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

The movie once chosen by Roger Ebert as a Thanksgiving essential has made its return to streaming. John Hughes’ acclaimed buddy comedy Planes, Trains and Automobiles once again invites audiences to laugh and reminisce during the holiday season.

Now available on Paramount+, this beloved Thanksgiving classic stars John Candy alongside Steve Martin. The film joins other notable additions to the platform such as Catch Me If You Can, Saturday Night Fever, and Hughes’ own Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

Comedy and Chaos on the Way Home

Planes, Trains and Automobiles follows Neal Page, a businessman desperate to return home to Chicago for Thanksgiving. His trip, however, spirals into a series of misadventures when his flight is diverted and he’s forced to travel with a talkative shower curtain salesman named Del Griffith.

“Easily excitable Neal Page (Steve Martin) is somewhat of a control freak. Trying to get home to Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with his wife (Laila Robins) and kids, his flight is rerouted to a distant city in 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 intended destination.” — Rotten Tomatoes

A Classic from John Hughes’ Peak

Released at the height of Hughes’ career, the film signaled a turn from his signature teen dramas toward more mature storytelling, combining humor with heart and highlighting the unpredictability of human connection during the holidays.

Author’s Summary: The John Hughes classic Planes, Trains and Automobiles returns on Paramount+, blending humor and chaos for the perfect Thanksgiving watch.

MovieWeb — 2025-11-02