It can be easy to skip over celebrating Thanksgiving. People mostly still participate in the big family dinner, but go straight to indulging in Christmas movies and music — understandably so.
In case you are tired of the same old Christmas movies or feel guilty for it being too early, there are plenty of what could be considered Thanksgiving movies. While some may not directly center around the holiday, or mention it at all, they fit the atmosphere.
For the major holiday of the eleventh month, here are 11 movies to throw on the TV for your family this Thanksgiving.
“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving”
dir. Bill Melendez & Phil Roman, 1973
The most obvious movie on this list. It is less of a traditional film and more of a television special, but that does not stop it from being played every year. The cozy and familiar vibes of the Peanuts are sure to warm everyone’s hearts for the 25 minutes it runs. It features what many regard as a quintessential Thanksgiving image; the slapdash Friendsgiving amongst the crew with jelly beans, pretzel rods and PB&Js is sure to evoke some nostalgia.
“Free Birds”
dir. Jimmy Hayword, 2013
This one is in a weird limbo state. You probably know it, but you also might not quite remember it. This movie came out the same month as “Frozen” so any momentum it might have had was quickly squashed. It has recently regained a bit of attention in memes, with people posting some of the ridiculous lines from the movie. It is a strange one, after all.
The film follows Owen Wilson playing a turkey named Reggie, who just received the presidential pardon. An intense militaristic turkey named Jake, played by Woody Harrelson, forces him along on an important mission. The pair needs to go back in time to the first Thanksgiving to get turkeys off the menu. Hijinx ensue. It is a movie you need to see to believe.
“Rocky”
dir. John G. Avildsen, 1976
It would be a hard task to find anyone who does not know “Rocky.” That does not mean everyone has seen it, but they undoubtedly know the iconic theme song, the imagery of his training, the quotable lines and Sylvester Stallone’s unforgettable voice. Would it surprise fans and general audiences alike to learn it is a Thanksgiving film? Probably not. If the late fall Philadelphia ambience was not enough, the movie sets its story directly around Thanksgiving. It truly cements its place as a Thanksgiving classic with the scene in which Paulie throws the turkey out of the window.
“Planes, Trains and Automobiles”
dir. John Hughes, 1987
This film is a classic buddy comedy from one of the most important directors of the 1980s. Comedy powerhouses Steve Martin and John Candy join forces as they travel cross country to make it home in time for Thanksgiving. It is a heartwarming romp about friendship and learning to adapt.
“The Wiz”
dir. Sidney Lumet, 1978
Adapting a 1975 play of the same name, “The Wiz” works as a retelling of the classic “Wizard of Oz” tale through the lens of African-American culture. On release, it was widely panned by critics and was a commercial failure. Despite this, it has made its way into the hearts of many people over the years, becoming a cult classic. The reason it works as a Thanksgiving movie is due to its setting and cultural impact. The movie’s opening is set during Thanksgiving dinner with Diana Ross’ Dorothy. Due to this, it often gets a lot of airtime on TV around the holiday. It is now a staple for many families and will continue to be for the foreseeable future.
“Scent of a Woman”
dir. Martin Brest, 1992
The opposite level of success plagued this movie compared to “The Wiz”. It made a bunch of money at the box office and won an Oscar while it was at it. Yet, it is not as much of a Thanksgiving staple as “The Wiz”. The film follows Chris O’Donnell as a prep school student who begins assisting a blind retired army colonel played by Al Pacino. An uplifting tale that is aided in its setting around the Thanksgiving holiday and the beautiful backdrop of late November New York.
“Addams Family Values”
dir. Barry Sonnenfeld, 1993
This one’s ties to the holiday are not as thankful, but its connections are too important to ignore. Funnily enough, this film is actually a sequel; however, the first film is not a necessary watch to enjoy this one. In this film, a nanny gets hired for the titular Addams family, who turns out to be a serial killer. The connections to Thanksgiving come in at the summer camp attended by Wednesday and Pugsley. During a play about the first Thanksgiving, the siblings and some other misfits set fire to the set and escape from the camp. With how significant it is in the story, despite not actually talking much about the holiday, it is hard to ignore.
“Spider-Man”
dir. Sam Raimi, 2002
“What the heck is a Spider-Man movie doing on a list of Thanksgiving movies?” you may be thinking. Well, one of the most pivotal scenes of the film takes place at a Thanksgiving dinner. In this scene, amongst a plethora of food and golden lighting, Willem Dafoe’s Norman Osborn makes the connection of Peter Parker being Spider-Man. This movie is already one about family, relationships and how they affect who we are. What could be more Thanksgiving than that?
“Thanksgiving”
dir. Eli Roth, 2023
This film had been a long time coming for director Eli Roth. He initially created a fake trailer of the movie for Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino’s “Grindhouse” in 2007. Soon after, however, work began on a feature length adaptation, and he finally reached this goal 16 years later. “Thanksgiving” is a fairly standard slasher film with the backdrop of the eponymous holiday. The villain dons himself in a pilgrim outfit and themes his kills around the holiday. The title alone is enough for this entry, honestly.
“Knives Out”
dir. Rian Johnson, 2019
This might be the most tenuous entry on the list, but it belongs here nonetheless. The film itself never makes any reference to the Thanksgiving holiday and never features a Thanksgiving dinner of any kind. There is an unmistakable feeling this movie has, though. The vibrant fall setting, combined with an extended family getting together and bickering, is more accurate to the holiday than some of the movies about said holiday — not to mention it was released on Thanksgiving day in 2019.
“ThanksKilling”
dir. Jordan Downey, 2008
Consider this a bonus entry. This (and honestly Eli Roth’s “Thanksgiving”) are not films you should throw on for your family. If your preferred holiday celebration is a Friendsgiving, however, this is the one for you. “ThanksKilling” is a B-movie comedy horror about a turkey who kills people on Thanksgiving. This is not a joke. This is a real movie with two sequels that you can stream on Tubi (of course).
Unquestionably, Thanksgiving movies are not as big of a phenomenon as Christmas or Halloween ones. This list demonstrates that despite that, there are still plenty of Thanksgiving films to enjoy. Hopefully, you will throw one of these on for your family, your friends or even yourself. Happy Thanksgiving!
