Thanksgiving Movies for Spanish Class

Inside: Thanksgiving Movies in Spanish class. Spanish class movies for El Día de Acción de Gracias. Spanish films that focus on themes related to Thanksgiving including Indigenous Peoples, family, sharing food, gathering together, and feeling gratitude. Thanksgiving movies for students in Spanish class.

Author: Allison Wienhold

Published: October 29, 2024

Thanksgiving Movies in Spanish Class from Mis Clases Locas

Movies in Spanish Class

If you are a long-time Mis Clases Locas reader, you know I love sharing culture-rich movies for Spanish class. In particular, I enjoy posting about appropriate films that can be used in all levels of Spanish class Read more >> 15 Appropriate Movies for Spanish class

This is the time many people are searching for Thanksgiving movies for students. I know it can be a lot to wade through long lists, so in this post, I will keep it to 5 movies to watch for Thanksgiving in Spanish class. They also work for Thanksgiving movies for families in Spanish. If you need a shorter film, check out the Top 7 Short Spanish Movies on Disney+. 

Spanish Class Movies for other popular themes

5 movies for Thanksgiving in Spanish class

These films focus on themes related to Thanksgiving. Indigenous peoples, family, sharing food, gathering together, and feeling gratitude.

Thanksgiving Movies in Spanish Class from Mis Clases Locas

McFarland USA (2015)

PG, 2015, 2h 9m, Disney+, based on a true story, Sport/Drama

McFarland USA is a wonderful Disney movie that is perfect for Spanish class. Set in a small southern California town, it tells the story of a high school cross-country team composed of mostly Latino students who overcome significant obstacles. McFarland USA can be found on Disney Plus.

I have used the PG movie McFarland USA for years in my Spanish classes. McFarland USA has many themes for any Spanish Class – family, Mexican-American identity, sports, quinceñeras & migrant farming. It is based on a real story and is a perfect positive film for Thanksgiving. You could tie in where the food at your Thanksgiving table comes from in regards to migrant farming as well.

Thanksgiving Movies in Spanish Class from Mis Clases Locas

The Casagrandes Movie (2024)

PG, 2024, 1h 25m, Netflix film, animated, fantasy/comedy, Mexico

The newest film on this list is The Casagrandes Movie. This new 2024 Netflix film follows the family from the Nickelodeon show with the same name. While not a traditional Spanish Thanksgiving movie, it shows a large multigenerational Mexican-American family gathering and traveling together. The Casagrandes also have a large tie-in with the Indigenous peoples of Mexico.

The extended Casagrande family travels to Mexico to visit Great Grandma for the summer. The Latinx creator and actors make The Casagrandes enjoyable and not stereotypical. There is a ton of Spanish in this entertaining and funny adventure with a lot of culture of Mexico and Indigenous peoples. If you are looking for Thanksgiving movies for students on Netflix, The Casagrande works well for around Thanksgiving in Spanish class.

The Casagrandes Movie in Spanish Class from Mis Clases Locas

Pachamama (2018)

PG, 2018, 72m, Netflix film, animated, family/adventure, Peru

The beautiful animated movie Pachamama is great for focusing on Indigenous Peoples. It has themes for giving thanks to Mother Earth and the traditional crops.

Pachamama is found on Netflix. It is one of the shorter films on the list at only 72 minutes. The PG animated film Pachamama is very appropriate, with positive messages for all ages. The film Pachamama is originally in English, but you can change the language if you prefer to use it in Spanish. 

Pachamama goes great with the themes of indigenous cultures of South America and the environment. While the movie is animated, it is a little slower-paced and with a couple of scary elements.

Thanksgiving Movies in Spanish Class from Mis Clases Locas

Encanto (2021)

PG, 2021, 1h 42m, Disney+, animated, family/fantasy, Colombia

Next is a film you might not have originally thought of for Thanksgiving in Spanish class, Encanto. This film can be found on Disney Plus and is centered around a multigenerational family in Colombia.

In Encanto, the family regularly gathers around a giant table to enjoy meals together. You could discuss and compare the traditional foods of Colombia and what families in class eat at Thanksgiving. Finally, the characters are intentionally diverse, to show the cultural and ethnic diversity present in Colombia.

Thanksgiving Movies in Spanish Class from Mis Clases Locas

Encanto Character Introduction Bonuses & #Authre Culture Slides

The Encanto bonuses will be emailed to you after you sign up. It will be a force-copy Google link, so you might need to use a non-school Gmail to make a copy.

El Día de Acción de Gracias de Charlie Brown

G, 1973, 25 min, Apple TV+, animated

If you want something specifically about Thanksgiving, you could always use A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. No, El Día de Acción de Gracias de Charlie Brown is not full of culture or directly related to Spanish class. But, it is only 25 minutes and you could watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving in Spanish. You could also discuss and write about El Día de Acción de Gracias de Charlie Brown in Spanish. It is an easy last-day-before-break option.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is perfect if you are looking for short Thanksgiving movies for students.

Watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving in Spanish or English with Apple TV+. There is a 7-day free trial of AppleTV+. This includes the film with both Spanish or English Audio & Spanish or English subtitles.

At one point El Día de Acción de Gracias de Charlie Brown was available in Spanish on DVD, but it looks hard to find now. You can always check at your local public library or school library to see if they have A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving with Spanish audio.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Movie in Spanish Class from Mis Clases Locas

El Día de Acción de Gracias de Charlie Brown 1 day lesson plan idea.

  • PQA & discuss family & Thanksgiving traditions of those in class
  • Introduce the classic characters of Charlie Brown in Spanish
  • Watch El Día de Acción de Gracias de Charlie Brown
  • Write & or Discuss the film & connections to your life in Spanish
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Movie in Spanish Class from Mis Clases Locas

Spanish Thanksgiving Movies – What audio, subtitles & guide should I use?

Most Netflix or Disney Plus films have both Spanish and English audio & subtitle options. Always double-check audio and subtitle availability before purchasing films online.

Here is how I typically used the movies above in my Spanish classes. Please do whatever works best for you and your students to meet them where they are

  • Upper-level Spanish – Spanish audio with Spanish subtitles. Spanish version of the guide.
    • (pre-teaching and pausing to discuss and check for comprehension)
  • Spanish 2 – Spanish audio. English version of the guide to check for comprehension.
    • (English subtitles if with a sub or very early in the year, Spanish subtitles if watching with me pre-teaching and pausing to discuss)
  • Spanish 1 – Spanish audio with English subtitles. English version of the guide.
  • Exploratory – English audio with English subtitles. English version of the guide.
    • (Using as a tool to discuss culture & other themes).

Thanksgiving Movie Alternatives

If you need an alternative to the films above.

More Thanksgiving Resources for Spanish Class

To expand into a deeper exploration of Thanksgiving in Spanish class see below.

These are just a few of my favorite movies for Spanish class around Thanksgiving and beyond. Do you have any other recommendations? Please share them with us in the comments below!

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