Thanksgiving is usually overlooked by movie buffs which means not most people can list their favorite movies to watch on the day. So here is a special list for you.
Thanksgiving is a holiday where people celebrate the harvest and other blessings over the past year. People usually celebrate this day by devouring a big, tasty feast and there is nothing better than cozying up on the sofa after you have had your big, full Thanksgiving feast. However, this holiday is usually overlooked by the viewers so here is a list of the 10 best Thanksgiving movies that you can watch this year, and well, dwell on the emotions.
- Planes, Trains and Automobiles
This might be the most well-known Thanksgiving movie of all time and rightfully so, this classic comedy film is just the one that will put you in a light mood. This 1987 comedy was directed by John Hughes and stars Steve Martin and John Candy as two travelers who spark an unlikely and most surely, unexpected friendship. The movie follows the two friends and their journey that make sure that Neal gets home to Chicago in time for the special holiday.
- Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
You might think that Miracle on 34th Street (1947) is a movie that was originally framed as a Christmas movie, but in reality, it can be enjoyed as much on Thanksgiving day as it can be on Christmas. Released in 1947, the movie stars all the Hollywood hotshots including Maureen O’Hara, Gene Lockhart, Edmund Gwenn, and John Payne.
- Grumpy Old Men
Don’t go south with just the movie’s title, because it surely can put you in a jolly mood, right after the big feast of Thanksgiving. This 1993 comedy will give you a warm feeling, as it is set in Minnesota and recognizes important aspects of life, especially when it comes to older generations. The story is developed around friendships, romances, and even feuds among the more seasoned people starring Star Ann-Margret, the late Walter Matthau, and Jack Lemmon.
- Addams Family Values
Even though Charles Addams’s macabre family brings vibes and ambiance closer to Halloween, this 1993 reboot earns its place in the list of most loved Thanksgiving movies, especially because of the popular Thanksgiving scene. Starring Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christina Ricci, and Jimmy Workman, this movie follows Wednesday and how she is stuck in a summer camp where she is forced to act in a Thanksgiving play. But things do not go as planned and dressed as Pocahontas, Wednesday plays a scene of righteous retribution that is so bloody that it would make Tarantino proud.
- The Humans
Movies that are set around Thanksgiving are always better choices to binge upon on the holiday. This takes us to the next movie on the list, a 2021 release The Humans. The film stars Jayne Houdyshell, Richard Jenkins, Amy Schumer, Steven Yeun, June Squibb, and Beanie Feldstein. This haunting yet hilarious revolves around the Turkey-eating holiday and the story of this American psychological drama focuses on the Blake family as it experiences an unsettling presence that leads to the family tensions brewing.
- Avalon
Next up on the list is Barry Levinson’s 1990 release Avalon. Part of this coming-to-America chronicle is famous because of the famous Thanksgiving scene that many people quote whenever someone is late for their family gatherings. They quote “You cut the turkey without me?” Yes, this dialogue is from this movie which is a beautiful family drama that can be classified as a period film which sadly, cannot be seen anywhere these days. If you are young or have a younger audience with you this Thanksgiving, this movie can help them learn a lot about their ancestors this holiday.
- She’s Gotta Have It
This 1986 release is Spike Lee’s debut full-length feature that is focused on a lovely Thanksgiving dinner hosted by Nola Darling. Nola, played by Tracy Camilla Johns, is a Brooklyn graphic artist who is juggling three men who all join her for the awkward holiday dinner. In black and white, this movie was adapted into a Netflix series that ran for two seasons from 2017 to 2019 by Lee. The movie also features a controversial rape scene that the director later regretted and cut down from the series.
- Little Women
Greta Gerwig is a phenomenal director who is just so magical that her craft is all-consuming. Her six-time Academy Awards-nominated ‘Little Women’ is on this list and it is definitely a must-watch. This movie is officially the seventh adaption of Louisa May Alcott’s novel of the same name released in 1868 that follows the lives of the March sisters. The story revolves around Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth and their coming-of-age stories in Concord, Massachusetts, during the 19th century. Staring one of the most elite class of Hollywood talents, Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, TimothéeChalamet, Meryl Streep, etc. this movie shows a different side of the March sisters and their extra magical stories on the holiday.
- You’ve Got Mail
A classic rom-com that is just the best suited for a cozy, romantic Thanksgiving night. This 1998 release is what defines the genre of Hollywood romantic comedies and stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in the leading roles. The plot revolves around Joe (Tom Hanks) and Kathleen (Meg Ryan) falling in love in the virtual world only to find out that they are business rivals in the real world.
- Scent of a Woman
This 1992 movie features the role that finally got Al Pacino to win his first, long-awaited Academy award. In the role of Frank Slade, Al Pacino displays a brilliant act as a retired, bitter army colonel who lost his eyesight in a grenade accident. He then plans to kill himself after a lousy Thanksgiving weekend but an unlikely friendship with a college student, played by Chris O’Donnell, makes him reconsider.
