11 Movies On HBO Max To Watch On Thanksgiving With The Whole Fam

Is there anything cozier than the Harry Potter movies? Every meal in the Great Hall of Hogwarts is basically a big Thanksgiving feast anyway… just with a chosen magical family instead of a biological one. Honestly, the entire Harry Potter series makes for perfect Thanksgiving family viewing, but it makes sense to start at the very beginning of Harry’s journey with the first movie.

One of the most iconic holiday films ever made, the 1938 adaption of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol teaches lessons everyone needs to be reminded of once a year. Let the nostalgia wash over you as you view the well-loved, black and white story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his ghostly visitors.

Elaborate meals? Nosy relatives? Plenty of family drama? Check, check, check. Crazy Rich Asians covers it all (and has one of the most stunning wedding scenes ever) as Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) and her boyfriend Nick Young (Henry Golding) head to Singapore where jealous socialites and strained relationships await the happy couple. While it doesn't take place during the holidays, it will give you strength to face any emotional family hurdles you might encounter throughout the season.

Willy Wonka has been a classic for decades and it totally deserves a place on every family’s watchlist. Gene Wilder gives an iconic performance as Willy Wonka himself as he guides you through “a world of pure imagination.” Come for the nostalgia, stay for the extravagant candy displays… as long as your stomach can handle it after Thanksgiving dinner.

Animated movies always make for great family viewing, and Happy Feet is an oft-forgotten gem that is sure to put a smile on everyone’s face. If the adorable penguins don’t do it for you, then the uplifting soundtrack probably will. Plus, the snowy setting will get you ready for the winter ahead.

Speaking of winter, you can kick off the holiday season right away with a viewing of Elf. What can be said about this nearly perfect movie that hasn’t been said before? Will Ferrell makes the perfect adult elf who’ll make you both laugh and cry as he finds his home just in time for Christmas.

If you’re still in more of a fall, pumpkin spice-y mood, then look no further than the autumn-hued world of You’ve Got Mail. This movie is basically one giant ad for the cozy bookstore aesthetic. It doesn’t hurt that Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan also make an absolutely adorable rom-com couple.

The entire Hayao Miyazaki library is available on HBO Max, but Spirited Away is a standout hit. This gorgeously animated Academy Award-winning film follows a young girl as she fights to rescue her family from the spirit world. It’s the perfect movie to help you remember how much you love the important people in your life, making it just right for Thanksgiving.

Family drama is bound to be part of any big gathering, but at least you can relax knowing your family isn’t as wacky as the one in My Big Fat Greek Wedding — probably. This movie is so relatable because, the truth is, every family has its own brand of wackiness. In this movie, that wackiness just means that Windex gets sprayed on everything.

Sometimes you just gotta sing, and those are the times when you should turn on a musical fit for the whole family. Let the musical stylings of Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O’Connor transport you to the era of classic Hollywood movie magic with Singin’ in the Rain.

Take a peek at what you have to look forward to at the end of the holiday season with New Year's Eve, a 2011 film starring, well, pretty much everyone who was relevant in 2011. Full of intertwining stories, the movie has something everyone can relate to and will help you feel ready for whatever the next year brings after the pumpkin pie is eaten and the ugly sweaters are packed away.