46 Thanksgiving Quotes from Movies (& TV Shows!)

Updated March 9, 2023 | Infoplease Staff

As Kevin James said, “Thanksgiving, man. It’s not a good day to be my pants.” And even before a happy Thanksgiving was equated with a good dinner, the pilgrims gave thanks for a plentiful harvest and their health after landing at Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts.

As we look forward to Christmas and put away the Halloween costume box, setting time aside for a Thanksgiving dinner is more than pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, and fowl jokes. This holiday season is important not only historically, but also socially.

Whether you celebrate Thanksgiving Day with your family or friends, it’s an excellent opportunity to be grateful for the little things— including the people who make a difference in our lives, as former President John F. Kennedy once said.

And to help celebrate that sentiment as you’re home for the holidays, there are plenty of Thanksgiving movies and movie quotes that can set the mood.

So, as you pass the mashed potatoes and pour the gravy, here are 46 of the best festive and funny Thanksgiving quotes that will make you smile and have a great Turkey Day!

46 Thanksgiving Quotes for the Holidays

“I mean, it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without a little emotional scarring.” - Friends, 1997.

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“We should just be thankful for being together. I think that's what they mean by 'Thanksgiving.'” - A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, 1965.
“You know, not many of you kill your own Thanksgiving turkey, but you might want to consider it...”- Tower Heist, 2011.
Perhaps rethinking your Thanksgiving traditions to this degree is not in the cards this year, but this character does manage to ruffle a few feathers with this quote!
“The Thanksgiving Day Parade was first on the list.” - Seinfeld, 1994.
“Our world is made of corn. Leafy corn. Corn corn. Fire corn!”

“I think they actually call that the Sun.” - Free Birds, 2013.
"Hello, what's this? Tomorrow's Thanksgiving! You see that, Odie? Tomorrow's Thanksgiving. That's the day people celebrate with food by eating as much of it as possible." - Garfield’s Thanksgiving, 1989.
“What am I supposed to be thankful for, exactly? If anything, I should be thanking myself.” - It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, 2013.
“Safety never takes a holiday.” - Paul Blart: Mall Cop, 2009.
“November is all I know and all I ever want to know.” - Sweet November, 2001.

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“The Thankstini. A fun and delicious new novelty drink I invented. Cranberry juice, potato vodka, and a bouillon cube. Tastes just like a turkey dinner." - How I Met Your Mother, 2005.
“Thanksgiving is the easiest meal to make. Just take that turkey, throw it in the oven, and the rest will cook itself.” - What’s Cooking?, 2000.
Anyone in the kitchen on Thanksgiving Day might disagree with this sentiment, but we can make the serving process easier by showing you the exact steps to Carving the Perfect Turkey!
“Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go baste the turkey and hide the kitchen knives.” - The House of Yes, 1997.
"Shouldn’t we give thanks first?"

"Thanks for what?"

"Well, that we’re not Native Americans who got their land stolen in exchange for smallpox-infested blankets."

"Amen." - Gilmore Girls, 2002.
“I’m giving thanks that we don’t have to go through this for another year.” - Home for the Holidays, 1995.
“Dear Lord, we realize that lately, everything’s been changing too damn fast. And all sorts of things are always the same, even if we hate it— like shoveling the turkey and stuffing the snow.” - Home for the Holidays, 1995.
“Where’s the rum ham?” - It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, 2011.
“It ain’t cool being no jive turkey, so close to Thanksgiving.” - Trading Places, 1983.
"Once, there was this day where everybody seemed to know they needed each other... This one day when they knew for certain they couldn't do it alone." - Pieces of April, 2003.

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“Here I am, 5 o’clock in the morning, stuffing bread crumbs up a dead bird’s butt.” - Rosanne, 1989.
"Happy Thanksgiving... it's your turn to say Happy Thanksgiving back." - You’ve Got Mail, 1998.
Not only is this classic Nora Ephron film great to set a romantic mood, but it’s also a lighthearted romp perfect for a Thanksgiving Netflix watch party!
“There's no Santa in the Cole's Thanksgiving Day parade.” - Miracle on 34th Street, 1994.
“We’re just gonna watch football, drink beer, and then we’re going to Best Buy later for Black Friday.” - New Girl, 2011.
“Ah, Thanksgiving. The most wonderful time of the year… unless, of course, you’re a turkey!” - Turkey Hollow, 2015.
“I swear to you, this will be your most memorable Thanksgiving, the one that you’ll want the rest of your life.” - Funny People, 2009.
“Every year I try and tell you guys that no one really sings Thanksgiving songs." - Bob’s Burgers, 2013.
“Well, are you spending Thanksgiving with your family? We have a ramble turkey. Eat all you want.” - The Blind Side, 2009.

