Mary Evans/Ronald Grant/Everett; United Feature Syndicate Inc.; Paramount/Courtesy Everett
Thanksgiving: A time for gathering with family (kin or chosen), eating pounds of food, and reflecting on what we're thankful for. Okay, let's be honest, this late November holiday rarely goes off without a hitch, from travel mishaps to botched food preparation to political arguments at the dinner table.
Then there are Thanksgiving movies. While they aren't as plentiful as films centered on Halloween or Christmas, some of our favorite Turkey Day traditions include watching classics likeAddams Family Values(1993) orPlanes, Trains and Automobiles(1987) that revolve around the holiday. These are the films that either give us that warm, cozy feeling we desire this time of year (or give us a realistic depiction of the holiday's chaos).
Ahead,Entertainment Weeklyrecommends 17 Thanksgiving movies to feast on this holiday season.
Addams Family Values(1993)
Addams Family Valuesis one of the rare wholly successful sequels. In fact,EW's critic calls it"Wittier and more consistent than the firstAddams Familymovie...it's much better at getting the Addamses out into the straight world, where they can really do some damage." The film mostly focuses on new (and mustached) baby Pubert Addams and his duplicitous nanny, Debbie (a fiendish Joan Cusack), who sets her gold-digging sights on Uncle Fester (Christopher Lloyd).
Debbie also suggests carting Addams offspring Wednesday (Christina Ricci) and Pugsley (Jimmy Workman) off to a horrifyingly sunny camp, which fortunately includes an off-season play of the first Thanksgiving, dubbed "A Turkey Named Brotherhood," scripted by overly enthused camp director Gary (Peter MacNicol). Cast as Pocahontas, Wednesday uses the play to enact a terrific revenge on not just the Up with People-esque campers, but the pilgrims themselves.—Gwen Ihnat
Where to watchAddams Family Values: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)
The Big Chill(1983)
Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett
Crank up the Motown: This baby boomer classic may not be centered around Thanksgiving itself, but its themes certainly reflect the spirit of the holiday. Following their friend's death by suicide, a group of college pals reunite in South Carolina for a weekend hangout. Staying together at married couple Sarah (Glenn Close) and Harold's (Kevin Kline) house, the former classmates catch each other up on the state of their lives 12 years after graduating, from career regrets to personal struggles.
While touching on dramatic subjects like suicide, infidelity, and drug addiction, there is a warmth to the film that helps it go down easy. As the friends reflect on their past and contemplate the future, they find plenty of time to groove to some golden oldies and take pleasure in each other's company. —Kevin Jacobsen
Where to watchThe Big Chill: The Roku Channel
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving(1973)
The holiday season isn't complete without our annual helping ofPeanuts. In this treasured 25-minute classic, Peppermint Patty's father is out of town, so she invites herself toCharlie Brown's house for Thanksgiving, much to his chagrin. Unable to cook a full feast, he, Linus, Snoopy, and Woodstock scramble together a dinner consisting of toast, popcorn, and ice cream sundaes.
Also bringing along Marcie and Franklin, Patty is not pleased with the lack of traditional Thanksgiving food and takes it out on her host, though she soon learns the error of her ways. While Charlie Brown's day is mostly chaotic, this animated special shows the value of friendship and coming together even when things aren't ideal. —K.J.
Where to watchA Charlie Brown Thanksgiving: Apple TV
The Daytrippers(1996)
The Daytripperstechnically kicks off on the dayafterThanksgiving, but it still underlines the importance of the season. When Eliza (Hope Davis) finds a mysterious love note to her husband (Stanley Tucci), her entire family (mom Anne Meara, dad Pat McNamara, sisterParker Posey, and the sister's scene-stealing boyfriend Liev Schreiber) accompanies her from Long Island into Manhattan as they try to track him down and uncover the mystery. Her partner has his own secrets to reveal, but what Eliza eventually realizes is that her family is willing to go the extra mile (all the way into the city!) for her, and will always have her back.—G.I.
Where to watchThe Daytrippers: HBO Max
Fantastic Mr. Fox(2009)
Frankly, most ofWes Anderson's creations seem perfectly autumnal. Even the characters inFantastic Mr. Foxsport the seasonal palette, and the movie's focus on securing the ideal poultry meal makes it a good fit for the Thanksgiving holiday. The fantastic title character (George Clooney) has promised his wife (Meryl Streep) that he will give up his profession of squab thievery now that they have a family. But old habits soon die hard, as a domesticated Mr. Fox longs to return to his life of adventure and daring.
This leads to a series ofOcean's Eleven-worthy capers in a land of woodland creatures, as well as a surprising need for adaptability in an ever-changing landscape. The incredible detail of Anderson's stop-motion animation gets more astounding in every scene (The leaves! The fur! Mrs. Fox's paintings!) as the film advises how silly and fruitless it is to deny your true nature.—G.I.
