45 Best Thanksgiving Movies to Watch With the Whole Family
From classic films to new comedies (plus of ton of animated flicks), here's what to stream when you're ready to collapse on the couch.
Thanksgiving is a time for family. But once the turkey's been served, the pie has been eaten and the dishes have been cleared, what are you going to actually do with that family? When the tryptophan kicks in and everyone is full, happy and ready to just sit, there's nothing better than flopping down and throwing on family-friendly Thanksgiving movie.
While there are tons of choices when it comes to Halloween movies or Christmas movies, you might have to look harder to find a good turkey-day flick. But whether you're looking for a Thanksgiving movie on Netflix, a Thanksgiving movie on Disney+ or any other streaming service, plenty of options abound if you know where to look.
These are the best Thanksgiving movies to watch in 2022. Some offer the full T-day experience, complete with scenes of families gathered around a fully dressed turkey. Others are more casually related to the holiday, with more of a fall vibe and less of an emphasis on the meal itself. And then there are some that'll take you straight from your Thanksgiving festivities and straight into the season of holiday films. With such a range, you're sure to find something to please all your (stuffed) guests.
The Humans (2021)
Based on the Tony Award-winning play by Stephen Karam, The Humans follows a family who gathers in one of their run-down apartments for Thanksgiving. As the holiday progresses, the family starts to talk about their dreams and nightmares, and they reveal truths about themselves that they've been hiding from each other.
Holidate (2020)
This sounds like a Christmas movie, but it actually takes place during a year's worth of holidays. When two single people become sick of getting fixed up by their family members, they decide to be each other's (platonic) plus-ones for parties and gatherings. But, despite the firm commitment to stay single, can they stop feelings from developing.
Friendsgiving (2020)
Two best friends had plans for a quiet Friendsgiving, but things quickly change when their party is crashed by a whole group of people they weren't expecting. How out of control can one holiday celebration get?
Little Women (2019)
Little Women is not expressly a Thanksgiving movie, though so much of it takes place around the holidays and in the run-up to Christmas, and there are plenty of around-the-table scenes to give you that cozy feel — and make you feel thankful for your family.
The Turkey Bowl (2019)
There are a couple Thanksgiving traditions that aren't about eating, namely gathering with old high school buddies before the big feast, and, of course, football. This movie combines the two in a film about a guy who's called to his hometown for Thanksgiving to re-do a football game with bitter rivals that was snowed out 15 years earlier.
The Oath (2018)
This movie isn't your typical, feel-good fare. In it, in a not-too-distant future, the government decides everybody must take a loyalty pledge on Black Friday, which opens a rift during one family's Thanksgiving dinner. Will they survive the weekend?
Anne of Green Gables: Fire and Dew (2018)
We can always count on Anne Shirley on Thanksgiving. PBS used to air a new Anne of Green Gables movie on Turkey Day, making her forever associated with the holiday. In this movie, Anne goes to school in the city and finds herself feeling lost.
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Lez Bomb (2018)
Lauren heads to her New Jersey hometown for Thanksgiving, bringing her girlfriend along with the intention of coming out to her conservative parents. When Lauren's male roommate, Austin, tags along, her family thinks he's her boyfriend — and confusion (aka hilarity) ensues.
Krisha (2016)
This film follows a woman who on Thanksgiving returns to the family she abandoned — which makes for a tense holiday, to say the least. The film won the Grand Jury and Audience Awards at the 2015 South-by-Southwest Film Festival.
Jim Henson's Turkey Hollow (2015)
Nothing says the holidays like a Jim Henson puppet spectacular! And since it's too early for Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, settle for this one about kids who go to investigate a local legend about monsters while visiting relatives.
Free Birds (2013)
Voiced by Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson, Amy Poehler and George Takei, this animated comedy is the perfect family-friendly Turkey Day flick. The plot? Two time-traveling turkeys try to head back to the first feast to change the traditional Thanksgiving menu.
Tower Heist (2011)
You know when a great time to plan a robbery is? When everyone is looking elsewhere — like at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. When a group of luxury apartment workers lose their pensions in a Ponzi scheme, they vow revenge by planning to steal from their employer during the parade.
Turkey Bowl (2011)
This film shouldn't be confused with the other Turkey Bowl movie, though it has a very similar premise: A group of college-aged friends reunite for their annual touch football game, the prize being a frozen turkey. Another bonus: This one is short, clocking in at just over an hour.
Little Fockers (2010)
The third and final franchise film follows a patriarch (Jack, Robert DeNiro) searching for a successor for his company. His son-in-law (Greg, Ben Stiller) thinks he has gained trust from his father-in-law. but does he have what it takes? Greg's hosting of a Thanksgiving holiday will help Jack decide.
The Blind Side (2009)
It's hard not to get choked up while watching Michael Oher — a homeless 17-year-old — have Thanksgiving dinner for the first time with the Tuohys. It's this moment that makes him realize how welcome he really is (and makes us realize just how thankful we are for our own family and friends). The moment takes place in a story about a family who takes in the football phenom and helps him achieve his potential.
Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009)
When a gang of thieves plans a heist at the mall on the night of Black Friday, only one person can take them down: a segway-riding mall cop! An unlikely hero, to be sure, but holidays are full of underdog stories.
Funny People (2009)
Though again, Funny People isn't exactly about Thanksgiving, it does have a pivotal scene take place around the holiday table. And the movie, which is about a comedian who learns of a terminal illness, might be a reminder to be grateful.
Pieces of April (2003)
In this one, April invites her mother (who is dying of cancer) and the rest of her distant family over for Thanksgiving dinner. She ends up having problems in the kitchen, and reaches out to someone else in her apartment building for help. The new guest has to navigate the prickly family dynamics.
Tadpole (2002)
This movie is ostensibly a love triangle between a student named Oscar, the object of his affection, Eve, and Eve's best friend, Diane. The problem? Oscar's only 15 and Eve is his stepmother. Over Thanksgiving break, Oscar winds up in over his head when hatching a plan to seduce Diane to make Eve jealous.
Sweet November (2001)
November is an often overlooked time of year, sandwiched between Halloween and Christmas, but it takes center stage in this weepy romance, which takes place over the course of a month (including Thanksgiving). Keanu Reeves stars as a high-powered executive whose life is changed by a new relationship with a free-spirited pet groomer.
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; she previously wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found dominating the audio round at her local bar trivia night or tweeting about movies.
Larry Stansbury is a writer whose work has appeared in POPSUGAR, Sports Illustrated, Her Campus, Distractify and more. He covers a wide range of topics, including entertainment, lifestyle and sports. Larry graduated with a B.A. in writing and rhetoric from Syracuse University in 2018. When he’s not writing, he is either working out, eating carbs or dancing to the next Little Mix song.
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