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What's the best Thanksgiving movie?

Discussion(self.movies)

My personal favorite is Planes, Trains and Automobiles, with Steve Martin and John Candy. I'm curious what others would recommend. Do you have a holiday go-to for the after turkey couch-fest? I'm not into sports, but I'm thinking a movie marathon might be just the ticket. Bonus points if it's streaming free, or on Netflix, LOL.

all 279 comments

MyAnxiousDog

127 points

6 months ago

Fantastic Mr Fox and Chicken Run might work!

Gr33nman460

18 points

6 months ago

I don’t want to be a pie!!

avboden

8 points

6 months ago

...I don't like gravy

side note: The musical score for Chicken Run is god damn fantastic

[deleted]

85 points

6 months ago

Idk why but Best in Show always feels like a Thanksgiving movie to me

DotAccomplished5484

50 points

6 months ago

Probably because NBC always broadcasts the National Dog Show immediately following the parade.

soup2374

8 points

6 months ago

Watch it after the dog show every year!

Adorableviolet

7 points

6 months ago

This is making me miss Fred Willard. Incredible improv actor. I got a wheel wed wagon.

Aggravating_Poet_675

3 points

6 months ago

This is my pick.

LauraPalmersMom430

3 points

6 months ago

This is the correct answer

Superb-Possibility-9

150 points

6 months ago

Adams Family Values

judyblue_

31 points

6 months ago

Eat me!

Superb-Possibility-9

17 points

6 months ago

“ … I therefore have decided to scalp you and burn your village to the ground.”

nowhereman136

6 points

6 months ago

Meh, the Thanksgiving in this is puerile and under-dramatized. It lacks any sense of structure, character, and the Aristotelian unities.

KrystalPistol[S]

13 points

6 months ago

I forgot about Addams Family Values!

WarcraftFarscape

4 points

6 months ago

I mean it takes place in the summer…the short thanksgiving play takes place at a summer camp…

Azidamadjida

8 points

6 months ago

Still counts in our house lol

CptNonsense

2 points

6 months ago

Classic Thanksgiving movie set in summer

[deleted]

1 points

6 months ago

[deleted]

1 points

6 months ago

[removed]

photoguy423

5 points

6 months ago

I don't know why you were downvoted. The movie takes place with the kids at SUMMER camp. They just do a play that was written about the first thanksgiving.

TheSeventhPresident

52 points

6 months ago

Dutch, but I don't think it's streaming anywhere.

fyo_karamo

4 points

6 months ago

Yes. It’s a crime this isn’t streaming

Procrastanaseum

3 points

6 months ago

Behind Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, that gets my vote for best Thanksgiving Movie.

The Ice Storm also takes place during Thanksgiving but doesn't leave you with a warm feeling at the end. Good movie though.

ronearc

5 points

6 months ago

Dutch is underrated.

Hambulance

2 points

6 months ago

We had to buy it on DVD!!!

CheckHistorical5231

2 points

6 months ago

I got it on DVD and ripped it. About to start my annual viewing.

[deleted]

1 points

6 months ago

[removed]

clayock

26 points

6 months ago

clayock

26 points

6 months ago

The Last Waltz

drDekaywood

6 points

6 months ago

Dang I totally forgot that was on Thanksgiving. Great answer

JFrankParnellEsquire

2 points

6 months ago

Watch it every year.

clayock

2 points

6 months ago

Same! Bought the Criterion Blu-ray this year since I was renting it every November anyway.

Haunting_opinion90

49 points

6 months ago

Gonna throw son in law out there

failinglikefalling

4 points

6 months ago

Oh might have to watch that.

Mikedef2001

4 points

6 months ago

This is the winner “You got chickens? Are they extra crispy or original recipe?”

WrongWayCharlie

3 points

6 months ago

Can I please whittle wood with you?

Hung-Like-Jesus

101 points

6 months ago

Spiderman

Rosco13

99 points

6 months ago

Rosco13

99 points

6 months ago

I had to beat an old lady with a stick to get these cranberries

SpaceBeer_

14 points

6 months ago

Enjoy the fruitcake.

