The 5 Best Family Movies to Watch After Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. When you’re finished eating the turkey and the pumpkin pie’s been served, you and your family might want to unwind from the cooking stress and just watch a movie. But what should you choose? What are some good flicks that can help you ease into the Christmas season and can be enjoyed by the whole family? Here are five movies that the family can chill out with after a big Thanksgiving dinner.

5 Family Movies to Watch After Thanksgiving Dinner

1. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

This Christmas classic is a great transitional movie since it opens with the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. If you just watched the parade on Turkey Day Morning, you can get a fascinating look at how the parade was run back in the forties. The story of a Macy’s Santa Claus who believes that he is the real thing remains charming even after all these decades. In this time where the human race is increasingly divided, we can all take a look at how Kris Kringle just wants to bring joy to others and take inspiration from his actions.

2. Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

The remake of “Miracle on 34th Street” is also a great movie in its own right. The late, great Richard Attenborough makes such a warm, inviting Santa Claus. You can instantly trust him and root for him. The scene where he first puts on his Santa suit to go to work on Black Friday will always be magical, no matter how old this movie gets. In addition, the Thanksgiving dinner at the beginning gives off cozy vibes that might remind you of the dinner you and your family just finished. Just like the original movie, the remake demonstrates how kindness can triumph in a world of cynicism and corruption.

3. Holiday Inn

If you’re getting in a Christmas mood, but you’re not completely ready to dive into Christmas movies yet, this is another good transitional movie. Starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire in a delightful rivalry, this movie spans a whole year of holidays, and yes, it includes a Thanksgiving scene with a delicious-looking meal. The song and dance numbers are spectacular, especially Astaire’s firecracker dance. Plus, this movie is where the beloved carol “White Christmas” made its debut. However, there is a content warning: this movie includes a very dated blackface routine. Still, it might be an opportunity to teach the kids about racism.

4. White Christmas

If you’d rather not have the awkward blackface discussion, you can watch the spiritual successor to “Holiday Inn.” This time around, Bing Crosby teams up with Danny Kaye in a story about two World War II veterans who utilize the power of showbusiness to help their old general keep his hotel open. Just like “Holiday Inn,” this movie features wonderful song and dance numbers (and no blackface this time). The inn setting is perfectly cozy, especially when the characters gather around the fire in the middle of the night to enjoy sandwiches. It captures the warm and fuzzy vibes that the holiday season gives off.

5. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyage

While these may be animated TV specials instead of technical movies, you could have a double feature of these classic Peanuts specials and get an hour of relaxation. In “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,” Charlie Brown is tasked with preparing Thanksgiving dinner for his friends, and things don’t go as planned, but everyone learns the true meaning of the holiday in the process. “The Mayflower Voyage” gives a surprisingly sophisticated dramatization of the Mayflower story. It doesn’t gloss over the disease that almost wiped out all the Pilgrims, but it retains its message of hope at the end. It’s a great way to teach kids about this piece of history.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

No matter what you choose to watch after dinner, you can enjoy just having the whole family together. Thanksgiving is a time to cherish what we have, since we don’t know how long our loved ones will be around. The simple joy of watching a movie together might end up being a memory you will cherish for years to come.