Thanksgiving is a time for family. But what will you actually do with that family when the turkey is served, the pie is consumed, and the dishes are done? Nothing beats relaxing and turning on a Thanksgiving movie with the family when the serotonin kicks in and everyone is satisfied, content, and ready to just sit.

What's Cooking (2000)

In this dramedy, four different families celebrate Thanksgiving in their special ways while having their respective tales inseparably entwined. The families must also deal with generational differences, sibling disputes, and unexpected guests as they prepare their meals, which include typical American fares like turkey and particular cultural specialties.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987)

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, a Thanksgiving classic, has Steve Martin and John Candy at their absolute best. The story follows Neal Page, played by Martin, as he frantically tries to get back home for Christmas. This pair's journey is continuously delayed, which leads to mayhem.

The festive cheer as well as the particular chaos that results from people attempting to get home are both well shown in this film. Everyone who has ever needed to travel to see family around the holidays will be able to relate to this adventure. Seeing these two utterly dissimilar personalities come together during a stressful and chaotic time of year adds poignancy to the story.

Alice's Restaurant (1969)

Arlo Guthrie plays himself in this version of his 1967 folk song "Alice's Restaurant Massacree," in which he joins pals for Thanksgiving as a vagrant. When everyone decides to take a load of trash to the landfill, things go awry when they discover that the dump is closed. They throw the rubbish off a cliff, which results in police involvement, arrest records, and a variety of other issues. The film takes on friendships and family ties as well as the effects of the 1960s counterculture on society as a whole, blending humorous and more somber moments.

Grumpy Old Men (1993)

In this holiday comedy starring legendary actors Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, two bickering friends develop romantic feelings for their new neighbor, Ann-Margret. As their love interest enjoys Thanksgiving with some other man, things only grow worse as the other two men escalate their rivalry to win over the neighbor. With almost $70 million in box office revenue, the film was an unexpected blockbuster and led to the 1995 release of "Grumpier Old Men."

Friendsgiving (2020)

A buddy comedy called Friendsgiving explores the value of friendship. It is the tale of a modest Thanksgiving meal that gradually grows bigger, more dysfunctional, and more enjoyable. This is one worth applauding for if you value discovered families.

Seeing older women form friendships is fascinating. It serves as a sobering reminder that this link isn't adequately shown on television. For individuals who have their adopted family to rely on during this holiday season, this movie is a celebration of folks coming along to care for each other regardless of their biological relationship.

The Oath (2018)

Ike Barinholtz, star of The Mindy Project, makes his directorial debut. And starring in the politically charged comedy together with Tiffany Haddish from It. The two portray a married couple who are merely attempting to survive supper and the night due to an impending tax oath deadline the day after Thanksgiving. Anything else would be doing you a disservice if I gave it to you.

Garfield's Thanksgiving (1989)

A Thanksgiving special hosted by the orange cat you adore even more than he adores lasagna. This not only makes you feel sentimental. But also gives the kids something to do while you set the table. The iconic cartoon starts with a visit to the vet and finishes with Grandma preparing a Thanksgiving feast that turns out to be ideal.

Krisha (2015)

Put away any holiday cheer you may be feeling, and just indulge in the simmering tension provided by Trey Edward Shults' widely praised thriller. It follows a woman who is attempting to win back the trust of a family she left behind because of addiction on that particular Thursday.

The Humans (2021)

For this psychological drama, Stephen Karam adapted his Tony-winning one-act play. The story revolves around three generations of a Philadelphia family gathering to celebrate Thanksgiving in the youngest daughter's New York apartment, only to discover as the night wears on that there might be something strange going on in the apartment building. In this odd and unsettling environment, the individuals get more frightened and tense. Which causes them to expose their deepest anxieties and private details of their personal lives to one another. The movie made several critics' top 10 lists in 2021 thanks to its impressive cast.

The Big Chill (1983)

An old friend's suicide prompts a group of ex-college friends to get together over the Thanksgiving holiday to reflect on their earlier years and the people they have become. While the story's main theme is the loss of a loved one, it also serves as a touching reminder that sometimes our families are ones that we forge on our own. In 1983, the movie won the People's Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival and received three Oscar nominations.

Home For The Holidays (1995)

Holly Hunter's character, Claudia Larson, visits her hometown for Thanksgiving, but her bizarre family doesn't take long to remind her of the reasons she originally left. In this Jodie Foster-directed comedy, Robert Downey Jr. and Anne Bancroft also have prominent roles.

Hollidaysburg (2014)

After their first semester of college, ex-high school friends who were once friends return home for the holiday season and fall in love. Even though its cliched plot description makes it sound gimmicky and almost sugary, Anna Martemucci's overlooked 2014 treasure is so much more than that. The cast, lead by Rachel Keller as Tori and Tobin Mitnick as Scott, is so adept with the material that, like the movie, they are undiscovered artists hidden out in a little Pennsylvania town.

Conclusion

Whatever you decide on watching, it is certain that it will give you at least one hour of peace before you need to start thinking about the other holidays that are coming up.