Thanksgiving movies to watch with family (plus picks for the long weekend)

The best Thanksgiving movies are Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Home for the Holidays, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, Addams Family Values and Miracle on 34th Street. After dinner, pick something the whole table can enjoy, and save the Christmas movies to kick off the season on Friday.

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After the turkey, the pie and the dishes, a movie is the easiest way to keep everyone together on the couch. The trick is finding one that works for grandparents, parents and kids at the same time.

There are fewer Thanksgiving movies than Christmas movies, but the good ones are very good. Below are the best Thanksgiving-set movies, plus family picks for the rest of the long weekend.

Best Thanksgiving movies

  • Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987, R): Steve Martin and John Candy trying to get home for Thanksgiving. The classic.
  • Home for the Holidays (1995, PG-13): a chaotic, funny and very recognizable family Thanksgiving.
  • Pieces of April (2003, PG-13): a daughter tries to cook Thanksgiving dinner for the family she's estranged from.
  • The Humans (2021, R): one family's tense Thanksgiving dinner in a New York apartment.
  • Dutch (1991, PG-13): a road-trip comedy about getting a kid home for Thanksgiving.
  • Scent of a Woman (1992, R): Al Pacino and a Thanksgiving weekend in New York.

Thanksgiving movies for kids and families

  • A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973): a 25-minute tradition for families with young kids.
  • Miracle on 34th Street (1947): it opens at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and ends at Christmas.
  • Addams Family Values (1993, PG-13): the summer-camp Thanksgiving play is one of the funniest scenes of the '90s.
  • Free Birds (2013, PG): two turkeys travel back in time to take turkey off the menu.
  • The Blind Side (2009, PG-13): a true story with a Thanksgiving dinner scene that gets everyone.

Something different

  • Rocky (1976, PG): the film's most tender scene happens on Thanksgiving.
  • The Ice Storm (1997, R): a dark family drama set over Thanksgiving weekend. For adults only.
  • Thanksgiving (2023, R): a slasher set around Black Friday. Only for horror fans.

Kick off the holiday season on Friday

Plenty of families start Christmas movies the day after Thanksgiving. These work for every age:

  • Elf (2003, PG)
  • Home Alone (1990, PG)
  • The Polar Express (2004, G)
  • Klaus (2019, PG)
  • Paddington 2 (2017, PG): not a holiday movie, but warm enough to feel like one.
  • Knives Out (2019, PG-13): a family whodunit that's fun after a big family dinner.

How to pick a movie with the whole family

  1. Start from the youngest person watching.
  2. Keep it under two hours. After a big dinner, attention spans are short.
  3. Everyone suggests one title, everyone gets one veto, and the trailers settle it.

Choosing together with ReelMatch

In ReelMatch each person swipes through trailers on their own phone, and the app shows the titles everyone said yes to. Start before dinner and the movie is already chosen by dessert. It's free on iPhone and Android.

Still can't decide? Let the random movie generator pick one for you.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Thanksgiving movie?

Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) is usually called the best Thanksgiving movie. Home for the Holidays (1995) and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973) are other favorites.

What are good Thanksgiving movies for kids?

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973), Free Birds (2013) and Miracle on 34th Street (1947) work for young kids. For older kids, try Addams Family Values (1993).

What should we watch after Thanksgiving dinner?

Pick something short and easy for every age, such as Elf (2003), Paddington 2 (2017) or Knives Out (2019). Many families start Christmas movies that weekend.

Is there an app to help a family pick a movie?

Yes. In ReelMatch each person swipes through trailers on their own phone and the app shows the titles everyone said yes to. It's free on iPhone and Android.

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