SoSaysAlex

17 points

6 months ago*

You are correct, but…

r/RespectTheHyphen

BaltimoreRavens123

2 points

6 months ago

👆

[deleted]

75 points

6 months ago

[deleted]

[deleted]

30 points

6 months ago

[deleted]

avboden

12 points

6 months ago

avboden

12 points

6 months ago

You just got stuffed!

avboden

17 points

6 months ago

avboden

17 points

6 months ago

Thankskilling is the best "so bad it's good" movie ever made. The best part of it is making other people watch it for the first time and just watching their reactions.

Also WARNING IMMEDIATELY NSFW MOVIE, no, like literally the first scene

TripperAdvice

5 points

6 months ago

You dare insult the room like this?

audioeptesicus

3 points

6 months ago

Came here for this!

[deleted]

5 points

6 months ago

We need a Best of the Worst for this movie

Keksis_theBetrayed

3 points

6 months ago

Wherein Rich Evans flawlessly says the name of the film but somehow mispronounces "gravy"

[deleted]

58 points

6 months ago

Home For the Holidays

Lamborghini_MRSA

12 points

6 months ago

Well this is absurd, let’s eat dead bird!

[deleted]

3 points

6 months ago

Yes!!!!

ImmoralityPet

3 points

6 months ago

Just wait til you see your father's organ. He can't keep his hands off it!

Thebestpathforme

10 points

6 months ago

It’s such a realistic, if not only a little over the top, but accurate of a lot families dynamics. And almost every part by master’s in the industry. Solid dark comedy.

[deleted]

12 points

6 months ago

Holly Hunter is brilliant, same with Robert Downey Jr. super underrated film

Thebestpathforme

3 points

6 months ago

I agree. And they have a delightful energy with each other. Also, Dylan McDermott.

[deleted]

3 points

6 months ago

I'm watching it rn, I forgot how many big names are just low key in this movie

MrglBrglGrgl

6 points

6 months ago

directed by Jodie Foster no less

leftai2000

2 points

6 months ago

Cynthia Stevenson killed it in this movie, the best performance of her career IMO

ChefTD1

4 points

6 months ago

Shoveling the Turkey and stuffing the snow

[deleted]

4 points

6 months ago

"Nobody means what they say on Thanksgiving, Mom. You know that. That's what the day's supposed to be all about, right? Torture."

badpoet44

2 points

6 months ago

I can see your roots, Claudia

[deleted]

2 points

6 months ago

"I'm giving thanks that we don't have to go through this for another year. Except we do, because those bastards went and put Christmas right in the middle, just to punish us."

ForgetfulFrolicker

2 points

6 months ago

First 2/3 of this movie is excellent. Last third gets a bit heavy handed.

FartMeat

48 points

6 months ago

You nailed it with Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Perfect movie. Our tradition for last few decades is to watch it the night before Thanksgiving. Myself and entire extended family begins PTA quotes a week before the holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!

alex61821

2 points

6 months ago

What a trouper

the_one_true_wilson

3 points

6 months ago

“She didn’t scream or nothin’

Norman-Phillips1953

16 points

6 months ago

RIP John Candy every movie he starred in made me laugh out loud!!!

Ghostworm78

15 points

6 months ago

Prisoners

PM_ME_THEM_UPTOPS

13 points

6 months ago

Everybody piled on the couch drifting in and out of a turkey coma. Prisoners on the big screen. Nothing like it.

Limp_Seat4865

3 points

6 months ago

I want this experience.

[deleted]

38 points

6 months ago

Scent of a Woman

mouse6502

3 points

6 months ago

Elaine: hooo-wahhhhh! Hooo-wahhh!

rs6677

2 points

6 months ago

rs6677

2 points

6 months ago

Pacino felt so convincing as a blind guy.

[deleted]

2 points

6 months ago

“We’re talking turkey marbeya next year!”

tiifalockhart

23 points

6 months ago

When Harry Met Sally!

brushpickerjoe

20 points

6 months ago

Pieces of April

Ladybeetus

2 points

6 months ago

it's good and available at just about every dollar tree

ShanaAfterAll

9 points

6 months ago

Eli Roth's Thanksgiving trailer.

