5 Best Thanksgiving Box Office Releases of All Time to Revisit This Year With Friends and Family

Published 11/01/2024, 2:51 AM EDT

While the joy of the festive season is mostly associated with family, an underdog in this entire ordeal remains the films that truly capture the spirit of the season. From the Independence Day releasing just a day prior to July 4 and Halloween releasing right at the brink of the spooky weekend, movies have added the marvel in festivities. And the demand for such marvels is at an all-time high during the season of gratitude, get-togethers, and sometimes forced cheer, Thanksgiving.

Following the shrill inducing binge watching sessions of Halloween, Thanksgiving now demands its own cinematic pageantry, a buffet of stories as warm as overcooked turkey, and often as stuffed.

Frozen

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In its way, Frozen captures the Thanksgiving spirit perfectly: family members with wildly incompatible personalities who must band together, a picturesque setting blanketed in frost, and a reminder that love is the ultimate thaw. Therefore, it does not come as a surprise that the movie garnered a gross collection of $67,391,326, making it one of the biggest box office openings on Thanksgiving.

Toy Story 2

 A heartwarming tale of abandonment, existential dread, and loyalty, all wrapped up in cheerful animation, Toy Story 2 ranks second in the best blockbuster hits during Thanksgiving.

The movie attaining a gross collection of $57,388,839 at the box office is an ironic testament about how we needed toys to remind us of what we are grateful for, or at least willing to endure over pie.

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Moana

Another Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures extravaganza that quite literally turned the tides on Thanksgiving day was Moana with its $56,631,401 box office collection. After all, what better time to watch a fearless girl sail into the unknown, escaping family obligations on a raft. It is a tale of courage, self-discovery, and a catchy song about going as far from home as possible, making it the perfect fit for Thanksgiving.

Ralph Breaks the Internet

Ralph Breaks the Internet remains one of the most bingeworthy Disney movies of all time. And it does not come as a surprise that studio struck when the iron was still hot and garnered a box office collection of $56,237,634. 

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A cautionary tale on the perils of connectivity and friendship that reminds us, ultimately, that there is no place like home, Ralph Breaks the Internet is the perfect Thanksgiving watch much like the evergreen sitcom episodes that the family has grown up watching.

Coco

A joyful reminder that our loved ones are always with us, even if sometimes only in spirit, Coco serves as the perfect Thanksgiving treat that makes us grateful not just for those we have around us but also those that have passed away. The movie earned a gross collection of $50,802,605, and still stands the test of time as the perfect Thanksgiving pick. 

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Which of these Thanksgiving movies will you be watching? Let us know in the comments below.

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Aliza Siddiqui

1803 articles

Aliza Siddiqui, a seasoned entertainment journalist and primary editor at Netflix Junkie, discovered her passion for storytelling through Anne Hathaway's iconic performance in Princess Diaries. Her love for film was further solidified by the thought-provoking climax of Don't Look Up, which left her in awe of its ability to balance humor and commentary, much like The Dictator and Cunk on Earth, which impressed her with their loud yet subtle haywire references. With a background in writing over a thousand articles at Otakukart, Aliza brings her unique voice and style to her editorial role, where she incorporates her idiosyncratic wit with engaging content.

Edited By: Aliza Siddiqui

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