It is that in-between season — Halloween decorations are down, Christmas lights are starting to make a showing, and Thanksgiving feels like the weird in-between holiday that many overlook.
Here are some movies to keep you from overlooking Thanksgiving and get in the turkey-trot mood, from family stories to food-filled fantasies and classic comedies that are a helpful reminder of what the holiday is all about.
‘Free Birds’ (2013)
Rated: PG
Streaming: YouTube TV
Reggie the Turkey finds himself on an adventure with Jake, a turkey on a mission to make sure turkeys are not part of the first Thanksgiving. The pair take a time machine back to 1621 at the Plymouth colony, where they find themselves in the middle of a turkey clan struggling to survive. A fun reminder to be thankful, even if you’re the main course.
‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving’ (1973)
Rated: PG
Streaming: Apple TV+
A Thanksgiving staple. Charlie Brown, with the help of Linus, Snoopy and Woodstock, scrambles to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner after Peppermint Patty invites herself (and everyone else) over.
‘A Family Thanksgiving’ (2010)
Rated: G
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video, Hallmark+, YouTube TV
When a driven lawyer focused on making partner gets a glimpse of what her life could look like if she found more balance in life, she discovers what true gratitude looks like.
‘Annie’ (1982)
Rated: PG
Streaming: Netflix
The story of young orphan Annie finding family in the unlikeliest of places. “Annie” isn’t a Thanksgiving film by setting, but its messages of hope, love and belonging fit the spirit of the holiday season.
‘Ratatouille’ (2007)
Rated: G
Streaming:
A French feast for an American one. While it’s not set around Thanksgiving, “Ratatouille” highlights the power of food, creativity and passion. Nothing says “Happy Thanksgiving” quite like a film full of food and a young chef chasing his dreams.
‘You’ve Got Mail’ (1998)
Rated: PG
Streaming: Philo
An owner of a bookstore chain, Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) is on a mission to shut down a local bookshop to drive business to his storefront. The owner of this bookshop just so happens to be Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan), who he recently met online.
‘Rocky’ (1976)
Rated: PG
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video, Philo, MGM+, YouTube TV
A small-time Philadelphia boxer, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), gets a rare chance to fight the world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) — a chance for a “nobody” to become a “somebody.” Creed expects an easy fight, but not if Rocky has anything to say about it.
‘Miracle on 34th Street’ (1947)
Rated: PG
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube TV
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade needs a new Santa Claus and the special events director finds a nice man to play the part. After he is hired, she finds he plays the part a bit too well and his sanity is questioned. A lawyer fights to prove he is sane because the man actually is Santa Claus.
‘Rudy’ (1993)
Rated: PG
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video, Sling TV, Philo, YouTube TV
Rudy (Sean Astin) has lived his whole life being told he is too small to play college football, but he is determined to overcome the odds and live out his dream of playing for Notre Dame.
‘Leo’ (2023)
Rated: PG
Streaming: Netflix
Leo is a 74-year-old lizard and a class pet in a Florida classroom, where he has lived for decades with his turtle terrarium friend. After learning he only has one year left to live, he plans to escape to experience life in the outside world, but ends up getting caught up in his students’ problems, including a mean substitute teacher.
‘Funny Thing About Love’ (2021)
Rated: PG
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video, Tubi, The Roku Channel
A Thanksgiving homecoming gets complicated when a successful businesswoman’s family tries to reunite her with her ex.
‘Dan in Real Life’ (2007)
Rated: PG-13 (parents guide)
Streaming: Disney+
Single father Dan Burns meets a lovely woman at a bookshop during a family weekend that feels Thanksgiving-esque. The two get to know each other and he believes he has found the one, but soon finds she is dating his brother.
‘Instant Family’ (2018)
Rated: PG-13 (parents guide)
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, The Roku Channel, YouTube
A couple that flips houses for a living learn the true meaning of family (and patience) after fostering three children.
‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ (1993)
Rated: PG-13 (parents guide)
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, The Roku Channel, YouTube TV
After a bitter divorce, Daniel Hillard disguises himself as a female housekeeper so he cans spend time with his children who are in the custody of his former wife.
‘Spider-Man’ (2002)
Rated: PG-13 (parents guide)
Streaming: Disney+, Hulu
Thanksgiving dinner takes an unexpected twist when Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) and Norman Osborn (Willem Dafoe) face off over their turkey dinner.
‘Paul Blart: Mall Cop’ (2009)
Rated: PG
Streaming: Tubi
Paul Blart (Kevin James) works as a security guard in a New Jersey mall. He dreams of being a cop but can never pass the physical exam due to his hypoglycemia, which causes him to pass out when his blood sugar is low. On Black Friday, a group of criminals put the mall under siege and take hostages. Blart refuses to leave and takes it upon himself to stop the criminals on his own.
‘The Blind Side’ (2009)
Rated: PG-13 (parents guide)
Streaming: Available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV
Faith, family and football, the perfect Thanksgiving trio. “The Blind Side” tells the story of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), a homeless teen with a life of trauma who becomes an All-American football player and first-round NFL draft pick with the help of the Tuohy family.