Top Ten Favorites: Thanksgiving Movies

 “Happy Thanksgiving... If having a mother who drives you crazy is the worst thing that happens to you, you're pretty lucky.” (Home for the Holidays (1995)

Hello, my lovely friends! 

There comes a sweet, sleepy point in November when the air outside turns genuinely crisp and all you really want to do is crawl under a heavy blanket with something warm to drink and a good movie playing. Thanksgiving has this wonderful way of slowing everything down just enough for us to catch our breath before the whirlwind of the December holidays kicks in. If you are anything like me, you use this cozy downtime as a guilt-free excuse to burrow on the couch and watch something that feels like a warm hug. I put together a little list of movies that feel just right for this time of year, ranging from chaotic family comedies to old-fashioned comfort watches that never get old.

We might as well kick things off with the granddaddy of all holiday crossovers, Miracle on 34th Street from 1947, because honestly, the holiday season officially begins the second Macy's puts on its parade. It bridges that lovely gap between autumn and winter so seamlessly that it feels like the ultimate transition movie. Sticking with that classic black-and-white charm, Holiday Inn from 1942 gives us incredible music, Bing Crosby crooning away, and a wonderful reminder of why Thanksgiving deserves its own cinematic spotlight right alongside Christmas. If you want something that dives headfirst into the delicious, complicated, and wonderfully messy reality of modern family gatherings, What's Cooking? from 2000 is an absolute hidden gem that follows four diverse families celebrating the big day with plenty of burnt turkey and buried secrets.

For those nights when you just want a sweet, low-stakes romance with a happy ending you can see coming a mile away, Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade from 2012 hits every single cozy cliché in the best possible way. Then, if you are in the mood for something a bit more layered and deeply human, Hannah and Her Sisters from 1986 captures the cyclical nature of family drama over a few successive Thanksgiving dinners with wit and grace. Of course, no holiday movie marathon would be complete without Planes, Trains and Automobiles from 1987, which is basically a masterclass in travel disasters and finding unexpected friendship when your holiday plans completely implode.

If you are craving a cozy period piece that makes you feel like you stepped right into a classic storybook, An Old Fashion Thanksgiving from 2008 has all the period costumes, home-baked pies, and gentle family healing you could possibly ask for. Jodie Foster’s Home for the Holidays from 1995 is another masterpiece of family chaos, perfectly nailing that strange mix of loving your relatives dearly while simultaneously wanting to hide in the pantry with a glass of wine. The Thanksgiving House from 2013 leans into that fun rom-com trope of a city girl inheriting a historic home just in time for the holidays, complete with small-town charm and a handsome local. Finally, Hanging Up from 2000 rounds things out by looking at sisterhood, aging parents, and the sheer logistical nightmare of trying to host a holiday when your life is already spinning a little too fast.

So as you start prepping your stretchy pants and stocking up on pumpkin pie ingredients, I hope you find a little time to carve out an evening just for yourself. Put on your softest socks, ignore the emails, and let one of these comforting stories carry you through the holiday weekend. Happy Thanksgiving, friend, and may your turkey be juicy and your remote control never be more than an arm's reach away.

Top Ten Favorites: Thanksgiving Movies
1. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
2. Holiday Inn (1942)
3. What's Cooking? (2000)
4. Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade (2012)
5. Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
6. Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
7. An Old Fashion Thanksgiving (2008)
8. Home for the Holidays (1995)
9. The Thanksgiving House (2013)
10. Hanging Up (2000)

It was so lovely having you wander into my lair today. Thank you for reading along! May the rest of your night be filled with moonlit smiles and quiet, magical peace. Wicked talk to you soon!