The Elusive Thanksgiving Movie

7 films to compliment the holiday season

When the holidays start rolling around every year and couples, families, and friends want to start cozying up to a movie, there are many winter and Christmas-themed films that come to mind. It’s a Wonderful Life, Home Alone, A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, Elf . . . the list of obvious choices goes on and on. November tends to have a bleaker outlook—there are fewer clear-cut selections for that pre-Christmas season, other than A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973), which is really just a 25-minute short film.

Here I’ve rounded up my seven Thanksgiving picks. Some may seem obvious to those of you who have that one go-to for the season, but hopefully, a few will be a fun, enlightening realization.

1. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) - Streaming on Disney+

This is the one I actually hope will be obvious to most. Released in 2009, this stop-motion film directed by Wes Anderson and written by Anderson and fellow filmmaker/collaborator Noah Baumbach is a feast for the eyes. The color scheme alone screams Thanksgiving. There is a rich family theme, complete with a feast (seen below), yet it is also an action heist film, an underdog story, and a morality tale regarding the value of family over material wealth. What’s more, it’s fun for the whole family. Kids can relate to the story and appreciate the gorgeous animation, while adults will like the insider humor. Fantastic Mr. Fox is my “watch without fail” annual Thanksgiving film.

2. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987) - Streaming on Kanopy

Getting the most obvious out of the way, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles is one of the all-time greatest comedies—full stop. The great John Hughes wrote, produced, and directed this film in 1987 in between making Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) and Uncle Buck (1989)—not to mention the classics before those—topping off one of the greatest film careers of the 1980s. Besides being ably directed, Planes is so beautifully written it is capable of making you cry on multiple levels throughout. Watch out for the kiddos, though, because Steve Martin says an amount of F-words that would make Tarantino blush. The real beauty of the film is the relationship between Martin and John Candy, specifically in one particularly heartbreaking scene. The Thanksgiving feel pays off in spades at the end. Candy pulls off the performance of a lifetime.

3. Free Birds (2013) - Streaming on Kanopy

Here’s a kid-friendly one that should be very obvious for Thanksgiving but has seemed to fall under the radar since its 2013 release. The critics didn’t like it, but I found it to be very funny with a great holiday concept. Owen Wilson, Amy Poehler, and Woody Harrelson work as a solid voice cast. It’s an easy one to throw on for the kids and pop in and out of while doing food prep.

4. The New World (2005) - Streaming on Kanopy

Terrence Malick’s The New World is decidedly not for the kiddos. This is for those who really want to feel the original spirit of Thanksgiving. The New World digs into the story of the early English settlers and their relationships with the Powhatan people—the story of John Smith and Pocahontas. So, no, these are not the Plymouth, Massachusetts, pilgrims; this is Jamestown, Virginia. The Thanksgiving aspect here is all about the history (adjacent), the vibes, and the poetic imagery. It is more meditative in tone, so you need to be prepared to soak in the beauty and feel the roughness of early America. It isn’t an annual watch, nor a family flick, but it’s an absolute must-see.

5. The Taste of Things (2024) - Streaming Hulu

I watched The Taste of Things in January this year and was immediately floored, knowing it would be a favorite film of the year. Well, here we are nearing December and this certainly makes my list of favorite films watched in 2025. It’s a beautiful, sumptuous film. Be prepared to get hungry—you can practically smell the food. The Taste of Things is sexy, delicious, romantic—it’s practically gluttonous. This is food porn filmmaking made for Thanksgiving.

6. Babette’s Feast (1987) - Streaming on HBO Max/Criterion Channel

Much of what is said about The Taste of Things can be said about Babette’s Feast. Both are what food dreams are made of. Think cinematic, narrative, sexier Chef’s Table (Netflix). Though Babette’s is less sexy and more spiritual—sublime, even. It really is nearly a religious experience to watch. It can be funny and it’s full of life and love. Unsurprisingly, it made a Vatican list of important films. It’s a gorgeous movie to look at—the cinematography, like The Taste, is terrific. If you want some “foodspiration” this Thanksgiving, these last two films are perfection.

7. Dutch (1991) - Not currently available on streaming

I mention Dutch last because it’s so hard to locate. This John Hughes film, though not billed as such, does have some serious Thanksgiving themes, both implicitly and explicitly. I remember loving it as a kid who dealt with stepdads most of my childhood and who could also be a huge brat. Dutch didn’t do well with critics, but it’s one worth revisiting because the film has a really big heart. It could be a fun one to watch with the teens over the holidays.

Honorable Mentions

• The Ice Storm - Not just a dark comedy, but a bleak comedy.

• Scent of a Woman - A classic that takes place over Thanksgiving weekend.

I haven’t seen these, but I’ve heard they’re decent Thanksgiving flicks:

• Pieces of April - Update: I just watched this (on Thanksgiving evening no less) with my wife and 13 year old son and we all loved it! We laughed out loud and I cried at the end, if that tells you anything. The balance of humor, dysfunction, and heart is well done. Word of caution that it’s filmed in early digital video, so the picture quality isn’t quite up to par, but it works! This would have made the list if I had already seen it. Solid Thanksgiving movie!

• Home for the Holidays

• Hannah and Her Sisters

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Want to keep track of these for your holiday watchlist? I’ve compiled every film mentioned here, including the honorable mentions, into a handy list:

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