Every holiday, my family and I scroll through the Netflix catalogue, eager to pick a holiday movie to watch and bond with each other. However, whenever it comes to Thanksgiving, we are never excited to pick a film because most movies lack the energy and emotion that other holiday movies have.
In order to be successful, Thanksgiving movies should make use of feel good themes such as community and gratitude. Also, utilizing existing franchises would make these films more appealing, especially to existing audiences for those brands.
When I picture Thanksgiving, family reunions and turkey on a platter come to my mind. Yet, no Thanksgiving film, except a select few, accurately captures the warm, familial feeling that makes the holiday special.
Unlike other holiday movies, Thanksgiving films lack a main character that represents the festive spirit of the occasion. While many Christmas films center around recognizable icons such as Santa Claus and his elves, Thanksgiving films struggle with this.
Furthermore, it is difficult to connect to Thanksgiving movies, as many of them are not established franchises. Since each movie is a mediocre standalone film, it lacks the foundation and spirit of other holiday movies, such as “Home Alone” or “Beetlejuice,” that keep viewers coming back each year for a hit of nostalgia.
Of course, this is not to say that all Thanksgiving films are not engaging. For example, the timeless classic, “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,” pictures the holiday feeling perfectly as Charlie Brown bonds with his friends and his dog, Snoopy.
As a result, Charlie Brown has become a symbol of what Thanksgiving films need to be truly widely successful: franchises and iconic characters. The movie capitalizes on the success and familiarity of the original Peanuts franchise. Millions have watched it, connected to the characters and feel warmth as they gather for a Thanksgiving meal.
Currently though, not many Thanksgiving films make use of this advantage, leading to a barren catalogue for the genre. To reach the success of their Christmas and Halloween counterparts, Thanksgiving films must create long term connections with audiences.
Until changes to Thanksgiving films are made, I will continue sticking to recognizable classics such as “Charlie Brown.” There is more festivity in its short run time compared to the boring two-hour films I’ve seen this year.