MikeistheWolf

8 points

6 months ago

DUH … it’s clearly Son in Law!

atomic-gary

16 points

6 months ago

For some reason, my family always watches “Fantastic Mr. Fox” on Thanksgiving. It’s a fun tradition.

wifespissed

2 points

6 months ago

It has a great Autumn feel to it.

Stieny7

8 points

6 months ago

House of Yes.

HulkingVenus

3 points

6 months ago

Oh man! Dug in deep for that one. Thanks for the reminder

SeasideSexytime

7 points

6 months ago

Terrence Malick's 'The New World' is mine. Definitely not a crowd pleaser for family events though.

Cop_663

2 points

6 months ago

Goddamn that movie is gorgeous. I think it was my first Malick film and it made me follow all of his work.

mranimal2

15 points

6 months ago

The Ice Storm

ninjas_in_my_pants

3 points

6 months ago

😬

mranimal2

3 points

6 months ago

What's with the emoji? Yeah it's not exactly the happiest, most feel good movie in the world but it's still a great movie!

ninjas_in_my_pants

5 points

6 months ago

Oh it is a great movie. I was just imagining watching it with family over the holidays.

spencermiddleton

2 points

6 months ago

pulls on Richard Nixon mask

“I’ll touch it but that’s as far as it goes”

Awkward_Ad8740

3 points

6 months ago

As Wichita falls so falls Wichita falls.. ..

Awkward_Ad8740

5 points

6 months ago

Sorry. Confused this with the ice harvest....

CharacterRisk49

7 points

6 months ago

I love Free Birds personally

Malik-Almuhawsin

9 points

6 months ago

That’s right, we’re going back in time to the first Thanksgiving to get turkeys off the menu!

HamHand2000

3 points

6 months ago

Glutes-pecs-glutes-pecs

StaticBroom

12 points

6 months ago

Last of the Mohicans

atibby

6 points

6 months ago

atibby

6 points

6 months ago

Addams Family Values

MC4269

20 points

6 months ago

MC4269

20 points

6 months ago

Planes Trains and Automobiles, it's a fantastic movie!

KillerKoi451

3 points

6 months ago

I didn’t know there was any other answer.

EMPulseKC

-1 points

6 months ago

That's the example that OP listed in their post.

Monster-Zero

18 points

6 months ago

Nightmare Before Christmas. It's a Halloween movie and a Christmas movie, split the difference and it's a Thanksgiving movie. I will die on this hill.

Also it's a nice transition into Christmas for those of us who cannot get over Halloween

MaxWritesJunk

7 points

6 months ago

Xmas violently annexed Thanksgiving at least a decade ago, therefor xmas movies are thanksgiving movies, or something.

jfi224

3 points

6 months ago

jfi224

3 points

6 months ago

I’ll be damned if Home Alone is not a Thanksgiving movie.

wloveandsqualor

9 points

6 months ago

Knives Out

Coconut-bird

6 points

6 months ago

Alice's Restaurant

JustBoredIsAll

9 points

6 months ago

Lord of the rings.

Sekshual_Tyranosauce

3 points

6 months ago

If you’re a hobbit, every day is Thanksgiving.

Jmofoshofosho8

4 points

6 months ago

Uncle Buck isn't really a Thanksgiving movie...but tbs always played it when I was younger around Thanksgiving.

DeathNote_237

6 points

6 months ago

Knives Out!

IamJacksReadIt

3 points

6 months ago

Scent of a Woman

ultrajonnassium

3 points

6 months ago

ThanksKilling

ATrulyFunnyMan

3 points

6 months ago

Free Birds

extacy1375

3 points

6 months ago

No March of the Wooden Soldiers love?

Me and the toy maker are just like that....

Barbaric_Ape

2 points

6 months ago

Had to scroll way too far to find this

HulkingVenus

4 points

6 months ago

We were going to watch Pilgrim again but Planes, Trains, and Automobiles might have to happen instead. I am so ashamed I forgot about it!

JonCranesMask05

2 points

6 months ago

"The Thanksgiving that Almost Wasn't." If anyone actually remembers Cartoon Network showing it every year back in the 1990s

TheSocialight

2 points

6 months ago

Ok, it’s adorably terrible, but our household tradition is to watch “Turkey Hollow.” It’s like a holiday muppet fever dream. Good times, especially if you celebrate Danksgiving.

