If you’ve already exhausted the usual Thanksgiving movies – Planes, Trains and Automobiles; A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving; even the all-too-predictable holiday specials, you’re not alone. The truth is, while Christmas has an entire industry of cinema built around it, Thanksgiving barely makes a dent. And that’s exactly why this holiday movie list matters.
Hidden in the corners of indie cinema, 90s dramas, offbeat comedies, and cult classics are dozens of underrated films, each offering a fresh and often surprising take on family reunions, gratitude, food, travel meltdowns, and the chaos of being in the same room as the people you love (or barely tolerate).
If you’re looking for movies to watch on Thanksgiving that you haven’t already seen every year, here are the true hidden gems.
Why Thanksgiving Movies Matter
Compared to Christmas or Halloween, Thanksgiving sits quietly in the cinematic background. But that’s precisely why the films that do focus on the holiday feel so intimate and memorable. The themes are deeply human:
- Family dynamics – messy, affectionate, awkward, and unavoidable.
- Gratitude vs. reality – what we’re supposed to feel vs. what we actually feel.
- Food – home-cooked meals, burnt pies, unfamiliar kitchens, and culinary disasters.
- Reunions – returning home after long absences or emotional distance.
- Travel mishaps – delayed flights, long drives, and forced togetherness.
- Identity and belonging – Thanksgiving often becomes a backdrop for self-realization.
Thanksgiving movies may be fewer, but the good ones hit harder.
What Makes a Thanksgiving Movie “Underrated”?
To separate hidden gems from well-known titles, we used a clear set of criteria.
Our Criteria
A film qualifies as underrated if it meets at least three of the following:
- Limited theatrical release (under 500 screens) or direct-to-streaming.
- Critically acclaimed but low box office (under $10M domestic).
- Indie production or specialty distributors (A24, IFC, Magnolia, Miramax 90s).
- Minimal cultural footprint — rarely cited in annual holiday lists.
- Thanksgiving is central to the plot, not just a passing backdrop.
Films We Exclude
These movies are either too famous or not truly Thanksgiving films:
- Planes, Trains & Automobiles — the defining Thanksgiving movie.
- A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving — culturally omnipresent.
- Free Birds — major studio animated release.
- Movies where Thanksgiving appears briefly (e.g., Rocky, Spider-Man, The Big Chill).
10 Underrated Thanksgiving Movies (Hidden Gems)
1. Home for the Holidays (1995)
The definitive dysfunctional Thanksgiving movie nobody talks about enough.
Quick Synopsis:
Directed by Jodie Foster, this sharp family dramedy follows Claudia Larson (Holly Hunter), who returns home after losing her job, only to confront chaos from her wildly unpredictable family over Thanksgiving weekend.
Why It’s a Hidden Gem:
Though critically praised, it was overshadowed by bigger ’90s holiday movies. Today, it’s appreciated for its witty writing, empathetic direction, and standout performances from Anne Bancroft, Robert Downey Jr., and Charles Durning.
Thanksgiving Connection:
The entire film revolves around a tumultuous Thanksgiving dinner and the emotional unraveling that ensues.
Where to Watch:
fuboTV, MGM+, Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel,
2. Pieces of April (2003)
A tiny indie that became a cult favorite for good reason.
Quick Synopsis:
Katie Holmes stars as April, a rebellious daughter attempting to host Thanksgiving in her cramped NYC apartment for her estranged family – while her mother (Patricia Clarkson) battles illness.
Why It’s a Hidden Gem:
Shot on a micro-budget and released in limited theaters, it gained rave reviews for its raw emotional honesty. Patricia Clarkson earned an Oscar nomination.
Thanksgiving Connection:
The entire plot is about preparing Thanksgiving dinner – burned turkeys, broken ovens, the works.
Where to Watch:
fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, Criterion Channel, MGM Plus, Philo, MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel
3. The House of Yes (1997)
A dark comedy so strange and electric it became a midnight-movie cult classic.
Quick Synopsis:
Parker Posey plays “Jackie-O,” a mentally unstable woman who spirals when her twin brother brings home a girlfriend for Thanksgiving. What begins as an awkward family reunion quickly descends into jealousy, delusion, and unsettling mind games that no one sees coming.
Why It’s a Hidden Gem:
Too edgy and bizarre for mainstream audiences, but beloved in cult circles for Posey’s outrageous performance and razor-sharp dialogue.
Thanksgiving Connection:
The destructive family reunion is set entirely around Thanksgiving dinner.
