Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays for spending time with family and watching new movies in theaters. Thanksgiving Day has evolved in my family throughout the years. When I was younger, we started the day by arranging two teams to play family
football until we worked up an appetite big enough to eat the delicious turkey. Once everyone was stuffed, we would change into our pajamas and head to the movies.

One of my earliest childhood memories was watching “Frozen” in theaters when it first came out. On that day, my family and I dressed in Frozen-themed outfits. I wore an Olaf onesie and brought my snowflake blanket.

Some other well-known movies that came out over Thanksgiving break in previous years include “Moana,” “Encanto,” “Elf ” (2020 Re-release), “Ralph Breaks the Internet” and “Penguins of Madagascar.”

Now that I am older, my family plays less physical games and we spend more time playing card games or watching football. Over Thanksgiving break, football becomes one of the most important topics for some in my family. Evidently, our favorite teams don’t always win. In times like these, the movies on Thanksgiving Day never let us down. This year I am eager to see the special movies that are releasing over break and hoping to recreate some of the memories from my childhood.

At UAHS, Thanksgiving break is Nov. 27 through Dec. 1, with Thanksgiving Day being Nov. 28. Throughout this time period, there are so many new movies to look forward to. One of the biggest movies coming out is “Moana 2.” The movie looks like it is going to be following the same trend as the previous “Moana” movie; “Moana” journeys into the seas of Oceania after receiving a call to action from her ancestors. I loved the soundtrack of the first movie, so I’m excited to hear what’s coming with “Moana 2.” Some may say that it’s the most anticipated movie coming out this Thanksgiving break.

However, this Thanksgiving I am most excited to watch “Wicked;” once a beloved musical and now a cinematic piece. Just watching the trailer I immediately got nostalgic memories of the “Wonderful Wizard of Oz” book. This movie is about Elphaba, the misunderstood woman, and her friend, Glinda, who is played by Ariana Grande.

Grande is an amazing singer so I have high hopes for the soundtrack for the movie. She performs multiple songs on the soundtrack like “No One Mourns the Wicked,” “Dear Old Shiz” and “Popular.” When the movie was first announced, it was said to be a two-part cinema. Part two is expected to come out in November 2025. This “Wicked” movie has the potential to be a top hit for two Thanksgivings in a row. “Wicked” can be watched in theaters starting on Nov. 22.

There are also plenty of new movies that you can watch at home over break if you and your family decide to stay at home. “Sweethearts” is a great example of a movie that is coming out over break that can be watched from home. This movie is about two college freshmen who decide to break things off with their previous relationships to hopefully pursue something new with each other all over their Thanksgiving break. Just looking at the photos of this movie, it reminds me of an early 2000s/Y2K theme. This movie is categorized as a romantic comedy and can be found on HBO Max starting on Nov. 28.

As Thanksgiving Day is winding down, my family and I will head to the theaters to enjoy the company of each other and relax
in a new film. Over the coming break, I hope you find yourself diving into some of these new movies and spending time with your family. Grab some popcorn, settle in, and enjoy the cinematic journey!