Where to watchFantastic Mr. Fox: Disney+
Hannah and Her Sisters(1986)
While not all ofWoody Allen'sHannah and Her Sisterstakes place during the holidays, the movie rests on three pivotal sequences across three pertinent Thanksgivings. In the opening dinner scene, we are introduced to Hannah (Mia Farrow) and her boisterous, overflowing family, including staid husband Elliot (Michael Caine, who won an Oscar for his performance), troubled middle sister Holly (Dianne Wiest, another Oscar winner), and charismatic youngest sister Lee (Barbara Hershey).
By the time the second Thanksgiving rolls around, Lee and Elliot have embarked on an affair, while Hannah's ex-husband Mickey (Allen) fights a health scare, and Holly continues to struggle in her acting career. The three elaborate (with staff!) Manhattan family dinners ground the sprawling family narrative, so that, of course, by the third Thanksgiving, everything is finally set as it should be.—G.I.
Where to watchHannah and Her Sisters: Amazon Prime Video
The House of Yes(1997)
Another entry in the "thank God this isn't my family" category,The House of Yesis a gloomy, fascinating look at the darkest holiday gathering you can imagine. Based on a stage play (as well as Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher"),The House of Yesfollows Marty (Josh Hamilton), a man who foolishly decides to bring his new fiancée Lesly (a hapless Tori Spelling) home to his beyond-creepy family, with his strange mother (Geneviève Bujold), detached younger brother (Freddie Prinze Jr.), and too-close twin sister (Parker Posey). While the literal opposite of cozy, swerving decidedly into distressing,House of Yesis worth watching just for Posey's performance as Marty's Jackie Kennedy-obsessed twin.—G.I.
Where to watchThe House of Yes: Pluto TV
Home for the Holidays(1995)
What is Thanksgiving without a family reunion that's messier than the kitchen after dinner? Jodie Foster stepped behind the camera to direct this holiday favorite, which tells the story of a harried single mother named Claudia (Holly Hunter) who is fired from her job and returns to her hometown for Thanksgiving. Awaiting her are her gay brother Tommy (Robert Downey Jr.), conservative sister Joanne (Cynthia Stevenson), aging parents (Anne Bancroft and Charles Durning), and eccentric Aunt Gladys (Geraldine Chaplin).
Naturally, there's plenty of dysfunction as confessions are made, a turkey is flung across the table, a football game leads to a fistfight, and Claudia tries to maintain her sanity.Home for the Holidaysmay not be revolutionary, but there's a coziness in the chaos that rings true. —K.J.
Where to watchHome for the Holidays: Paramount+
The Ice Storm(1997)
This icy-coldAng Leeperiod piece perfectly depicts the disassociation and isolation inherent in 1970s affluent suburbia (in this case, New Canaan, Conn.).The Ice Stormfollows two families, the Hoods (Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Tobey Maguire, Christina Ricci) and the Carvers (Jamey Sheridan, Sigourney Weaver, Elijah Wood, Adam Hann-Byrd) as they both attempt connection over the long Thanksgiving Day weekend, but are doing so in all the wrong ways.
As EW's critic describes, "The Ice Stormpresents a classic preppy-malaise landscape out of J.D. Salinger, but caught at the historical moment when it seemed that real emotional intimacy could be had by shagging the closest person around." But the legendary key party scene only scrapes the surface, and the film's blue-gray moodiness is downright enveloping, not to mention its brutally honest depiction of family ties.—G.I.
Where to watchThe Ice Storm: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)
Krisha(2015)
No matter how tense your Thanksgiving gets, short of bloodshed, there's no way it can be as terrifying asKrisha, a fascinating character study that turns the holiday into a horror movie. The title character (played by Krisha Fairchild) is a sixtysomething woman who is returning to celebrate and cook Thanksgiving dinner with her family after several estranged years. But, as the jarring score is quick to inform you, something is very wrong with this picture.
FilmmakerTrey Edward Shultscreated the A24 festival darling in nine days on a shoestring budget, casting his own aunt as Krisha and his mom as Krisha's sister, while he plays Krisha's continually let-down son. The result is an improvisational feel so lifelike it resembles cinéma vérité, the emotions unflinchingly raw as everyone has their guard up around Krisha — and we're soon as heartbroken as they are when we find out why.—G.I.
Where to watchKrisha: Pluto TV
Miracle on 34th Street(1947)
Yes, yes, we knowMiracle on 34th Streetis technically a Christmas movie, but you can also think of this timeless classic as the bridge between the two holidays. After all, it begins with Susan (a youngNatalie Wood) watching the Thanksgiving Day parade out her window. But the Macy's Santa turns out to have a drinking problem, leading to the hiring of Kris (Edmund Gwenn, in an Oscar-winning role), who may or may not be the real Santa.
This delightful throwback (black-and-white version only, please) is an excellent segue into the full-on holiday season, and still makes believing in Santa seem like the only logical choice. You might even get fired up enough to be able to take on Black Friday.—G.I.
