“Planes, Trains and Automobiles”
Holiday traveling is a soul-shriveling ordeal. At least with this 1987 film, starring Steve Martin and John Candy as a pair of mismatched traveling companions attempting to get to Chicago from New York City in time for Thanksgiving dinner, the ordeal is a hilarious one.
“Dutch”
As long-suffering husband and father Al Bundy on “Married … With Children,” Ed O’Neill endured an endless array of indignities. In 1991 he starred as the title character in “Dutch,” about a guy transporting his girlfriend’s kid-from-hell home for the holidays, so at least he had the opportunity to be tormented by somebody else’s family for once.
“Addams Family Values”
Seeking a dark take on the holiday? Look no further than this 1993 offering, in which Pugsley and Wednesday Addams (Jimmy Workman and Christina Ricci, respectively) offer their twisted version of the first Thanksgiving.
“Pocahontas”
While not specifically about Thanksgiving, this animated offering does explore the relationship between Native Americans and early settlers — and it will give the kids another viewing option besides watching “Frozen” for the 1,000th time.
“Rocky”
Sure, you could opt to hit the theaters and watch “Creed” this Thanksgiving weekend — but it’ll be crowded and you’ll probably be too bloated from Turkey to get off the couch. Besides, the original “Rocky” offers a very charming — eventually, anyway — Thanksgiving tale. After Adrian’s abrasive brother Paulie utterly ruins Thanksgiving dinner by tossing her turkey out the back door, Rocky — who bore witness to the awkward ordeal — makes romance out of ruined poultry and takes Adrian on a date to the skating rink.
“How I Met Your Mother,” “Slapsgiving”
Fighting the urge to reach across the dinner table and wallop your obnoxious druncle? Spare yourself a scene and let Marshall (Jason Segel) vent your rage vicariously for you while laying the smackdown on Barney (Neil Patrick Harris).
“Gilmore Girls,” “A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving”
If the logistics of juggling multiple Thanksgiving dinners in one night has you feeling less than grateful, you’ll definitely sympathize with Lorelei’s plight.
“Friends,” “The One With All the Thanksgivings”
On the other hand, this flashback-happy holiday episodes proves that packing multiple Thanksgivings into a single episode can be hilarious. As long as you’re not the one with the turkey stuck on your head.
“Cheers,” “Thanksgiving Orphans”
Sometimes you spend the holidays with the family you create around you, not the one you were born with. This favorite episode of a classic sitcom proves that Turkey Day with your ad-hoc clan can be just as awkward as the traditional family gathering, if not much more hilarious.
