Thanksgiving is a holiday spent expressing gratitude for the important people and opportunities in your life. It’s also renowned for the famous food spread filled with turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. The meal will likely change depending on where you are spending your holidays, but the overall feeling of thankfulness and generosity is carried through each home. The holiday is also accompanied by a slew of feel-good movies that can be found on TV’s all over the country. Here are a few favorites from my home to yours.
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)
No Thanksgiving movie list is complete without a Charlie Brown mention. The Thanksgiving feature is the perfect stepping stone between ‘It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown’ and ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’. The film is about Charlie’s struggle with anxiety surrounding the pressures of the holiday, and his ability to overcome it with the help from some friends.
Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
Another oldie, but goodie is the famous Planes, Trains & Automobiles. The movie is about a marketing executive played by Steve Martin who is ready to do whatever necessary to get home to New York in time for Thanksgiving. He finds himself an unlikely travel partner who is right by his side the whole time, really driving home the importance of spending the holiday with family, and being kind to one another along our way.
Funny People (2009)
While this movie may not be as kid-friendly as the others on the list, it’s filled with important messages surrounding the ups and downs of life. The movie is about a wealthy movie star, played by Adam Sandler, who has been diagnosed with leukemia. He spends his time mentoring an aspiring comic, who helps lead him back to his stand-up roots. The movie leads us to a special Thanksgiving dinner and toast to his newfound friends that have become a part of his family.
These are all great movies to watch during this special holiday with your family. They are all full of laughs and life lessons that always come full circle around the dinner table.