Family festivities not only call for a week-long prep to get the dinner table to perfection, but also a crucial to hosting is a sumptuous watchlist. Keeping everyone satiated and occupied with great food, even greater entertainment, and no ear-bleeding tattle is key to winning Thanksgiving. Nothing celebrates togetherness better than assembling all the Avengers in the household on the couch and turning the TV on to get everyone hooked to a show or news program. 

Sweet potato casserole aside, this year's onscreen lineup serves as the best Thanksgiving side-dish to deliver a collective rest of warmth and joyful stories.  

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is celebrating its 99th year. It will live on Peacock, Fubo, and NBC on November 27, at 8:30 am ET. The crowd will witness larger-than-life balloons from Toy Story to K-Pop Demon Hunters, a fantastic array of musicians and singers akin to Broadway, and a series of floats filled with the holiday spirit. 

NBC covers the whole live schedule till noon, followed by a re-run at 2 pm ET. Grab the sweet pumpkin pie and a coffee to share the parade’s rhythmic march with a visually striking and musically surreal event with the family.

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Music and sports will intersect, promising every family member something to enjoy together this Thanksgiving.

The clash of the titans on the Thanksgiving gridiron this year is to be more than just a showcase of football. It will also be a musical feast as the NFL's halftime show will feature none other than Post Malone, Jack White, and Lil Jon, among others, for the traditional football games across the country. 

Malone will perform at AT&T Stadium in Texas, White at Ford Field in Detroit, and Lil Jon will play at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. 

Apart from news and sports, Thanksgiving specials, along with holiday episodes, have made their comebacks in 2025, stronger than ever. NBC’s A Saturday Night Live Thanksgiving airs on November 27 from 9 to 11 PM, showing sketches that cover Thanksgiving chaos in a humorous way.

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Not to forget the accompanying laugh tracks, uncomfortable in-law moments, and touching reunions make Thanksgiving episodes from cult-favorite sitcoms perfect for a post-dinner binge. 

News specials and live coverage, among bites and board games, show the bigger picture of Thanksgiving. NBC's holiday schedule consists of the parade, the National Dog Show, and live event segments specifically for children and families. It will be broadcast live on November 28, noon-2 PM on NBC and live-streamed on Peacock. 

What about the kids after the main feast and the games? Well, it is time for the family to get cozy around streaming. The best titles for Thanksgiving 2025 are on Netflix, from Enola Holmes to Spellbound and The Willoughbys, from animated children's classics to sci-fi thrillers. No matter whether one is watching through Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, or other platforms, these films are the best wind-down option as the lazy afternoon slowly blooms into a cozy evening.

This Thanksgiving 2025 watchlist is as varied as the flavors of the festive spread. The parade streams live on Peacock and airs on NBC, likewise for the news coverage. NFL games stream on various sports networks, while specials and movies demand attention on platforms like Netflix, Paramount+, Hulu, and more. 

Set up the apps, log and lock in for a day of shared laughter over sitcoms, a little dance around the living room to live music, and cultural commentary on holiday films that brings everyone together in 2025’s Thanksgiving.

Best Thanksgiving Movies to Watch on Netflix This Holiday Season

What direction are you picking from our Thanksgiving movie map? Comment your favortie Thanksgiving show below.