For many of us Thanksgiving means a time to get together with family. It might be the members of our family we see every day, or it could be the distant relatives you only see once a year.
Here are some movies in the Thanksgiving spirit, several films centered on families: the good, the bad and the ugly.
The Royal Tenenbaums Three grown prodigies, all with a unique genius of some kind, and their mother are staying at the family household. Their father, Royal, had left them long ago, but now returns to make things right with his family. | ![]() |
American Cousins Two American mobsters on the run hide at their cousin Roberto's bar in Glasgow and realize he's not as tough as they hoped. When they run off a debt collector for Roberto, he finds they aren't as innocent as they pretend to be | ![]() |
Cheaper by the Dozen Set in the early 20th century, this classic family comedy follows the efforts of a husband and wife as they try to maintain control in a home with 12 children | ![]() |
My Big Fat Greek Wedding Toula is a quiet, devoted daughter in a big, crazy Greek family. Working in her father's restaurant, she hides behind her family and keeps the world at a distance. One day at the restaurant she finds herself pouring coffee for a man who inspires her to change her life, and the way she sees the world forever. Their courtship is an Olympian culture clash | ![]() |
Texas Chainsaw Massacre One summer afternoon in rural Texas, five young friends hear reports of grave robbing and set out to check on a family grave. Soon after, one-by-one they wander into the murderous clutches of Leatherface | ![]() |
8 Women A wealthy industrialist is found murdered in his home while his family gathers for the holiday season. The house is isolated and the phone lines have been found to be cut. Eight women are his potential murderers. Each is a suspect and each has a motive. Only one is guilty. | ![]() |
Hannah and her Sisters A look at three sisters and the relationship they have with one another, and with the men in their lives | ![]() |
Little Miss Sunshine A family road trip to a pageant to support little would-be beauty queen Olive results in comic mayhem, death, and a family full of losers living in a world obsessed with winning | ![]() |
Meet the Fockers Newlywed wannabees Pam Byrnes and Greg Focker want their parents to meet, so they all travel to the Focker family home in Miami to become one big happy family. However, the hippie Fockers are the direct opposite of the uptight Byrneses. Bringing their baby nephew and the family cat along for the visit only adds to the mayhem | ![]() |
Ordinary People The "ordinary" existence of an upper middle class family is shattered with the death of the older son and the struggle of the younger son against guilt and suicide. With Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, Timothy Hutton, Elizabeth McGovern with M. Emmet Walsh. Academy Award, Best Picture, 1980 | ![]() |
Questions or requests? Contact:
Jennifer Kelley
Resident Librarian
kelleyj@cod.edu