20 Of The Best Easter Movies To Enjoy With A Bucket Of Jelly Beans

It’s the day before Easter and there aren’t enough Easter eggs or dye, and time is running out for the Easter Bunny! But two brothers might just have the solution: what if all the kids in the world colored their own Easter eggs? Why that’s just crazy enough to work! This 1983 musical TV special features some very ‘80s — non-Muppet — puppets, and is was created by Paul Fusco, who created, wrote and performed the character of “Alf” (aka the King of ‘80s Non-Muppet Puppets... young people, ask your elders).

Rent An Easter Story, rated ALL, for $2.99 on Amazon Prime Video.

Mario Lopez lends his voice to a crafty dog named Zeus who jumps in to save the day when criminals try to sabotage a doggy daycare on Easter. This is the fifth in a series of holiday movies about Zeus, a cheerful and heroic golden retriever who has a knack for foiling the machinations of the bumbling villains he just keeps running into. You may be asking “OK, there’s a talking dog, but is there jokes about dog poop?” The answer, of course, is yes. There’s plenty of “rude humor” and slapstick for all your post-Easter dinner needs. You’ll also get to see plenty of cute kids, adorable animals, lively spring scenes, and happily ever afters.

Rent The Dog Who Saved Easter, rated PG, for $3.99 on Amazon Prime.

It’s Easter and Dora and her monkey pal Boots are waiting for a special new friend: the Hip-Hop Bunny! He’s going to bring his basket full of colorful huevos (that means “eggs” in Spanish!) and all sorts of golosinas deliciosas (that means “delicious treats” in Spanish!)! But oh no! Swiper has gone and swiped them (who could have seen this coming?!) and has launched them all the way into the far off Rainbow Garden. Now it’s up to Dora and Boots to rescue the basket of goodies before it goes over a waterfall and save the day!

Watch Dora’s Easter Adventure on Paramount+.

The children of Kidville — a small town inhabited and managed by orphaned children — live happily in the shadow of Big Rock Mountain, even though grumpy Gadzooks the Bear spoils their fun sometimes (Gadzooks hates the holidays). One Easter morning they find a baby bunny — an orphan, just like them — and name him Sunny. As he grows up, Sunny decides he can help his town by selling eggs (laid by the friendly chicken Hendrew Sisters)... and you can imagine the turn of events that takes place...

Rent The Easter Bunny Is Comin’ To Town, rated TV-G, on Amazon Prime for $3.99.

When the wicked villain (brilliantly and hilariously named “Bad Clyde”) casts an evil spell to banish the Benny the Easter Bunny to the dreaded Land of the Holiday Misfits, it’s up to Santa Claus himself (with the help of his trusty sidekick Gargaff the Reindeer, naturally) to save the day. This epic, multi-dimensional journey takes viewers to the North Pole and beyond in a grand adventure to save Benny... and Easter for children all around the world! (It’s also the perfect way for people who really just wish every single holiday were Christmas to get their merry on.)

Watch Easter Land, rated G, on Tubi.

In this beloved holiday classic, Broadway star Don Hewes' dancing partner Nadine has accepted an offer to go solo. Don decides he can make a star dancer of anyone... and that anyone turns out to be Hannah. Though initially skeptical, Hannah agrees, and it isn’t long before Don falls head over tapping heels with her. Not only that, he realizes that Hannah can never be Nadine: but if given the chance, she can grow into her own kind of magical dancer. Starring Hollywood royalty like Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, Peter Lawford, and Ann Miller, this is a great way to introduce your kids to wonderful old-timey musicals.

Rent Easter Parade for $#.99 on YouTube Movies.

Charlie Bucket is a poor boy who happens upon an amazing opportunity... or should we say golden opportunity? When he discovers that he is one of only five winners of golden tickets, he and his Grandpa Joe are offered the chance visit the mysterious Willy Wonka’s magical chocolate factory!

Though not explicitly an Easter movie, Willy Wonka has been synonymous with the holiday since it came out in 1971, and with good reason: the candy wonderland within the chocolate factory has got the Easter aesthetic down, snozberries and all!

Stream Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, rated G, on Max.

This classic epic tells the story of the life of Jesus of Nazareth, from his birth in Bethlehem and flight to Egypt to escape execution to his baptism by his cousin John and betrayal by Judas, all culminating in his crucifixion and resurrection. Chances are you if you grew up going to Sunday school you’ve seen at least part of this but, just as a heads up, it’s quite long – 260 minutes, to be exact — so you might want to take it in pieces. (Might we suggest watching from Good Friday to Easter Sunday?)

Watch The Greatest Story Ever Told, rated G, on Amazon Prime Video.

This Easter special is full of the kind of cottagecore woodland whimsy that appeals to children and parents alike. Guess How Much I Love You is based on the best-selling children’s book and features Little Nutbrown Hare and friends. One night, under a bright moon, Little Nutbrown sees a pure white fawn prancing through the meadow. But when he tells his friends, they all think he’s making it up. Determined to prove that the fawn is real, the friends go on a journey to find it.

Watch Guess How Much I Love You: An Enchanting Easter, rated G, on Peacock.

In addition to being home to megalithic Moai statues, Easter Island is the primary residence of the Easter Bunny (come on, where else was he going to live?) and his massive, subterranean candy factory (how else is he going to get all that candy for children around the world)? But he's getting ready to retire and pass the torch to his son, E.B. But E.B. isn't especially interested in the gig and runs to Los Angeles to be a drummer! There he meets unemployed slacker Fred O'Hare. Feigning injury, E.B. tricks Fred into giving him shelter... that is until he learned that an oversized chick is planning an overthrow of his dad!

