While everyone knows about Christmas movies, which have become a quintessential part of the holiday season, many don’t realize that throughout the years Thanksgiving has also received its fair share of movie moments. Though Thanksgiving has much fewer films, it still has a wide range of holiday movies – from horror hits like Eli Roth’s slasher Thanksgiving to classic comedies like Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (which remains one of Steve Martin and John Candy’s best films), there’s a good and varied selection dedicated to the holiday.
With temperatures getting colder and the days getting shorter, there’s no better way to spend a late November evening than with a good movie, and with the holiday quickly approaching, these 10 Thanksgiving movies are the perfect way to get ready for the big day. Some, like A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, are perfect for families to watch together, while others are great for viewers who want a more mature and nuanced look at the holiday season.
How we ranked this list
While the movies on this list are all very different, spanning numerous genres, styles, and decades between their releases, they’ve been chosen based on how enjoyable and well-made they are. They’ve also been chosen based on their proximity to Thanksgiving. While lots of movies have scenes that take place during the holiday, these movies exclusively focus on Turkey Day, making them perfect for anyone who’s celebrating.
