It’s Thanksgiving week, and the theaters should be packed for the holiday weekend. Wicked and Gladiator II both got off to promising starts and will look to improve their box office hauls over this five-day weekend. However, the movie that will win the box office over Thanksgiving is Moana 2, Disney’s animated sequel to 2016’s Moana.
After venturing to your local theater, there’s still plenty of time to watch more movies over the holiday. By signing up for FAST services, consumers can stream movies for free. Our suggestions for the Thanksgiving holiday include a family comedy, a groundbreaking sports documentary, and a charming romance about young love.
We also have guides to the best new movies to stream, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
Robin Williams straps on a dress and attempts his best British accent in the hilarious family comedy, Mrs. Doubtfire. Voice actor Daniel Hillard (Robin Williams) is recently divorced from his wife Miranda (Sally Field). Due to his unemployment and unstable living conditions, Miranda is granted sole custody.
Unwilling to take no for an answer, Daniel devises a risky plan to see his children. With Miranda looking for a nanny, Daniel wears prosthetics and makeup to look like an old British woman.
As Euphegenia Doubtfire, Daniel gets the nanny position, and by spending more time with his children, he becomes a better parent. However, a dinner requiring his attendance as Mrs. Doubtfire and Daniel threatens to expose his ruse. Mrs. Doubtfire is guaranteed to deliver laughs thanks to Williams’ comedic genius.
Stream Mrs. Doubtfire for free on Tubi.
Hoop Dreams (1994)
Because sports are difficult to replicate in movies, documentaries typically work better than narrative films. Every list of the best sports documentaries must include Hoop Dreams. Directed by Steve James, Hoop Dreams follows the lives of African American teenagers William Gates and Arthur Agee, two aspiring basketball players hoping to earn a college scholarship.
Gates and Agee, who live in poor Chicago neighborhoods, start their high school careers at the predominantly white St. Joseph High School. Over the next four years, the boys will battle adversity on and off the court in hopes of a better life that ends with them in the NBA. Hoop Dreams is so much more than a basketball documentary.
It’s a moving depiction of American life that eloquently explores issues of education, race, class, and so much more. It’s a must-watch for any documentary buffs.
Stream Hoop Dreams for free on Pluto TV.
Licorice Pizza (2021)
Director Paul Thomas Anderson depicts young love in the delightful romantic drama Licorice Pizza. In 1973, 15-year-old Gary Valentine (Saturday Night‘s Cooper Hoffman) meets 25-year-old Alana Kane (Alana Haim) at his high school picture day. Instantly smitten by her, Gary invites Alana to dinner, which she surprisingly attends.
From there, the two embark on a whirlwind of events, from traveling the country and selling waterbeds to auditioning for a veteran actor (Sean Penn) and meeting Jon Peters (Maestro star Bradley Cooper). Gary and Alana form a genuine friendship and loving connection despite their age difference. Licorice Pizza is PTA at its best, exploring beautifully complex characters in the San Fernando Valley.
Stream Licorice Pizza for free on Tubi.