Thanksgiving takes place during a perfect time of year. The leaves are falling, you might be lucky to see some snow. It brings you together with your friends and family. And when all the food has been eaten, you should cosy up by the fire with one of these films. Some are ideal to watch as a family if there are young children at home, whereas others can be watched with friends. There are plenty to choose from!
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Wes Anderson’s adaptation of Roald Dahl’s book, Fantastic Mr. Fox is a fun family film to watch this Thanksgiving. It follows Mr. Fox, who steals meat from local farmers to provide for his family. However, the three farmers – Boggis, Bunce and Bean are aware of the fox’s heists, and will stop at nothing to capture him. Fantastic Mr. Fox captures the essence of Thanksgiving through it’s autumnal colour palette, the sense of community, giving back to others, and of course, the love of food! With an all star cast including George Clooney and Meryl Streep, Fantastic Mr. Fox is guaranteed to have the whole family entertained.
IMDb: 7.9/10
Where to Watch: ITVX (UK), Disney+, Prime Video
Rocky
Arguably one of the most famous boxing films of all time, Thanksgiving may not be the first thing you think of when you think of Rocky. However, the 1976 film is centred around it. Rocky gets in to various situations in the lead up to the holiday, and then on the day, his friend Paulie throws out the turkey his sister Adrian cooked, which subsequently kickstarts the relationship between Rocky and Adrian. This also is the turning point for Rocky as a caring person. In the Rocky franchise, Thanksgiving becomes more than just a Thursday.
IMDb: 8.1/10
Watch Rocky on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
Addams Family Values
Everyone’s favourite kooky family isn’t just associated with Halloween. In Addams Family Values, Wednesday attends a summer camp where lands a starring role in their Thanksgiving play. Instead of sticking to the script, Wednesday highlights the struggles that Native Americans face. The play ends in pandemonium. Wednesday’s fellow campers set the place ablaze, ties a girl to a stake, and captures their camp leaders.
Whilst this may not celebrate Thanksgiving – Wednesday shuns it – it does highlight the importance of family coming together. Uncle Fester is in trouble – he has been seduced by a killer who is after his money, and the family work together to get rid of her. The Addams family are certainly unconventional, but the unwavering loyalty and love they have for each other is undeniable. You should not miss this funny film on Thanksgiving. This is due to stand-out performances from Christopher Lloyd, Angelica Huston, Christina Ricci and Joan Cusack.
IMDb: 6.9/10
You can watch Addams Family Values on ITVX (UK), Amazon Prime Video & Apple TV+
Little Women
Before Barbie, Greta Gerwig directed the latest film adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s novel, Little Women. The story follows the March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy and their dreams and ambitions as a woman in the 1800s. Many scenes in the film take place during the holiday season, which makes for a perfect watch during Thanksgiving. The flashback scenes have warm autumnal tones, which automatically give a cosy, nostalgic and homely vibe. Watch it under a blanket by the fire, it’s like you are there.
Little Women is one of the most loved films of the last few years, it ranks 8th on Letterboxd’s top 250 list with the most fans. This female-led cast’s acting is superb, and if you are seeing your sisters this Thanksgiving, there isn’t a more perfect film that you could watch with them.
IMDb: 7.8/10
You can watch Little Women on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Scent of a Woman
Many of us know Al Pacino for his “tough guy” roles in blockbuster hits such as the Godfather trilogy, Scarface, and Heat. In Scent of a Woman, which takes place in and around Thanksgiving, Pacino plays a blind retired Lieutenant Colonel. Charlie Simms, a student at a preparatory school, takes a job caring for Pacino’s character, Frank Slade. The pair take a trip to New York City, where they celebrate the holiday with Frank’s family. This is one of the most well known Thanksgiving dinner scenes. This is a good film to watch over the holidays, due to the unlikely partnership between Charlie & Frank. It goes to show that friendship knows no bounds. It allows you to appreciate the older people in our lives. Spend time with them this Thanksgiving!
IMDb: 8.0/10
You can watch Scent of a Woman on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Take an adventure of a lifetime this Thanksgiving with travel companions Neal Page (Steve Martin) and Del Griffith (John Candy) as they embark on a trip to Chicago in time for Thanksgiving. This rip roaring feat, directed by John Hughes, is guaranteed to lift your spirits. The pair’s comedic dynamic makes the film enjoyable. Uptight Neal is desperate to make it there in time, but clumsy but lovable guy Del seems to always have a way of getting them in trouble. Nevertheless, the pair form a friendship. This is a great Thanksgiving watch, as I am sure many people can relate to having a disastrous journey to see their loved ones this time of year. Although hopefully you have not experienced this level of chaos!
IMDb: 7.6/10
You can watch Planes, Trains and Automobiles on Paramount+, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video.
Grumpy Old Men
Like Scent of a Woman, this film also has an important Thanksgiving scene. The movie follows John Gustafson Jr and Max Goldman. They are portrayed by legendary comedy actors, Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau respectively. The New York Times called the duo “one of Hollywood’s most successful pairings.” Starring in 10 films together, the two have undeniable chemistry, which is evident in this movie.
The two men are lifelong rivals, and have spent their days tormenting and pranking each other. However, it gets even worse when attractive widower Ariel Truax (Ann-Margret) moves in across the street. John and Max’s mutual friend Chuck has Thanksgiving with Ariel, causing the men to compete for her affections.
Not only does the film take place on and around Thanksgiving, it is an enjoyable watch. It’s very cheerful. A great addition to your watchlist over the holiday period.
IMDb: 7.0/10
You can watch Grumpy Old Men on Amazon Prime Video and Sky.
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
I can not think of a better piece of cinema to finish this list than one of the most quintessential specials to watch this time of year that is A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Since it’s release in 1973, watching this every year has become a tradition for many people. It is not hard to see why. Despite it’s short run time of only 30 minutes, this heart warming Charlie Brown special is adored by all the family. It is a perfect take on what Thanksgiving should be. Good food, good company, with some chaos sprinkled in too. It has a real cosy vibe about it. It’s something to put on when the little ones get tired.
IMDb: 7.7/10
You can watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving on Apple TV+
These are some fantastic films to watch under a blanket, by the fire, surrounded by friends and family, after having delicious food. Happy Thanksgiving!
