11 Thanksgiving Movies to Celebrate the Holiday Season

Thanksgiving is family time and after the last piece of pie is gone, the dishes are done, and you’ve taken a walk around the block, you can extend the holiday with a good movie. Thanksgiving movies are usually not sentimental like Christmas movies, but there is something for everyone. Goodnet has compiled a list of 11 movies that include comedies, films that explore family dynamics, documentaries, and family favorites.

You’ve Got Mail

This 1998 romantic comedy, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan is good to watch any time of the year. It’s the story of two people who meet and fall in love on the internet but are actually business rivals, according to Vogue. The holiday theme throughout You’ve Got Mail makes it a perfect movie for Thanksgiving.

What’s Cooking?

Thanksgiving isn’t always about turkey and cranberry sauce. What’s Cooking? showcases the celebrations of four ethnically diverse families: Black, Latino, Jewish, and Vietnamese, as they gather for the traditional meal. The 2000 film explores how each family has their own distinct way of preparing the holiday meal and their own problems and dynamics.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

This animated Thanksgiving classic first aired on TV in 1973 and just like the Macy’s parade has become a much- loved part of the season, reported TODAY. Charles M Schultz combined the things people love about the holiday; gathering with loved ones and the occasional bumps that come along. In 2024, the only place you can watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is on Apple TV+. If you are not a subscriber, you can tune in during the free viewing window on Saturday, Nov. 23 and Sunday, Nov. 24.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles,ma 1987 comedy, stars Steve Martin as Neal Page who is trying to get back to Chicago for Thanksgiving with his family, according to Harper’s Bazaar. A surprise snowstorm reroutes him through rural Kansas where he is forced to get help from Del Griffith, played by John Candy, as they navigate the travel madness. 

The Pilgrims

This 2015 TV movie from PBS lets history take the center stage. It is directed by Ric Burns and based on William Bradford and his manuscript, Of Plymouth Plantation. Watching The Pilgrims is a great way for families to understand what drove the pilgrims to the new world, the voyage of the Mayflower and the early years at the Plymouth settlement, including the first Thanksgiving.

Jim Henson’s Turkey Hallow

This 2015 Thanksgiving movie was created by Jim Henson and aired on Lifetime. Jim Henson’s Turkey Hallow features fuzzy puppet monsters, is narrated by Mary Steenburgen, Jay Harrington, and more stars. This is a family friendly film that is good for all people who understand that monsters are not real.

The Last Waltz 

This 1978 Martin Scorsese 1978 film The Last Waltz features the Band’s farewell performance at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom on Thanksgiving day in 1976. The Band was joined by music giants Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Ringo Star, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, and more. It has been described as one of the most iconic concert films ever made.

Hannah and Her Sisters

This 1986 comedy-drama that was written and directed by Woody Allen tells the story of an extended family – Hannah and her sisters – over two years that begins and ends on Thanksgiving. Allen stars in Hannah and Her Sisters along with Mia Farrow as Hannah, Barbara Hershey and Dianne Wiest as her sisters, as well as a star-studded cast.

Lez Bomb

Thanksgiving can bring out a lot of family drama and Lez Bomb showcases how the best plans can go array in a very funny way, according to Harper’s Bazar. This 1995 film stars Jenna Laurenzo as a Brooklyn woman who comes out to her family over Thanksgiving weekend. But this doesn’t go exactly as planned.

Home for the Holidays

Home for the Holidays is a 1995 comedy/drama that was directed by Jodi Foster and based on a short story by Chris Radan. The movie follows Claudia Larson who after losing her job and finding out her children have their own plans, decides to spend Thanksgiving with her quirky dysfunctional family. They quickly remind her why she left home.

A Miracle on 34th Street

While A Miracle on 34 th Street is usually thought of as a Christmas movie, this 1947 film actually takes place between Thanksgiving and Christmas. When the man playing Santa Claus in the Macy’s parade is inebriated and cannot perform, Kris Kringle who resembles Santa is asked to perform instead. Kringle is then hired to be the department store Santa and later claims to be the real Santa.But everything works out in the end.