The fact that so many movies exist around the holidays nearly cements the fact that we crave certain norms. With the current state of the world changing the way we look at just about everything, it's not surprising that it's effecting how we think, how we plan, and how we deal with both cinema and the Thanksgiving holiday.
Thanksgiving dinners and gatherings are bound to be ideological minefields this year, thanks to everything from Gaza and elections to artificial intelligence and civil rights. Instead of delving into the complications of these issues, sometimes people can bond better by simply watching something together, be it Thanksgiving Day football or, in our case, a great holiday film.
The really interesting thing about Thanksgiving movies is that many of the classics aren't even straight-up Thanksgiving movies per se. Most of the time there's really just one or two incredible scenes that are so strong, they spread the Thanksgiving cheer all throughout the film. So, with the world in a shape most of the people reading this have never experienced, and Thanksgiving having more curveballs than an MLB game, take solace in the fact that we have 30 films which are bound to make you feel a whole lot better, no matter where, how, or who you watch them with.
The qualifications for how a title is included in this list of Thanksgiving films are as follows:
- The overall quality of the film.
- The explicit relation the film has with the Thanksgiving holiday.
- The rewatchable quality that allows the film to become a holiday tradition.
30 Funny People (2009)
- Release Date
- July 30, 2009
- Runtime
- 136
Funny People is a quiet dramedy starring Adam Sandler that hits you like a punch in the gut if you can pay attention to the whole thing. The movie sees Sandler as a comedian who is diagnosed with a terminal illness and given about a year to leave. He befriends another comedian, played by Seth Rogen, and the two of them form a very interesting friendship/business relationship. Again, you might be wondering, "Yeah, that sounds great, but where the heck is Thanksgiving?" Check out the video and the rest of the entry below.
Hides Pathos Behind the Comedy
Funny People has a Thanksgiving scene that takes this comedic film and turns it on its ear (see above). Sandler's character, George, gives a toast that underlines how important it is to appreciate all the time we get to spend with the people we care about. This changes the tenor of the film which, given its main plot points, was probably headed for a major change anyway. While one of the least Thanksgiving-related films on this list, Funny People ends up having the last laugh with its unique look at how people act around the holidays.
29 Rocky (1976)
Rocky Balboa is a struggling boxer trying to make the big time. Working in a meat factory in Philadelphia for a pittance, he also earns extra cash as a debt collector. When heavyweight champion Apollo Creed visits Philadelphia, his managers want to set up an exhibition match between Creed and a struggling boxer, touting the fight as a chance for a "nobody" to become a "somebody". The match is supposed to be easily won by Creed, but someone forgot to tell Rocky, who sees this as his only shot at the big time.
- Release Date
- November 21, 1976
- Runtime
- 1h 59m
Alright, Rocky is a prime example of a Thanksgiving film that isn't a Thanksgiving film. In fact, the Thanksgiving scene in this film doesn't end up in much of a sit down. It does culminate with the turkey being thrown out the window, however. Rocky is an iconic American story about a down-on-his-luck prizefighter who gets a title shot and gives the champion the fight of his life.
Iconic Underdog Story
In the case of Rocky, Thanksgiving is used to flesh out the cultural and psychological specificities of the characters. Rocky is very much about a man learning what he's actually grateful for, which very much relates to Thanksgiving. By the end of the film, it's no longer about winning a fight for Rocky, but recognizing the people in his life who love him and care for him. Watch on Max or Prime Video, and rent on any digital platform.
28 Son in Law (1993)
Son in Law
- Release Date
- July 2, 1993
- Runtime
- 95 min
Son in Law is obviously a much worse film than Rocky, but it's also much more involved with Thanksgiving, which puts it at the edge of this list. It's a pretty clever premise that could've gone many ways, but once you realize that Pauly Shore is the lead actor, you pretty much know what to expect here in this '90s comedy. In the film, a college student (played by a young but already wonderful Carla Gugino) invites her RA (Shore) back home to her South Dakota farm. One thing leads to another and Shore is pretending to be Gugino's fiancé.
Predictable Fish-Out-Of-Water Premise
What Son in Law is very good at is mimicking the awkwardness and confusion of an extended family's Thanksgiving dinner, especially if you're a college student returning home. You may have changed quite a bit during college, and your family will have no idea. The clash of personalities and mindsets are funny and realistic in many ways, and the food looks delicious. Rent or buy on Prime Video or other digital platforms.
