Thanksgiving is the only holiday with a built-in intermission: the stretch between eating too much and eating more pie. A movie fills that gap nicely, and it keeps everyone from asking about your career.
These ten all actually involve Thanksgiving, which is more than we can say for half the movies that show up on seasonal lists. Pick one, find a spot on the couch and loosen a belt.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Two mismatched travelers try to get home for Thanksgiving, and everything goes wrong. Steve Martin and John Candy are a perfect pair, and the film balances slapstick with real heart.
The ending is quietly one of the best in comedy. Warm up the tissues.
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
Snoopy and Woodstock host a feast of toast and popcorn, and the Peanuts gang learns something about gratitude. It is short, sweet and wildly low-stakes.
It is a perfect pre-dinner watch for the whole family.
Addams Family Values
The Addamses send their kids to summer camp, where a Thanksgiving pageant turns into a pointed, gleefully cynical revolt. Wednesday’s moment is a classic.
It’s a fine antidote to too much sentiment.
Home for the Holidays
A woman travels home for Thanksgiving, and every relative is a bit much. It is funny, messy and recognizably human.
It may remind you of your own table.
Pieces of April
A young woman tries to cook Thanksgiving dinner in her tiny apartment, while her estranged family drives in. It’s awkward, warm and quietly moving.
It’s a small film with a big heart.
Free Birds
Two turkeys travel back in time to take turkeys off the first Thanksgiving menu. It is silly, animated and aimed squarely at kids.
The premise alone is worth a smile.
Dutch
A grumpy man drives his girlfriend’s son across the country for Thanksgiving. It is a road-trip comedy with a lot of charm and a stubborn streak.
It’s an underseen pick for people who have seen everything else.
What’s Cooking?
Four families from different backgrounds prepare for Thanksgiving in the same Los Angeles neighborhood. The ensemble cast makes each dinner feel specific and real.
It is a nice reminder that everyone’s table looks a little different.
Hannah and Her Sisters
Woody Allen’s ensemble comedy returns to Thanksgiving dinners across a couple of years, using them as markers for a tangled family story. It is funny, bittersweet and well acted.
You may wish to separate the art from the artist, a decision we leave to you.
The Last Waltz
A concert film capturing The Band’s farewell performance on Thanksgiving Day in 1976. Martin Scorsese directed it, and the guest list is staggering.
It’s a love letter to music, and a lovely way to spend a quiet evening.