20 of the Best Thanksgiving Movies to Watch in 2025

2 days ago7 min read2 comments

Alright, pop culture fam, let's huddle up because while the turkey coma is real, the post-feast entertainment lineup is where the real magic happens. Forget fighting your cousins over the last slice of pie; the true battle is curating the ultimate Thanksgiving movie marathon for 2025, and I’ve got the definitive, absolutely-can’t-miss watchlist that’s more essential than cranberry sauce.We’re talking about films that don’t just play in the background but actively capture the chaotic, heartfelt, and sometimes deeply awkward spirit of the holiday itself. First up, you absolutely need the classics that are the equivalent of your grandma’s china—non-negotiable and timeless.‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’ isn’t just a movie; it’s a masterclass in comedic tension and unexpected friendship, with Steve Martin and John Candy delivering performances that are as perfectly paired as turkey and gravy. Then there’s ‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,’ which, let’s be real, is a core memory for anyone who grew up with Snoopy’s culinary prowess and Linus’s profound wisdom.But we’re not stopping there. The modern era has blessed us with gems like ‘The Holdovers,’ which has already cemented its status as an instant classic with its bittersweet, found-family narrative that hits harder than a tryptophan crash.And for the family that thrives on chaos? ‘Knives Out’ or its sequel, ‘Glass Onion,’ offer that perfect blend of whodunit mystery and witty family dysfunction that will have everyone shouting theories over the sound of football. Let’s talk vibes, because Thanksgiving movies aren’t a monolith.You’ve got your cozy comfort-food films—think ‘You’ve Got Mail’ with its autumnal New York aesthetics and Tom Hanks at his most charming, or ‘When Harry Met Sally,’ which, while a Rom-Com king, is fundamentally about gratitude for the people who see you through life’s messes. Then, for the moodier, more introspective crew, there’s ‘The Ice Storm,’ a cinematic deep-dive into 1970s suburban alienation that serves as a stark, artistic counterpoint to all the forced familial cheer.And we cannot ignore the animated arena. ‘Pocahontas,’ despite its historical complexities, has a ‘Colors of the Wind’ sequence that is pure autumn visual poetry, while ‘Fantastic Mr.Fox’ with its stop-motion charm and Wes Anderson’s signature aesthetic feels like a warm, quirky hug. The beauty of building this 2025 list is seeing how these films evolve in our cultural consciousness.A movie like ‘Friendsgiving’ might have flown under the radar upon release, but its celebration of chosen family over blood relations resonates more powerfully each year, becoming a go-to for millennials and Gen Z crafting their own traditions. It’s the cinematic equivalent of opting for a Friendsgiving potluck instead of a formal sit-down—less stress, more genuine connection.And let’s be real, in the age of streaming, the competition for your attention is fiercer than Black Friday doorbusters. That’s why a curated list like this is essential; it cuts through the algorithm’s noise and gives you a narrative, a journey from the cooking-preparation anxiety, mirrored in films like ‘Julie & Julia,’ to the post-dinner reflective peace found in the final scenes of ‘Hannah and Her Sisters.’ So, as you’re scrolling through your endless streaming libraries this November, remember this isn’t just about killing time between meals. It’s about creating a new layer of tradition, finding shared laughs in ‘Addams Family Values’ Wednesday’s iconic camp play, or a collective sigh in the heartfelt resolution of ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles.’ These movies are the backdrop to our lives, the stories that help us process our own complicated feelings about family, gratitude, and the sheer, beautiful mess of it all. Now, who’s making the popcorn?.

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#holiday films

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