By TR Robertson
The holiday season is upon us beginning with Halloween. Thanksgiving will be the next “biggie”, full of food, festivities and fun. To get you in the mood, these are some of the top movies selected by a variety of agencies for Thanksgiving followed by some of the best television episodes with Thanksgiving as a central theme. Many of the movies don’t have Thanksgiving as a central theme, instead using the holiday as background for some of the action in the movie. Some of the movies are comedies, some are dramas. I even found a few that fall into the realm of scary or horror movies. You can find most of the movies and many of the television episodes on Netflix and a variety of other cable and network streaming sites. Put yourself into the holiday spirit and enjoy the unique ways to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday. Warm-up some hot mulled cider, cut a slice of pumpkin or apple pie (don’t forget the whipped cream), and build a fire in the fireplace as you sit back and pick your favorite movies or shows to watch.
Top Ten Thanksgiving Movies
www.rottentomatoes.com
1. “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” – 2003
2. “Krisha” – 2015
3. “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” – 1987
4. “Hannah & Her Sisters” – 1986
5. “Scent of a Woman” – 1992
6. “The Ice Storm” – 1997
7. “Avalon” – 1990
8. “Pieces of April” – 2003
9. “Tadpole” – 2002
10. “Addams Family Values” – 1993
www.purewow.com
1. “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” – 2003
2. “Big Chill” – 1983
3. “Dutch” – 1991
4. “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” – 1987
5. “Scent of a Woman” – 1992
6. “Tower Heist” – 2011
7. “You’ve Got Mail” – 1998
8. “Home for the Holidays” – 1995
9. “Free Birds” – 2013
10. “Miracle on 34th Street” – 1947
www.goodhousekeeping.com
1. “Friendsgiving” – 2020
2. “Little Women” – 2019
3. “The Turkey Bowl” – 2018
4. “The Oath” – 2018
5. “Anne of Green Gables: Fire & Dew” – 2018
6. “Lez Bomb” – 2018
7. “Krisha” – 2015
8. “Jim Henson’s Turkey Hollow” – 2015
9. “Free Birds” – 2013
10. “Tower Heist” – 2011
www.aarp.com – top movies to stream on Netflix
1. “Free Birds” – 2013
2. “Holidate” – 2020
3. “Lady Bird” – 2017
4. “Basketball or Nothing” – 2018
5. “Chef” – 2014
6. “August: Osage County” – 2013
7. “Silver Linings Playbook” – 2012
8. “Friendsgiving” – 2020
Top Ten Television Episodes with a Thanksgiving Theme
www.wired.com
1. “WKRP in Cincinnati” – “Turkeys Away” – S 1, Ep. 7
2. “Master of None” – “Thanksgiving” – S 2, Ep. 8
3. “Cheers” – “Thanksgiving Orphans” – S 5, Ep. 9
4. “The West Wing” – “Shibboleth” – S 2, Ep. 8
5. “Friends” – “The One With all the Thanksgivings” – S 5, Ep. 8
6. “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” – “The Gang Squashes Their Beefs” – S 9. Ep. 10
7. “Bewitched” – “Samantha’s Thanksgiving to Remember” – S 4, Ep. 12
8. “Mad Men” – “The Wheel” – S 1, Ep. 13
9. “The Wonder Years” – “The Ties That Bind” – S 4, Ep. 7
10. “The Sopranos” – “He Is Risen” – S 3, Ep. 8
Some other television programs and episodes you may want to look up to get in the Thanksgiving holiday spirit.
“Seinfeld” – “The Mom & Pop Store” – S 6, Ep. 8
“Gilmore Girls” – “A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving” – S 3, Ep. 9
“How I Met Your Mother” – “Slapsgiving” – S 3, Ep. 9
“Bob’s Bugers” – “An Indecent Thanksgiving Proposal” – S 3, Ep. 5
“Friends” – “The One with the Football” & “The One with the Rumor”
“Frazier” – “A Lilith Thanksgiving”
