The Best Buddy Comedy Returns for Thanksgiving Streaming
The film that Roger Ebert once called a Thanksgiving essential is back on streaming. John Hughes’ beloved buddy comedy Planes, Trains and Automobiles has found a new home on Paramount+, just in time for the holiday season. The classic pairs John Candy with Steve Martin in one of cinema’s most enduring comedic duos.
As part of Paramount+’s latest additions, the film streams alongside other favorites like Catch Me If You Can, Saturday Night Fever, and Hughes’ own Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Plot Overview
The story follows Neal Page, a weary businessman desperate to return home to Chicago for Thanksgiving. His travel plans, however, quickly unravel thanks to unexpected detours and a few too many misadventures shared with his overbearing travel companion, Del Griffith.
Per the Rotten Tomatoes synopsis: “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.”
Legacy of a Comedy Classic
Released during John Hughes’ creative peak, Planes, Trains and Automobiles represented a shift from his trademark teen comedies toward more mature, heartfelt storytelling. The film remains a defining example of his ability to blend chaos with compassion, humor with humanity.
Author’s Summary
A timeless Thanksgiving comedy, Planes, Trains and Automobiles returns to streaming on Paramount+, reminding audiences why John Hughes' heartfelt humor still resonates decades later.