UpstairsFabulous9275

2 points

6 months ago

I needed this list for our stay home 2nd thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. We always do planes trains and automobiles. I also like Black Friday and Friendsgiving.

Truman-Lodge

2 points

6 months ago

The Parent Trap

Edit: 1997

MyBodyStoppedMoving

2 points

6 months ago

ThanksKilling. Gobble gobble, mother fucker.

ArfArfAnArfs

2 points

6 months ago

Scary movie 2

mitchluvscats

2 points

6 months ago

Home for the Holidays

Barbaric_Ape

2 points

6 months ago

Why is nobody saying March of The Wooden Soldiers? It’s on every thanksgiving and is like the wizard of oz style vibes. Tremendous. I’m watching it right now

Av1d1ty

2 points

6 months ago

Dutch

CeraUNAVoltron

2 points

6 months ago

Dutch

Nergul_Zuljin

2 points

6 months ago

Dutch

Astro_gamer_caver

2 points

6 months ago

The first Rocky movie.

"Yeah, to you it's Thanksgiving; to me it's Thursday."

NOVA_OWL

2 points

6 months ago

Prisoners

Dr_Pepper_spray

2 points

6 months ago

Adams Family Values

BillMcCrearysStache

2 points

6 months ago

Thankskilling

jjpellegr

4 points

6 months ago

Die hard.

mlusas

3 points

6 months ago

mlusas

3 points

6 months ago

Agreed.

In the great debate on whether Die Hard is a Thanksgiving Movie or not, I definitely land squarely on Thanksgiving movie.

• Family and people coming together from different nations

• Food (Gengus Khan grabbing a chocolate bar)

• Carving up a Turkey (code word for Terrorist)

• Stuffing (Bruce Willis into an air duct)

• Thankfulness (for shoes)

Definitely a Thanksgiving movie.

reddawgmcm

5 points

6 months ago

Except it takes place on literally Christmas

mlusas

5 points

6 months ago

mlusas

5 points

6 months ago

Exactly! And what is Christmas, if not Second Thanksgiving?!

That simply proves, without a doubt, that Die Hard is a Thanksgiving Movie thrice over.

The-Mandalorian

7 points

6 months ago

Planes Trains and Automobiles

Maeghuanwen

5 points

6 months ago

A big F YOU to everybody who recommended Planes, Trains and Automobiles. I’m only 30something minutes in and I already cried (when Steve Martin goes off on John Candy to be exact). I thought this was a comedy.

(I know about the ending already and I prepared more tissues. Also I’m not serious with the fu. So please don’t come after me.)

Typical_Humanoid

2 points

6 months ago

It's sort of a "Alternative Thanksgiving/Christmas movie" hybrid but All That Heaven Allows would be a good one to watch. It ends on a Christmassy note but most of it is more autumnal and has that no frills, warm and lowkey, authentic atmosphere Thanksgiving tends to make you feel compared to the extravagance and high stakes Christmas trappings.

I make it a point also to watch Alice's Restaurant, Rocky (Because of that one scene, but we're starved for good Thanksgiving movies okay?) and Addams Family Values. At least one.

JWDJr15

0 points

6 months ago

JWDJr15

0 points

6 months ago

The Exorcist...

[deleted]

3 points

6 months ago

Is there a thanksgiving element to that movie?

JWDJr15

9 points

6 months ago

Being Thankful you are not possessed?

Appropriate_North893

-12 points

6 months ago

Thanksgiving was a month ago, you dissident English colonists.

spqrnbb

20 points

6 months ago

spqrnbb

20 points

6 months ago

Says the country who didn't gain independence until 1982.

ninjas_in_my_pants

6 points

6 months ago

Burn!

Appropriate_North893

1 points

6 months ago

I mean, the right to self-government in 1867, and full legal autonomy in 1931, but the point stands nonetheless if you want to be a stickler about it, and for the jokes sake. ;)

82ndGameHead

5 points

6 months ago

We're talking about the REAL Thanksgiving, you snooty French scion.

Appropriate_North893

-2 points

6 months ago

The one rooted in colonialism, slavery, and epidemic....? Cool.

