Thanksgiving: 10 best movies to watch with your family

JOE HERNANDEZNovember 21, 2022

For those who celebrate it, Thanksgiving is a busy affair — between meeting relatives, making sure the filling doesn’t burn, and trying to buy a last-minute cake, the day often flies by — and yet there is always some time to fill.

Maybe you’re done with the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Perhaps the Westminster Dog Show — a Thanksgiving staple — hasn’t started yet. Or maybe dinner is over and everyone wants to gather in front of the TV and digest in peace.

With that in mind, we’ve rounded up the 10 best Thanksgiving movies to watch with loved ones before, during, or after the celebrations.

Some feature famous Thanksgiving scenes or references, while others are just heartwarming, family-friendly movies.

Click through the gallery below to browse our top 10 picks:

The best Thanksgiving movies to watch with your loved ones

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1/10The best Thanksgiving movies to watch with your loved ones

The best Thanksgiving movies to watch with your loved ones

1. A Nice Day in the Neighborhood (2019)

You’ll have to make your way to see this one as it’s just been released in theaters and isn’t available to stream yet. If you can find a showing near you, this could prove to be the ultimate Thanksgiving clock. It doesn’t get more family-friendly than Tom Hanks as the well-loved Fred Rogers, host of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. The Independent’s review said it’s “hard not to be moved by the film’s warmth and kind heart” – just what is needed on the third Thursday of November.

YouTube/Sony Pictures Entertainment

The best Thanksgiving movies to watch with your loved ones

2. Addams Family Values (1993)

America’s favorite goth family does Thanksgiving right. Cast as a Native American in a problematic play, Wednesday delivers an iconic monologue that challenges the whitewashed version of the holiday as told by American folklore.

YouTube / Paramount images

The best Thanksgiving movies to watch with your loved ones

3. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)

This Emmy-winning short film first aired in 1973 and has become a Thanksgiving staple. If at any point during the day you’ve experienced a kitchen disaster, you can identify with the efforts of Charlie Brown, Linus, Snoopy, and Woodstock to put together a feast despite their total lack of cooking skills. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving airs Wednesday, November 27 on ABC and the program is also available to stream on Vudu and Amazon Prime.

YouTube/United Feature Syndicate

The best Thanksgiving movies to watch with your loved ones

4. You’ve Got Mail (1998)

Let’s set the record straight regarding You’ve Got Mail’s infamous Thanksgiving scene. Tom Hanks’ character, who ‘rescues’ Meg Ryan once she realizes she’s stuck at a checkout cashless, is said to come across as charming – but look back at the scene in 2019 and you’ll see that he is actually just a condescending idiot. However, the film’s overall holiday feel (and the fact that the scene in question is filmed at the famous grocer Zabar’s on the Upper West Side) make it a top choice for Thanksgiving.

Youtube/Warner Bros

The best Thanksgiving movies to watch with your loved ones

5. Rocking (1976)

Yes, Rocky. While the film’s Thanksgiving scene is extremely depressing (Paulie has a fit and throws Adriene’s turkey through the window while Rocky watches), it’s always fun to see the 1976 classic that spawned the long-running Rocky/Creed film series watch again.

YouTube/United Artists

The best Thanksgiving movies to watch with your loved ones

6. Sweet November (2001)

We could tell you that Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron star in this 2001 film and leave it at that. However, we will add that the entire film takes place in November and that part of its plot revolves around Thanksgiving, making it a top photo for the holidays. It’s a sad flick exploring the themes of love and terminal illness, so be prepared for an emotional viewing experience.

Youtube/Warner Bros

The best Thanksgiving movies to watch with your loved ones

7. Funny People (2009)

Adam Sandler delivers a touching Thanksgiving toast as George Simmons, a stand-up comedian who has been diagnosed with a potentially fatal illness. “It kinda sucks being old so just enjoy it. enjoy time Time flies, I promise you,” he tells a crowd of younger people, among others.

YouTube / Universal Pictures

The best Thanksgiving movies to watch with your loved ones

8. Free Birds (2013)

Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson and Amy Poehler direct this animated film about turkeys… traveling back in time to the first Thanksgiving to break away from the traditional menu. You read that right. One caveat: if you’re watching with kids, maybe take a few minutes to explain to them that they shouldn’t take this goofy movie as an accurate portrayal of the Thanksgiving story.

YouTube / Relativity Media

The best Thanksgiving movies to watch with your loved ones

9. Groundhog Day (1993)

On a whole different side, this Bill Murray/Andie MacDowell classic is a great family watch. Granted, it’s set in February, which means it’s not about Thanksgiving or the holiday season per se, but it’s an ode to values like kindness, self-improvement, love, and empathy — all qualities that lend themselves well to this time of year Year.

YouTube/Columbia Images

The best Thanksgiving movies to watch with your loved ones

10. Toy Story (1995)

The 1995 Pixar classic was released the day before Thanksgiving – so it’s only right to revisit it on that day, 24 years later. It can be streamed on Disney+, Amazon Prime and Vudu.

YouTube / Buena Vista image distribution

You can read our explainer to understand the cultural and historical significance behind the holiday, which falls on this Thursday.

Weather forecasts are also available ahead of the bank holiday weekend which is usually a busy travel time.

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/best-thanksgiving-movies-kids-family-b2229908.html Thanksgiving: 10 best movies to watch with your family

JOE HERNANDEZNovember 21, 2022