Where to Watch:
Pluto TV
4. Dutch (1991)
The heartfelt road-trip movie that lived in the shadow of John Hughes’s bigger hits.
Quick Synopsis:
Ed O’Neill plays a well-meaning, working-class man who volunteers to bring his girlfriend’s snobbish prep-school son home in time for Thanksgiving. Their journey becomes a chaotic string of setbacks – car trouble, empty wallets, bad motels, and constant bickering as both stubborn personalities collide. Through the mishaps and miles, the two are pushed into an unexpected connection that breaks down their class and emotional barriers.
Why It’s a Hidden Gem:
Marketed poorly and overshadowed by the success of Planes, Trains & Automobiles, it later found an audience on cable for its sweet father-figure dynamic.
Thanksgiving Connection:
The road trip is entirely in service of getting home in time for Thanksgiving dinner.
Where to Watch:
NA
5. What’s Cooking? (2000)
Four families. Four kitchens. One holiday.
Quick Synopsis:
This ensemble dramedy follows four Los Angeles families – Mexican-American, African-American, Jewish, and Vietnamese-American as they prepare for Thanksgiving in their own distinct cultural and emotional worlds. Across the city, simmering tensions rise alongside the turkey: parents hide secrets, adult children return home with surprises, generational conflicts quietly flare, and relationships are tested in kitchens filled with food, tradition, and chaos. As the holiday unfolds, the film weaves these parallel stories into a warm, humorous, and deeply human portrait of what Thanksgiving looks like in a modern, multicultural America.
Why It’s a Hidden Gem:
One of the only multicultural Thanksgiving movies ever made. Despite strong reviews, it never reached mainstream popularity.
Thanksgiving Connection:
Every family’s storyline is anchored around cooking, hosting, and navigating their Thanksgiving meals.
Where to Watch:
Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Starz Apple TV Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads or for free with ads on Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads.
6. The Oath (2018)
A politically charged Thanksgiving movie for the modern era.
Quick Synopsis:
When the government introduces a controversial loyalty oath, political tensions across the country seep into every household—including Chris and Kai’s, who are determined to host a “normal” Thanksgiving. Their plan collapses the moment extended family arrives, bringing clashing ideologies, buried resentments, and barely contained outrage to the dinner table. As arguments escalate and two government agents unexpectedly show up at their door, the holiday gathering devolves into a darkly comic, high-stress showdown that blurs the line between family dispute and full-blown interrogation.
Why It’s a Hidden Gem:
This biting satire, which initially flew under the radar due to its limited release, has since become a post-2016 cult favorite.
Thanksgiving Connection:
Thanksgiving dinner becomes the battleground for political tensions.
Where to Watch (Buy/Rent):
Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
7. Krisha (2015)
A devastatingly intimate Thanksgiving drama from A24.
Quick Synopsis:
A recovering addict (Krisha Fairchild) returns to her family’s home for Thanksgiving after years of distance, determined to prove she’s stable and ready to rebuild relationships. Surrounded by relatives who love her but carry the scars of past disappointments, she struggles to navigate the fragile mix of hope, suspicion, and unresolved pain. As the day unfolds, small missteps snowball into emotional ruptures, and Krisha’s attempt at redemption slowly unravels in a raw, claustrophobic portrait of family, forgiveness, and the devastating pull of old habits.
Why It’s a Hidden Gem:
Trey Edward Shults’ debut feature won SXSW but had a tiny theatrical footprint. It’s one of A24’s most respected early releases.
Thanksgiving Connection:
Thanksgiving Day is the entire emotional engine of the film.
Where to Watch:
Fandango at Home Free, Xumo Play
8. Avalon (1990)
A nostalgic, generational story shaped by Thanksgiving traditions.
Quick Synopsis:
Barry Levinson’s semi-autobiographical drama traces the journey of the Krichinsky family, Russian Jewish immigrants who settle in Baltimore and build a new life across several generations. The film follows their evolving relationships from the excitement of arrival to the strains of assimilation, shifting family roles, and the slow drift of time that pulls relatives apart. Through births, marriages, conflicts, and celebrations, their story unfolds with warmth and melancholy, anchored by the Thanksgiving gatherings that mark each turning point in their American experience.
Why It’s a Hidden Gem:
Overshadowed by Levinson’s Oscar-winning Rain Man, this film quietly became one of his most personal works.
Thanksgiving Connection:
Multiple key scenes revolve around Thanksgiving dinners—especially the iconic “You cut the turkey without me?” moment.
