Discover the complete history of Thanksgiving movies and TV specials from Charlie Brown to modern streaming. I always wondered why Halloween and Christmas seemed to dominate the movie theater screens while Thanksgiving got relegated to television specials and the occasional family drama. Maybe it was because turkey day sits awkwardly between two major holidays, or perhaps Hollywood just never figured out how to turn gratitude into box office gold. Whatever the reason, Thanksgiving  entertainment has carved out its own unique niche in American pop culture, one that deserves more recognition than it typically gets.

The earliest Thanksgiving television specials emerged during the golden age of TV in the 1950s and 1960s. Networks recognized that families would be gathering around their sets during the long holiday weekend, creating a captive audience hungry for wholesome entertainment. The Thanksgiving Day parades became television events themselves, with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade setting the standard for holiday broadcasting that continues today.

Animation studios were among the first to embrace Thanksgiving as serious subject matter. Charles Schulz gave us  A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving in 1973, which became an instant classic and still airs annually. I remember being both charmed and slightly horrified by Snoopy’s unconventional feast of toast, popcorn, pretzels, and jelly beans. The special tackled themes of friendship, disappointment, and finding joy in unexpected places—messages that resonated far beyond the holiday itself.

During the 1980s and 1990s, family sitcoms made Thanksgiving episodes a virtual requirement. Shows like “Cheers,” “Friends,” and “Full House” turned turkey day into appointment television. Who could forget the infamous “Friends” Thanksgiving episodes, where Monica’s competitive cooking, Joey’s stretchy pants, and Ross’s divorce drama became as much a part of holiday tradition as cranberry sauce? These episodes proved that Thanksgiving stories worked best when they focused on the messy, complicated dynamics of chosen families.

The 1990s also saw the emergence of more sophisticated Thanksgiving films. “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” used the holiday as a backdrop for family dysfunction and personal growth, while “The House of Yes” turned Thanksgiving dinner into a dark comedy of errors. These movies demonstrated that Thanksgiving cinema could tackle serious themes while still honoring the holiday’s emphasis on family connections.

Disney and other animation powerhouses continued to mine Thanksgiving for content throughout the decades. “Free Birds” attempted to create a Thanksgiving action-adventure in 2013, following time-traveling turkeys trying to prevent their species from becoming the holiday centerpiece. While the film received mixed reviews, it represented Hollywood’s ongoing attempts to find fresh angles on well-worn holiday themes.

The 2000s brought us “Pieces of April,” a small but powerful film starring Katie Holmes as a young woman attempting to host her first Thanksgiving dinner for her estranged family. The movie captured something essential about the holiday that bigger budget productions often missed—the genuine desire to create meaningful moments despite our limitations and past mistakes. I found myself rooting for April as she struggled with a broken oven and complicated relationships, seeing echoes of my own holiday anxieties in her determination.

Streaming platforms have revolutionized how we consume Thanksgiving entertainment. Netflix, Hulu, and other services now curate special Thanksgiving collections, making it easier than ever to find holiday-themed content. This accessibility has led to renewed interest in both classic specials and newer productions that might have been overlooked during their original releases.

One interesting trend in modern Thanksgiving entertainment involves subverting traditional holiday expectations. Films like “The Oath” and “Krisha” use family gatherings as pressure cookers for examining contemporary social tensions. These movies reflect our current cultural moment while maintaining the essential Thanksgiving focus on family dynamics and personal reflection.

Television has embraced Thanksgiving with particular enthusiasm in recent years. Shows across all genres now regularly feature Thanksgiving episodes, from medical dramas like “Grey’s Anatomy” to workplace comedies like “The Office.” These episodes often become fan favorites because they allow characters to step outside their usual environments and interact in more intimate, vulnerable ways.

The cooking show phenomenon has also transformed Thanksgiving entertainment. Programs featuring celebrity chefs preparing elaborate holiday feasts have become as popular as traditional scripted content. These shows tap into our desire for both entertainment and practical guidance, helping viewers navigate their own holiday meal preparations while providing comfort viewing.

Looking back at decades of Thanksgiving movies and television specials, I am struck by how consistently they return to themes of gratitude, family reconciliation, and finding joy in imperfect circumstances. While other holidays might offer more obvious dramatic possibilities—Christmas magic, Halloween scares, Valentine’s romance Thanksgiving asks us to slow down and appreciate what we already have.

Perhaps that is why Thanksgiving entertainment has developed its own distinct flavor over the years. The best Thanksgiving movies and TV specials do not rely on external magic or manufactured excitement. Instead, they find the extraordinary within ordinary family moments, reminding us that the most meaningful celebrations often happen around kitchen tables rather than in grand ballrooms or exotic locations.

Reference

Dartmouth College Libraries. (2025). Television studies research guide: History of television. Dartmouth College. https://researchguides.dartmouth.edu/television/history

New York University Libraries. (2025). Television Reference Sources Research Guide. NYU Libraries. https://guides.nyu.edu/Television/reference

University of California, Irvine Libraries. (2025). Film and media studies research guide: Journals and magazines. UCI Libraries. Retrieved September 19, 2025, from https://guides.lib.uci.edu/film/journals