12 Underrated Thanksgiving Movies to Watch This November
I have fond memories of spending time with my family on Thanksgiving, making pies, and playing music with my cousins after eating. Thanksgiving has always meant a lot to me, and I’m sure it does for many others.
Is it because we can’t resist a good meal? Probably. But honestly, it’s more about how, unlike what movies might show, Thanksgiving is the one day of the year when the family just feels the closest. Of course, there’s nothing better than a good movie to keep everyone entertained—especially the ones we end up watching every year!
The thing is, Thanksgiving movies don’t get the same spotlight as Christmas ones. There are a million Christmas movies, but Thanksgiving ones tend to fly under the radar.
Luckily, after pouring over a recent message board thread, I found the best-underrated films for the holiday. Here’s a list of the top twelve you should definitely watch with the family this Thanksgiving!
ThanksKilling (2008)
This one is for the folks who aren’t quite ready for spooky season to be over yet. ThanksKilling, the 2008 horror comedy, features a foul-mouthed (or should we say fowl-mouthed?) killer turkey who slashes his way through college kids on Thanksgiving break. Anyone expecting a “good” movie about a supernatural turkey missed the joke—this film is gloriously terrible on purpose!
With so few Thanksgiving movies out there, ThanksKilling has become a cult classic for many. Say the title and any fan will scream, “Gobble, gobble.”
Addams Family Values (1993)
This is one of my all-time favorite movies, Thanksgiving or not. For a PG-13 film, Addams Family Values pushed the limits of family dark comedy. Some even say this sequel is better than the first Addams Family movie (and I agree!). This time, the Addams family is out to save Uncle Fester from his gold-digging new love, Debbie, a scheming black widow. Christina Ricci as Wednesday is pure genius—the reluctant smile alone deserves an Oscar!
The best part is when Pugsly and Wednesday go to camp and take over the Thanksgiving play performance with their twisted humor. Pugsly, dressed as a turkey, sings, “Eat me before I finish this song.”
Dutch (1991)
To get to know his girlfriend’s son, a good-hearted man named Dutch offers to pick him up from prep school—only to find the kid’s a total brat. You can guess how that goes! If you watch this every Thanksgiving, you know Dutch is a gem with laughs and heart.
This classic ’90s film has it all—great story, direction, and acting from Modern Family’s Ed O’Neill. Perfect for a family night in winter!
Son in Law (1993)
If you want to see how Boomers and Gen X got along, just watch any Pauly Shore movie—and Son in Law nails it. The West Coast-meets-Midwest culture clash isn’t new, but this film makes it fun with Shore’s unpredictable antics at their best.
In the movie, Becca heads home to South Dakota for Thanksgiving, bringing along her quirky college friend, Crawl, played by Shore. The fish out of water story is actually pretty funny, and Shore’s goofiness doesn’t overshadow the cast. It’s a lighthearted comedy that leaves you smiling every time.
Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
Whoever put Steve Martin and John Candy together in Planes, Trains & Automobiles is a genius—they’re perfect for this classic comedy by John Hughes. The story follows a Chicago ad man, desperate to get home for Thanksgiving, who’s stuck traveling with a lovable, bumbling shower-curtain-ring salesman as his only companion.
This movie is a heartfelt story about family, friendship, and goodwill. But mostly, it’s just hilarious. Everyone who’s seen it remembers the airport scene where Martin’s character loses it on the rental car clerk (Grace from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off!). It gets better with age!
Pieces of April (2003)
Imagine a wayward daughter inviting her dying mom and estranged family to her tiny apartment for Thanksgiving. That is that chaos of Pieces of April. If you are expecting a light comedy that might boost Katie Holmes’s Hollywood career, nope. I will leave you with a lump in your throat.
The camera work pulls you in, and the setting feels so real it’s like you’re right there. Watching April do her best—decorating the stairway with autumn colors and bartering for a working stove—just makes you want to give her a hug. It’s a beautifully touching film with fantastic performances by the cast.
Alice’s Restaurant (1969)
Ever heard the 1967 folk song “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” by Arlo Guthrie? Alice’s Restaurant, the 1969 film directed by Arthur Penn, is actually based on it! Some say that Philly’s WMMR radio station plays this song every hour on Thanksgiving. Drive around, and perhaps you can hear it playing more than once.
If you want a snapshot of 1968 through the eyes of a mild-mannered folk singer, this is the movie. It follows Arlo Guthrie as a small town loses it over him dumping trash down a ravine, leading to his rejection from military service. It’s a funny, honest take on hippie life with real-life grit.
Nobody’s Fool (1994)
Nobody’s Fool is the perfect holiday movie to watch with family anytime from Thanksgiving to New Year’s. Based on Richard Russo’s novel, this comedy-drama stars Paul Newman in one of his best roles as Sully—a flawed but good-hearted man trying to reconnect with his son after years of missed chances.
The film is a moving holiday story about loneliness, second chances, and finding unexpected joy. With just the right balance of humor and heart, it lets you laugh at life’s frailties. This one’s definitely rewatchable—almost a seasonal classic.
Home for the Holidays (1995)
Every family goes through its share of ups and downs, and Home for the Holidays captures that perfectly. Many of us look forward to Thanksgiving, but for Claudia Larson, it’s anything but relaxing. After losing her job, kissing her ex-boss, and learning her daughter’s skipping the holiday, she heads to Chicago to face her hilariously dysfunctional family.
This film’s over-the-top realism is so good—the layers in the dialogue, character interactions, and those subtle looks. Robert Downey Jr. steals the show as Claudia’s gay brother, Tommy. Don’t miss the turkey scene and all the priceless reactions around the table.
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
There’s never a wrong time to watch The Royal Tenenbaums, but a chilly, quiet November afternoon might just be ideal. This Wes Andersen classic follows the peculiar Tenenbaum family, once famous for their brilliance and now past their prime. Chas was a real estate prodigy; Margot was a celebrated playwright in ninth grade; and Richie was a star tennis player. Their estranged father reappears, claiming he’s dying, and attempts to bring them all closer together.
We can all relate to the theme of coming together with family, no matter how dysfunctional, during the holidays. Packed with quirky, heartfelt moments, this story dives into family, flaws, and forgiveness.
The Ice Storm (1997)
The Ice Storm isn’t the kind of movie you watch before bed. It sticks with you, making you think about the raw emotions in these characters’ lives. Set during a Thanksgiving weekend in the ’70s, it explores troubled families grappling with secrets and broken relationships.
The film dives deep into love, betrayal, and self-destruction. In the final scene, a character breaks down, and you feel his pain. It’s heavy, but if you’re up for an intense look at family, this one’s worth the watch.
You’ve Got Mail (1998)
I consider You’ve Got Mail a Thanksgiving movie! While it’s not all about the holiday, it’s set during that time and has become a classic. The story follows Joe Fox, a book superstore mogul, and Kathleen Kelly, an independent bookstore owner, who unknowingly falls in love online while he’s trying to drive her out of business.
If you’re into ’90s rom-coms, this one’s a must-watch. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are even better together here than in Sleepless in Seattle. The ending might be a bit of a twist, but it’s a romance to remember.
Source: Reddit
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