Thanksgiving Movies for the Whole Family

Thanksgiving is one of the rare days of the year that many families find themselves under the same roof at the same time — and sometimes for a big chunk of the holiday weekend.

The holiday affords everyone a chance to let go of the stresses and strains of work and busy schedules — and to take some time to be together and simply enjoy each other’s company.

While loads of turkey, stuffing and gravy are part of the plan, there’s plenty more that families can share as they celebrate a holiday during which we all ponder what we’re thankful for in our lives.

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There’s even a few Thanksgiving-themed movies or films with pivotal turkey-day scenes that can help fill the family room with some laughs, maybe even a few tears.

Here’s a look at three movies the whole family can enjoy on Thanksgiving.

1.) “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” (1973). No character melts the heart quite like Charlie Brown. Even after all these years, he and the gang are as relatable as ever.

“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” is the second of three holiday specials made about the Peanuts gang — and it’s arguably the best. It follows little Charlie Brown’s attempt to put together a special Thanksgiving dinner for his friends.

This year, ABC will be keeping up the tradition of its annual airing of the Peanuts special. The film will air Wednesday, November 22, at 8 p.m. ET.

Related: School Nixes ‘Charlie Brown Christmas’

2.) “Free Birds” (2013). Two turkeys (voiced by Woody Harrelson and Owen Wilson) team up in this goofy comedy to travel back in time and change the course of history to take turkeys off the Thanksgiving day menu.

While the concept may make the film sound like a message-heavy, vegan-pushing piece of propaganda, “Free Birds” is actually just a light comedy. It’s got plenty of laughs for the kids and loads of hilarious subtext for the adults.

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If you’re looking for something to give everyone in the family some chuckles, “Free Birds” is a pretty good bet.

Related: How Hollywood Secularized Johnny Cash, a Great Man of Faith

3.) “The Blind Side” (2009). This beloved film chronicles the early life of Michael Oher, who was a first-round draft pick for the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens in 2009.

Football and Thanksgiving have long gone hand in hand, but “The Blind Side” is less about football and far more about the importance and power of family — and how one family in particular changed the course of Oher’s life.

The teen learns a thing or two about the holiday — and manages to teach a lesson of his own.

Sandra Bullock — who won an Oscar for Best Actress for the role — stars as Leigh Anne Tuohy, the real-life mother who took a black homeless teen into her home and gave him a chance no one else was offering.

The film is not entirely centered around Thanksgiving, but the themes relate well to the holiday; one of the most pivotal is set around a Thanksgiving dinner, as Oher joins the Tuohy family at home for a feast. He learns a thing or two about the holiday — and manages to teach a lesson of his own to his hosts.