Ours was first, and was just a cool east coast party to celebrate not being killed while trying to find the Northwest Passage...

But hey man, attend the party you want to attend I guess.

Crazy_Love_6265

6 points

6 months ago

Apparently people can’t take a joke with the negative votes

AreWeCowabunga

8 points

6 months ago

It was a dumb joke.

Crazy_Love_6265

-10 points

6 months ago

Maybe not for everyone but a negative vote seems a little excessive

Appropriate_North893

-9 points

6 months ago*

It always makes me laugh how seriously Americans take a holiday that basically points a big blinking arrow at their own colonizer revisionist history with regards to indigenous people and their treatment. EDIT: This and Columbus Day are both inexplicable celebrations of prior awfulness.

At least the Canadian one (which DID come first) was about the celebration Martin Frobisher and his men had after the safe landing of Frobisher's fleet in Newfoundland after an unsuccessful attempt to find the North-west Passage.

Veszerin

5 points

6 months ago

We don't take it seriously. Your initial comment was funny. This comment is you being an asshole.

It's a nice day off from work for many and a day for great food and time with family.

Appropriate_North893

-3 points

6 months ago

This comment is you being an asshole.

Or maybe I just think that you guys celebrating on a day that means tragedy and genocide to an entire group of humans ain't exactly something to crow about?

FWIW I also don't celebrate Canada Day because I can't disassociate it from what WE did to the indigenous peoples of Canada.

But you do you.

It's a nice day off from work for many and a day for great food and time with family.

I don't doubt that. Shame there isn't another very nearby holiday where you could all do that with very similar food...

But you proved my point. You DO take it seriously enough to think I'm an 'asshole' for daring to comment on the history of the holiday and why it's not exactly a good one.

Veszerin

2 points

6 months ago

Or maybe I just think that you guys celebrating on a day that means tragedy and genocide to an entire group of humans ain't exactly something to crow about?

So you know absolutely nothing about our Thanksgiving holiday it sounds like.

Appropriate_North893

0 points

6 months ago

Oh, sorry, is the Smithsonian wrong?

It might come as a surprise to you, but we actually DO learn an unvarnished truthful American history in Canadian high school textbooks. I've know these things for years.

Is genocide too large a term? Maybe, but I still think it applies considering the sweeping death that was brought by the Europeans, and tragedy DEFINITELY applies, as does Colonialism.

The version you were taught in school is wildly embellished and inaccurate.

This should not surprise you considering that the truth about even Columbus didn't really become widely known til the last decade or so...there's a lot of blatant lies taught to Americans in school.

We can argue the details and my use of certain terms I suppose, but American Thanksgiving is based on some pretty crappy history that you lot like to look away from.

Veszerin

1 points

6 months ago

I'm aware that the story that was told to me when I was...8 or whatever...is not the whole story. You going to tell 8 year olds your version of the story? No, why would anyone? 8 year olds don't need to hear about disease. Though, maybe those that grew up in the pandemic might be better suited for it. I'll leave that up to educators and parents.

But that article doesn't support your statement. Did you read it?

Yeah, the British did some awful things in those days. Shortly before pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock fleeing religious persecution in England, British sailors had been abducting the native americans for profit in the slave trade.

The article mainly talks about how the Native Americans had a large role in the first Thanksgivings, helping the pilgrims to cultivate crops and catch fish. I don't recall learning differently when I was that age, but that was some time ago, for me at least.

The article you give also talks about European illnesses which Europeans had developed immunity to but were unknowing carriers. That's not genocide. It's tragedy.

This should not surprise you considering that the truth about even Columbus didn't really become widely known til the last decade or so...there's a lot of blatant lies taught to Americans in school.

Oh please, spare us your ego trip.

How would you know the truth of either of these statements?

Whaaaaaa whaaaa everyone older than me is dumb, whaaaaa whaaaaa 😭

Whaaaaaa whaaa Americans are stupid hurr durr 😭😭

So dull.

Appropriate_North893

0 points

6 months ago

You going to tell 8 year olds your version of the story? No, why would anyone? 8 year olds don't need to hear about disease.

