Endearing holiday movies often provide unforgettable settings and stories for the whole family to curl up around the fire and enjoy together. Although Christmas and Halloween tend to be celebrated cinematically more than most holidays, there are still plenty of warm and welcoming Thanksgiving films that moviegoers should be grateful for in 2023. While some examples likeThe Ice StormandHannah and Her Sistersare best suited for more mature audiences, others are deliberately meant for children and adults to feast on along with their delicious Thanksgiving meals.
As such, with Turkey Day fast approaching, it’s only right to dish out the best Thanksgiving movies that accommodate the whole family. From cult classic comedies and beloved animated films to heart-warming coming-of-age tales, the most compelling Thanksgiving family films usually revolve around the holiday, feature sumptuous food, boast autumnal decorations, and of course, express ultimate gratitude for loved ones.
10Jim Henson’s Turkey Hollow (2015)
While the 2013 animated filmFree Birdsis worth an honorable mention,Jim Henson’s Turkey Hollowis an even more ideal place to start a family’s Thanksgiving movie feast. The plot revolves around the Emmerson family, who visit the small town of Turkey Hollow to visit Aunt Cly (Mary Steenburgen). Without the internet in town to keep them busy, youngsters Tim and Emma begin searching for a mysterious monster known locally as the “Howling Hoodoo.”
Why It’s Perfect For Thanksgiving
A cut above most made-for-TV holiday fare,Turkey Hollowhas something for the whole family to enjoy. The slapstick comedy is sure to appeal to the younger family members, with the sly, sophisticated quips and quotes bound to land with the adults in the room. With lifelike puppetry in the movieinspired by the great Jim Henson, the best part aboutTurkey Hollowis its message for children, which encourages people to express gratitude for their differences rather than make enemies with them.
Jim Henson’s Turkey Hollowis currently available to stream on Disney+
9Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
Adapted from the classic Roald Dahl children’s story, Wes Anderson’sFantastic Mr. Foxengenders everything that makes Thanksgiving special without featuring the holiday itself. The stop-motion animated film follows Mr. Fox (George Clooney), a polite and quirky fox who cannot purge his true nature as a natural predator. Torn between his insatiable appetite for chickens and standing up to a ruthless farmer, Mr. Fox is caught in a moral dilemma that will teach the entire family invaluable lessons.
A rousing and uplifting affair that features gorgeous autumnal oranges, browns, and yellows, what really makes Fantastic Mr. Fox such a remarkable family Thanksgiving movie is the food. After raiding one of the chicken farms, Mr. Fox treats his family and his animalistic pals to feast on a delectable smorgasbord that pairs perfectly with one’s own Turkey Day buffet. Moreover, Mr. Fox’s existential crisis is sure to resonate with parents everywhere.
Fantastic Mr. Foxis currently available to stream on Max.
8Dutch (1991)
Written by the late great John Hughes,Dutchis another absolute gem of a Thanksgiving film that will draw every family closer. The road movie concerns Dutch (Ed O’Neill inone of his best performances), a good-hearted man who agrees to escort his girlfriend’s snobby, stuck-up son Doyle (Ethan Embry) from prep school and drive him home for Thanksgiving. The two can’t stand each other at first, yet over time, they grow closer and learn to understand each other better.
Dutch has become a cult classic due to its humorous set-pieces, outstanding chemistry between O’Neill and Embry, and its inspirational feel-good messaging. Dutch teaches Doyle what it means to be thankful for all the privileges he was born with and takes for granted by taking him to a soup kitchen when they have nowhere else to stay after their car breaks down and their money is stolen. Between the gluttonous one-liners like “Nothing burps like bacon” and the heartening expressions of gratitude, Dutch deserves to be on repeat this Thanksgiving.
Dutchis currently available to stream on Max
7Addams Family Values (1993)
Addams Family Values
Released a week before Thanksgiving,Addams Family Valuesmay not be the first film one thinks of in relation to the holiday. However, those who’ve seen the highly amusing PG-13 film will always remember the movie’s scathing satirical take on Thanksgiving as seen through Wednesday and Gary’s morbid summer camp stage play. For those who’ve not seen it, make it appointment-viewing this Turkey Day, as it will give families a whole new perspective on the history of the holiday.
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While Joan Cusack’s hysterical performance as Uncle Fester’s devious gold-digging girlfriend Debbie is alone worth watching, it’s the dynamic between Gary and Wednesday that is most pertinent to Thanksgiving. When Wednesday is cast as Pocahontas, she feigns enthusiasm and concocts a ploy to burn down the set, which serves as a round rebuke of how indigenous populations were treated by European settlers.
Addams Family Valuesis currently available to stream on Paramount+
6You’ve Got Mail (1998)
You’ve Got Mail
Often hailed amongthe greatest ’90s romantic comedies, Nora Ephron’sYou’ve Got Mailis delicious comfort food for the heart and soul. The story concerns bookstore owners Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) and Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan), two strangers who do not get along in real life but fall in love with each other anonymously over the internet. The delightfully enchanting PG movie features two crucial Thanksgiving scenes that no family gathering is soon to forget.
