22 Family Movies Not To Watch With Your Family On Thanksgiving

Courtesy of Lee Daniels Entertainment.

Precious

Precious, based on the novel Push by Sapphire tells the story of a teenage girl who, living in Harlem with her horribly abusive mother and pregnant with her second child conceived of rape, is struggling to hang on. She is constantly made to feel useless, she has no control over her circumstances, and the baby she already has is not only disabled, but out of her custody. Upon meeting a new teacher, Precious’s life begins to turn around. She learns to read and write, feels kindness and support for the first time in her life from people around her, and ultimately is inspired to leave her mother’s home and seek a better life for her and her new baby.

Things get a tiny bit better, but also get much worse. This movie tells one of the most simultaneously harrowing stories of human cruelty and inspiring stories of human endurance I’ve ever seen. It’s a harsh look into the reality of what many are actually facing day to day, and a call to action to support our fellow humans with kindness, support, and resources they may not have access to but have potential to thrive under once they do. Watch this movie immediately, but also don’t watch it, like, ever. Sit down and allow yourself to experience this story, but also avoid it at all costs. It’s too much. It’s not enough. SOS.

Especially avoid if: There’s an ongoing bit on 30 Rock, wherein Tracy Jordan is vying for an Oscar, and so he accepts a role in the movie “Hard to Watch: Based on the novel Stone Cold Bummer by Manipulate.” If you haven’t gathered by now, I wouldn’t recommend this movie to anyone who would be too affected by the near-constant onslaught of triggers. It’s seriously just hard to watch. SO worth it. But hard.