I have a lot of TV memories around Thanksgiving, usually thinking first of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. No matter where we were during Thanksgiving, it always aired that morning with excitement and noise! I also remember one year our TV decidedly broke on Thanksgiving, and then I think from that moment on mom and dad just threw out the cable all together (which is probably why I remember haha). For all the gathering that happens on Thanksgiving, there’s lots of eating. And in the spirit of epic post-meal food comas, here are the best movies to watch for Thanksgiving while everyone’s content and fed!
The Sound of Music
So this was a repeat movie in our house, which I am a little surprised at because of how we somehow seemingly sat through the full length every time. It’s nearly three hours long, but I suppose you can’t be too critical of long run times for musicals! My grandma also very closely resembled Julie Andrews when she was younger, and completely convinced my dad and my aunt that it was in fact her in the movie haha. The Sound of Music has a wonderful script, choreography and music as well as dazzling shots of the Austrian Alps and countryside.
Pride and Prejudice (2005)
Honestly by this point, Jane Austen could probably have anything she wanted from me. A masterpiece of a film as an adaptation of the novel, Pride and Prejudice is 100% a comfort movie of mine. The music, the cinematography, the acting; I practically swoon just thinking about it. If you’re in the mood for a romantic comedy around Thanksgiving – invite me over because Pride and Prejudice will have me comfortable on the couch in no time!
The Princess Bride
A castle-y fairy tale adventure, The Princess Bride is a daring rescue for true love. Fun fact: I was Inigo Montoya for Halloween once. I essentially cut my hair into a bob the day before, but the best part is I repurposed some of that hair as my own Inigo mustache! Being the swashbuckling swordsman was indeed fun, 10/10 recommend. You’ll no doubt get a kick out of this movie if you err on the silly side of action, romance and old fashioned mythical kingdoms.
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
There can’t possibly be anything more wholesome to watch for the holiday than A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Any Peanuts fans? First airing in 1973, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Children’s Programming. A beloved comic strip by audiences worldwide, you can join in on Thanksgiving tradition as Charlie Brown and friends have their own sweet and cordial Thanksgiving celebration.
Ratatouille
Well if there’s one item we can’t skip at Thanksgiving, it’s the food of course!! In recent years I’ve become fascinated by cooking and just what it takes exactly to make delicious cuisine. Ratatouille approaches French cooking with a humorous and light hearted tale, told from the perspective of both a human and a rat! An unlikely pairing, the two share a connection to food and their story unfolds in Paris, France. Ratatouille is adorable and dreamy in all the ways homemade meals, family, friends and dreams come together at a time like Thanksgiving.
National Treasure
Feeling patriotic? Thanksgiving is a federal holiday acknowledging a season of harvest and bounty. So if you’re feeling especially grateful for America the Beautiful, Nicolas Cage famously does a superb job of protecting and uncovering our national monuments – with some pizazz and style. Action packed and a mystery at every turn, National Treasure satisfies the dramatic flair for secrets hidden within America’s greatest symbols. Fun and compelling, it will leave you wondering what happens next!
Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving
Okay I was wrong, this might be more wholesome than A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving has three mini movie episodes wrapped into the feature. One of them is Christmas-y so you can skip it if you’re not ready for Christmas…or you can put your Christmas tree up along with it if it’s absolutely Christmas for you by the time the sun goes down on Thanksgiving. A cute opportunity to revisit these timeless children’s stories, Winnie the Pooh curates fun sing-along songs and appearances by Tigger, Owl, Rabbit and more.
Mrs. Doubtfire
The laughter throughout Mrs. Doubtfire is a constant and jovial measure of its lightheartedness. Wanting to spend more time with his children, Robin Williams is Mrs. Doubtfire: a father hired as a nanny in disguise. As you can imagine, hilarity ensues, trailing a message about family and love. You can consider Mrs. Doubtfire an official Thanksgiving movie, with a Thanksgiving dinner scene scoring major brownie points. Sure to make you laugh, it’s a charming film for everyone involved!
Paddington
Another bear here, but this time a bear in Britain! Named after a London train station, Paddington leaves his home in Peru to find a new home – in England! Paddington Bear is a popular fictional character in the UK that has appeared in books by many different authors since the 1950’s. Always identified by a coat, a hat and a suitcase, this is the first time he has made an appearance on the big screen and in the box office. Very curious and well, sometimes a bit of a bear, Paddington captures the hearts of many in his expedition of finding home.
Brave
Of all accents, it’s Scottish and Irish that I can never seem to get right when I try. Thankfully while watching Brave, I can travel back in time to medieval Scotland any time and listen to them do it correctly haha. There’s plenty of feasting to be had, sprinkled with mischief, riddles and broken curses resting on the balance of fate. This movie has so much personality and wonder, an exciting watch to look forward to on Thanksgiving!
Did we miss your favorite Thanksgiving flick on the list? Let us know in the comments below or tag us at #larsathome or #larsparties to share what you’re watching on Thanksgiving! We love finding excuses to be cozy on the couch with a great movie.