The turkey has been carved, the last slice of pumpkin pie is gone, and the tryptophan is starting to kick in. You find yourself on the couch, surrounded by family, feeling that perfect mix of contentment and culinary exhaustion. What’s next? While a nap is always a strong contender, there’s a better way to ride out the food coma: a Thanksgiving movie marathon.
Unlike its festive cousin, Christmas, Thanksgiving doesn’t have an entire genre dedicated to it. Instead, the best Thanksgiving films are a delightful hodgepodge of comedies, dramas, and animated classics that capture the holiday’s true spirit. They explore the messy, beautiful, and often hilarious realities of family, the gratitude we find in unexpected places, and the epic journeys—both literal and emotional—we take to be with the ones we love.
So, grab a blanket and a plate of leftovers. Here are the top 10 movies that perfectly complement the chaos and warmth of Thanksgiving.
1. Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
Let’s start with the undisputed champion of Thanksgiving cinema. If you could only watch one movie for the holiday, this would be it. John Hughes’ masterpiece stars Steve Martin as Neal Page, an uptight advertising executive desperate to get home to his family in Chicago for Thanksgiving. His plans are spectacularly derailed when he’s forced to team up with Del Griffith (the late, great John Candy), an oafish yet eternally optimistic shower curtain ring salesman.
What follows is one of the most disastrous and hilarious road trips in movie history. From a rental car that becomes a burnt-out shell to a shared motel bed that’s far too cozy for comfort, every scene is a masterclass in comedic timing. Yet, beneath the slapstick lies a deep well of heart. The film is a poignant reminder that gratitude isn’t just about being thankful for what you have, but also for the unexpected connections you make along the way. It’s a story about empathy, friendship, and realizing that sometimes the journey itself is the destination. Fun fact: the film’s iconic “those aren’t pillows” scene was largely improvised by Martin and Candy, a testament to their incredible chemistry.
2. Home for the Holidays (1995)
For a brutally honest and painfully funny look at family dysfunction, look no further than Jodie Foster’s directorial gem. Holly Hunter plays Claudia Larson, a single mom who, after losing her job and making out with her boss, must fly home to face her chaotic family for Thanksgiving. Her relatives are a perfectly curated collection of personalities we all recognize: the dramatic sister, the quirky brother, the eccentric aunt, and the parents just trying to hold it all together.
The film perfectly captures the feeling of reverting to your childhood self the moment you step through your parents’ door. It’s a whirlwind of passive-aggressive comments, long-held resentments, and moments of genuine, undeniable love. The infamous turkey dinner scene, where the bird lands in someone’s lap, is a spectacular climax of chaos that feels all too real. It’s a movie that says, “Your family might drive you crazy, but they’re still your family.”
3. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)
Sometimes, the simplest stories are the most profound. This Emmy-winning animated special is a staple of the holiday for a reason. Good ol’ Charlie Brown finds himself in a classic predicament when Peppermint Patty invites herself—and all their friends—over for Thanksgiving dinner. The problem? He can’t cook and is supposed to be at his grandmother’s house.
With the help of Snoopy and Woodstock, he whips up an unconventional feast of buttered toast, popcorn, pretzels, and jelly beans. The special gently teaches lessons about friendship, inclusion, and the true meaning of thankfulness. It’s not about having a perfect, magazine-worthy meal. It’s about being together. Linus’s speech about the first Thanksgiving reminds everyone of the holiday’s historical roots, adding a touch of sincerity to the charmingly simple story.
4. Addams Family Values (1993)
While not entirely a Thanksgiving movie, it contains what is arguably the most memorable Thanksgiving scene ever filmed. Wednesday and Pugsley Addams are sent to a sickeningly cheerful summer camp, Camp Chippewa. The film culminates in a Thanksgiving pageant meant to celebrate harmony between the pilgrims and Native Americans.
Wednesday, cast as Pocahontas, goes gloriously off-script. She delivers a blistering monologue about the historical injustices faced by indigenous peoples before leading the “outcast” campers in a fiery rebellion that burns the camp to the ground. It’s a darkly comedic, subversive, and brilliant takedown of sanitized history. For anyone who has ever felt like an outsider during forced holiday cheer, Wednesday’s vengeful performance is a moment of pure, cathartic joy.
