Whether you’re looking for the right film to watch with your loved ones this Thanksgiving or you’re just looking for something to get you in the holiday spirit, here’s a list of five season-appropriate — and, I think, high-quality — movies to satisfy your binging needs this week.
- You’ve Got Mail
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For the secret (or not-so-secret) romantics among you, You’ve Got Mail is the perfect choice for this Thanksgiving. I’ll admit this rom-com classic isn’t exactly a deep cut to many romance movie enthusiasts out there but whether you’re rewatching it for the 100th time or hitting play for the first, this movie never gets old (at least to me).
Starring acting legends Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan this movie is the epitome of enemies-to-lovers. Two rival bookshop owners both happen to be members of the same online dating site where they aren’t using their real names. They fall in love in the digital world while passionately hating each other in the real one and, well, you see where this is going, right?
Anyway, while it’s not exactly focused on Thanksgiving itself, the film perfectly captures that wondrous sense of East Coast autumn, albeit in a much cleaner New York than the one we know, and one of its most iconic scenes happens thanks to this holiday, so I just couldn’t keep it off the list.
- Knives Out
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Next up, we have Knives Out. This relatively new release from 2019 is available in the US on Amazon Prime or PlutoTv, or on Netflix in most other countries. The film follows a family gathering turned murder investigation after the mysterious death of a crime novelist. In charge of the investigation is Detective Benoit Blanc, played by James Bond himself, Daniel Craig.
You might be asking yourself why I chose to include this drama/thriller on the list, and no it’s not just because the movie features Chris Evans (swoon) wearing a very iconic and fall-appropriate sweater.
Knives Out made the list because, even if this Thanksgiving raises some questions for you about your family dynamics, you can take comfort in knowing that you guys are nowhere near as dysfunctional as the Thrombeys in Knives Out — at least, I hope not.
If that thought isn’t so comforting once you actually watch the film, it’s still a must-watch anyway.
- Thanksgiving
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If you didn’t get your fill of spookiness from Halloween, or are just a fan of slasher/horror films, then this is the holiday crossover for you. Aptly named Thanksgiving, this new R-rated film just released on Nov. 17 and features popular actors such as McDreamy (sorry, Patrick Dempsey), Rick Hoffman, and Milo Manheim.
The audience follows along as the movie tells the story of what was once a normal (or, as normal as you can get) Black Friday sale becoming a frenzied craze in the town of Plymouth, ending in a bloodbath.
Personally, I’m not a fan of horror films and I tend to lean toward more feel-good films for the holidays, but I’ve found that it’s good to have some variety.
For those of you who love horror, it doesn’t really get better than this. Its creepy-level is on par with some of Black Mirror‘s more jarring episodes, and critics have even placed it alongside A24 horror films. If you’re serious about your fake blood and jump-scares, Thanksgiving is the film for you.
And I mean, really, how could I make a list about thanksgiving films and not include one titled Thanksgiving?
- Jack and Jill
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You might’ve heard people say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and for many people, this sentiment could not ring more true than it does at Thanksgiving, as is the case for the main character in Adam Sandler’s Jack and Jill.
A very big change from my last recommendation, you can watch this light-hearted comedy on Netflix in the US. Adam Sandler plays both main characters, twins who’ve led very different lives. When Jack, at his wits end with Jill, goes too far and hurts her feelings at Thanksgiving, his attempts to fix their relationship and the ensuing antics make for a very funny film.
While your Thanksgiving won’t get as crazy as the one from this film (well, I hope not), this is a great movie to bring the family together or to watch on your own if you’re alone on Thanksgiving and your spirit needs some lifting.
Also, did I mention Al Pacino is in this?
- Fantastic Mr. Fox
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Last on the list is a personal favorite of mine that you’ve probably seen before, but just in case you missed out, this Roald Dahl book-turned-movie is available for streaming on Hulu, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime.
Fantastic Mr. Fox is about a family of foxes who live near a farm run by 3 human brothers. When Mr. Fox raids the farm despite a promise to his wife, he sets in motion the events of the rest of the film as he tries to evade capture by the humans.
This animated comedy-adventure movie is great for families with younger kids and equally enjoyable for all ages. Your parents will appreciate the voice-acting of A-list celebrities they know and love, such as Geroge Clooney and Meryl Streep, and those with short attention spans will stay engaged thanks to the quick style of animation.
Also, for a kids movie, Fantastic Mr. Fox is full of sentimental scenes that could warm even the iciest hearts. It will remind you to be giving and grateful this Thanksgiving.
There’s something for everyone on this list, which encompasses all the genres, so do yourself a favor and don’t spend hours scrolling on Netflix for the perfect movie.
Choose one of these Five flicks to cozy up with this Thanksgiving!
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