27 One True Thing (1998)
One True Thing
- Release Date
- September 18, 1998
One True Thing is a poignant family drama that follows a daughter’s journey to unravel her mother’s complex life. It follows Ellen Gulden, a successful New York journalist in her 20s, who is forced to put her burgeoning career and new life behind and return to her hometown to take care of her mother, Kate, who is diagnosed with terminal cancer. The movie delves into Ellen's evolving relationship with her mother and her father, George, who cannot seem to process his wife’s illness.
A Thanksgiving Reflection on Family Bonds
Nothing short of a heartfelt classic about unconditional love and familial sacrifice, One True Thing is directed with a deft touch by Carl Franklin. Its emotionally charged narrative and exceptional performances from Meryl Streep as the resilient Kate and Renée Zellweger as the reluctant Ellen are both touching and nuanced. In what will be their last Thanksgiving and Christmas together, the film creates a delicate balance between aspirations, disappointments, and ultimately, the unbreakable mother-daughter bond that ties them together.
26 Nobody's Fool (1994)
Adapted from Richard Russo’s 1993 novel of the same name, Nobody’s Fool centers around Donald “Sully” Sullivan, a charming but short-tempered old man living in the small town of North Bath, New York. As a freelance construction worker, he's often at odds with those around him, but his vehemently independent life is turned upside down when his estranged son, Peter, returns home. The movie captures the humor and heartache of Sully trying to reconnect with Peter and also be more present in his grandson’s life.
About Heartbreak, Redemption, and Second Chances
A delightful family treat for Thanksgiving, Nobody’s Fool is a movie that flawlessly combines comedy and drama with a touch of melancholy. Directed by Robert Benton and elevated by Paul Newman’s Oscar-nominated performance, the movie plays out over the holidays and not only nails its depiction of small-town life but also draws some truly rich and nuanced characters. The ensemble cast also includes Jessica Tandy and Melanie Griffith, who add complexity to the narrative and remind us that in life, even at an old age, there’s always some room for mischief.
25 Dan in Real Life (2007)
- Release Date
- October 26, 2007
A heartfelt comedy starring Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, and Dane Cook, Dan in Real Life follows the life of Dan Burns, a widowed advice columnist who is devoted to raising his three daughters but has a hard time balancing his personal and professional life, as he spends Thanksgiving at his parents’ house. Dan meets Marie at a bookstore and is instantly smitten, but things take a sharp turn when he discovers that Marie is dating his brother, Mitch, with the news leaving him disheartened.
Family Comedy With a Sentimental Premise
Directed by Peter Hedges, Dan in Real Life stands out for its beautiful combination of humorous and poignant moments. Even though the movie isn’t a typical Thanksgiving comedy, it opens with an energetic premise that revolves around Dan’s chaotic extended family. Carell and the rest of the cast deliver genuine and relatable performances and make every gag and romantic mishap entertaining to watch. The setting, the tone, and the conclusion capture the essence of the holidays and cement the film as an underrated gem with one of Carell's most subtle performances.
24 The Humans (2021)
The Humans
The Humans, directed by Stephen Karam, focuses on a family's Thanksgiving gathering in a rundown Manhattan apartment. The ensemble cast, including Richard Jenkins and Amy Schumer, portrays the complex relationships and underlying tensions among family members. As the evening progresses, the family's fears and insecurities are laid bare, creating a poignant exploration of human vulnerability and connection. The Humans is an adaptation of Karam's Tony Award-winning play.
- Release Date
- November 24, 2021
- Director
- Stephen Karam
- Runtime
- 107 Minutes
- Writers
- Stephen Karam
- Studio(s)
- A24 , IAC Films
Set against the backdrop of a cramped, run-down New York City apartment, The Humans is a recent masterpiece directed by Stephen Karam in his directorial debut and adapted from his own 2015 Tony Award-winning play of the same name. The story centers around the Blake family as they gather for Thanksgiving; throughout dinner, we see their underlying secrets, fears, insecurities, burdens, and unresolved conflicts of the family members come to the surface.
