Christmas gets a lot of play as one of the most romantic holidays of the year, but let's not discount Thanksgiving. It's a holiday that's all about family and taking a closer look at the things that really matter to you. Plus there's pumpkin pie!
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For those of us who yearn for the excitement of making sexually-charged eye contact over a turkey leg or the sweeping romance of orange autumnal leaves, there's a solid selection of romantic flicks for this oft-overlooked holiday. From Hallmark hits to all-time classics, here are 7 must-see romantic movies that take place on or around Thanksgiving.
You've Got Mail
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- Photo Credit: Warner Bros.
Directed and co-written by Nora Ephron, this 1998 romantic comedy staple stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Kathleen Kelly runs a small independent bookstore which her mother ran before her. Joe Fox runs a behemoth chain bookstore that's putting Kathleen's shop out of business.
While the pair butt heads in person, they maintain a whirlwind internet romance, with neither knowing it's their business rival on the other end of the net.
Autumn in New York
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- Photo Credit: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
At 48 years old, Will Keane (Richard Gere) is at the top of his game as a restaurateur and womanizer. However, when he meets 22-year-old Charlotte Fielding (Winona Ryder), everything changes. The pair share a very real and genuine connection, but they agree they can never have something long term.
For Will this is his standard practice. For Charlotte, it's because she knows she's terminally ill. But neither could expect what this vital romance holds for them.
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Son in Law
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- Photo Credit: Hollywood Pictures
Pauly Shore probably isn't the first name that comes to mind when you think of a romantic leading man, but Son in Law is one of the warmest, sweetest movies the autumnal season has to offer. After a drastic change leaving her South Dakota farm for college in Los Angeles, Rebecca Warner (Carla Gugino) strikes up a fast bond with her dorm's RA, Crawl (Shore).
She invites him to spend Thanksgiving with her on her family's farm—for both their sakes. When Becca's boyfriend proposes to her, Crawl comes to the rescue with the announcement that he's already engaged to her. As they navigate a fake relationship, Crawl earns an all too real place in her life.
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Sweet November
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- Photo Credit: Warner Bros.
Work-obsessed advertising exec Nelson Moss (Keanu Reeves) has his whole life turned upside down when he meets eccentric pet groomer Sara Deever (Charlize Theron). After Nelson derails Sara's driver's test, she challenges him to spend all of November with him so she can change his outlook on life.
By the first of the month, Nelson's life is in shambles, so he has no reason not to agree. But in such a short time, this strange woman changes his life more than he could have ever imagined.
Dan in Real Life
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- Photo Credit: Touchstone Pictures
Dan Burns (Steve Carell) is a widower whose entire life is dedicated to his children. But when he meets Marie Diamond (Juliette Binoche) in a bookstore, he's immediately head over heels.
Unfortunately, a trip to Rhode Island for an annual family gathering reveals that Marie is already taken—by Dan's brother Mitch (Dane Cook). Dan's efforts to move on from his feelings don't go as easily as one might hope...
Lez Bomb
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- Photo Credit: Sprockefeller Pictures
If you're a fan of Hulu's Happiest Season, this queer Thanksgiving romance is sure to go over well. Lauren (Jenna Laurenzo) is a lesbian who's still firmly in the closet. But as the holiday nears, she devises a plan to finally unleash the truth on her conservative and dysfunctional family by inviting her girlfriend, Hailey (Caitlin Mehner) along for the ride.
Things go off the rails when Lauren's roommate Austin (Brandon Micheal Hall) arrives, and her family mistakenly assumes that they are the couple.
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Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade
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- Photo Credit: Hallmark Channel
Who knows romance better than Hallmark? Emily Jones (Autumn Reeser) loves Chicago—and she loves its annual Thanksgiving Day parade even more. As the coordinator of the event, she has her heart set on making it a holiday to remember.
But when privileged playboy Henry Williams (Antonio Cupo) is brought in to analyze the finances of the parade, Emily must convince him that it's about more than just the money. And as the pair grow closer, the parade might not be the only memorable thing about Thanksgiving this year.
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