Watch Hop, rated PG, on Peacock.

This 2016 special, featuring most of the original cast of the films, takes place just after the events of the fourth Ice Age film. Manny and his crew get ready for Easter, and busy, somewhat flustered mother Ethel entrusts her precious egg (just about ready to hatch!) to Sid, who has started a new egg-sitting service. But when ex-pirate bunny Squint steals and hides all of the almost-hatchlings, it’s up to Manny, Diego and the gang come to save the day.

(We’re not sure how Easter, a holiday established around 33 CE is celebrated in the Ice Age, which lasted from about 11,000 BCE but we’ll roll with it.)

Watch Ice Age: The Great Egg-scapade, rated TV-G, on Disney+.

It’s Easter, and Linus is trying to convince the Peanuts gang not to bother themselves with preparations. There’s no point! Don’t they know? The Easter Beagle will take care of everything thing if they just believe. As usually happens with Linus’ strange holiday ideas, only Sally is on board (even if their non-encounter with The Great Pumpkin has left her a bit leery). Still, no one else — Charlie Brown, Lucy, Schroeder, Peppermint Patty, Marcie, and more — is willing to take chances and keep busy dying eggs and getting ready for the holiday...

Watch It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown, unrated, on Apple TV+.

The bunnies of the meadow are getting ready for their favorite time of year: the Bunny Picnic! Bean Bunny wants to help, but his siblings (and everyone else) keep telling him he’s too little, he’ll only get in the way. When Bean encounters a dog — something no one has seen in the meadow for years — no one believes him at first. But when the community discovers the threat is real, it might just be the smallest bunny who saves the day.

This 1986 special comes from Jim Henson Company, and is a little known favorite among Muppet fans.

Watch The Tale of the Bunny Picnic, rated G, on YouTube.

This 2011 film tells the story of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection from the point of view of barn animals. The protagonist is a lamb named Judah, who knows he is bound to the temple to be sacrificed (which was a an accepted and required religious practice within Judaism at the time). But his friends, who live with him in a stable in Bethlehem, embark on a journey to help save their friend, which just so happens to parallel the Easter story.

The Lion of Judah is the sequel to the Christmas short Once Upon A Stable, in which the animals witness the birth of baby Jesus in the manger.

Watch The Lion of Judah, rated PG, on Amazon Prime Video.

The Easter story has never rocked this hard. This classic Andrew Lloyd Weber rock opera, which began its life as a concept album, is based on the Gospel according to John, and tells the story of the last (mortal) days of Jesus of Nazareth from just before he arrives to Jerusalem until just after his crucifixion. The story is centered on the loving but fraught relationship between Jesus and Judas, the apostle who will ultimately betray him to the authorities (and, hands down, has all the best songs — “Heaven on Their Minds” is a bop).

Watch Jesus Christ Super Star, rated 13+, on Peacock.

Did you know that Easter is closely connected with the Jewish holiday of Passover? This animated musical tells that story, of how Moses, born an enslaved Hebrew in Egypt, came to be raised in Pharaoh’s palace, and how a higher calling led him to go against the might of a king, his own beloved brother, to liberate his people from slavery. Is it an exact retelling? No, there are lots of changes from the Book of Exodus. But it’s really good and the soundtrack (we cannot stress this enough) absolutely slaps.

Watch The Prince of Egypt, rated PG, on Peacock.

For generations, immortal Guardians like Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy have protected the children of the world from darkness and despair. But when an evil boogeyman named Pitch Black plots to overthrow the Guardians by obliterating children's belief in them, it's up to a sprite named Jack Frost to save the Guardians – and the world – from destruction. The star-studded cast includes the voice talents of Chris Pine, Hugh Jackman, Isla Fisher, Jude Law, and Alec Baldwin. While not explicitly an Easter movie, we think any movie that features the Easter Bunny absolutely counts.

Rent Rise of the Guardians, rated PG, on Amazon Prime Video.

It's been a long time since Ebenezer Nezzer went to church, so Reverend Gilbert and his son Edmond go visit him at his factory (complete with mechanical chickens laying plastic Easter eggs). Nezzer is mean and grumpy and won't even let his workers have the day off. Not only that, he plans to tear down the local church so he can build "Easterland"... that is until the spirit of his grandma appears to him to remind him of the true meaning behind the holiday. (Being Veggie Tales the answer is, of course, Jesus and his promise of salvation.)

Watch Veggie Tales: An Easter Carol, rated All, on PureFlix or Amazon Prime Video.

Easter is coming to Crisper County and reporter Marlee Meade is trying to find a way to help others this season. When she learns that the old town theater is going to close for good, Marlee makes a plan to save the theater... with theater! The musical “Up With Bunnies” — featuring a 20-foot robot rabbit — is hatched! But when she learns that singing sensation Cassie Cassava is going to be in town to perform at her church’s Easter service, Marlee becomes concerned that the competition will put an end to her show and the theater. But all's well that ends well as Marlee eventually discovers the true meaning of the holiday.

Watch Veggie Tales: ‘Twas The Night Before Easter, rated ALL, on PureFlix and Amazon Prime Video.

It's Springtime in the Hundred Acre Wood and Roo, Tigger, Pooh, Piglet and Eeyore are off to Rabbit's house to celebrate Easter (because, come on: of course the rabbit hosts Easter). But instead of eggs and baskets full of sweets, they find fussy old Rabbit has organized a "Spring Cleaning" Day instead. And when his friends deviate from his tidying plans, he becomes angry and decides never to have another Easter ever again. But why? Rabbit used to love being "The Easter Bunny!" It's up to his friends (and the Narrator) to remind him what he's missing out on...

Watch Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo, rated G, on Disney+.