Beyond the wistful romantic rapport between Hanks and Ryan that culminates in an all-time heart-melting finale, Ephron does a great job of vividly capturing the Thanksgiving holiday. The last-minute shopping spree for a Thanksgiving feast in a crowded supermarket ends with the all-time great deadpan quote from the snippy clerk, with Joe urging her to express her grateful side. There’s no denying the replayable charm the movie continues to display 25 years later.
You’ve Got Mailis currently available to stream on Tubi
5Pieces of April (2003)
Pieces of April
April Burns (Holmes) is a 21-year-old wild child with a very big problem. Against her better judgment, she’s invited her straightlaced family for Thanksgiving dinner. Her boyfriend, Bobby, wants to help, but she banishes him from the apartment while she attempts to cook the meal. To make matters worse, she then discovers that her oven doesn’t work. So, while April is forced to ask her eccentric neighbors for help in cooking her fifteen pound turkey, the Burns Family begins a reluctant journey from suburban Pennsylvania toward New York City’s Lower East Side. April’s Dad, Jim Burns (Platt) tries to convince the family that the day will be beautiful. Her mom, Joy (Clarkson) has her doubts and freely voices them. April’s teenage sister and brother are squeezed between Grandma Dottie and a bag of snacks in the back seat as the Burns' family car hurtles toward Manhattan and what will most likely be certain disaster.
Written and directed by Peter Hedges,Pieces of Aprilis a criminally underrated Thanksgiving film that every family should add to their watch list this holiday. Katie Holmes gives a stunning performance as April Burns, an aimless and free-spirited young woman who invites her estranged family for Thanksgiving in her rundown apartment. The movie cuts back and forth between April preparing dinner for her family and her family driving across the state, crystallizing their differences and similarities along the way.
Pieces of April pulls no punches in its realistic depiction of a dysfunctional family doing its best to mend itself. But, with brisk pacing, outstanding performances, and three-dimensional characters there is a lot for the whole family to root for. The characters are original, the crackling dialogue is hilarious, and the ending is brimming with genuine heartfelt expressions of thankfulness. It may not appeal to toddlers, but Pieces of April strikes a pitch-perfect tonal balance between comedy and drama that nearly every family will recognize themselves in.
Pieces of Aprilis currently available to stream on Max
4Soul Food (1997)
Written and directed by George Tillman Jr., very fewfamily food moviessoothe the spirit and fill the belly likeSoul Food. An uplifting celebration of how the Joseph family bonds over their weekly Sunday dinners, including a sensational Thanksgiving sequence. The scrumptious Southern-inspired food scenes alone are worth salivating over, but once again, it’s the positive message about acceptance, forgiveness, and giving thanks that makes the movie so special.
Between the feel-good music, mouth-watering dishes, and authentic depiction of a family dealing with unforeseen events that life throws at people,Soul Foodis a stark reminder of how important family is. It’s heartwarming to see how thankful the Josephs are for having people they can rely on and support them even in the darkest moments. The homespun atmosphere and mix of humor and melodrama provide the perfect ingredients for a Thanksgiving family film.
Soul Foodis currently available to stream on DirecTV
3Home for the Holidays (1995)
Directed by Jodie Fosterwith keen observational candor,Home for the Holidaysis a must-see Thanksgiving family feature. The story concerns Claudia Larson (Holly Hunter), a single mother from Chicago who loses her job and is forced to spend Thanksgiving with her family in Baltimore. Old wounds are opened, and new allies are forged as the dysfunctional family musters the strength and courage to overcome their difference and find loving common ground.
Praised for striking a consistently entertaining balance between heartfelt drama and sidesplitting humor,Home for the Holidaysis the definitive family reunion Thanksgiving movie. The dark humor in the beginning gives way to hilarity and sentimental closure that most families will see themselves in some way or another.
Home for the Holidaysis currently available to stream on Fubo
2Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Another movie written by John Hughes,Planes, Trains & Automobilesought to be played on a loop during every annual Thanksgiving celebration. The story follows strangers Neal (Steve Martin) and Dell (John Candy) who vie for the same rental car and end up taking a cross-country road trip together en route to Neal’s home for Thanksgiving Day celebration. The odd couple cannot stand each other at first, yet through shared experience and mutual understanding, they become close and learn to admire each other’s differences.
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What makes the movie special is the dynamic chemistry between two of the all-time great comedic actors. It may be an R-rated movie with more adult material than most, but even children will laugh at the jokes, respond to the drama, and understand the message Hughes hints at. An unlikely tale of profound friendship forged between two perfect strangers who couldn’t be more different, the heart-warming final scene will tickle even the most cynical family gatherings.
Planes, Trains & Automobilesis currently available to stream on Paramount+
1A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
Just asA Charlie Brown Christmasis a must-see annual holiday movie, so too isA Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. The story of Charlie, Snoopy, Linus, Pig Pen, and others gathering for a Turkey Day feast at Peppermint Patty’s house is too much fun to miss. In fact, the cartoon won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children’s Special.
With an endearing sense of nostalgia for all those who grew up watching Peanuts, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is an undeniably warm-hearted blast from the past. Watching Charlie and the gang cook their own Thanksgiving feast before making a traditional meal is one thing, but the history lesson about the first Thanksgiving celebration in 1621 goes a long way in educating younger family members about the importance of the holiday and why it’s vital to show gratitude for loved ones every year.
A Charlie Brown Thanksgivingis currently available to stream on Apple TV+
