Gobble up these Thanksgiving movies with a side of turkey
As everyone takes down their pumpkins & cobwebs and starts putting up their Christmas trees & stockings, Thanksgiving often gets lost in the relentless holiday season. Thanksgiving is still a festive time where families come together to chow down on turkey & stuffing, watch some football, and argue – hopefully not too much!
There are many Christmas movies to get you in the holiday spirit, but some movies still take the time to celebrate Thanksgiving day. Here are some movies to watch while you gobble up some turkey & gravy.
Free Birds (2013)
Free Birds is an animated comedy involving time travel & turkeys. Two turkeys travel back in time to the 1600s to prevent their species from becoming dinner every year on Thanksgiving. It’s a fun concept that pays tribute to the history of the holiday while also making the inevitable doom turkeys face every year fun for the whole family.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
John Candy & Steve Martin are comedic geniuses, so putting them together is an obvious recipe for success. Planes, Trains and Automobiles doesn’t fully focus on Thanksgiving, although the plot centers around Martin’s character getting home to his family in time for the holiday. It still captures the message of family & friendship which is an important part of the holiday.
Tower Heist (2011)
Tower Heist is if Ocean’s Eleven (2001) had some holiday spirit. It has an excellent, hilarious cast with Ben Stiller, Casey Affleck, Eddie Murphy, and Matthew Broderick. The heist itself takes place during Thanksgiving and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City becomes an important part of the plan. It has enough Thanksgiving goodness to satisfy those who are looking for it.
The Blind Side (2009)
The Blind Side is more focused on the story of Michael Oher, his football career, and his adoption into the Tuohy family. However, Oher becomes more aware of his acceptance into this family during their Thanksgiving dinner. It’s a heartwarming scene that reminds us how important family is during and after the holiday.
The Oath (2018)
Not every family is perfect and The Oath captures what happens when Thanksgiving goes spectacularly wrong. The Oath is a dark comedy set in the near future where U.S. citizens are required to sign a pledge of loyalty to the president. When a couple refuses to do so, Thanksgiving turns into a nightmare. It might not be the most uplifting movie, but it’s a fun movie for those who want to see Thanksgiving go awry.
Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009)
While Paul Blart: Mall Cop has become a goofy meme, it’s actually a decent holiday movie. Paul Blart (Kevin James), a clumsy, overly-strict mall cop has to take down a group of robbers in a mall on Black Friday. Black Friday is tied to Thanksgiving as many people go holiday shopping after a day of feasting. It’s a solid family comedy with lots of holiday moments.
Scent of a Woman (1992)
In Scent of a Woman, a prep student comes of age over the course of Thanksgiving weekend while caring for a blind, bitter military veteran (Al Pacino). Pacino finally won his Oscar for his fantastic performance in this movie. Despite plenty of depressing moments, it’s a surprisingly tender story of a budding friendship between two very opposite strangers.
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving completely captures the spirit of the holiday as the Peanuts characters normally do. It tells the story of Thanksgiving in a sweet, charming manner while also featuring iconic moments, such as Lucy removing the football from Charlie Brown right before he kicks it. This movie will get the whole family in the spirit and ready to feast on turkey, stuffing, and whatever else is on the table.
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Thanksgiving may not have as many movies as Christmas or Halloween, but there are still enough that capture what makes Thanksgiving such a great holiday. Check out these movies if you’re looking for the perfect movie to watch while gobbling on some turkey.
