed at children. This guide lists the November 2026 releases, the MPA rating where one has been published, and which ages each film suits. Dates and ratings were checked in early October 2026 and can change, so confirm with your theater or streaming app.

November 2026 at a glance

• Nov 6: The Cat in the Hat (theaters) — PG
• Nov 6: Drummer Boy (theaters, Angel Studios) — rating not confirmed
• Nov 13: Ebenezer (theaters, Paramount) — rating not confirmed
• Nov 14: Festive Fun with Peppa cinema experience (limited run)
• Nov 20: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (theaters) — PG-13
• Nov 20: Steps (Netflix)
• Nov 25: Hexed (theaters, Disney) — not yet rated
• Nov 25: Way of the Warrior Kid (Apple TV)
• Nov 25: Hershey (theaters, Angel Studios) — PG; Focker-in-Law (theaters) — PG-13

Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26. Two films you may have seen on earlier release calendars are not here: Narnia and Frozen 3 have both moved (details below).

Early November: Cat in the Hat and a few cautions

The Cat in the Hat (November 6). Warner Bros. Pictures Animation's first feature stars Bill Hader as the Cat, an agent sent to cheer up siblings Gabby and Sebastian after they move to a new town; if his stunts go too far, he could lose the stripes on his hat. Alessandro Carloni and Erica Rivinoja directed. It is listed as PG after appearing in the MPA's October 7 ratings bulletin, but the official rating reasons had not been confirmed when we checked, so we are not guessing at them. One useful caution: the 2003 live-action film with the same title was PG for mild crude humor and some double entendres, and Plugged In's fall preview hopes the new version sticks closer to the book. Preview the trailer with younger kids; our provisional call is ages 5 and up with a parent nearby. Read the Cat in the Hat parents' guide.

Drummer Boy (November 6). Angel Studios describes it as a Christmas musical set during the American Revolutionary War, with two brothers on opposite sides. No official MPA rating was confirmed when we checked, so wait for one before choosing it for younger children.

Ebenezer (November 13). Paramount's Johnny Depp take on A Christmas Carol is directed by Ti West, and coverage describes it as darker and horror-leaning, with Plugged In noting that the trailer suggests it is spookier than other versions. No rating had been published when we checked. Treat it as a holiday film that is not for kids until a rating says otherwise; our Halloween guide explains how to judge spooky fare.

Festive Fun with Peppa (November 14). A limited cinema event aimed at the youngest viewers: about an hour, built from seven classic festive Peppa Pig episodes plus four new songs, centered on Evie's first Christmas, per ticketing listings.

The November 20 weekend

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (PG-13). Lionsgate's prequel, based on Suzanne Collins's 2025 novel, follows teenage Haymitch Abernathy as he is reaped for the 50th Games. Reported PG-13 reasons are strong violence, bloody images, disturbing material, some smoking and teen drinking. The premise is young people forced to fight to death, so deaths of young characters should be expected. Common Sense Media rates the novel 13 and up. Our call is 14 and up, and a mature 13-year-old who has handled the earlier films could watch with a parent. It is not for children under 12. See the parents' guide.

Steps (Netflix, November 20). Netflix Animation Studios' Cinderella spin-off tells the story from the stepsisters' side: Lilith (voiced by Ali Wong) steals the Fairy Godmother's wand, accidentally turns her sister Margot into a frog, and has to team up with Cinderella (Amanda Seyfried) to fix the kingdom, with biker trolls and henchmen along the way. We could not find a published rating, so check the maturity label on Netflix before pressing play.

Thanksgiving week

Hexed (November 25). Walt Disney Animation Studios' original film follows Billie (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld), who discovers magical abilities after being expelled from school and is pulled into a witch realm called Hexe; her cautious mother Alice (Rashida Jones) joins the investigation of family secrets. It is officially not yet rated, and it will be preceded by the Lilo & Stitch short Lilo & Scratch. Plugged In's preview notes that the magic is more tied to witchcraft than is typical for Disney, which some families will want to weigh. Wait for the MPA rating and reasons, then see our Hexed parents' guide.

Hershey (Angel Studios, Thanksgiving week). The Milton Hershey biopic starring Finn Wittrock is rated PG by the MPA for some thematic elements and brief language, per Angel Studios; sources differ on whether it opens November 25 or 26. Parent guides describe the heavy parts as grief, money trouble and orphaned children rather than violence.

Way of the Warrior Kid (Apple TV, November 25). Based on Jocko Willink's novel and directed by McG, it stars Chris Pratt and follows a bullied middle schooler who spends a summer training with his Navy SEAL uncle. Earlier announcements said November 20; recent listings say November 25. We could not confirm a rating.

Focker-in-Law (November 25). The Meet the Parents sequel is reported as PG-13 for strong language and suggestive references. It is an adult comedy, not a family pick.

Moved to 2027: Narnia and Frozen 3

Narnia: The Magician's Nephew was once expected at Thanksgiving, but Netflix moved Greta Gerwig's film to IMAX previews on February 10, 2027, a wide theatrical release on February 12 and Netflix on April 2, 2027. See the Narnia guide. Frozen 3 is set for November 24, 2027, not this year; see the Frozen 3 page.

Thanksgiving weekend by age

• Under 6: Festive Fun with Peppa; The Cat in the Hat once you have previewed it.
• 6-8: The Cat in the Hat; Steps, once you check its Netflix rating.
• 9-12: Hexed after its rating is posted; Hershey; The Cat in the Hat.
• 13 and up: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (14 and up for most families).

Check the rating before you buy

The MPA publishes ratings in bulletins weeks before a film opens. The Cat in the Hat's was included on October 7, and Hexed was still unrated at the time of writing, so check filmratings.com again in the weeks before opening. When it appears, read the reason line, not just the letters. Our ratings explainer shows how, and is this movie too scary helps match a film to your child's age. If you missed it, October's family releases are covered too.

FAQ

What is the best family movie coming out in November 2026?
The Cat in the Hat (PG, November 6) and Hexed (Disney, November 25) are the two big family animated releases. Hexed had not been rated at the time of writing, so check its rating before taking younger kids.

Is The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping okay for a 12-year-old?
It is reported PG-13 for strong violence, bloody images and disturbing material, and the story centers on teenagers forced to fight to the death. We recommend 14 and up, and 12 is younger than we would suggest.

Is Narnia: The Magician's Nephew still coming out in November 2026?
No. Netflix moved it to IMAX previews on February 10, 2027, a wide theatrical release on February 12 and Netflix streaming on April 2, 2027.

Is Hexed okay for young kids?
Disney's Hexed was officially not yet rated at the time of writing. It is an animated fantasy about a teen who discovers she is a witch, and Plugged In notes the magic is more tied to witchcraft than usual for Disney.

Are there new Thanksgiving movies for toddlers?
The most obvious option is the limited-run Festive Fun with Peppa cinema experience on November 14, about an hour long and built from festive Peppa Pig episodes and new songs.