As thrilling as it is to cozy up with a new series or movie from your Netflix queue and discover something completely unknown, the nostalgia junkie in us will stop at nothing to find an excuse to rewatch beloved flicks and shows we’ve already seen—OK, memorized.
Getting into the holiday spirit seems as good an excuse as any to dive into the canon of some of the greatest Turkey Day scenes. Not sure when to squeeze in TV time between the holiday travel, annual Thanksgiving football matchups, and food coma-induced naps? We suggest throwing on one of these classics for diffusing a little family drama, avoiding Black Friday at all costs, or if you simply want to cuddle up on the couch with some leftovers.
Behold the Thanksgiving movies and TV episodes we’ll cherish forever:
The Blind Side (2009)
This Oscar-nominated film is based on the true story of the Tuohy family, who took in homeless teenager Michael Oher and supported him as he pursued his passion for football. (IRL, Oher went on to become a first-round draft pick in the NFL.) The touching Thanksgiving scene shows the family embracing him during their holiday meal as they say grace.
Gossip Girl: “Blair Waldorf Must Pie!” (2007)
What would the holidays be on the Upper East Side without power family meltdowns, drunk teenagers causing trouble, meet-cutes with a lonely boy from Brooklyn, and pie, lots of pie? This drama-fueled episode from season one has all the trappings that made the series so damn addictive when it first premiered.
Master Of None: “Thanksgiving” (2017)
In one of the more moving Thanksgiving-themed episodes we’ve seen, Lena Waithe brings character Denise’s sexuality to the foreground as she comes out to her family. Waithe ultimately won an Emmy for writing the episode, which was inspired by her own life.
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)
A Charlie Brown Christmas usually gets all of the glory this time of year, but the Turkey Day special is just as heart-warming. In this animated TV special, the Peanuts gang gathers at Charlie Brown’s while Snoopy prepares a feast.
How I Met Your Mother: “Slapsgiving” (2007)
The infamous slap bet between Marshall (Jason Segel) and Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) comes to a head on this special Thanksgiving episode of HIMYM. The episode also marks the first time the five-some spends Thanksgiving together, a tradition that carries on throughout the show’s run.
Friends: The One With All Of The Thanksgivings (1998)
The crew reminisces about past Thanksgivings, gifting us truly iconic moments like when Joey got his head stuck inside of a turkey in an attempt to scare Chandler. Enjoy the chuckles from the clip below.
Addams Family Values (1993)
Here, Wednesday Addams (played by Christina Ricci) is cast as Pocahontas in an overly saccharine, tone-deaf play while at camp. She breaks script to get real about the problematic elements that surround the history of Thanksgiving, then burns the set to the ground. Chills people, we have chills.
Gilmore Girls: “A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving” (2002)
Rory and Lorelai over-commit to four Thanksgiving dinners in this classic episode from season three. Queue it up to find out if they survive all of the the dinners between Luke’s, Lane’s, Sookie’s, and Richard and Emily’s.
The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air: “Talking Turkey” (1990)
Will’s mother comes to town and gives everyone a reality check when she realizes their butler Geoffrey does all the heavy lifting around the house. When the kids are put in charge of Thanksgiving dinner, things go awry.
The Simpsons: “Bart vs. Thanksgiving” (1990)
Bart learns the true meaning of the holiday after he gets in a fight at home with Lisa and ends up eating Thanksgiving dinner with a group of homeless people at a soup kitchen.
