6 Best County Fair and State Fair Movies

By Vlad Zakh · March 26, 2026

The county and state fair, with its rides, competitions, and prize livestock, has long offered filmmakers a nostalgic slice of American small-town life. In Sounder (1972): A Black sharecropping family struggles to survive after the father is imprisoned for stealing food. Just as strong is Cars (2006): A hotshot rookie race car learns humility and friendship after getting stranded in a small town.

We Bought a Zoo (2011)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A grieving father moves his family to the countryside to restore and reopen a struggling zoo.

Directed by Cameron Crowe · 2h 04m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, FXNow · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Cars (2006)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A hotshot rookie race car learns humility and friendship after getting stranded in a small town.

Directed by John Lasseter · 1h 57m · Rated G

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Sounder (1972)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A Black sharecropping family struggles to survive after the father is imprisoned for stealing food.

Directed by Martin Ritt · 1h 45m · Rated G

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, Brew, Fandor, UP Faith & Family Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Charlotte's Web (1973)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A clever spider works to save a beloved pig from slaughter by spinning miraculous words into her web.

Directed by Iwao Takamoto & Charles August Nichols · 1h 34m · Rated G

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

State Fair (1962)

TMDB ★ 5.9

A farm family's trip to the state fair brings unexpected romance and adventure to each of its members.

Directed by José Ferrer · 2h 00m

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

State Fair (1945)

IMDb ★ 7.0 RT 83%

A farm family's trip to the state fair brings unexpected romance and adventure to each of its members.

Directed by Walter Lang · 1h 40m · Rated NR

Won 1 Oscar4 wins & 4 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best County Fair and State Fair Movies

We Bought a Zoo (2011)

Cars (2006)

Sounder (1972)

Charlotte's Web (1973)

State Fair (1962)

State Fair (1945)

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