The Humans Explores the Cracks in a Dysfunctional Family
The Humans is an emotional minefield, one that's infinitely relatable and that most of us jump over, arms flailing, every holiday season. It is as wretched as it is unsettling, despite its realistic premise. Anchored by phenomenal turns from Richard Jenkins, Jayne Houdyshell, Amy Schumer, Steven Yeun, June Squibb, and Beanie Feldstein, the film navigates topics like aging, dysfunction, and the universal human need for connection and understanding. A sobering and intimate exploration of family dynamics, it received massive critical acclaim and holds a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
23 Mistress America (2015)
In Mistress America, Tracy (Lola Kirke) is a lonely college freshman in New York, having neither the exciting university experience nor the glamorous metropolitan lifestyle she envisioned. But when she is taken in by her soon-to-be stepsister, Brooke (Greta Gerwig) – a resident of Times Square and adventurous gal about town – she is rescued from her disappointment and seduced by Brooke's alluringly mad schemes.
- Release Date
- August 14, 2015
- Cast
- Seth Barrish , Juliet Brett , Andrea Chen , Michael Chernus , Cindy Cheung , Shana Dowdeswell
- Runtime
- 86 minutes
Mistress America follows the story of Tracy Fishko, a lonely college freshman in New York City who becomes friends with her soon-to-be stepsister, Brooke, an adventurous woman in her 30s. Brooke is preparing to open a quaint restaurant and Tracy, enchanted by her larger-than-life ideals, joins the whirlwind journey, only for them to fall out. When Tracy finds herself alone on Thanksgiving, she reaches out to Brooke and they spend the time of their lives together.
A Story of Two Mismatched Souls
Directed by Noah Baumbach and co-written by Baumbach and Greta Gerwig, Mistress America is one of the best collaborations between the two artists. It captures the quirky and chaotic energy of life in New York City through the eyes of Gerwig’s character, whose infectious and effortless personality elevates that of Lola Kirke, who plays Tracy. Mistress America was praised by critics for its fresh and humorous take on the coming-of-age genre, the lighthearted and insightful moments shared by the main characters, and their underlying vulnerability, which is on full display during Thanksgiving, a setting that serves as a catalyst for self-discovery and friendship.
22 The Big Chill (1963)
The Big Chill
- Release Date
- September 28, 1983
- Runtime
- 105 min
Old friends getting together to kick around old times usually ends up being a great time... in real life. In 'reel' life, it starts off great but then the layers start getting peeled back, old scars are revealed, and suddenly things go from rosy to ragged. In The Big Chill, a bunch of friends (one of the best casts ever assembled) get together for a lost weekend which comes on the heels of a funeral for their friend from college.
Emotionally Sensitive and Well-Written
The Big Chill is in many ways the first real Friendsgiving film. While the actual Thanksgiving holiday only appears in a flashback (and casts a serious shadow over the film's proceedings), the idea of people coming together over memories and meals is pertinent throughout the film. Sure, The Big Chill both is and isn't a holiday movie. That doesn't mean it can't evoke enough emotion to remind us we should be thankful for things (like our friends before they're gone). Rent or buy on Prime Video or other digital platforms.
21 Thankskilling (2008)
ThanksKilling is about a fowl-mouthed homicidal turkey axing off college kids during Thanksgiving break. It is an independent horror film that was made for under $3,500 in 11 days. It later got a small investment to help complete the marketing and distribution of the film. It's campy, twisted, and downright hilarious.
- Release Date
- Director
- Cast
- Runtime
If you don't mind a little stupidity and violence after your Thanksgiving meal, Thankskilling is a so-bad-it's-good classic waiting in the wings. It's a dumb Thanksgiving movie for sure, but it's all-in with the holiday and never takes itself seriously, making for a fun horror movie 15 years before Eli Roth's more polished and brilliant Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Turkey as an Antagonist
Beginning with a topless Pilgrim from Plymouth being killed with a tomahawk by a wisecracking turkey, Thankskilling announces its intention right off the bat, and has a blast diving into the motifs and symbols of the holiday. The plot is so over-the-top and borderline incomprehensible in the funniest of ways, but the vibe is all Thanksgiving, and the villain (Turkie) is basically the horror genre's mascot for the holiday the same way an evil Santa Claus represents Christmas horror. Watch for free on Tubi and Pluto TV.
