Here’s What To Watch This Thanksgiving Weekend

Being home for the holidays can be lovely, but it can also be over-stimulating. We round up the week’s new releases that’ll help you relax and take your mind off the Thanksgiving revelry.

As we approach awards season, the movies are getting better, the TV is getting more exciting, and the rate of release of “I GOTTA SEE THAT!” entertainment is getting such that we can hardly keep up. And whether you’re going to be facing tons of family time or stuck alone with nothing to do, you’ll likely need at least a few hours this weekend to decompress and catch up on your pop culture education. Luckily, we’re here to curate your potential weekend lineup, because with deciding which stretchy pants to wear and how many glasses of wine are TOO many, you don’t need one more thing to worry about.

MOVIES

Courtesy of STX Entertainment

The Edge of Seventeen

A female-helmed coming-of-age tale about a teenager learning to navigate her friendships and her place in the world is JUST what we need to combat the overwhelming negativity we’re facing right now. In this critically acclaimed comedy-drama, we follow Nadine Byrd, a young girl who discovers that her best friend loves her older brother, and must cope with the aftermath. This movie not only seems like a perfect movie to see with your mom, your sister, your aunt, or even by yourself, but is a great way to easily support lady-filmmakers over your holiday vacation. Have fun AND topple the patriarchy, fam!

Nocturnal Animals

Courtesy of Focus Features

Though the content of Tom Ford’s second film isn’t explicitly clear, we do know that we’re dealing with an estranged couple and seemingly some foul play. With an amazing cast including Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Isla Fisher, a mysterious, intriguing, and promising storyline, and Ford’s proven genius behind the camera all working together, this one’s sure to result in an incredible, if not unforgettable, trip to the theater.

Almost Christmas

Courtesy of Universal Pictures.

Another family dramedy perfect for the season, Almost Christmas is an ensemble film that deals with the realities of having everyone under one roof. After their mother dies, four siblings must gather at their father’s request to celebrate the holiday. And though it might be a less-than-ideal situation for them, with a cast featuring Mo’Nique, Gabrielle Union, Keri Hilson, Danny Glover, Romany Malco and more, it’s looking like it’ll be an more-than-okay experience for us.

Arrival

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.

This is the second Amy Adams Oscar-contender not just of the season, but of the WEEK! We follow Adams as Dr. Louise Banks, a linguist recruited to help deescalate the situation and maybe possibly ohhh I don’t know SAVE MANKIND when a presumably alien spacecraft touches down on Earth. With all that’s going on lately, this movie could be the perfect blend of escapism and reality- meaning, we’ll enjoy it, but we should also probably be taking notes.

TV

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life

Courtesy of Netflix.

This mini-series revival of the beloved show picks up more or less where the series left off in 2007. With 4 hour-and-a-half long episodes taking place over the 4 seasons, we get to catch up with all of the goings-on in Stars Hollow that we’ve missed over the past almost-10 years. And, as it’s already proving to be a critical hit, there’s no doubt that fans are going to binge this quicker than the Gilmores can finish an Al’s Pancake World takeout feast. All episodes will be available to stream on Friday, November 25th.

Michael Che Matters

Courtesy of Netflix.

SNL’s Weekend Update host, Michael Che, gives us his topical takes in a new comedy special that comes to Netflix on November 25th. With material on the 2016 election (written and recorded before results came in), his objective views on current political and social issues, and his ability to make us laugh with seemingly simple one-liners, this might be the perfect antidote to post-election anxiety.

Search Party

Courtesy of TBS.

This new series that promises to seamlessly blend humor and mystery is another lady-helmed project that can be easily devoured in a weekend. We follow a group of twenty-somethings whose old college friend goes missing as they work to solve the mystery. It’s already getting critical acclaim, and with a cast featuring well-known but semi-underground comedians and household-name fan favorites alike, we’re pretty sure it’ll be easy to get us onboard, too. The whole series, 10 episodes, will be available online after November 21st at 4AM.

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Happy Thanksgiving, and more importantly, happy watching!