Thanksgiving Watchlist
November 22, 2023 | By: Seth Boyd
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It happened again. Thanksgiving is only a day away, and there are still preparations to be made. Obviously, the company and the food will be the stars of the show (the ranking may vary). Nearly as important will be the entertainment. Before streaming services, the day before Thanksgiving was the busiest day for video stores. Afterall, not everyone wants to watch football. The shelves of video stores may have seemed limited, but navigating dozens of streaming services can be overwhelming, making it difficult to find the right movies to entertain guests on the big day.
Here to make matters simpler are ten selections to watch with your guests on Thanksgiving. We’re breaking this up in two categories, as families and tastes tend to vary. The first five movies are classic selections ideal for a traditional (for lack of a better word) gathering. The later five would be best suited for those of us for whom the day is more complicated.
5 Classics
01.
Fantastic Mr. Fox
02.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
03.
Addams Family Values
04.
The Mitchells vs the Machines
05.
Knives Out
The first animated film from Wes Anderson is a pure gem that is sure to delight the whole family. The film is filled with humor, charm, feasts, and plenty of autumnal imagery. The all star cast is led by Meryl Streep and Geroge Clooney.
This film was quite a change of pace for John Hughes, who primarily made films about teenagers. The story, led by Steve Martin and John Candy, follows two men reluctantly traveling together through storms and other mishaps in hopes of making it home in time for Thanksgiving. A classic buddy comedy that is as funny as it is sweet.
If you're more of a Halloween family and aren’t quite ready to say goodbye to spooky season, this is the film for you. A staging of a Thanksgiving reenactment gone awry makes it all the more appropriate for the season. One of the few sequels to improve upon the original. Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston make a strong case for the ultimate power couple in the lead roles of Gomez and Mortica Addams.
The Mitchells are your typical American family. By typical, I of course mean dysfunctional. The family is on a cross country trip when a machine uprising occurs and it’s up to the Mitchells to save the day. The film is funny, heartfelt, and unlike so many family comedy’s, the family feels real. The cast features Abbi Jacobson, Maya Rudolph, Danny McBride, Eric André, and many more.
Nothing brings family together like a good murder mystery, and Knives Out is one of the best in recent years. In fact, it’s so good it’s started a bit of a resurgence of the genre with several imitators and a sequel quickly following, all of which are quite enjoyable. The film features an all star ensemble cast featuring Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ana de Armas, Christopher Plummer, Michael Shannon and more. The whole cast appears to be having a blast in this film, particularly Craig and Evans playing against type of their regular franchise roles at the time (James Bond, and Captain America.)
5 Alternatives
01.
Autumn Sonata
02.
Tampopo
03.
Goodfellas
04.
Parasite
05.
A Thousand Clowns
For many of us, Thanksgiving is a difficult day tainted by unpleasant memories. Like most of the films on this list, plot and setting don’t actually involve Thanksgiving. However, for those of us who may struggle on this day Ingmar Bergman’s Autumn Sonata can provide catharsis with the authenticity and beauty in which explores pain and family dynamics. The film follows a reunion between a mother and daughter that have not seen each other in years. Soon, words are cutting deeper than blades as old pains resurface. The minimal cast is led by Liv Ulman and Ingrid Bergman in her final film.
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This odd Japanese comedy is a great Thanksgiving watch for two reasons. Firstly, it's arguably the greatest food movie ever made and Thanksgiving is perhaps the most food centric holiday we have in the states. Secondly, not all families feature a traditional make up and it can be refreshing to watch a film that understands the joy of chosen kin on this holiday. The film follows two truckers who decide to help a widow and her son turn her struggling ramen shop to the best one in town. Soon more and more locals join the cause creating a lovable ragtag group with a noble goal.
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Sometimes chosen kin isn’t so much “chosen” as it is fellow society outcasts you’re stuck with. Martin Scorsese is a director who understands this. While Henry and Karen Hill (played by Ray Liotta and Lorraine Bracco) may enjoy spending time with the other mob couples, they don’t really have a choice. Afterall, how would they be able to relate to people who aren’t involved in organized crime? The film may vary in its actual relatability to most, but will remain a fantastically entertaining watch.
Parasite is one of the rare cases of the Oscars getting it right. This fantastic black comedy thriller from Korean director Bong Joon-Ho follows a working class family that schemes to all get jobs working for the same wealthy family by posing as unrelated. Their plan is intricate, daring, and extremely satisfying to watch unfold. The fact that his fantastic film won four Oscars and introduced Korean cinema to a wider audience is in itself reason enough for an annual celebration with loved ones.
For those with coulrophobia, fear not–there are no actual clowns in this film. Instead, the film features another charmingly unconventional family. The film follows Jason Robards as Murrary Burns. Murray is a clever, but eccentric and currently unemployed comedy writer who is raising his nephew. Social workers become aware of Murray’s unemployment and require that he find a job immediately in order to retain custody of his nephew. A Thousand Clowns is simultaneously more grounded and more absurd than most films, resulting in an experience that is incredibly funny and truly touching.
And there you have it, the official top ten Thanksgiving recommendations from Film Optimists. What will you be watching this Thanksgiving? Let us know in the comments below!