Nobody panic, but we’re officially approaching the most wonderful time of the year at full speed. I love the Thanksgiving holiday, not for its evidently problematic roots but for the freedom it grants me to gobble, gobble, gobble until I have to wobble, wobble, wobble to bed. Whether you’re crowding around a coffee table with friends or eating proper feast with your charmingly fucked up family it’s a moment to reflect. Every year I take time to be grateful for the good things that have come my way, including hopefully not being hungover after Thanksgiving Eve. For the cooks that need entertainment in the background, or the lazy moochers who want to relax all afternoon, here’s a curated list of Thanksgiving movies to stream on Turkey Day.
Best Thanksgiving Movies
Planes, Trains And Automobiles
This is my personal Thanksgiving holy grail, so I’m paying it forward to the girlies who may not even know what they’re missing out on. Comedic kings Steve Martin and John Candy get stuck on a harrowing journey from New York to Chicago to get back home to the family for the holiday.
Dead Poet’s Society
Considering Robin Williams is every 90s baby’s surrogate movie father, he’ll OFC be making multiple appearances on this list. His performance as boarding school teacher John Keating will have you crying into your sweet potato pie.
Manchester By The Sea
Assuming you’ve already perused Betches’ cozy fall movie guide, you’ve already ticked a Good Will Hunting screening off the list. In honor of Thanksgiving often being a shit show of emotions and family trauma, consider similar New England tearjerker starring Michelle Williams, Manchester By The Sea.
Chicken Run
Watching this movie with the neighborhood kids in my family’s basement is the definition of a core memory. Like most kids content made back then, half of the jokes in Chicken Run are for adults, so this cartoon flick aged perfectly.
Knives Out
I think most of us who have a big loud family, wealthy or not, can low-key relate to murder being on the table. I keep asking Santa for Chris Evans’ chunky sweater (ideally with Chris still inside of it) and yet all I get is another rewatch (currently provided for free by Tubi). Classic middle child let-down.
Due Date
This hilarious homage to Planes, Trains & Automobiles is Robert Downey Jr. at his absolute funniest. In the movie, RDJ pairs up with Zach Galifianakis in a travel week gone horribly wrong to make it to the birth of his son.
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
Is it really Thanksgiving if you don’t watch Charlie Brown? According to my sweet, sweet mother, definitely not.
Addams Family Values
The Addams Family sequel focus on Wednesday and Pugsley freaking out about an incoming new sibling they don’t want (relatable). But the real highlight is when Wednesday gags her classmates and their parents during the school play when she reads the pilgrims to filth for their savage oppression of Indigenous Americans instead of following the practiced lines.
Home For The Holidays
More Robert Downey Jr.?? Why not! In this 90s drama Elastagirl AKA Holly Hunter is forced to spend Turkey Day with her estranged dysfunctional family back home in Baltimore.
Pride And Prejudice
The way the Bennet family feasts and ballroom dances the night away in Pride And Prejudice when their cousins come to town is Thanksgiving host goals.
What’s Cooking?
Alfre Woodard, Julianna Margulies, and Kyra Sedgwick. Need I say more? Okay fine, this holiday flick is a dramatic trip across four distinct cultural traditions in four looney but loving family homes. Watch hungry at your own risk.
Step Brothers
Don’t make me sing “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” please, my neighbors can’t take anymore. Keep in mind this comedy might not be safe for the kiddos.
Mrs. Doubtfire
Children of divorce, this ones for you. Let Robin Williams’ prosthetic ridiculousness heal your inner child.
Phantom Thread
We’re all hungry boys on the fourth Thursday of November, right? Prestigious British dressmaker, Reynolds Woodcock, is my person fave of all of DDL’s historical weirdo heroes.
Silver Linings Playbook
Perhaps, I’m partial as Philly area native, but Bradley Cooper’s captivating comeback after taking a few major Ls in life (to put it lightly) screams quality family viewing to me. It also screams go Birds!!
V For Vendetta
The true story of Thanksgiving is grounded in American colonialist hubris, so IDK, maybe a little worldly education after dinner can’t hurt. The Natalie Portman moody action mystery takes place on November 5, Guy Fawkes’ Day, a British holiday that celebrates a failed coup (every country has at least one).
The Cabin In The Woods
The safest time to watch a horror movie is a) tipsy and b) surrounded by all of your loved ones who can fight off any scary monsters and/or murderers as needed. In this throwback, Chris Hemsworth and his friend group of college hotties have to fight for their lives during a remote cabin vacation.
Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory
Why not watch an allegory about gluttony, greed, and capitalism after gorging yourself on a million little treats? I’m obviously referring to the Gene Wilder version and the Gene Wilder version only! We have to educate the children.
Guess Who?
RIP to one of the Kings of Comedy, Bernie Mac. His role as Ashton Kutcher’s unwitting father-in-law will remind you of/cure your daddy issues, all at once.
He’s Just Not That Into You
Listen, if your family is going to harass you about your relationship status, you might as well remind them just how bleak the dating scene is since they’ve been married to your annoying uncle for the last thirty years.
Remember The Titans
Denzel Washington’s impeccable comedic timing, an honest look at this country’s moral failures, and football. This movie has all the Thanksgiving hits!