5. Pieces of April (2003)
This indie darling, shot on a low-budget digital camera, feels raw, intimate, and incredibly real. Katie Holmes stars as April Burns, a punk-rock misfit living in a tiny New York City apartment. In an attempt to reconnect with her estranged suburban family, she invites them over for Thanksgiving dinner. Her mother, Joy (Patricia Clarkson, in an Oscar-nominated role), is dying of cancer, making this potentially their last holiday together.
The film follows two parallel stories: April’s frantic and often comical struggle to cook a turkey in a broken oven, and her family’s reluctant road trip into the city. It’s a quirky, moving, and ultimately uplifting story about forgiveness, second chances, and the imperfect, messy ways families show their love.
6. Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
Woody Allen’s critically acclaimed film uses three consecutive Thanksgiving dinners as a narrative framework to explore the tangled lives and loves of three sisters and their circle of friends in New York City. The film opens and closes with a Thanksgiving feast, showing how much can change—and how much stays the same—over the course of two years.
Starring Mia Farrow, Barbara Hershey, and Dianne Wiest (who won an Oscar for her role), the movie is a complex tapestry of infidelity, existential crises, and sibling rivalry. Yet, it’s also filled with warmth, humor, and a deep affection for its flawed characters. The Thanksgiving gatherings act as emotional anchors, moments where the entire sprawling cast is forced into the same room to confront their secrets and dependencies.
7. The Ice Storm (1997)
Set during Thanksgiving weekend in 1973, Ang Lee’s somber drama dissects the quiet desperation of two dysfunctional suburban families in Connecticut. As a freak ice storm approaches, the simmering tensions of adultery, teenage angst, and emotional emptiness come to a head. The film stars Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Sigourney Weaver, and a young Tobey Maguire and Christina Ricci.
This is not a feel-good holiday movie. It’s a chilling, beautifully crafted portrait of a specific time and place where social conventions were breaking down. The Thanksgiving dinner scenes are fraught with unspoken resentments. The Ice Storm uses the holiday setting to explore themes of disconnection and moral decay, making it a powerful, thought-provoking, and ultimately haunting watch.
8. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Yes, it’s a Christmas movie. But where does the story begin? With the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! The film’s opening scenes, featuring the real 1946 parade, are a wonderful time capsule. The plot kicks off when the man hired to play Santa Claus in the parade shows up intoxicated, and a kind, white-bearded gentleman named Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) is hired to take his place.
Watching Miracle on 34th Street on Thanksgiving Day feels like the perfect transition from one holiday to the next. It bridges the gap between the gratitude of November and the magic of December, making it an essential part of any holiday movie marathon.
9. The Blind Side (2009)
Based on a powerful true story, The Blind Side is a film overflowing with the themes of family, compassion, and gratitude. Sandra Bullock won an Oscar for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy, a wealthy interior designer who takes in Michael Oher, a homeless teenager.
The pivotal Thanksgiving scene is heart-wrenching and uplifting. As the Tuohy family sits down for their meal, they see Michael eating alone on the bleachers. Without a second thought, Leigh Anne brings him into their home and gives him a place at their table, a moment that forever changes all their lives. It’s a powerful depiction of what it truly means to give thanks by opening your heart and your home to someone in need.
10. The Last Waltz (1978)
For the music lover, there is no better Thanksgiving film. Directed by Martin Scorsese, this legendary documentary captures the final concert of The Band, which took place on Thanksgiving Day, 1976, at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. Before the show, the audience was served a full turkey dinner.
The film is more than just a concert movie; it’s a celebration of an era. The Band is joined on stage by a staggering lineup of rock royalty, including Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, and Joni Mitchell. Interspersed with the electrifying performances are candid interviews with the band members, reflecting on their years on the road. It’s a joyous, elegiac, and spectacular farewell that captures the communal spirit of both a rock show and a holiday gathering.
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