Movies to Watch that Highlight Thanksgiving in Non-Traditional Ways

The holiday season is typically a time of joy, laughter and family. When it comes to Thanksgiving specifically, many tend to associate the day with turkeys and big family dinners, but as you’ll see the following movies each put a different spin on the holiday. Here are three movies to watch (or re-watch) that incorporates Thanksgiving in a non-traditional manner. 

1. She’s Gotta Have It: Spike Lee’s 1986 film, She’s Gotta Have It, took on a topic that would be considered taboo for the time period. The film centers on Nola Darling, a beautiful young woman that is dating three men simultaneously. She has Greer Childs, who provides financial security; Jamie Overstreet, who provides stability; and Mars Blackmon who provides laughter and a good time. While she tends to see them separately, all three of her lovers came face-to-face at Thanksgiving dinner. Although the men do not become best friends over the holiday feast, the Thanksgiving dinner setting was able to successfully contrast the established holiday with Nola’s more modern approach to dating.  

2. Tower Heist: Who wants their turkey with a side of tower heist this year? The 2011 film, Tower Heist, stars Eddie Murphy, Gabourey Sidibe, Ben Stiller, Alan Alda and more. After losing money to a Ponzi scheme, a group comes together and creates a plan to rob the man responsible. The heist is planned to take place on Thanksgiving day during the Macy’s parade. The group assumed that with all eyes on the parade, it would create the perfect time to rob the home of the Ponzi scheme leader. However, the crew quickly learns that completing a tower heist is no easy task. 

3. Four Brothers: The John Singleton-directed film, Four Brothers, was released in 2005 and stars Tyrese Gibson, Andre Benjamin, Mark Wahlberg and Garrett Hedlund. The men are connected by an inner-city Detroit foster mother they all share. Their foster mother, Evelyn Mercer, was killed so the men unite to avenge her murder. One of the most notable scenes in the film is the Thanksgiving dinner scene where each man sees the ghost of their slain guardian. As they sit solemnly at the table eating their meal viewers can see that Evelyn is appearing to each of her sons, showing that she is still with them in spirit as they continue their pursuit to get justice for her death.