Where to Watch (Buy/Rent):
Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
9. The Myth of Fingerprints (1997)
A quiet, emotional family reunion drama led by a stellar indie cast.
Quick Synopsis:
A group of adult siblings reunite at their parents’ secluded New England home for Thanksgiving, carrying years of unspoken grievances, emotional distance, and personal failures with them. Old patterns resurface the moment they walk through the door. As the long weekend unfolds, each sibling is forced to reckon with the version of themselves they left behind and the complicated bonds that continue to tether them to one another.
Why It’s a Hidden Gem:
Released at Sundance and praised for its performances (Julianne Moore, Noah Wyle, Blythe Danner), but largely forgotten outside indie circles.
Thanksgiving Connection:
Thanksgiving frames every family interaction and emotional reveal.
Where to Watch:
fuboTV
10. Turkey Bowl (2019)
Your go-to “Friendsgiving” comedy.
Quick Synopsis:
A man heads back to his small hometown for the first time in years, only to get roped into rejoining his old buddies for their legendary Thanksgiving weekend football game—a tradition he once ruled. As he reunites with former teammates, old flames, and long-forgotten rivalries, the friendly match quickly turns into a chaotic, ego-fueled showdown packed with nostalgia, petty grudges, and heartfelt moments. The game becomes a funny, feel-good reminder of how friendships age, how people change, and why some traditions are worth holding onto.
Why It’s a Hidden Gem:
Small-budget, small-release, but surprisingly funny with strong community vibes.
Thanksgiving Connection:
The entire film centers on the Thanksgiving football tradition.
Where to Watch (Buy/Rent):
Amazon Video
QUICK SCAN: 10 Underrated Thanksgiving Movies
| Movie Title & Year | Quick Synopsis | Why It’s a Hidden Gem | Thanksgiving Connection | Where to Watch (Streaming) |
| Home for the Holidays (1995) | Dysfunctional family comedy directed by Jodie Foster. | Overshadowed by bigger holiday comedies, but sharp and heartfelt. | The entire plot revolves around Thanksgiving dinner chaos. | Prime Video, Apple TV |
| Pieces of April (2003) | Katie Holmes plays a young woman hosting Thanksgiving for her estranged family. | Indie darling with bittersweet charm. | Thanksgiving dinner is the central event. | Hulu, Apple TV |
| The House of Yes (1997) | Dark comedy starring Parker Posey set during Thanksgiving. | Cult classic, rarely mentioned in mainstream lists. | Family reunion over Thanksgiving spirals into chaos. | Criterion Channel |
| Dutch (1991) | Road‑trip comedy with Ed O’Neill escorting his girlfriend’s son home for Thanksgiving. | Overshadowed by Planes, Trains & Automobiles, but equally funny. | Journey home for Thanksgiving dinner. | Disney+ |
| What’s Cooking? (2000) | An ensemble drama about four diverse families celebrating Thanksgiving in Los Angeles. | A multicultural take on the holiday, rarely spotlighted. | Each storyline centers on Thanksgiving meals. | Prime Video |
| The Oath (2018) | Satirical dark comedy about a politically divided family gathering. | Sharp, modern, overlooked satire. | Thanksgiving dinner becomes a battleground. | Hulu |
| Krisha (2015) | Indie drama about a woman returning to her family for Thanksgiving. | Critically acclaimed but under‑seen. | Thanksgiving reunion drives the tension. | Prime Video |
| Avalon (1990) | Barry Levinson’s family saga spans generations. | Overshadowed by Levinson’s other films, but deeply moving. | Thanksgiving dinners mark family milestones. | Apple TV |
| The Myth of Fingerprints (1997) | Indie drama about siblings reuniting at Thanksgiving. | Quiet, character‑driven gem. | Thanksgiving backdrop frames family tensions. | Prime Video |
| Turkey Bowl (2019) | Comedy about old friends reuniting for a Thanksgiving football game. | Small indie release, overlooked by the mainstream. | Thanksgiving football tradition is the plot. | Hulu |
Conclusion
Thanksgiving movies may not dominate pop culture the way Christmas films do (for those, see our Best Christmas Movies guide), but that’s exactly what makes discovering underrated Thanksgiving films so rewarding. They’re raw, surprising, intimate, and often deeply funny or emotional in ways big-studio holiday movies rarely attempt.
Bookmark this list for your next holiday movie night, and don’t forget to explore more seasonal picks in our Top Fall Movies collection.
And if you watched all of those and now want more? Here’s our complete guide of Thanksgiving movies through the 1980s… all the way up to 2025.
