Must-Watch Thanksgiving Films for the Cooking and Feasting Break: 'Free Birds,' 'Pieces of April,' 'Turkey Drop,' and Beyond

Thanksgiving is not just about food and family gatherings – it's also a great time to enjoy your favorite holiday movies throughout the week. When you're not indulging in delicious meals, gather with loved ones on the couch to watch beloved classics like A Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving and Free Birds. For those looking for some family drama, consider watching Pieces of April, Hannah and Her Sisters, or Home for the Holidays.

Looking for a rom-com to enjoy while indulging in pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving? Look no further than You've Got Mail. Although not directly about Thanksgiving, this 1998 film captures the essence of the fall season.

For a more modern love story on Thanksgiving, consider watching Turkey Drop. This 2019 film, which premiered on Freeform, explores the darker side of romance, depicting the moment when someone gets "turkey dropped" - meaning they get dumped over the holidays.

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Scroll down for your guide to the best movies to watch over the Thanksgiving holiday:

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Thanksgiving Movies to Watch Between Cooking and Feasting: ‘Free Birds,’ ‘Pieces of April,’ ‘Turkey Drop’ and More

Thanksgiving is about more than just family gatherings and indulging in delicious food – it's the ideal opportunity to indulge in your favorite festive films all week long.

When you're not enjoying traditional Thanksgiving dishes like mashed potatoes and apple pie, gather with loved ones on the couch to watch timeless classics such as A Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving or the popular animated film Free Birds. For those seeking some family drama, options like Pieces of April, Hannah and Her Sisters and Home for the Holidays are excellent choices.

Some fans may desire a romantic comedy to enjoy while indulging in pumpkin pie, and You’ve Got Mail fits the bill perfectly. Even though it’s not specifically centered on Thanksgiving, the 1998 film beautifully captures the essence of the fall season.

For a contemporary take on love and Thanksgiving, consider watching Turkey Drop. This 2019 movie, which premiered on Freeform, delves into the less cheerful aspect of romance: being dumped around the holiday season, also known as getting “turkey dropped.”

Scroll down for your guide to the best movies to watch over the Thanksgiving holiday:

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'Free Birds'

The 2013 animated film flips the traditional Thanksgiving turkey-eating story on its head, as Jake (voiced by Woody Harrelson) and Reggie (Owen Wilson) join forces to alter the course of history. The turkeys journey back in time in a quest to remove themselves from the menu for the annual holiday.

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'A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving'

The timeless 1978 animated favorite features all the Thanksgiving essentials — including football, a festive feast, and plenty of mischief — thanks to Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the beloved Peanuts characters.

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'Planes, Trains and Automobiles'

In this 1987 film, Steve Martin and John Candy encounter a series of ridiculous challenges as they attempt to make it home for Thanksgiving. Martin’s character, Neal Page, is a advertising executive from Chicago who is having difficulty returning from New York, while Candy’s character, Del Griffith, is a silly salesman of shower curtain rings who joins him on the journey.

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'Hannah and Her Sisters'

Hannah (Mia Farrow) and her sisters, Lee (Barbara Hershey) and Holly (Dianne Wiest), have a complex dynamic in the 1986 film after two Thanksgiving dinners within two years create a strange love triangle between them. Throughout the movie, Hannah’s husband falls in love with her sister Lee. Meanwhile, Lee’s ex-husband sparks a relationship with their other sister Holly.

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'Alice’s Restaurant'

This is perfect for Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving. The film from 1969 is adapted from Arlo Guthrie’s popular song with the same title. It tells the story of Guthrie and his friends who are arrested for littering after their holiday meal.

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'You’ve Got Mail'

The autumn setting of New York City and the on-screen chemistry between Ryan’s Kathleen Kelly and Hanks’ Joe Fox in the 1998 film they starred in, portrays the perfect fall romance. As rivals-turned-lovers who connect over the internet while clashing in real life, their story in "You've Got Mail" is a heartwarming movie that captures the spirit of the season.

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'Pieces of April'

In 2003’s Pieces of April, Katie Holmes delivers a captivating performance as April Burns, who strives to gather her estranged family for the holiday in her cozy apartment. Joining her for dinner are her ailing mother, Joy Burns (Patricia Clarkson), father Jim Burns (Oliver Platt), siblings Beth (Alison Pill) and Tim (John Gallagher Jr.), and her boyfriend, Bobby (Derek Luke).

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'Holiday Inn'

While the 1942 film is most famous for introducing audiences to Irving Berlin’s song “White Christmas,” Holiday Inn encompasses all of the holidays. In the Thanksgiving scene, Jim Hardy’s (Bing Crosby) housekeeper, Mamie (Louise Beavers), is depicted serving a meal with all the trimmings as the musician outlines his plan for the grand opening of his inn, which will only be open on holidays for live shows in Connecticut.

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'Turkey Drop'

Holt takes on the role of Lucy, a first-year college student who comes back home for Thanksgiving, expecting to be “turkey dropped” - that is, to be dumped by her high school sweetheart. The film, released in 2019 on Freeform, also features Cheryl Hines playing the character of Lucy’s mother.

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'Tower Heist'

Tower Heist, a movie set during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, may not immediately bring to mind the holiday spirit, but it involves a robbery scheme that ties in with the festivities. The 2011 film follows a team of employees who plot to steal from their corrupt boss, who has swindled them in a Ponzi scheme.

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'What’s Cooking?'

The 2000 film showcases the culinary traditions of four distinct ethnicities - Vietnamese, Latino, Jewish and African American - as women from diverse backgrounds prepare their traditional dishes and unite for a grand Thanksgiving celebration in Los Angeles.

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'Home for the Holidays'

Holly Hunter portrays Claudia, a woman facing tough times after losing her job, in the 1995 film Home for the Holidays. As she heads to her family's home in Baltimore for Thanksgiving, she must navigate her eccentric loved ones, such as her brother Tommy (played by Robert Downey Jr.), and her traditional parents, Adele (Anne Bancroft) and Henry (Charles Durning), all while dealing with her own personal challenges.