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It’s that time of year when people start decorating their homes for fall with flowers instead of carved pumpkins and spider webs. Also, our social media feeds are full of delicious Thanksgiving recipes, from sweet potato pie to mac and cheese. Gratitude and happiness are at the heart of the Thanksgiving holiday, so it’s important to make it a point to spend quality time with your loved ones this year. After a hearty Thanksgiving meal, there’s no better way to relax than with a nice blanket.
Aside from preparing the usual family dinner, we thought: Why not make the holiday extra memorable by viewing the finest Thanksgiving movies on Netflix? Finding something that will please everyone in the family may be a difficult chore, so we have come up with a list of Netflix series and movies likely to get everyone in the festive spirit. From tear-jerking flicks to feel-good series, here is what you need on your Thanksgiving list.
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
Chris is a salesman who has fallen on hard times. The movie shows how he struggles to take care of his son after his wife decides to divorce him. The film’s emotional impact comes from Chris’s determination to keep going and from watching him fight for a better life for himself and his small son. The film’s message of grit and perseverance makes it perfect for sharing with kids.
- Genre: Drama
- Creator: Gabriele Muccino
- IMDb rating: 8/10
- Stars: Will Smith, Thandiwe Newton, Jaden Smith
A Castle for Christmas
If you want to feel the true spirit of the season, you need to see a Christmas romantic comedy on movie night. This movie tells the story of a famous author who runs away to Scotland to get away from a scandal. When she starts to like the duke of a beautiful castle, things start to get better for her. Romance, drama, and comedy flood in as the story progresses.
- Genre: Romcom
- Creator: Mary Lambert
- IMDb rating: 5.5/10
- Stars: Brooke Shield, Cary Elwes, Drew Barrymore
Holiday Rush (2019)
D.J. Rashon’s wife died unexpectedly, and he lost his job as a radio DJ, forcing him and his four spoiled children to give up their lavish lifestyle and relocate to his aunt’s house. It’s all happening just before the holiday season begins. In case you’re in the mood for a humorous but light film, this one won’t disappoint.
- Genre: Romcom, Drama
- Creator: Leslie Small
- IMDb rating: 4.9 / 10
- Stars: Romany Malco, Rush Williams, Sonequa Martin-Green, Roxy Richardson
Friendsgiving (2020)
Not having to deal with family drama at Friendsgiving doesn’t mean your friends are any less complicated. In the film, a quiet holiday with two friends takes an unexpected turn when more and more people show up. Molly, a Hollywood actress, and her best friend Abby are going to have a low-key Thanksgiving at home. When unwanted relatives and friends show up to a quiet family dinner, things quickly get funny.
- Genre: Comedy
- Creator: Nicol Paone
- IMDb rating: 4.4
- Stars: Kat Dennings, Malin Akerman
Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square (2020)
Dolly Parton plays an angel who comes back to her hometown after being away for many years and stops a rich woman from selling it to a mall developer. She has brought eviction notices for everyone in the neighborhood, which is very sad.
- Genre: musical, drama
- Creator: Debbie Allen
- IMDb rating: 5.2
- Stars: Dolly Parton, Jacob Moran, Josh Segarra
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
The movie is the third and last part of a series on vacations that was produced by National Lampoon Magazine. It tells the story of a family who celebrates Christmas with their extended family. And that can only result in chaos in the long run. This Christmas comedy is great for strengthening relationships with loved ones.
- Genre: Comedy
- Creator: Jeremiah S. Chechik
- IMDb rating: 7.5
- Stars: Randy Quaid, Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo
The boy who harnessed the wind (2019)
A 13-year-old who was expelled from school because his family was unable to pay the tuition decided to sneak into a library so that he could read more books. The film is based on a true event, and it depicts the emotional journey that one man goes through as he saves his village from starvation by learning how to build a windmill.
- Genre: Drama
- Creator: Chiwetel Ejiofor
- IMDb rating: 7.6 / 10
- Stars: maxwell Simba, lily banda, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Best leftovers ever (2020)
The holidays are always filled with delicious food, which means that there are always a lot of leftovers, many of which go to waste. In this show, home cooks compete to make the best use of leftover food in order to win a cash reward of $10,000. The show is entertaining to watch, particularly for those who take pleasure in the activity of cooking.
- Genre: Reality
- IMDb rating: 5.7 / 10
- Stars: Jackie Tohn, David So, Rosemary Shrager
Holidate (2020)
This is a film that you will probably like if you have ever experienced the dread of going to a holiday get-together with your family only to find that you are the only one there. Because they don’t want their families to judge them for being unmarried, two people who don’t know each other decide to form a platonic relationship that will last for a whole year. As they begin to develop feelings for one another, comedy ensues.
- Genre: Romantic Comedy
- Creator: John Whitesell
- IMDb rating: 6.1 / 10
- Stars: Emma Roberts, Luke Bracey, Nicola Peltz
Beethoven’s Christmas adventure
This movie is about Christmas magic as Beethoven sets out to preserve Christmas. It is part of an eight-movie series in which a family tries to manage the activities of their pet dog, and this particular movie is one of those movies.