Where to watchMiracle on 34th Street: Disney+
Pieces of April(2003)
So many of us can relate to April (Katie Holmes) as she tries hard to make the perfect holiday meal against all possible odds. The black sheep's main hurdle is her claustrophobically small New York apartment — complete with a broken oven — as she attempts to pull off Thanksgiving dinner for her estranged family, including her terminally ill mother (Patricia Clarkson), driving in from Pennsylvania.
Pieces of Aprilfloats back and forth between April's frantic meal preparations (hey, some people actuallydolike box stuffing and cranberries from the can) as she reaches out to her new neighbors for help — forming a new clan of sorts — and her family's tense commute, complete with roadkill.EW's critic especially praises Clarksonas April's mom with an Oscar-nominated "exuberantly hostile performance as Joy Burns, who isn't just wisecracking through her breast cancer therapy — she's laughing, tearful yet open-eyed, at the grave."—G.I.
Where to watchPieces of April: MGM+
Planes, Trains and Automobiles(1987)
Forget all the teen angst:Planes, Trains and Automobilesmay just be John Hughes' greatest film. The unmatched pairing of odd coupleSteve MartinandJohn Candyas stranded travelers, forced to use various types of transportation in an attempt to get home for Thanksgiving, is not only straight-up hilarious ("Those aren't pillows!"), but it also delivers the true meaning of the holiday. It isn't about the food or even the family, but rather the real human connection with the family youmake.
The frequent one-liner bits are gut-bustlingly funny, and the chemistry between Martin and Candy here is unparalleled. Martin plays an expert straight-man role, while Candy has never been better as a bear-hugging, ultra-lovable foil. But it's Hughes' tear-jerking twist at the end of the movie that makes it a must-watch every year.—G.I.
Where to watchPlanes, Trains and Automobiles: Paramount+
Rocky(1976)
Despite being one of the definitive sports films,Rockyalso works as a small-scale character drama with a color palette tailor-made for fall.Sylvester Stallone— who also wrote the film — cemented his screen persona here as the titular underdog boxer who is counted out time and time again, only to prove his worth in a match against the world heavyweight champion.
We get to know Rocky through his relationship with Adrian (Talia Shire), a shy young woman who slowly comes out of her shell. While attending Thanksgiving dinner at her brother Paulie's house, Rocky sees Adrian's difficult home life as the turkey is tossed out and she agrees to go on a date. The rest is history, as something beautiful emerges from chaos. —K.J.
Where to watchRocky: MGM+
She's Gotta Have It(1986)
Spike Lee's very first feature is a performance-forward, low-budget indie that focuses on the exuberant Nola Darling (Tracy Camilla Johns) and the three men in her life: Jamie (Tommy Redmond Hicks), Greer (John Canada Terrell), and Mars (Lee). In an effort to keep everything open (and even out the playing field), Nola invites all three men to Thanksgiving dinner — the first one she'severcooked. It's an engaging scene, seeing calm Jamie, arrogant Greer, and extroverted Mars all play off of one another, while Nola is clearly in charge of the situation.
In 1986, seeing an unapologetically sexual, non-monogamous woman on screen was much more revolutionary than it should have been, and it's gratifying to see the three men all vie for her affections as she commands the head of the table. No wonder Lee revisited the concept for a (sadly short-lived)Netflix series.—G.I.
Where to watchShe's Gotta Have It: Netflix
Soul Food(1997)
There may be no other movie that depicts the importance of family dinner likeSoul Food.In the words of matriarch Josephine (Irma P. Hall): "Soul food cooking is about cooking from the heart."
As the movie kicks off, young narrator Ahmad (Brandon Hammond) explains how the family is so close-knit because of their weekly Sunday dinners, which started out as post-church get-togethers that cemented into family tradition. But, even in the world ofSoul Food, Thanksgiving is the undisputed champ of family meals, as an early appearance of the overflowing holiday table underlines the family's good fortune and how lucky they are to have each other. Ahmad notes, "Those were the good days, all right," and wisely realizes that their meals are the key to keeping the family (includingVanessa Williams,Vivica A. Fox, andNia Longas frequently warring sisters) together.—G.I.
Where to watchSoul Food: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)
Thanksgiving(2023)
TriStar Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
"Every single holiday had a horror movie attached to itexceptThanksgiving. So our dream was to make a slasher film around Thanksgiving,"Eli Rothtold EWabout his and screenwriter Jeff Rendell's vision for this gruesome feature. The well-reviewed slasher sees a John Carver mask-wearing murderer terrorize Plymouth, Mass., targeting those involved in a deadly Black Friday riot the year prior.
Naturally, your mileage may vary depending on your tolerance for gore, but the over-the-top appeal ofThanksgivingis how the serial killer creatively disposes of his victims, including one scene in which someone is served as a Turkey Day feast. —K.J.
Where to watchThanksgiving: Hulu
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