Thanks to the Cool Turkey cartoon in the above pic, you now know the limitations of my Canva skills, but rest assured, I will make you forget my shabby photo-editing with this list of movies that will help you get through, save or slightly improve your holiday situation.
The idea for this post was born after I came across another Turkey Day list featuring Aftersun, a movie so sad that a raincloud forms above my head every time I think about it. Great film, but horrific for holiday viewing with the fam, unless you want to be steeped in fiction so harrowing that it makes whatever problem relative you’re dealing with seem not so bad.
My family’s big tradition is to watch a movie after the festivities die down, usually an airplane-friendly one, never recommended by me, lover of weird films that send all guests straight into REM sleep or the next room to watch something starring Mark Wahlberg or The Rock or both.
If your holiday includes a little post-grub screentime, I hope you’ll enjoy watching one of these selections curated by moi. And in the spirit of the holiday, lemme just say how grateful I am to you, my dear readers, for following my film rambles. You’re real ones!
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
John Candy is having a long-overdue moment of cultural appreciation thanks to Colin Hanks’ heart-wrenching doc John Candy: I Like Me, which explores the late entertainer’s life, career and legacy.
And one of his most notable performances can be seen in this 1987 comedy classic that follows an uptight exec and a relentlessly chatty shower-curtain-ring salesman as every possible travel option collapses around them as they try to get home for Thanksgiving.
The movie feels especially timely given the great US government shutdown of 2025, so a word of warning (unless conflict is your kink), it may spark political debates. Other than that, this one’s fun for the whole family. Even that one cousin.
Where to watch: Kanopy and PlutoTV for free
Soul Food
Now this film doesn’t take place during Thanksgiving, but the plot revolves around lavish dinner spreads and a beloved relative who fully ignores her dietary restrictions, so it absolutely has a place on this list.
With a stacked cast featuring Vivica A Fox, Nia Long, Vanessa Williams, Irma P. Hall and Mekhi Phifer, the movie follows a Chicago family held together by one loving matriarch’s Sunday dinners. But when her health slips, every buried issue bubbles up: sisters sniping, romances wobbling, loyalties shifting and men wishing they were watching the game instead. Families who like their holiday viewing with big feelings and some family drama will dig right in.
Where to watch: Sadly, this one isn’t streaming for free anywhere. Sigh. It’s on Amazon for rent right now, but it’s coming to Tubi for free on November 30.
Pieces of April
I bought this DVD at Blockbuster, a PVT (previously viewed titles that were sold at like half price) and ran it into the ground because emo-quirky-rebellious-pre-Dawson’s Creek Katie Holmes was aspirational to teenage Desiree.
April is trying to pull off Thanksgiving in a cramped New York apartment with an oven that gives up immediately and her estranged family is on the way. Needless to say, there’s enough tension to power the Northeast grid, but not that uncomfortable Safdie Bros Uncut Gems tension. It’s a scrappy indie that captures that specific holiday energy where you’re absolutely not ready to handle things, but you keep going anyway. Families who appreciate offbeat humor and emotional payoff with a little grit sprinkled in will eat it up.
Where to watch: Tubi, Mubi (omg they rhyme), and Pluto TV
Youth in Revolt
Michael Cera toyed with an alter ego in The Phoenician Scheme, but he did it first in this adaptation of one of my favorite books, essentially Catcher in the Rye for millennials. Cera splits himself into polite, anxious Nick Twisp and François, the cigarette-flicking gremlin he invents to finally impress the girl he’s spiraling over. Once François enters the chat, things go off the rails and Nick’s carefully managed life crumples like a piece of junk mail.
The cast is stacked in that very specific obscure 2010 commercial-comedy way: Portia Doubleday, Jean Smart, Steve Zahn, Ray Liotta, Zach Galifianakis and Steve Buscemi all swing through.
This one’s perfect for anyone who wants a holiday watch with teen angst and 2010s humor.
Where to watch: Paramount Plus (do the free trial and set a reminder to cancel)
Thankskilling
This is the one you put on when everyone’s hit their limit of wholesome holiday cheer, and you want to scare off anyone who takes movie night too seriously. It’s literally about a foul-mouthed killer turkey that goes on thee most low-budget murder spree against a group of college students during their holiday break.
The jokes are crude and the animatronic turkey named Turkie is bad in that midnight-movie way. The whole thing feels like it was made on a dare, and you’re guaranteed to burn some calories with all of the laughing you’ll be doing.
Where to watch: Tubi for free!
Burnt
Bradley Cooper once played a character inspired by Anthony Bourdain in a short-lived sitcom called Kitchen Confidential, and he killed it. He clearly has real reverence for cooking (the man opened up a Philly cheesesteak pop-up this year), and he turns in a helluva performance in this underrated gem I revisit annually.
Long before The Bear started spiking everyone’s blood pressure, Cooper was chasing that Michelin star. In this film, he plays a once-brilliant chef trying to rebuild his career while running a kitchen like a man who is both repentant and one bad review away from combustion.
And he’s surrounded by a ton of talent: Sienna Miller, Daniel Brühl, Omar Sy, Matthew Rhys, Alicia Vikander and Uma Thurman all appear.
If your family loves cooking or even cooking shows, and especially if they appreciate extremely solid 2010s dramas, this one is where it’s at.
Where to watch: Tubi and Kanopy (no ads) for free!
The Hunger Games (But Better): A Parody
You’re probably thinking one of these things is not like the other, but trust me, if you’re a fan of The Hunger Games, you will laugh harder at this than anything you’ve watched all year. At 42 minutes, it’s the perfect short watch the whole family will enjoy, and you’ll look like an absolute niche boss for introducing them to it.
The setup is simple. For her 24th birthday, comedian/actor Grace Reiter pulled together a crew of very talented friends to parody the dystopian blockbuster. Her take on Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss is so on point, and she’s so committed to the bit that I lowkey had more fun watching the parody than the real thing.
Shout out to my YouTube algorithm for serving up this deeply unserious delight.
Where to watch: YouTube!
Danger Bowie 
Leave a comment