The Best Buddy Comedy Ever Made Lands a New Streaming Home Just in Time for Thanksgiving

The Best Buddy Comedy Finds a New Streaming Home

The film Roger Ebert once called essential Thanksgiving viewing has made its return to streaming. John Hughes’ acclaimed buddy comedy Planes, Trains and Automobiles is now available to watch again, offering audiences a chance to revisit one of the funniest holiday films ever made.

Starring John Candy alongside Steve Martin, this Thanksgiving favorite is streaming on Paramount+. It joins new arrivals such as Catch Me If You Can, Saturday Night Fever, and Hughes’ own Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

Story and Characters

Planes, Trains and Automobiles follows Neal Page, a high-strung advertising executive desperate to return home to Chicago for Thanksgiving. His journey, however, goes wildly off track, complicated further by the well-meaning but maddening salesman Del Griffith, who becomes his reluctant travel partner.

According to Rotten Tomatoes: “Easily excitable Neal Page (Steve Martin) is somewhat of a control freak. Trying to get home to Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with his wife and kids, his flight is rerouted to Kansas because of a freak snowstorm, and his sanity begins to fray. Worse yet, he is forced to bunk up with talkative Del Griffith (John Candy), whom he finds extremely annoying. Together they must overcome the insanity of holiday travel to reach their destination.”

Legacy and Impact

Released during John Hughes’ creative peak, the movie showcased his ability to combine heartfelt emotion with sharp humor. It marked a rare shift from his trademark teen dramas to mature, character-driven comedy, solidifying its place as a Thanksgiving staple.

Author’s summary: A timeless John Hughes comedy returns to streaming just in time for Thanksgiving, reminding viewers why its mix of humor and humanity still resonates decades later.

more

MovieWeb MovieWeb — 2025-11-02

More News