Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Sick and tired of re-watching the same Thanksgiving specials every single year? Sure, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is a classic but even the classics can get, well, stale.
From ensemble family dramas like Hannah and Her Sisters to adventure comedies like Dutch and dysfunctional delights like The House of Yes, change things up this year with these ten unconventional Turkey Day-themed movies. Using Thanksgiving as a backdrop, these ten movies remind us that while nothing brings about stress and drama quite like the holidays, it’s important to remember what it is we’re thankful for (even if, momentarily, you’re only thankful for the turkey). Without further ado, here they are listed in order of how much they’ll make you appreciate your relatives — yes, even the crazy ones — as you gather together to feast.
'Funny People' (2009)
When comedian George Simmons (Adam Sandler) is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he surrounds himself with a group of young up-and-comers to help inspire his final round of stand-up material. But a twist of fate has him regretting having jumped the gun on embracing his last days, leaving him to host the ultimate Friendsgiving with his new clan.
'The Object of My Affection' (1998)
While Nicolas Hynter’s atypical romantic comedy focuses primarily on the complicated relationship between Nina (Jennifer Aniston) and her gay best friend, George (Paul Rudd), all drama comes to a head at their co-hosted Thanksgiving dinner. After Nina finds out she’s pregnant with her ex’s child, she asks George to help raise the baby instead. When she discovers she loves George as more than just a friend, however, their foolproof parenting plan begins to crumble.
'Addams Family Values' (1993)
When Wednesday (Christina Ricci) is cast as Pocahontas in Camp Chippewa’s Thanksgiving play, all hell breaks loose. But after she decides to sabotage her performance to make Gary Granger (Peter MacNicol) regret casting her in the first place, a normally grumpy Wednesday has something to be thankful for since it all leads to her first kiss with Joel (David Krumholtz).
'She's Gotta Have It' (1986)
Nola Darlings (Tracy Camilla Johns) is just trying to live life to the fullest as a young, attractive city girl, but her three lovers just don’t really seem to get it. Determined to have her choose between the three of them, they sit down for one hell of an awkward Thanksgiving dinner in Spike Lee’s debut feature film.
'Hannah and Her Sisters' (1986)
Told over the course of two years at two separate Thanksgiving dinners, Hannah (Mia Farrow) discovers her husband, Elliot (Michael Caine), might be in love with her sister, Lee (Barbara Hershey). Meanwhile her neurotic ex-husband, Mickey (Woody Allen), is beginning to fall for her other sister, Holly (Dianne West), leaving Hannah to determine her next steps as a wife and sibling in Woody Allen‘s classic ensemble drama.
'Nobody's Fool' (1994)
Paul Newman stars as Donald “Sully” Sullivan, an archetypal old grump determined to keep busy as he approaches retirement. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, the stress of entering this next, less-than-thrilling chapter in his life begins to take hold, leaving Sully no choice but to let his family in on what he’s going through. Also starring Margo Martindale, Bruce Willis, Melanie Griffith, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, Nobody’s Fool is a superbly acted treat that will make you want to hug your grandparents.
'Dutch' (1991)
When Doyle (Ethan Embry) is ditched by his dad on Thanksgiving, his mother sends her new boyfriend, Dutch (Ed O’Neill), to pick him up at boarding school. Despite its initial box office failure, the John Hughes’ road trip dramedy has gone on to become a Turkey Day cult classic.
'The House of Yes' (1997)
Parker Posey stars in Mark Waters’ (Mean Girls) pitch black comedy as Jackie O. Pascal, a mentally unstable socialite convinced she’s Jackie Onassis Kennedy whose murderous tendencies take hold when her brother (Josh Hamilton) reveals he’s engaged on Thanksgiving. And you thought your family was dysfunctional?
'Pieces of April' (2003)
When April (Katie Holmes) discovers her mother has terminal breast cancer, she invites her highly dysfunctional family to her minuscule New York City apartment for Thanksgiving dinner. Having never hosted a holiday meal before, April seeks help from neighbors on all sides of her tiny four walls.
'Planes, Trains & Automobiles' (1987)
When neurotic Neal (Steve Martin) is put on the no-fly list at JFK airport in New York City, chances he’ll make it home to Chicago for Thanksgiving are slim to none. But after meeting Del (John Candy), an overeager good Samaritan who’s willing to give Neal a ride, things begin to look up. That is, until everything that could possibly go wrong does.