- Genre: comedy, fantasy
- Creator: John Petch
- IMDb rating: 4.3
- Stars: Tom Arnold, John Cleese, Kyle Massey
Waffles+mochi (2021)
The first lady, Michelle Obama, is joined by two of her puppet friends, Waffles and Mochi, as they explore and eat a variety of foods from throughout the world. Several of these dishes will bring to mind traditional Thanksgiving dinners served at home.
- Genre: Children’s cooking show
- Creator: Erika Thormahlen, Jeremy Konner
- IMDb rating: 7.6
- Stars: Michelle Obama, Russ Walko, Michelle Zamora
Sister, sister (Season 9, Episodes 3 & 4)
This teen comedy series from the 1990s is a safe bet for any viewer. In the ninth season’s holiday special, the family goes to Hawaii, where they are surprised by the arrival of a special visitor who provides the audience with an hour of entertainment while also giving the family a great deal of conflict.
- Genre: Teen sitcom
- Creator: Kim Bass
- IMDb rating: 6.3
- Stars: Tia Mowery, Tamara Mowery
Klaus (2019)
It is a joy to watch this self-centered young man have a change of heart and decide to spread some Christmas magic classics, and this is a very enjoyable activity to do with youngsters. Jesper, who is a spoiled brat, talks his father into moving the family to a small village in the middle of nowhere, where he meets a toymaker. Jesper’s father is a brat himself. They get together to bring a little bit of sunshine to the children of a dull town.
- Genre: Family Comedy
- Creator: Sergio Pablos
- IMDb rating: 8.1
- Stars: Sergio Pablos, J.K. Simons, Jason Schwartzman
Indian Horse (2017)
Saul has a difficult time rediscovering who he is outside of the context of his family and cultural history, two of the things that are dearest to his heart. The issues of racism, alcoholism, and dysfunctional family dynamics are at the center of the storyline of this film, which may not be your typical choice for a movie to watch during the holidays but will definitely have you sobbing by the time it’s through. We think you should go with this one.
- Genre: Drama
- Creator: Stephen Campanelli
- IMDb rating: 7.2
- Stars: Sladen Peltier, Forrest Goodluck, Ajuawak Kapashesit
The big family cooking showdown (2017)
Time spent in the kitchen with family is not only memorable but also enjoyable. But in addition to that, it is utterly crazy and fraught with tension, much like the eight families that are competing against one another on this reality TV show to see who will come out on top.
- Genre: Reality
- IMDb rating: 7
- Stars: Zoe Ball, Nadiya Hussain, Tommy Banks, Rosemary Shrager
Fuller House (season 2, episode 6)
In this episode, the Tanner family gets back together and tries to figure out how to live together again without getting on each other’s nerves. Be warned that some of the sights may look uncannily familiar to you.
- Genre: Comedy
- Creator: Jeffrey Steven Franklin
- IMDb rating: 6.7
- Stars: Candace Cameron Bure, Andrea Barber, Jodie Sweetin
The Willoughbys (2020)
After becoming fed up with their parents’ careless behavior, the Willoughby children decide to send their parents on an adventure that could endanger their lives. Children who appreciate watching animated films will have a good time watching this movie because it focuses on the love that exists within families.
- Genre: Comedy
- Creator: Kris Pearn
- IMDb rating: 6.3
- Stars: Maya Rudolph, Will Forte, Terry Crews, Kris Pearn
Yes day (2021)
The role of a parent is not an easy one, and despite the fact that they are doing their best, they frequently end up feeling bad. Allison and Carlos had the same sentiments, and as a result, they came to the conclusion that it would be best to let their three children select how the house would be run. What’s the catch? They are obligated to say yes to anything that is asked of them and are not permitted to refuse any demands.
- Genre: comedy, drama
- Creator: Miguel Arteta
- IMDb rating: 5.7
- Stars: Jenna Ortega, Jennifer Garner, Edgar Ramirez
Always Be My Maybe (2019)
When high school sweethearts see each other again after 15 years, they realize that there is still an electric current between them. Unfortunately, they now live completely separate lives from one another. Always Be My Maybe is a film about love, family, and the grief that comes along with it, and it will take you on an emotional rollercoaster trip.
- Genre: Romance
- Creator: Nahnatchka Khan
- IMDb rating: 6.8 / 10
- Stars: Ali Wong, Randall Park, Keanu Reeves
Master of none (Season 2, Episode 8)
The series, which is only loosely based on Aziz Ansari’s real life, is a lot of fun to watch from start to finish. However, the writer, Lena Waithe, was honored with an Emmy for the exceptional quality of writing in this Thanksgiving episode. This episode covers the tale of Waithe’s coming out over a series of family Thanksgiving dinners. If you don’t want to commit to watching a whole show or movie, this episode is the perfect viewing for you because it tells the story of Waithe’s coming out.
- Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
- Creator: Aziz Ansari, Alan Yang
- IMDb rating: 8.4
- Stars: Aziz Ansari, Eric Wareheim, Lena Waithe
Since you are armed with a list of the most entertaining Thanksgiving-themed shows and movies available on Netflix, you should dive right in and make the most of this wonderful time of year.
