Yes, Thanksgiving may be over, but if you’re like us, you still have leftovers on life support in the fridge. So, we wanted to take some time and reflect on those memorable moments from Thanksgiving (or Thanksgiving adjacent) movies and TV episodes.
Separately, we each chose 10, so the topics do overlap a little.
Also, no slapsgiving because I’m still mad at How I Met Your Mother. And conversely, no Bob’s Burgers because it’s just simply the best.
Now everyone say grace before we dive in:
1 – The Black Friday scene in Krampus (2015), which in my opinion really reignited the Thanksgiving horror feast we are currently enjoying. – Johnny
2 – The “Thanksgiving Orphans” episode (S5E9; 1986) of Cheers. An annual tradition of forcing our kids to watch 20+ minutes of a decades old show because it has a perfect Thanksgiving episode that ends in a joyous food fight. Hell, our kids even quote it now (“THERMOMETER!”). – Joanna
3 – Speaking of which, Frasier’s expression when everyone keeps moving the TV away from him in the aforementioned “Thanksgiving Orphans” episode. – Johnny
4 – Home for the Holidays (1995) does for authentic Thanksgiving nostalgia what A Christmas Story does for, well, authentic Christmas nostalgia. It also features my absolute favorite Robert Downey Jr. performance. – Joanna
5 – Home for the Holidays is a repeat offender for me because of Steve Guttenberg’s presence. Years past his 80s heyday, Guttenberg plays the proper but kind of sensible husband to our main character’s uptight sister. And I appreciate that. – Joanna
6 – I’m thankful for Crawl’s Hungry Man Pilgrim Platter in Son In Law (1993), and I wish I could have one today. – Johnny
7 – I’m thankful for Mistake (yes, that’s his name) from Home Sweet Home (1981), even though I will probably never want to watch that movie again. – Johnny
8 – For Grandma Arbuckle saving Jon’s sorry ass by preparing the most elaborate meal ever in Garfield’s Thanksgiving (1989). Why Jon made his first date with Liz (a very uninterested veterinarian) on Thanksgiving Day is beyond me. – Joanna
9 – I’m thankful that in Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving (2023), McCarty (Joe Delfin) educates the youth on the fact that even though maybe all seemed lost when Ozzy was fired from Black Sabbath, they persevered with the almighty Ronnie James Dio. – Johnny
10 – The Cat (with a capital C) in Thanksgiving (2023) because of course a fucking cat would charm the killer into head scratches and a food refill. ICYMI, the cat lives. – Joanna
11 – I’m thankful that Brian Austin Green brought the cranberry sauce to Mike’s charity Thanksgiving dinner on Saved by the Bell: The College Years (1993). – Johnny
12 – While not technically a Thanksgiving movie, The Mutilator (1984) is a fall movie (alternately titled Fall Break), and I am thankful that this group of young adults decided to play hide and seek in a house that was definitely not equipped for that. – Joanna
13 – In another Thanksgiving-adjacent film, Rocky (1976), I’m thankful for Rocky Balboa’s apartment, but specifically for the knife stuck in the overturned mattress. – Johnny
14 – ThanksKilling (2008). “Gobble, gobble, motherfucker” is the tagline for this stupidly charming movie. And I am thankful for that. Also, he’s a damn puppet, and I’m thankful for that, too. – Joanna
15 – I’m thankful for the movie ThanksKilling, and I’m also thankful it is only 70 minutes long. – Johnny
16 – ThanksKilling 2 because it doesn’t exist. The same cannot be said for ThanksKilling 3 (2012) however. – Joanna
17 – I’m thankful for Blood Rage (1987) in its entirety, but specifically because now 30 times every November, someone says, “It’s not cranberry sauce.” – Johnny
18 – Louise Lasser’s hysterically tragic spiral in Blood Rage. Be kind. Maddy is going through a lot this holiday season. – Joanna
19 – Every year, I am eternally thankful when Del meets Neal’s wife in Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987). – Johnny
20 – John Candy’s Del Griffith, full stop. – Joanna
Until next time, just throw those leftovers away already and make room for the eggnog and fruitcake.
Ah, man. I completely forgot to get fruitcake! Thanks for the reminder.
Great list!