Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

Year: 2023

Runtime: 1 h 47 m

Language: English

Director: Eli Roth

Echo Score: 68
HorrorMysteryThriller

A wave of terror descends on Plymouth during the Thanksgiving season. Following the frenzy of Black Friday, a brutal killing spree unfolds, shattering the town's sense of peace. As the holiday celebrations begin, a sinister force unleashes a trail of bloodshed, leaving residents in fear and investigators struggling to stop the escalating violence.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Thanksgiving yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Thanksgiving (2023) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Thanksgiving (2023), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

During Thanksgiving in Plymouth, Massachusetts, the community gathers outside the RightMart superstore, anticipating the chaos of a Black Friday sale. Jessica Wright, whose father Thomas owns the store, allows her boyfriend Bobby and friends, including Gaby, Scuba, and Yulia, to sneak in through a side entrance. Inside, they gleefully flaunt their purchases to the growing crowd outside, which incites a riot led by Lonnie. The stampede becomes deadly, resulting in tragic casualties, including Amanda Collins, the wife of store manager Mitch. Bobby’s heroic attempt to save a trapped security guard leads to his injury and disappearance from the group.

Fast forward a year, as RightMart gears up for another Black Friday sale amidst protests from Mitch and concerned locals. Jessica finds herself tagged in a social media post featuring her friends at a Thanksgiving table. Meanwhile, Bobby, having broken up with Jessica after recovering from his injuries, returns to Plymouth to work for his uncle. This return complicates things, particularly for Jessica’s new boyfriend, Ryan. The tension rises when a waitress named Lizzie is brutally killed by a figure in a John Carver mask, prompting the police to investigate connections to last year’s tragedy.

In her attempt to assist, Jessica shares footage of the riot with Sheriff Eric Newlon. As the mysterious killer wreaks havoc across town, residents fall victim, including security guard Manny and high schoolers Amy and Lonnie. The situation escalates when Jessica’s friends Evan and Gaby are captured, leaving her narrowly escaping death. Yulia’s family decides to move to Florida, but their plans are thwarted when Carver attacks, leading to a gruesome scene at Yulia’s home that Jessica and Scuba can’t prevent.

The local police devise a plan to draw out Carver by involving the Wright family and Scuba in a Thanksgiving parade, disguised as Pilgrims. But the scheme fails when Carver outsmarts them, leading to panic and chaos as he abducts his victims. In a horrifying turn of events, he cooks Jessica’s stepmother Kathleen alive, presenting her as the centerpiece at a macabre dinner surrounded by the remains of his previous victims. In an intense live-streamed moment, Carver kills Evan, leaving the survivors in shock and fear.

Jessica, determined to save her friends, manages to escape and soon discovers Sheriff Newlon unconscious in a warehouse. Once inside, she encounters Bobby, leading to a tense confrontation. However, it’s later revealed that Newlon is the mastermind behind the murders, driven by a twisted motive involving an affair with Amanda, who was pregnant with his child at the time of her death. As Jessica tries to expose him, she unknowingly live streams his confession, leading to a dramatic fight for survival.

With the help of Bobby, Jessica attempts their escape in a tow truck, but Newlon is relentless, using an axe to block their path. In a desperate move, Jessica shoots a turkey parade balloon connected to a flammable gas tank, resulting in a fiery explosion that engulfs Newlon. The next day brings a bittersweet reunion for Jessica, Bobby, Ryan, and their friends as they reflect on their harrowing ordeal. However, the authorities find no trace of Newlon, sparking speculation about his fate and leaving Jessica haunted by nightmares of her past.

Last Updated: October 24, 2024 at 09:11

Ending Explained – What Happens at the End of Thanksgiving?

Still wondering what the ending of Thanksgiving (2023) really means? Here’s a spoiler-heavy breakdown of the final scene, major twists, and the deeper themes that shape the film’s conclusion.

At the climax of Thanksgiving, the true identity of the killer is revealed to be Sheriff Eric Newlon, a man haunted by his past and the death of his fiancée, Amanda. Driven by grief and revenge, Eric had been secretly orchestrating the gruesome murders, disguising himself and manipulating events from behind the scenes. Despite Jessica’s suspicion that her boyfriend Bobby was responsible, it ultimately turns out that Eric was wearing a mask as the killer, and he had set a trap that led to many of his own misdeeds. He had also been pretending to be the sheriff, which explains his presence on the scene. In a shocking twist, Eric confesses that Amanda was pregnant with his child, and her death had shattered his life plans. Jessica, who had been livestreaming her findings, fights back when Eric attacks her. With Bobby’s help, she manages to escape the warehouse after a frantic struggle. In the final moments, Jessica and Bobby set a trap by blowing up the gas-filled balloon connected to a truck, which results in an explosion that presumably kills Eric. However, his body is never found, leaving his fate ambiguous. Though Jessica survives and escapes with Bobby, she is forever haunted by her trauma and the fear of another masked killer lurking in the shadows, leading to a haunting sense that her ordeal might not be entirely over. Her survival is bittersweet, as the horror has left a permanent scar on her psyche.**

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:44

Unlock the Full Story of Thanksgiving

Don't stop at just watching — explore Thanksgiving in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Thanksgiving is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Thanksgiving Timeline

Track the full timeline of Thanksgiving with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Thanksgiving Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Thanksgiving

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Thanksgiving. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Ending Explained

What really happened at the end of Thanksgiving? This detailed ending explained page breaks down final scenes, hidden clues, and alternate interpretations with expert analysis and viewer theories.

Thanksgiving Ending Explained

More About Thanksgiving

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Thanksgiving: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Thanksgiving

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