20 Avalon (1990)
This drama, largely based on the family history of director Barry Levinson, follows the immigrant Krichinsky clan as they settle in Baltimore during the early 20th century. While Sam Krichinsky (Armin Mueller-Stahl) establishes roots in the city and finds a wife (Joan Plowright), his ambitious son, Jules (Aidan Quinn), who changes his last name to Kaye, tries to live the American Dream by opening an appliance store, revealing cultural and generational gaps.
- Release Date
- October 5, 1990
Avalon is a classic American tale of new beginnings. In this film from the great Barry Levinson, the Kaye family, comprised of Polish Jews, comes to the United States in the early part of the 20th century. Various generations live under this roof, and we see how they assimilate to American culture over generations.
Nostalgic, Slice-of-Life Fun
While not always explicitly related to the holiday, Avalon is brilliant in the way it mirrors the idea of early settlers coming to this country for a better lifethere is a Thanksgiving scene that easily lands this film in the top Thanksgiving movies. Everybody packed together in one room, complaining about when they're going to eat, kids complaining about the food, family tensions brewing... the scene is magic! "You cut the turkey?????" Avalon is a movie for all families to watch during this thankful time. Rent or buy on Apple TV and other digital platforms.
19 Addams Family Values (1993)
- Release Date
- November 19, 1993
- Runtime
- 94 Minutes
Uncle Fester is madly in love with a woman named Debbie, but his family knows she's no good in this sequel to the hit from 1991, which is set during the Thanksgiving holiday and features a Thanksgiving-related play. Director Barry Sonnenfeld and his excellent cast (Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci, Carel Struycken, Jimmy Workman, Christopher Hart, and Joan Cusack) return for Addams Family Values in this twisty, funky movie with one of Lloyd's best performances.
Greatest Thanksgiving Movie Ever
So why is Addams Family Values one of the greatest Thanksgiving movies ever? Well, that has everything to do with a speech that Wednesday Addams (Christina Ricci) gives that essentially calls out the treatment of Native Americans. It discusses how it's basically immoral to celebrate Thanksgiving and all of this is made more amazing because this scene is happening in an enduring family film. As a straight-up film, Addams Family Values isn't up there with the greatest movies of all time. As a Thanksgiving movie, that speech and the general humor in the film make it one of the best you can watch this season. Watch on Paramount+ and Fubo TV.
The 15 Weirdest Thanksgiving TV Episodes, Ranked
Gobble Gobble! Grab a leg and a heaping portion of mashed potatoes and sit down to watch one of these weird Thanksgiving episodes.
18 Grumpy Old Men (1993)
- Release Date
- December 25, 1993
- Director
- Donald Petrie
- Runtime
- 103 minutes
Again, Grumpy Old Men is not a film that is all about Thanksgiving, but it certainly has a Thanksgiving feel to it in the most comically curmudgeonly way. Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau play two bitter old men who just happen to be after the same woman, played by Ann-Margret. Already not on the greatest of terms, the relationship between Lemmon and Matthau's characters only gets worse, making for many scenes that should make old Odd Couple fans smile.
Light-Hearted and Adorable
Thanksgiving moments appear in this film, they just don't dominate it. A Thanksgiving dinner is partly the catalyst which sets off the romantic competition in the film (and features a wonderful Ossie Davis). Grumpy Old Men is given to moments of shock talk, pranks, beautiful snowy scenery, and some hilarious one-liners by Burgess Meredith as Lemmon's grandpa. Watch for free on Pluto TV or stream on Paramount+.
17 Alice's Restaurant (1969)
Alice's Restaurant
Arlo Guthrie plays himself in this film based on his song of the same name. After getting kicked out of college, Arlo decides to visit his friend Alice (Pat Quinn) for Thanksgiving dinner. After dinner is over, Arlo volunteers to take the trash to the dump, but finds it closed for the holiday, so he just dumps the trash in the bottom of a ravine. This simple act of littering gets him arrested, and sends him on a bizarre journey that ends with him in front of the draft board.
