20 Best Thanksgiving Movies Of All Time
Moviefone counts down the twenty greatest Thanksgiving Day themed movies of all-time from ‘Free Birds’ to ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles.’
1995's 'Home for the Holidays'. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Everyone has a favorite Christmas movie, right? Whether it’s ‘Die Hard,’ Christmas movies play ad nauseam on television throughout the month of December.
But where are all the Thanksgiving Day films?
In honor of the annual holiday, Moviefone is counting down the top twenty Thanksgiving Day themed movies of all time!
Now, to qualify for this list the film must either take place at Thanksgiving or involve the holiday in some way, and we are only counting A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.’
Let’s begin!
20) 'The Blind Side ' (1997)
2009's 'The Blind Side'. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
The story of Michael Oher (Sandra Bullock) and her family.
The Blind Side
19) 'Pilgrim' (2019)
In an attempt to remind her family of their privilege and help them bond, Ms. Anna Barker (Courtney Henggeler) invites Pilgrim reenactors to stay with them over Thanksgiving. When the “actors” refuse to break character, the Barker family learns that there is such a thing as too much gratitude.
18) 'Black Friday' (2021)
A group of toy store employees must protect each other from a horde of parasite infected shoppers.
Black Friday
17) 'The Thanksgiving Movie' (2020)
Butterball the turkey and Missy the Dodo as they come to the rescue of Thanksgiving and embark on an unforgettable, clock-racing countdown to a holiday dinner. It's a Thanksgiving Movie for the ages.
16) 'Sweet November' (2001)
Nelson (Charlize Theron). She is very different from the other women in his life. Nelson causes her to miss out on taking the test and later that day she tracks him down. One thing leads to another and Nelson ends up living with her through a November that will change his life forever.
15) 'Scent of a Woman' (1992)
1992's 'Scent of a Woman'. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Charlie Simms (Al Pacino), a cantankerous middle-aged man who lives with his niece and her family.
Scent of a Woman
14) 'Son in Law' (1993)
Country girl Rebecca (Pauley Shore), who convinces the ambivalent Rebecca to stay in the city. When Thanksgiving break rolls around, Rebecca, no longer an innocent farm girl, invites Crawl back to South Dakota, where he pretends to be her fiancé.
13) 'Prisoners' (2013)
Keller Dover (Jake Gyllenhaal), arrests the driver, but a lack of evidence forces Loki to release his only suspect. Dover, knowing that his daughter's life is at stake, decides that he has no choice but to take matters into his own hands.
12) 'The Wiz' (1978)
Dorothy Gale (Diana Ross), a shy kindergarten teacher, is swept away to the magic land of Oz where she embarks on a quest to return home.
11) 'Pieces of April' (2003)
Quirky and rebellious April Burns (Oliver Platt) struggles to drive her family into the city, April -- an inexperienced cook -- runs into kitchen trouble and must ask a neighbor for help.
10) 'The Oath' (2018)
2018's 'The Oath'. Photo: Roadside Attractions.
In a politically-divided United States, a man struggles to make it through the Thanksgiving holiday without destroying his family.
9) 'The Ice Storm' (1997)
In the weekend after thanksgiving 1973 the Hood family is skidding out of control. Then an ice storm hits, the worst in a century.
The Ice Storm
8) 'Addams Family Values' (1993)
Siblings Wednesday (Joan Cusack), launches her plan to add Fester to her collection of dead husbands.
Addams Family Values
7) 'Grumpy Old Men' (1993)
For decades, next-door neighbors and former friends John (Ann-Margret) moves in nearby, their bad blood erupts into a high-stakes rivalry full of naughty jokes and adolescent hijinks.
Grumpy Old Men
6) 'Tower Heist' (2011)
A luxury condo manager leads a staff of workers to seek payback on the Wall Street swindler who defrauded them. With only days until the billionaire gets away with the perfect crime, the unlikely crew of amateur thieves enlists the help of petty crook Slide to steal the $20 million they’re sure is hidden in the penthouse.
5) 'Thanksgiving' (2023)
2023's 'Thanksgiving'. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.
After a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy, a mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts - the birthplace of the holiday. Picking off residents one by one, what begins as random revenge killings are soon revealed to be part of a larger, sinister holiday plan.
4) 'Free Birds' (2013)
Two turkeys from opposite sides of the tracks must put aside their differences and team up to travel back in time to change the course of history—and get turkey off the holiday menu for good.
Free Birds
3) 'Home for the Holidays' (1995)
After losing her job, making out with her soon-to-be former boss, and finding out that her daughter plans to spend Thanksgiving with her boyfriend, Claudia Larson (Holly Hunter) faces spending the holiday with her unhinged family.
Home for the Holidays
2) 'The Last Waltz' (1978)
The Last Waltz
1) 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles' (1987)
1987's 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles'. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
An irritable marketing executive, Neal Page (John Candy).
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
