This week, we take a moment to offer our heartfelt thanks. We are grateful for the presence of family, the companionship of friends, the sustenance of food, the excitement of football, and, if we are fortunate, a well-deserved Thursday off from work. Amidst this outpouring of gratitude, why not also extend our thanks to the wonderful world of streaming? It provides us with endless entertainment options during this pre-holiday weekend.

Gratitude and Streaming: A Thanksgiving Delight

Family Affair on Netflix

Malcolm Washington takes on the role of director as he guides his brother John David in the new Depression-era drama "The Piano Lesson". This adaptation of August Wilson's play is a family affair, with their father Denzel also involved in the production. It offers a unique perspective on a bygone era. If this isn't to your liking, there's "The Merry Gentlemen", a new holiday rom-com by Peter Sullivan. In this film, a dancer named Britt Robertson stages a spicy, Christmassy all-male revue to save her parents' bar, with Chad Michael Murray at the center. Another option is "Our Oceans", a new docuseries that showcases the majesty and wonder of our underwater world, narrated by former President Barack Obama. It's a visual feast that will leave you in awe.

Slasher Thrills on Thanksgiving

Eli Roth's 2023 slasher "Thanksgiving" is a must-watch for those seeking a horror fix. It's a feature-length adaptation of one of the fictional movie trailers from 2007's "Grindhouse" and takes the holiday to terrifying new heights. Patrick Dempsey, Gina Gershon, and Addison Rae star in this film as a masked killer terrorizes a small town in Massachusetts on the fourth Thursday in November. It's a nerve-wracking experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Documentaries and Food Shows

R.J. Cutler's new documentary "Martha" offers a deep dive into the life and career of Martha Stewart, the undisputed queen of hospitality. After hearing her story, you'll be inspired to invite some celebrity guests to your own table with Jon Favreau's "The Chef Show". This foodie docuseries features the "Chef" filmmaker and star preparing a meal with famous friends, and you can enjoy each episode separately. It's a great way to combine entertainment and delicious food.

How I Met Your Mother: A Thanksgiving Tale

Carter Bays and Craig Thomas' "How I Met Your Mother" is the perfect weekend binge. In this show, a man named Ted Mosby (narrated by Bob Saget) tells his teenage children the story of how he met their mother. It's really a story about his wacky younger days in New York with his best friends, including Cobie Smulders, Jason Segel, Alyson Hannigan, and Neil Patrick Harris, with Josh Radnor as the younger Ted. The gang gets up to all sorts of Thanksgiving hijinks during the show's nine seasons, and even the nonseasonal episodes have a special resonance this holiday. Thanksgiving is a time for found families, for sharing long-winded stories with older relatives, and, above all, for Slap Bets.

The Matrix Resurrections: A Final Farewell

Lana Wachowski's 2021 entry in the "Matrix" saga, "The Matrix Resurrections", brought Keanu Reeves' Neo and Carrie-Anne Moss' Trinity back to the screen after 18 years. It's a thrilling conclusion to the series that will leave fans satisfied. However, at the end of the month, it will be removed from your queue, so make sure to catch it before it's too late.