Definitive List Of Best Thanksgiving Movies

Folks we have a banger of a holiday on the horizon so it's time to get in the spirit. Some jamokes would have you believe it is already Christmas season, but true holiday aficionados know that Christmas doesn't start until after we crush some turkey and stuffing while watching football all day.  

Anyone who already fired up Home Alone is jumping the BB gun. The problem is that outside of Thanksgiving Eve and Thanksgiving, there isn't much of a "season" to the holiday like Christmas. However, that's good news because there are only four Thanksgiving movies on this list and you can watch them all in a span of those two days. 

Thanksgiving Eve

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

This is number 1 on the list for a reason. A John Hughes-directed classic with Steve Martin and John Candy (RIP) that absolutely holds up nearly 40 years later. Everyone can relate to having an absolutely abysmal traveling experience; although I think in order for this scenario to play out today, two people would have to lose their phones AND wallets thus rendering them unable to travel. I also wonder how many people today would travel with a stranger? SPOILER: It is definitely sad when you realize John Candy's character is homeless and doesn't have any family, but in the end he ends up walking down that long street to a lovely Thanksgiving dinner alongside Steve Martin. 

BONUS: If you're visiting Chicago, the tree-lined street leading up to this gorgeous house is worth driving down to see in person. 

Double Bonus: Speaking of John Hughes, you can see the Home Alone house, 16 Candles house, Uncle Buck house, and PTA house all in about a 45 minute drive. I did it this last summer and it was an enjoyable outing. 

Dutch

I'd venture to say most people have never even heard of this movie and that makes me weep for this country, among other reasons. Another John Hughes (seeing a pattern here?) production, it is basically the same plot as PTA except it's a guy (Ed O'Neil) who offers to go pick up his girlfriend's bratty kid from boarding school in Georgia and drive him home to Chicago for the holiday. They hate each other initially and you can figure out where it goes from there. It is beautifully written, has some quality slapstick comedy, and even has a scene in a car that would make any 13 year old boy blush. I highly recommend finding this somewhere even if you have to buy it on DVD or VHS at this point but I also don't understand how a movie in 2024 wouldn't be somewhere even to purchase. Wild.

Thanksgiving

Scent Of A Woman

One of Al Pacino's finest performances of his career. To convincingly play a blind man is no small feat and he nails it. It's incredible what he's able to teach Charlie in a matter of just a few days but nevertheless Lieutenant Colonel Slade was clearly a well-traveled and cultured man. Bespoke tailoring, perfumes, Italian sports cars, the tango, and fine cigars are just a few of the lessons LTC Slade imparts on Charlie. We can say now that LTC Slade was dealing with a pretty severe case of Post Traumatic Stress from his service, his accident, and was dealing with the unfortunate side effects of that illness. It's an incredibly relatable movie as a Veteran to see how someone responds to their career being taken out from under them. 

Not to mention, LTC Slade's monologue at the end is one of the greatest speeches in movie history.

Fun Fact - the word that Pacino says throughout the movie is "hooah" which is a term from the Army. It's a catch-all term - it can be an affirmative, question, word of encouragement, or a battle cry. More often, it is said in a sarcastic or smug tone to demonstrate false motivation. 

Son In Law

Pauly Shore went on a run in the 90s that most actors will never experience in their career and Son In Law was firmly in the midst of that streak. Many people can relate to that first Thanksgiving home from college your freshman year. You want to see who's changed, you want to see who didn't leave town, and most of all you want to drink beer in a barn I guess. However, in this case you want to fake an engagement to get out of marrying the loser townie who doesn't aspire to anything besides being a 20 year old who still wears his letterman jacket. This movie is very re-watchable and has some great lines. 

Overall, I'd rank them as follows:

1. PTA

1A. Scent of a Woman

3. Dutch

4. Son In Law

That's it. That's the list. Hit those on repeat until Black Friday and then on Black Friday you can fire up Home Alone while shopping the Barstool Sports Black Friday Sale.