- Release Date
- August 19, 1969
- Director
- Arthur Penn
- Cast
- Arlo Guthrie , Pete Seeger , M. Emmet Walsh
- Runtime
It isn't often that a song inspires a whole movie, but if any tune would do it, it's Arlo Guthrie's humorously deadpan 18-minute song, "Alice's Restaurant Massacree," which inspired the movie Alice's Restaurant, starring Guthrie himself. The epic track tells a linear and quasi-autobiographical story about Guthrie traveling the country, getting arrested, and avoiding the Vietnam draft.
Time Capsule of the 1960s
The movie is just as lackadaisical, and one of the great 'hang out' films from the 1960s. Even more so than the song, Alice's Restaurant is built around communal engagement, food, and Thanksgiving. The most laid back anti-war film you'll ever see, the film also stars Pat Quinn, James Broderick, Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, William Obanhein, Shelley Plimpton, and M. Emmet Walsh. Watch for free on YouTube.
16 What's Cooking? (2000)
What's Cooking
You are invited to a tasty Thanksgiving dinner that will all at once transport you to four different worlds and take you home again. On the menu this November are turkey, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie -- but also tamales, spring rolls, kugel, mac & cheese, love, betrayal, sibling rivalry, prejudice, politics, uninvited guests, unexpected accidents, outrageous conversations -- and all the other succulent and spicy surprises that arise when modern families come together for an annual meal.
- Release Date
- November 17, 2000
- Director
- Gurinder Chadha
- Runtime
What's Cooking is all Thanksgiving, a delicious indie movie with a wonderfully interesting ensemble cast with diverse personalities and lives. The film is all about cultural variety, and jumps around between four families of different ethnic backgrounds — Jewish, Black, Latino, and Vietnamese (portrayed by Joan Chen, Julianna Margulies, Mercedes Ruehl, Kyra Sedgwick, Alfre Woodard, Maury Chaykin, Estelle Harris, Dennis Haysbert, Lainie Kazan, Victor Rivers, Douglas Spain, Kieu Chinh, Kristy Wu, François Chau, Ralph Manza, and many more).
Realistic Thanksgiving Dramedy
What's Cooking oscillated between these four families as they celebrate Thanksgiving in their own different ways, and encounter their own specific problems and dysfunctions. You can practically smell the food in this film, and there's a lot of it, but there's also a lot of sweet, mild humor, small romantic moments, and beautiful, authentic reflections of family relationships. Watch for free on Tubi, Pluto TV, Prime Video, and other digital platforms.
15 Dutch (1991)
Dutch
Working man Dutch (Ed O'Neill) is dating the divorced Natalie (JoBeth Williams), and he offers to drive her stuffy 13-year-old, Doyle (Ethan Randall), from his private school in Atlanta to his mother's home in Chicago for Thanksgiving. Doyle is not interested as he blames Natalie for the divorce and wants nothing to do with Mom's new boyfriend, especially given the man's lowly, working-class roots. This pairing makes for a journey filled with bickering, mishaps and, eventually, bonding.
- Release Date
- Cast
- Runtime
- Writers
In the coming-of-age comedy Dutch, the titular working man (Ed O'Neill) is dating the divorced Natalie (JoBeth Williams), and he offers to drive her stuffy 13-year-old, Doyle (Ethan Randall), from his private school in Atlanta to his mother's home in Chicago for Thanksgiving. Doyle is not interested, as he blames Natalie for the divorce and wants nothing to do with mom's new boyfriend, especially given the man's lowly, working-class roots.
An Underrated Holiday Movie
Though John Hughes didn't direct Dutch, he did write it, and he seemingly reproduced Planes, Trains and Automobiles, or at least combined all the scraps which didn't make it into that film. Both movies have a very similar storyline, with a mismatched pair of travelers attempting to make it home for turkey dinner. And it goes to show that Hughes had an affinity for the holiday. This particular pairing makes for a journey filled with bickering, mishaps and, eventually, bonding. Though it was met with plenty of bad reviews at the time, with Roger Ebert complaining that John Hughes was just repeating himself, Dutch has gone onto become a holiday favorite comedy. Watch on Max.
14 The War at Home (1996)
The War at Home
After serving in Vietnam, during which he committed acts that still haunt him deeply, Jeremy Collier (Emilio Estevez) lives at home with his parents. As Thanksgiving approaches, both his mother, Maurine (Kathy Bates), and his father, Bob (Martin Sheen), are dismissive of Jeremy's odd behavior and want him to return to the way he was. Karen (Kimberly Williams), his sister, becomes convinced that Jeremy needs help, but it may be too late as he threatens to release his pent-up rage at dinner.
