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Thanksgiving is a great holiday to get together with loved ones, eat some good food, and turn on high-quality entertainment. While Halloween and Christmas movies are all over streaming services right now, there aren’t many options for Thanksgiving movies. You can always use the long weekend to get a head start on holiday classics — or you can find some heartwarming movies about family, history, and good food.
Whether you’re with family or friends, check out these five Thanksgiving movies to watch together.
1. National Treasure (2004)
This heist adventure released during the 2004 Thanksgiving season, drawing audiences in with its family-friendly tone and, of course, its lead actor. Today, Nicolas Cage’s National Treasure remains a beloved throwback because it’s simply a fun watch.
The movie follows an enigmatic historian who pursues a lost American treasure hidden by the founding fathers. To do so, he must turn back the pages of history, gain the help of his skeptical father, and steal the Declaration of Independence! Its convoluted historical mystery should engage newcomers and anyone who hasn’t seen it recently. If the story isn’t enough, the cast, writing, and action should be fun for almost everyone.
2. Ratatouille (2007)
Though there isn’t much turkey or stuffing in it, this family movie about food is always a safe choice for Thanksgiving. Ratatouille follows an aspiring chef who seeks help from a rat hiding in his hat.
This Pixar classic is perfect for audiences of all ages. Additionally, Ratatouille received an Internet revival in recent years, giving it more focus in video games and on social media. So, you may get more interested viewers than you’d expect.
3. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
The most recent addition to the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise is the series’ longest, darkest, and most expansive addition yet. This family-centric movie follows the Guardians team diving into Rocket’s (Bradley Cooper) past to save their friends and the entire galaxy.
Volume 3 is a great Thanksgiving movie to watch together, assuming people have seen at least one Guardians of the Galaxy or Avengers movie. Even if they haven’t, it’s always fun to explain to newcomers that “one character is a tree, one’s a raccoon, and another is Chris Pratt” before tossing them into the story.
Whatever your Marvel experience level, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is almost guaranteed to draw several laughs and a few tears. However, this installment features harsher violence, language, and themes than previous movies. If you’re watching with younger family members, you may prefer other family superhero movies, such as:
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
- Ant-Man: Quantumania
- The Marvels
- Blue Beetle
- Shazam
- The Incredibles 2
4. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Based on the novel by Roald Dahl, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a classic musical movie about a candy maker seeking a new owner for his factory. This adaptation is considered timeless, thanks to Gene Wilder’s zany performances. However, this Thanksgiving movie’s heart lies in its family themes.
If you haven’t watched it recently, Thanksgiving 2023 may be the best time to reacquaint yourself with Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Timothée Chalamet’s Wonka prequel releases in December and carries the same aesthetic as the 1971 classic.
5. The Menu (2022)
Starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Fiennes, and Nicholas Hoult, The Menu is an intriguing comedy-horror movie about food — and how it got on your plate. It follows several couples who finally get seats at an exclusive restaurant, but their pre-determined menus don’t leave them with many options as the evening goes on.
Almost the entire story takes place in one room, but the performances and dark comedy keep the story steaming. The Menu may be a memorable movie to watch with friends and some parts of the family.
Thanksgiving traditions are changing in many families, but good food, sports, and movies are still essential at many gatherings. Check our other Thanksgiving movie recommendations to plan your holiday break.
