The 5 Must-See Movies Opening On Thanksgiving Day 2025: Blockbuster Sequels, Dystopian Thrillers, And Sci-Fi Battles

Thanksgiving weekend is one of the most lucrative and anticipated periods on the annual movie calendar, and the 2025 lineup is shaping up to be a true box office feast. As of the current date, December 13, 2025, the schedule is packed with major studio releases designed to capture the massive audience of families, students, and holiday travelers looking for a perfect post-turkey cinematic escape. This year’s slate features a mix of high-octane sequels, a highly-anticipated sci-fi reboot, and a fresh take on a beloved action franchise, guaranteeing something for every member of the family gathered around the holiday table. The tradition of a major Thanksgiving movie release is a time-tested strategy for studios, capitalizing on the extended four-day weekend that typically runs from Thursday, November 27, to Sunday, November 30, 2025. This holiday frame consistently delivers some of the highest-grossing opening weekends of the year, making the competition for the best release date fierce. The confirmed and rumored titles for the 2025 holiday period promise a blockbuster battle, with a clear focus on established intellectual property (IP) and star power designed to draw massive crowds.

Thanksgiving 2025 Movie Release Schedule: The Main Event

The Thanksgiving holiday is strategically positioned to launch films into the lucrative Christmas and New Year's season. Historically, this period has been dominated by Disney and Pixar, with animated hits like *Frozen* and *Ralph Breaks the Internet* setting box office records. However, the 2025 schedule shows a diversification of genres, with a strong emphasis on action, comedy, and dystopian thriller to cater to a broader audience of holiday moviegoers. The following films are the biggest titles either opening on or dominating the Thanksgiving 2025 weekend.

1. The Family Plan 2 (Action-Comedy Sequel)

The sequel to the surprise action-comedy hit, *The Family Plan 2*, is one of the most highly anticipated films for the holiday season. The first film, starring Mark Wahlberg as a suburban dad with a secret past as an elite assassin, proved that the blend of family-friendly comedy and high-stakes action is a winning formula for holiday viewing. The sequel is perfectly positioned to capture the family-action demographic during the long weekend.

The Plot and Cast Details:

• Starring: Mark Wahlberg (Dan Hughes), Michelle Monaghan (Jessica Hughes), Zoe Colletti, Van Crosby.
• New Cast Addition: Kit Harington is confirmed to join the cast in a significant role, adding another layer of star power to the ensemble.
• Synopsis: The plot for *The Family Plan 2* reportedly centers on Dan Hughes planning a "perfect overseas vacation" for his family in London for Christmas. However, the trip quickly spirals into danger when a threat from Dan’s former assassin life resurfaces, putting his wife and kids directly in the crosshairs.
• Genre Appeal: The film is a prime example of a "four-quadrant movie," appealing to men, women, and all age groups, which is essential for a major holiday release that relies on group outings.

2. Predator: Badlands (Sci-Fi Action Thriller)

Following the critical and commercial success of *Prey* (2022), the *Predator* franchise is set to return with *Predator: Badlands*, scheduled for release around the November 2025 timeframe. This new installment is being helmed by director Dan Trachtenberg, who successfully revitalized the series with *Prey* by focusing on a stripped-down, survival-driven narrative.

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A Unique Franchise Direction:

• Director: Dan Trachtenberg (known for *Prey* and *10 Cloverfield Lane*).
• Synopsis: Unlike previous entries that focused on humans battling the alien hunter, *Predator: Badlands* is rumored to shift the perspective entirely. The plot synopsis suggests the film will follow Dek, a young exiled Yautja (Predator), who crash-lands on a hostile planet. The story will focus on Dek's journey to prove his worth by battling other Predators, a significant departure that promises a fresh take on the lore.
• Box Office Strategy: The Thanksgiving weekend provides a perfect launchpad for a major sci-fi/action film, attracting the young adult and genre film audience looking for a thrilling escape from holiday gatherings.

3. The Running Man (2025 Adaptation)

While technically scheduled for an early November 2025 release, the buzz surrounding Edgar Wright's adaptation of the Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman) novel, *The Running Man*, will undoubtedly make it a major box office factor throughout the entire month, including the Thanksgiving weekend. This dystopian action thriller is a high-profile project, marking a new direction for director Edgar Wright and a major star vehicle for Glen Powell.

Key Production Details:

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• Director: Edgar Wright (known for *Shaun of the Dead*, *Baby Driver*).
• Starring: Glen Powell (in the lead role, following his breakout successes).
• Screenplay: Written by Edgar Wright and Michael Bacall.
• The Adaptation: Wright has emphasized that the film is a new adaptation of the original 1982 novel, not a straight remake of the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger film. This promises a darker, more faithful, and perhaps more satirical take on the story of a man forced to participate in a deadly reality game show in a dystopian future.

Historical Context: Why Thanksgiving is a Box Office Goldmine

The Thanksgiving weekend is reliably one of the highest-grossing periods of the year for the film industry, often seeing a massive surge in attendance compared to a typical weekend. This is due to the confluence of a national holiday, school breaks, and families looking for shared entertainment. Understanding this historical performance is key to predicting the success of the 2025 slate.

Top-Grossing Thanksgiving Weekend Releases (Unadjusted):

• *Frozen* (2013): The undisputed champion, setting the record for the biggest Thanksgiving weekend opening.
• *Ralph Breaks the Internet* (2018): Another Disney sequel that capitalized on the family market.
• *Knives Out* (2019): Proving that non-animated, original content like a murder-mystery can be a massive holiday hit.
• *Encanto* (2021): A more recent Disney entry that performed strongly despite the evolving theatrical landscape.

The trend shows that family-friendly animated features and high-concept films that appeal to a broad audience are the most successful. The 2025 schedule, with *The Family Plan 2* and the potential for other family films like *Rental Family* or *The Thing with Feathers* (listed as November releases) to enter the fray, aims to replicate this success by offering a clear choice for every demographic.

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Other Major November 2025 Releases and Topical Entities

While the three films above are the primary blockbusters, the entire November 2025 schedule is filled with other significant releases, collectively boosting the "holiday box office" and providing further options for moviegoers during the extended Thanksgiving break. These films, though not opening *on* Thanksgiving Day, will be major players in the weekend's overall gross revenue.

Notable November 2025 Releases:

• *Rental Family*: A comedy or drama that could serve as counter-programming to the major action films.
• *Trap House*: Likely a thriller or crime drama, appealing to the adult audience.
• *Nuremberg*: A historical drama, often a strong performer during the prestige film season leading up to the end of the year awards.
• *The Carpenter's Son* and *King Ivory*: Other titles that add depth to the November cinematic offerings, ensuring a diverse slate of new movies.

The sheer volume of high-quality, high-budget films scheduled for the November and Thanksgiving period demonstrates the film industry's confidence in the enduring power of the theatrical experience, especially during a national holiday when group entertainment is a priority. From the action-packed adventures of Mark Wahlberg's Dan Hughes to the tense, dystopian world of Glen Powell’s *The Running Man* and the alien battles in *Predator: Badlands*, the 2025 Thanksgiving weekend promises a cinematic lineup that will keep multiplexes busy and provide a memorable holiday outing for millions.