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“The gods of my tribe have spoken. They have said, 'Do not trust the Pilgrims, especially Sarah Miller.’” - Addams Family Values, 1993.
As always, the Addams family is hardly normal, even around the holidays. And Wednesday Addams is no different, particularly when she takes control of the Thanksgiving pageant in an unconventional manner.
“You can’t have Thanksgiving without turkey. That’s like the Fourth of July without apple pie or Friday with no two pizzas.” - Friends, 2001.
“You're going to be in Chicago in less than three hours, around there, if we don't hit traffic, and I don't think we should— it's Thanksgiving.” - Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, 1987.
“I can’t cook a Thanksgiving dinner. All I can make is cold cereal, maybe toast.” - A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, 1965.
Sometimes I forget how seriously you guys take American Thanksgiving. Real Thanksgiving happened over a month ago.”

“Did you just say Canadian Thanksgiving was, and I'm quoting, "The Real Thanksgiving"? What do Canadians even have to celebrate about?” - How I Met Your Mother, 2007.
“It was Thanksgiving.”
“Yeah, to you, but to me, it’s a Thursday, right?” - Rocky, 1976.
“Oh, I should be thankful for the wonderful fall we’ve been having.” - Friends, 1998.
Of course, in true Joey Tribbiani fashion, he followed up this nice sentiment with a more… inappropriate reason for his expression of gratitude.
“You’re gonna give someone a perfect Thanksgiving, you gotta cook a nice, moist turkey. And I did. Well, me and a little friend I like to call the aluminum foil tent.” - Will & Grace, 2004.
“Eat us! Hey, it’s Thanksgiving day. Eat us! We make a nice buffet.” - Addams Family Values, 1993.

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"Thanksgiving is *cookies*! Thanksgiving is pie-filling! Thanksgiving is *coleslaw*!" - Garfield’s Thanksgiving, 1989.
"It's not too much food. This is what we've been training for our whole lives. This is our destiny, this is our finest hour." - Gilmore Girls, 2002.
As Lorelai Gilmore and her daughter Rory are faced with attending four separate Thanksgiving meals, they have to psych themselves– and their stomachs– up for the task ahead.
“It's not yet Thanksgiving and we're enjoying our lovely fall weather.” - Grumpy Old Men, 1998.
“It’s Thanksgiving, you dumb s***. What are you doing?” “Oh. Nothing, I don’t celebrate the fact that my ancestors exterminated a race of people.” - The Vicious Kind, 2009.
“Dads gettin' drunk on Thanksgiving is a holiday tradition.” - Family Guy, 2011.
“There are only two kinds of love stories. Boy loses girl, and girl loses boy. That’s all there is. Somebody always gets left behind.” - Autumn in New York, 2000.
“I saw what you did to the turkey, all right?” - Krisha, 2016.
"Are those mushrooms?"

"Yes, those are mushrooms."

"Isn't Everett allergic to mushrooms?"

"He is?" - The Family Stone, 1970.
As this classic holiday title shows, keeping any food allergies in mind is essential to any gathering centered around a meal!
“Oh wow, that’s great… do you guys have any Thanksgiving traditions?” - The Humans, 2021.
“You know, maybe this will be a good Thanksgiving. Just us and the kids. You cook and I’ll watch football with my pants open all day.” - Everybody Loves Raymond, 1996.

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“Hey, this could be our new Thanksgiving tradition.”

“What, hiding from our own family?” - Modern Family, 2014.
Sometimes, even the closest of family members need a little bit of space around the holidays, as this Disney+ show hilariously illustrates!

Movie Quotes and Thanksgiving Traditions

No matter who you gather with, what you eat, or where you celebrate the holidays, Thanksgiving is the time to connect with those in your life who are important to you.

Add to that some festive Thanksgiving quotes from movies and the quintessential tureen of gravy, and you’re ready for Turkey Day!

Why not continue to get set for the season with our list of the 40 Best Christmas Movie Quotes?