The 17 Best Easter Movies to Watch on Easter Sunday
After your Easter egg hunt, grab some candy from your Easter basket and tune into one of these Easter movies.
You've finished your Easter egg hunt and opened your Easter baskets—now it's time to curl up on the couch and watch a movie. Of course, you know tons of Halloween and Christmas movies, but Easter movies are pretty great, too. From classics like Easter Parade to newer animated ones like Hop, these Easter movies will keep you entertained all afternoon. However you celebrate the holiday, there's a movie on this list to suit you and your family!
Easter Parade
You can't go wrong with this classic musical from 1948, starring Judy Garland and Fred Astaire. Easter Parade tells the story of a Broadway star, Don Hewes (Astaire), whose dance partner leaves him, so he decides to team up with the next dancer he meets, Hannah Brown (Garland). You'll definitely get the music stuck in your head, with songs like "Steppin' Out with My Baby," "We're a Couple of Swells," and, of course, "Easter Parade." It's one of the most well-known Easter movies for a reason!
Watch it on Amazon Prime.
The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town
Astaire is back at it again, narrating this 1977 animated classic, a spinoff of Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town. In The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town, a baby rabbit named Sunny is adopted by the town of Kidville, a community that is populated entirely by kids. But when Sunny goes to the neighboring town to deliver eggs, he discovers some big trouble.
Watch it on Amazon Prime.
Hop
This 2011 animated film is fun for the whole family. In Hop, Russell Brand voices E.B., the son of the Easter Bunny, voiced by Hugh Laurie. But E.B. would much rather play drums in a band than follow in his father's footprints as the Easter Bunny. So, E.B. runs away to Hollywood to pursue his dream and soon finds himself in a world of trouble. This one is perfect for all ages!
Watch it on Netflix.
It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown
Is any holiday complete without a Charlie Brown special? In 1974's It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown, the Peanuts gang is getting ready for Easter when Linus tries to convince everyone that the Easter Beagle will take care of everything. But, of course, the Easter Beagle is just Snoopy in disguise! There's nothing like the Peanuts to make the holiday feel complete.
Watch it on Amazon Prime.
Risen
This 2016 film takes on the historical side of Easter, starring Joseph Fiennes, Tom Felton, Peter Firth, and Cliff Curtis. Risen follows a Roman soldier tasked with finding Jesus's body after rumors of his resurrection surface. This intense movie will have you on the edge of your seat at every turn, but it's definitely one to watch after the kiddos take their post-Cadbury nap.
Watch it on Amazon Prime.
Peter Rabbit
The lovable James Corden voices Peter Rabbit in this 2018 animated film based on the books by Beatrix Potter. Peter Rabbit is centered on the mischievous eponymous creature with a penchant for causing trouble—and a particular appetite for stealing vegetables from Mr. McGregor's garden. But when he mistakenly leaves his jacket behind and goes back to retrieve it, McGregor suddenly dies. Naturally, Peter decides to take over his manor and you'll have to watch to see what happens next.
Watch it on Amazon Prime.
Pieces of Easter
If you've been missing those Hallmark Christmas movies, you'll love this 2013 flick. Pieces of Easter tells the story of an executive who hires a grizzled farmer to help her get her home together before she reunites with her estranged family for Easter. But as they encounter an onslaught of mishaps, the two start to see something in each other.
Watch it on Amazon Prime.
Here Comes Peter Cottontail
Here Comes Peter Cottontail is a classic Easter story, so it's obviously a must-watch. In this 2005 animated take, a bunny named Irontail loses out on the chance to become the Easter Bunny and plots his revenge. It's up to Peter Cottontail (voiced by Tom Kenny of SpongeBob SquarePants fame) and his friends to save Easter.
Buy it now on Amazon.
Steel Magnolias
This 1989 film starring Sally Field, Julia Roberts, and Dolly Parton may not be the first movie that comes to mind when thinking about "classic Easter movies." But the scene where Annelle (Daryl Hannah) goes into labor on Easter morning during an Easter egg hunt gives it a rightful place among the rest.
Watch it now on Amazon Prime.
The First Easter Rabbit
This 1976 animated movie puts an Easter twist on the story of The Velveteen Rabbit. In The First Easter Rabbit, a stuffed rabbit who was thrown away is rescued by a magical fairy, and then he becomes the first Easter Bunny. It's one of those classic Easter movies even kids today will love.
Buy it now on Amazon.
Zootopia
While Zootopia isn't strictly an Easter movie, it's definitely a good one to watch on Easter Sunday. In this 2016 Disney animated movie, rabbit Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) finally fulfills her dreams of becoming a police officer in the big city. However, she soon finds it's not all that she imagined. She ends up teaming up with a con artist fox, Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman), to take down a conspiracy and hopefully bring peace to the citizens of Zootopia.
Watch it now on Amazon Prime.
Rise of the Guardians
In this 2012 animated film, Jack Frost teams up with Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Sandman, and (you guessed it) the Easter Bunny to save the world from the evil villain Pitch Black. Rise of the Guardians has a killer voice cast, including Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman, Isla Fisher, and Jude Law. It's definitely one the whole family can enjoy.
Watch it now on Amazon Prime.
The Greatest Story Ever Told
Charlton Heston stars in this 1965 Oscar-winning film, chronicling the life of Jesus. The Greatest Story Ever Told is an epic classic, perfect for anyone looking to focus on the religious aspects of the Easter holiday.
Watch it now on Amazon Prime.
The Easter Egg Adventure
The Easter Egg Adventure, which was released in 2004, takes place in Egg Town, where the biggest day of the year is Egg Day, when all the Easter eggs are manufactured. But as the town prepares for the big day, a thief causes some serious mischief that could put everything in jeopardy. It's a fun whodunit for viewers of all ages!
Watch it now on Amazon Prime.
Hank and Mike
Hank and Mike is a 2008 screwball comedy that's perfect for the adults to watch after all the kiddie Easter fun is done. When the fictional corporation that owns all holidays decides to make some cutbacks, two Easter Bunnies find themselves out of a job, and their lives start to unravel. (Come to think of it, this one might be a little too real right now.)
Watch it now on Amazon Prime.
The Dog Who Saved Easter
Who can resist a good family movie about a dog, right? In 2014's The Dog Who Saved Easter—part of the Dog Who Saved Christmas franchise—the Bannister family goes on a cruise and leaves their dog, Zeus, at a doggy daycare. But when the daycare's rival tries to sabotage it, it's up to Zeus to save Easter.
Watch it now on Amazon Prime.
Easter Yeggs
This nostalgic Looney Tunes short was released in 1947, starring Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd. In the quick film, Bugs finds the Easter Bunny "crying" and is tricked into doing the Easter Bunny's job for him. If you can find a copy of this short, it's definitely worth a watch!