- Release Date
- November 20, 1996
- Runtime
This often ignored tale from 1996, directed by Emilio Estevez, is a rich character study about the effects of war on everybody, not just those that fought in it. Thanksgiving dinner becomes the conduit through which all the traumas of the past are made manifest. Estevez also stars in The War at Home along with his father, Martin Sheen, and Kathy Bates. He plays a soldier at home after fighting in Vietnam, and we come to see how he has an even bigger fight ahead now that he's returned.
Surprsing and Unforgettable
The Thanksgiving celebration looms over the first half of this film, promising an emotional blowout, and the actual holiday dinner does not disappoint in the way it unleashes the tension plaguing many of these characters. For many, Thanksgiving is a controversial holiday, both because of America's early genocide of Indigenous people, and because family can so often be a minefield to navigate. The War at Home taps into all of this and becomes a great and subversive Thanksgiving movie as a result.
13 The Oath (2018)
- Release Date
- October 12, 2018
- Runtime
- 93
The very funny Ike Barinholtz does a great job at directing, writing, producing, and starring in this underrated dark comedy that's perfect for Thanksgiving. The Oath satirically taps into the proverbial political arguments that families have at the dinner table (and the crazy uncle with antiquated views) by presenting a near-future in which citizens have been asked to sign a legal document swearing allegiance to the United States ahead of Black Friday, which makes Thanksgiving a little awkward for a family with different ideological perspectives.
Exceeds Your Expectations
The simple premise alone leads itself to some great dialogue and situations in The Oath, before things start to get really wild. It'd be a shame to spoil anything in this unique film, but suffice it to say that it's a Thanksgiving blast (and Tiffany Haddish is excellent). Rent or buy on Prime Video or other digital platforms.
12 You've Got Mail (1998)
- Release Date
- December 18, 1998
- Runtime
- 119 minutes
In You've Got Mail, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan once again unwittingly end up together (in a then-modern remake of the Jimmy Stewart classic, The Shop Around the Corner). Through correspondence on the internet, the two find they are attracted to each other. However, (not knowing who the other person is online - at least at the start), in reality they can't stand each other. The fact that they are both in the same business, selling books, doesn't make the situation between them much better.
Iconic Romance Starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan
Yet, amid all of this, the Thanksgiving cheer shines through, and this romantic comedy (while no Sleepless in Seattle) still holds up as a great movie to watch around the holiday. Set on and around Thanksgiving, You've Got Mail has everything we want in a holiday film, from the colors and the soft light, to the wintry weather and the charming romance. Watch for free on Tubi or rent or buy on other digital platforms.
11 Tadpole (2002)
Tadpole
Oscar Grubman is a true renaissance man. He is sensitive and compassionate, speaks fluent French, is conversant in the classics, has a passion for Voltaire, and can tell all he needs to know about a woman with one look at her hands, and he is 15 years old. As he returns home from boarding school to his parents' New York City apartment for Thanksgiving, Oscar has one thing on his mind: older women.
- Release Date
- August 2, 2002
- Runtime
Tadpole is often forgotten today, but it was a little indie miracle when it came out, grossing more than 12 times its $150 thousand budget. In many ways, the film acts as a kind of modern Catcher in the Rye, following a very precocious and advanced 15-year-old named Oscar during his Thanksgiving break from a preppy boarding school. His parents are perfectly played by the beloved John Ritter and an especially wonderful Susan Sarandon as Oscar's stepmother. Except, Oscar has jealously romantic feelings for her and subtly competes with his own father.
Charming, Lighthearted Comedy
Aside from magnificently laying out a truly dysfunctional family situation, Tadpole gorgeously captures a variety of feelings — the wistfulness of youth; New York in winter; Thanksgiving break, and returning home after being away at school; the hormonal rush of puberty. Food (and drinks) also play a perfect role in the film, which features Aaron Stanford, Bebe Neuwirth, and a lovely Kate Mara. It's a perfect little indie gem. Rent or buy on Prime Video or other digital platforms.
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