There’s very little love for Thanksgiving movies or specials. I suppose it’s mostly because there’s not exactly an abundance of them to choose from. It’s tempting to skip straight from the overflow of Halloween media to the equal overflow of Christmas media. However, if you’re like me and prefer to hold off on going full Christmas-mode until closer to December, it’s worth sorting through and finding those few Thanksgiving diamonds in the rough. These films offer a warm prelude of holiday happiness to ease into the season with.
Here’s a potluck of my personal favorite Thanksgiving movies and TV specials.
“Son in Law” – Not only is 1993’s “Son In Law” one of my favorite Thanksgiving movies, it’s also one of my favorite movies of all time. Before he became known for “wanting to be on his own” as the voice of knock-off Pinocchio, actor Pauly Shore was “The Weasel,” an eccentric persona that involved lots of neon and howling. This persona is on full, glorious display in this movie with his character “Crawl.” When college freshman Rebecca (Carla Gugino) invites her eccentric friend Crawl home for Thanksgiving on the family farm, a series of misunderstandings find the pair pretending to be engaged, much to her traditionalist family’s horror. This movie isn’t a masterpiece by any means, but I have just as much fun watching it from one Thanksgiving to the next. It’s a great time just watching Pauly Shore be Pauly Shore, while he was at his prime, anyways. If you think it sounds like a good time to watch a hippie manchild run around screaming and making other incoherent noises on a farm for an hour and a half, I can’t recommend checking it out enough.
“Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” – First and foremost, I love John Hughes for his teen movies. Still, his comedies are equally magnificent in a different way. “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” follows comedians Steve Martin and the late John Candy as their characters attempt to get back to Chicago from New York for Thanksgiving by any means necessary, including…planes, trains, and automobiles. Not only is it wonderfully funny and chock-full of memorable moments and quotes, but it also has a great sense of heart, best expressed through a touching monologue about self-acceptance from Candy. As far as I’m concerned, this is a classic that has a high probability of entertaining almost anyone. If you like the first or second “Home Alone,” there’s an especially strong likelihood you’ll enjoy this too, as those were also written by Hughes.
“The Middle” Thanksgiving Specials – ABC’s “The Middle” is one of my favorite sitcoms of all time, and it saddens me deeply to see how underappreciated it is. The premise follows the trials and tribulations of a family of five, the Hecks, living in “the middle” of nowhere in Indiana. In each of its wonderful nine seasons, the show features a Thanksgiving special, and they are consistently great. My favorite, “Thanksgiving V,” sees the Heck family hosting Thanksgiving dinner for an ever-growing ensemble of unexpected characters, including the mother’s boss and the father’s former sister-in-law. The show is great at capturing relatable moments and experiences, with the Heck family often finding themselves in these back-to-the-wall, unwinnable situations, which makes for great comedy. The dynamics between the Hecks feel real and accessible throughout the whole show, but they’re made all the more successful when the hustle and bustle of a holiday dinner with extended family is thrown into the mix. Even if you’ve never seen or heard of the show before, I highly recommend checking out the Thanksgiving specials, they’re a great sampling of what the rest of the show has to offer.
“Gilmore Girls” Thanksgiving Episode – “Gilmore Girls” has become infamous for its cozy fall vibes, and season three’s “A Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving” is no exception. This episode shines on multiple levels. First off, it’s a great entry for the show itself, with particularly strong comedic elements, such as Mrs. Kim’s tofu turkey or tofurky, Kirk’s increasing fear of his newly adopted cat, Cat Kirk, and Melissa McCarthy’s drunken deep-fryer despair. Beyond that and into the realm of Thanksgiving media, I think this episode offers a really earnest portrayal of the highs and lows of family get-togethers. The wholesome, happy gathering feelings are nicely juxtaposed with a compelling argument at the end of the episode, featuring a dynamic that feels realistic and relatable. Regardless of your relationship to this show, I highly recommend this episode if you’re looking for a relatable mix of idealistic and authentic holiday feelings.
“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” – It’s kind of impossible to make a list of the best Thanksgiving specials without including Charlie Brown, and rightfully so. This special encapsulates all of the heartwarming, childlike excitement of celebrating a holiday. Maybe some of it’s a little outdated, but the majority carries a timeless quality that holds up seamlessly year after year. The bits between Snoopy and Woodstock always make me smile, and on my most recent rewatch, several jokes throughout got a genuine, hearty laugh out of me. If you’re looking for something to get you into the holiday spirit, this is the purest recommendation I can give. Charlie Brown never fails to offer the perfect dose of wholesome charm to make you feel like a little kid again.