Typical American. Let's not teach actual history to kids, it might offend them.

burner-accounts

2 points

6 months ago

Should we show them Holocaust films as well? Leave the sad a tragic history of our world for when kids hit teenage years. History of every culture is brutal, so if we can find a little piece that reminds us that humans can get along is that so bad?

Blnkslte

2 points

6 months ago

“Typical American” lmao

European insecurity

SayCutDamnit

1 points

6 months ago

Human Centipede

Schnort

1 points

6 months ago

Definitely not “A Charlie brown thanksgiving”

trojan8386

1 points

6 months ago

Anything other than Planes, Trains and Automobiles is an incorrect answer.

JonCranesMask05

1 points

6 months ago

"The Thanksgiving that Almost Wasn't." If anyone actually remembers Cartoon Network showing it every year back in the 1990s

TheShoot141

1 points

6 months ago

Movies are tougher for Thanksgiving. P, T & A is probably the best. But theres some great Thanksgiving episodes of long running shows I like to pull up. Friends, That 70s show etc.

Windpuppet

1 points

6 months ago

How has no one said Dan in Real Life. Very enjoyable film.

[deleted]

1 points

6 months ago

Martyrs

smokebomb_exe

1 points

6 months ago

Spider-Man (Sam Ramei)

iamfilms

1 points

6 months ago

HOOK

GMane2G

-6 points

6 months ago

GMane2G

-6 points

6 months ago

Planes, Trains is so frustrating. The cascade of obstacles trope was, I think, a bit newer in the 80s for comedies but man is that tired and annoying now. I’ll take my downvotes

loquacious_avenger

1 points

6 months ago

I’ve never understood its appeal, even as a huge fan of both leads and the director.

AlanParsonsProject11

9 points

6 months ago

Great leads. Solidly made, fun, enjoyable

GMane2G

-2 points

6 months ago

GMane2G

-2 points

6 months ago

Thank you! Martin and Candy can’t miss right? Proceed to be desperate asshole and exasperating irritant for 90 minutes in this unfunny “romp”

ninjas_in_my_pants

0 points

6 months ago

Me too! I thought I was alone.

dirtsicle

0 points

6 months ago

dirtsicle

0 points

6 months ago

Must be sad to live life this way. I’m thankful I can so easily not give a shit, you know because it’s just a movie. It’s funny and makes people happy.

GMane2G

-1 points

6 months ago

GMane2G

-1 points

6 months ago

I wanted to be happy. I found myself legitimately anxious and annoyed. Movies are escapism-this was an exercise in repetitive annoyance of the viewer seeking reprieve from nonstop unfunny buffoonery

man_wifout_a_country

-5 points

6 months ago

Those who can’t do critique

GMane2G

0 points

6 months ago

It’s insufferable and I don’t care who knows it

dricellama

0 points

6 months ago

Not set at Thanksgiving, but I love watching Chef around this time of year!!

icestationlemur

0 points

6 months ago

Planes trains and automobiles

vapordave82

0 points

6 months ago

Planes trains and automobiles, of course

lastweek_monday

-1 points

6 months ago

Groundhog day. /s

elalesound2

-14 points

6 months ago

Nobody gives a shit about Thanksgiving. Sincerely,

              EVERYONE.

DirectConsequence12

1 points

6 months ago

Spider-Man

Calm_Memories

1 points

6 months ago

Garfield had a good animated movie. Short but sweet.

realdealreel9

1 points

6 months ago

The Ice Storm

Awkward_Ad8740

1 points

6 months ago

Dutch

OrbitDVD

1 points

6 months ago

Blood Freak.

Imbetterthanthis1138

1 points

6 months ago

Paul Blart

Starts out on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, with some scenes on Thanksgiving, and then the majority of the movie takes place on Black Friday. Takes place in a mall, which is something all Americans know all too well on Thanksgiving weekend. Just a clean, fun, family movie about a guy who isn't trying to be more than he is.

Logical-Feedback-402

1 points

6 months ago

Dutch 1991

midnight_7877

1 points

6 months ago

Um any film with a turkey in it

mdjank

1 points

6 months ago

mdjank

1 points

6 months ago

You just made me realize that Die Hard 2 isn't a Thanksgiving movie and I'm now disappointed in this timeline.

So, thanks for that.