While it is great to spend time with family and friends during the holiday. Sometimes, after the big meal and before the dessert, conversation lags. Could be everyone is full, or run our of safe or fun topics, or everyone is just slightly sleepy. So why not all plop down and watch something fun? Here is the best Thanksgiving movie guide to watch with parents.
Die Hard
What more can you say? This classic is the perfect way to tie together Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The Safe Choices
- Moana: An animated film that’s comfortable and reassuring in its familiarity, but does enough differently to delight you.
- Rogue One: The best war movie this year, and darkest Star Wars entry since The Empire Strikes Back
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: You’re straggling if you haven’t seen this yet, but it’s a pleasant return to Rowling’s Wizarding World
The Space Explorers
- Arrival: A film of the year, serious Oscar contender, and a reminder once again how incredible Amy Adams is
- Passengers: While it’s receiving a bashing critically—it isn’t as bad as its Rotten Tomatoes score indicates—but also has old friends Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt doing J Law and Pratt things
The Serious Movie Fans
- Silence: Martin Scorsese’s 3-hour epic based on Shūsaku Endō’s 1966 novel that really goes for it with its epic subject matter and performances
- La La Land: Reviving old-school musicals with endearing performances by Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. Be prepared for singing and dancing.
- Jackie: The history biopic that should have “Natalie Portman really wants an Oscar” as its tagline. If high-minded actor vehicles are your thing, this is your movie.
- Paterson: Adam Driver stars as bus driver named Paterson living in Paterson, New Jersey. A classic Jim Jarmusch people just hanging out movie. It’s great, according to our wonderful photo editor.
The Denzel Washington Movie
- Fences: Tour-de-force performances by Denzel Washington and Viola Davis, which is exactly what you want.
The Funnies
- Office Christmas Party: Its actors seem tired and not really interested in the movie, but it has enough bits to please.
- Why Him? James Franco and Bryan Cranston battling it out for the love of a daughter. In a bizarro world, this is a Breaking Bad spin-off. Instead it’s a formulaic laughie.
