What are the best Thanksgiving movies? No. 1 is non-negotiable

Thanksgiving is a day to gather with friends and friends, to gorge yourself on an enormous amount of food, and to generally take it easy. Once you’ve ploughed through a Thanksgiving banquet, you will probably be in the mood to kick back and watch a movie.

But what should you watch? Fortunately, there is no shortage of Thanksgiving-adjacent movies to get you in the festive mood.

Over the years the film industry has covered the full range of Thanksgiving experiences, from festive feasts and holiday romance to family feuds and travel chaos.

Here’s some of the best movies to watch on Thanksgiving…

Planes, Trains & Automobile (1987)

Millions of Americans will be enjoying their first major Thanksgiving celebration for three years in 2022, now that the pandemic restrictions have been removed. But that does bring the stress of cross-country travel back into the equation, which was perfectly summed up in this 35-year-old classic.

The Blind Side (2009)

In many families, sport plays a huge role in Thanksgiving entertainment and American football if usually central to that. But if an afternoon of live sport would not go down well with the majority, this sporting Thanksgiving movie could be just the thing to keep the whole family happy.

Friendsgiving (2020)

In recent years the concept of ‘Friendsgiving’ has become more common, with people choosing to add friends and work colleagues into their Thanksgiving celebrations. However the reality of these gatherings is never quite what the hosts had planned and this film shows how things can quickly unravel, with hilarious consequences.

Home for the Holidays (1995)

For many, Thanksgiving means travelling home to spend time with family. But simply heading home can be a stressful experience and one with all sorts of potential pitfalls. Family secrets threaten to disrupt a day of celebrations in Home for the Holidays.

Fantastic Mr Fox (2009)

Not strictly Thanksgiving-related but this family favourite more than makes up for it with a homely autumnal feel and a cosy feast scene. Roald Dahl’s children’s classic is a guaranteed winner for a family Thanksgiving.

One True Thing (1998)

A more sombre take on the holiday film, One True Thing follows a daughter travelling back home to spend time with her sick mother. This depiction of a final holiday season together is sure to tug at the heartstrings.

What’s Cooking? (2000)

It may be the same day, but Thanksgiving celebrations mean different things to different people. This classic film looks at four families’ contrasting Thanksgiving and how they deal with the big day.