No Turkeys Here
What are we thankful for this year? Each and every one of these great Thanksgiving movies. We are also thankful that we are being a little loose with the "Thanksgiving" theme—so that we can consider movies that aren't fully centered around the holiday. As long as there is some kind of Thanksgiving scene or reference, that's good enough for us.
Spider-Man (2002)
It was at Aunt May's Thanksgiving dinner when Norman Osborn realized that Peter Parker is Spider-Man.
Scent of a Woman (1992)
Al Pacino won his only Acting Oscar for his performance in this film—which takes place over a Thanksgiving weekend.
Universal, Scent of a Woman (1992)
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
Steve Martin is trying to get home for Thanksgiving with the help (not always wanted) of John Candy in John Hughes's great road trip comedy. To anyone who thought John Hughes could only do teen comedies...wrong!
Paramount, Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
The Wiz (1978)
It is at a big Thanksgiving dinner where we first meet Dorothy (Diana Ross), Aunt Em, and Uncle Henry in this cult classic reimagining of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum with an African-American cast.
Tower Heist (2011)
This Ben Stiller/Eddie Murphy heist comedy is funnier than it gets credit for. And for our purposes—the big heist takes place during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Hannah and Her Sisters (1998)
This highly-acclaimed film takes place over the course of two years—beginning and ending at Thanksgiving parties.
Orion, Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
There has been a push in recent years to classify Wes Anderson's brilliant stop-motion film as a Thanksgiving movie thanks to the autumn vibes, the apple cider, the quest by Mr Fox to steal the farmer's birds, etc... Do we buy it? Maybe not. But if it lets us mention this awesome movie we aren't going to complain.
Twentieth Century, Fantastic Mr. Fox (2002)
You've Got Mail (1998)
Tom Hanks had to help Meg Ryan out when she mistakenly only had a credit card in the "cash only" line at the grocery store on....that's right—Thanksgiving.
Warner Bros., You've Got Mail (1998)
Rocky (1975)
Rocky and Adrian's first date takes place on Thanksgiving.
Rocky II (1979)
The big Rocky/Creed fight that ends the film takes place on Thanksgiving. "Yo, Adrian, I did it!" (on Thanksgiving).
United Artists, Rocky II (1979)
The Ice Storm (1997)
A Thanksgiving weekend filled with love, hate, anger, happiness, drama, substance abuse, ice, snow, and key parties.
Searchlight, The Ice Storm (1997)
My Blue Heaven (1990)
Yup, there is a Thanksgiving shopping center scene in this under-rated Steve Martin comedy.
Warner Bros., My Blue Heaven (1990)
Krisha (2015)
A woman in her 60s who, because of her addiction issues, has been estranged from her family for years—returns for a Thanksgiving family dinner. Director Trey Edward Shults cast his real-life aunt Krisha Fairchild in his directorial debut—which is rocking a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes by the way.
The Humans (2021)
This psychological drama takes place over the course of a family gathering at Thanksgiving and is based on director Stephen Karam's one-act play. The film holds a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Mistress America (2015)
Greta Gerwig stars in this film she co-wrote with her husband Noah Baumbach (who also directed the movie). A funny and witty film that got lost back in 2015—but is well worth finding.
Searchlight, Mistress America (2015)
Instant Family (2018)
A sweet and funny family comedy starring Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne as parents who adopt three siblings. Heartfelt and heartwarming.
Paramount, Instant Family (2018)
Thanksgiving (2023)
Put the holiday in the hands of Eli Roth and this is the slasher/horror movie you get. Roth made the movie based on the made-up trailer he created for Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino's 2007 Grindhouse film.
The Santa Clause (1994)
No, we're not saying The Santa Clause isn't a Christmas movie—because it is. But, Thanksgiving does play a role in the film—as the day on which Tim Allen's character must report to the North Pole to assume his Santa duties.
Walt Disney, The Santa Clause (1994)
Holiday Inn (1942)
Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire star in this holiday musical—and when we say holiday, we're talking about a lot of them. Christmas, Valentine's Day, Independence Day, and Thanksgiving are just a few of the holidays that have their moment in this one.
Avalon (1990)
One of Barry Levinson's most underrated films, Avalon is one of the four semi-autobiographical movies the great director made in the 80s and 90s. The film spans from the 1910s through the 1950s—but there is a Thanksgiving scene that is an important moment in the story.
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)
A staple in many households every Thanksgiving season.
CBS, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)
The Oath (2018)
Ike Barinholtz wrote, directed, and stars in the black comedy along with Tiffany Haddish. The film centers around a politically divided family during the Thanksgiving holidays when the entire country has been asked to sign a loyalty oath to the President of the United States.
Roadside Attractions, The Oath (2018)
Home for the Holidays (1995)
The holiday in question in this Jodi Foster-directed dramedy is Thanksgiving.
Paramount, Home for the Holidays (1995)
Grumpy Old Men (1993)
How can you not love Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau? And yes, there is a Thanksgiving dinner scene.
Warner Bros., Grumpy Old Men (1993)
Starting Over (1979)
Candice Bergen and Jill Clayburgh both picked up Oscar noms for their roles as Burt Reynolds' ex-wife and new girlfriend respectively in this 1973 dramedy. And while Roger Ebert didn't love the film—giving it 2 out of 4 stars, his partner in crime Gene Siskel said it was worth seeing and gave it 3 out of 4 stars.
Paramount, Starting Over (1979)
Black Friday (2021)
To quote the New York Times review of this B-Movie horror comedy: "this is exactly the kind of thing horror lovers should watch with like-minded friends as the holidays roll."
Screen Media, Black Friday (2021 film)
The Morning After (1986)
Jane Fonda wakes up on Thanksgiving, hungover and next to a dead body. What happened?
Twentieth Century, The Morning After (1986)
The Myth of Fingerprints (1997)
Thanksgiving and a dysfunctional family seems to always make for good drama.
Sony, The Myth of Fingerprints (1997)
The House of Yes (1997)
Another dysfunctional family meets Thanksgiving movie. Although this one is played for dark comedy.
