With Thanksgiving just weeks away, you may have already figured out your menu. There’s just one thing left to do, finalize your entertainment selection. Sure, you could always tune into a football game. Or, you could check out some classic Thanksgiving sitcom episodes of your favorite TV show.
There’s also the possibility of watching a few Thanksgiving horror movies. But if you feel like being a bit more traditional, there are plenty of other movies on offer that feature Thanksgiving as part of the plot.
The War At Home (1996) 7.0
This 1996 film centers on Jeremy Collier, a soldier who comes home after the Vietnam War and struggles to adjust to civilian life. It doesn’t help matters that Jeremy has to deal with his stern father, Bob. Unfortunately, everything pretty much unravels on Thanksgiving Day.
The film stars Emilio Estevez as Jeremy. He is also joined by his father, Emmy-nominated actor Martin Sheen, who portrays Jeremy. Fans who are curious about when they'll see Estevez next will be happy to know that The Mighty Ducks is reportedly bringing back Estevez’s Coach Bombay for the franchise’s reboot on Disney+.
Pieces Of April (2003) 7.0
Even today, many still associate actress Katie Holmes with the hit TV series Dawson’s Creek. But around the time that she was wrapping up her famous television role, Holmes also starred in this 2003 film as the titular character, April Burns.
In the film, she makes the fateful decision to invite her dying mom and the rest of her estranged family to a Thanksgiving dinner at her apartment. Aside from Holmes, the film also stars Patricia Clarkson, who earned an Oscar nomination for her performance.
The Ice Storm (1997) 7.4
By now, you may be familiar with many of the best disaster movies of the past decade. But if you want to see more, you can also check out this 1997 Ang Lee film, which centers on a family that starts to unravel during a Thanksgiving break.
Indeed, this movie offers a lot of family drama, especially with regards to the love triangle involved in the story. The Ice Storm boasts a cast that includes Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Joan Allen, Christina Ricci, and Elijah Wood and it received a Certified Fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes.
The Donut, The Balloon And The Lifesaver (2008) 7.4
If you’re looking for something more lighthearted for Thanksgiving, then perhaps you want to check out this 2008 comedy. Written and directed by Banks Helfrich, the film is about an aspiring writer who gets stuck spending Thanksgiving with his family, over and over again.
That family happens to include a mother who loves donuts and a father who has developed a fixation for his leaf blower. Helfrich also stars in the film.
Lady Bird (2017) 7.4
This 2017 film is one of the most critically acclaimed movies in recent years, having earned a 7.4 rating on IMDb and a 99 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. The film also earned five Oscar nominations, four Golden Globe nominations and two Golden Globe wins.
Lady Bird follows the titular character Lady Bird (portrayed by Saoirse Ronan) as she navigates her high school senior year. At some point, she ends up going on a rather awkward Thanksgiving date.
Miracle On 34th Street (1947) 7.9
Even today, this 1947 film is considered a holiday classic and fans would not be wrong to also consider it a Christmas movie. In Miracle on 34th Street, a man ends up getting institutionalized after claiming to be Santa Claus. Meanwhile, a young lawyer decides to defend him in court by saying that the man is exactly who he claims to be.
The events take place in the middle of the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, which is why you can see its festivities prominently featured in the background.
Hannah And Her Sisters (1986) 7.9
Written and directed by Woody Allen, this 1986 film centers on three sisters whose romantic relationships become interconnected over the course of two Thanksgivings. The film boasts a star-studded cast that includes Dianne Wiest, Barbara Hershey, Michael Caine, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and the late Carrie Fisher.
It also stars Julie Kavner who has voiced the character of Marge Simpson in The Simpsons since 1989. Hannah and Her Sisters went on to earn seven Oscar nominations. It also resulted in an Oscar win for Caine and Wiest and Woody Allen for Best Original Screenplay.
Scent Of A Woman (1992) 8.0
This 1992 classic tells the story of a prep school student who agrees to ‘babysit’ a blind man over Thanksgiving to earn some cash. Scent of a Woman is an Oscar-winning film that boasts a cast which includes Al Pacino, Chris O’Donnell, Frances Conroy, Bradley Whitford, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Pacino received an Oscar for Best Actor for his performance and Scent of a Woman also went on to score four other Oscar nominations.
Rocky (1976) 8.1
Sure, Rocky is essentially a boxing film, but it makes for a great Thanksgiving film. too. The story centers on Rocky Bilboa, who is brilliantly portrayed by veteran actor, Sylvester Stallone. He is a small-time boxer who ends up taking on a heavy-weight champion.
Even today, one of Rocky’s most famous lines in the film references the favorite holiday. “Yeah, to you it’s Thanksgiving, to me it’s Thursday.”
Prisoners (2013) 8.1
Readers may not have expected this 2013 film to be IMDb’s most highly rated Thanksgiving film, but it has a score of 8.1 on the site. Prisoners tells the story of a father who decides to take matters into his own hands after learning that his six-year-old daughter and her friend have gone missing after Thanksgiving dinner.
The film features powerful performances from Oscar-nominated actors Jake Gyllenhaal, Hugh Jackman, and Terence Howard. The cast also includes Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis. Prisoners may not be your typical Thanksgiving film, but it does touch upon several Thanksgiving themes - love, family, and hope.