We may earn a commission from links on this page.

Black Friday sales probably have you deep in your Christmas shopping already, but don’t forget we’ve got another holiday to get through first. And while nothing gets you in the mood for the holidays like a good Christmas movie, there are a host (no pun intended) of Thanksgiving movies too.

Now, there are plenty of films with Thanksgiving vibes (family gatherings and cozy fall colors), but you have to dig a bit deeper if you want that holiday specificity. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles gets mentioned overwhelmingly when people are asked about their favorite Turkey Day movie, in part because it’s a legitimately good, but also because it’s one of the few that people remember, but it’s far from the only one. Here are 20 to stream while you’re cooking, eating, or settling into a food coma this year.

---

What’s Cooking? (2000)

While movies and TV often portray a sameness in traditions, every culture, subculture, and family that celebrates brings its own sets of traditions and baggage to the holiday. What’s Cooking? brings together four ethnically and culturally diverse families (Latino, Vietnamese, Jewish, and African American…with a lesbian couple in the mix) who celebrate Thanksgiving together, with each contributing different foods (and family dramas) to the proceedings. Mercedes Ruehl, Kyra Sedgwick, Joan Chen, Lainie Kazan, Julianna Margulies, and Alfre Woodard lead the impressive cast. Stream What’s Cooking on Prime Video and Tubi or rent it from Apple TV.

---

Home for the Holidays (1995)

Jodie Foster followed up her 1991 directorial debut Little Man Tate with this all-star holiday get-together. Holly Hunter stars as Claudia Larson, a just-fired single mom coming back to Baltimore to spend Thanksgiving with her family. Because what could be less stressful? Her old friends make her feel insecure about being divorced; her mom’s sister Gladys, in the early stages of dementia, confesses her love for her father; her gay brother drops a turkey on the conservative sister; and a friendly after-dinner wrestling match gets serious. Sounds generally less explosive than my typical family gathering, but still. Robert Downey Jr., Anne Bancroft, Charles Durning, Dylan McDermott, Claire Danes, Austin Pendleton, and David Strathairn also star. Stream Home for the Holidays on Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video and Apple TV.

---

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987)

One of John Hughes’ best movies barely involves teenagers at all, instead serving as a two-hander between Steve Martin and John Candy, a pair of desperately mismatched travelers headed to their respective Thanksgiving gatherings. Only the most fortunate among us have been spared the torments of holiday travel, and Hughes captures those trials, even as the movie reaches more absurd heights as the protagonists near their destinations—with enough well-earned sweetness by the end to lift this one into the holiday pantheon. Stream Planes, Trains, and Automobiles on Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video and Apple TV.

---

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1972)

At only 25 minutes, this holiday special perhaps doesn’t count as a movie, but it packs a lot of holiday spirit into its short runtime. As Charlie and Sally make plans to head off to their grandparents’ for Thanksgiving dinner, Peppermint Patty finds herself adrift, her father out of town. So she goes ahead and invites herself, and the rest of the gang, over to the Brown place—with no dinner planned. Charlie’s determined to do right by his friends, even if he doesn’t know how to make much more than toast. Troubles naturally ensue. But what Thanksgiving prep doesn’t involve drama? Between scenes of Snoopy’s antics are some subtle lessons about managing expectations and finding the real meaning of gathering with friends. Stream A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving on Apple TV+.

---

Addams Family Values (1993)

Say what you like about the Addams family (go ahead! They will not care); they’re one of the most loving and mutually supportive families in pop culture. I’d rather spend Thanksgiving dinner with them than almost any other fictional family (though I might bring my own food). The nod to the holiday here isn’t to a meal, though, but to the national mythology around which the holiday is built. When camp counsellors make the mistake of asking Wednesday and Pugsley to participate in a seasonal play, they turn it into a fiery indigenous revenge fantasy par excellence. Having white kids playing Native Americans doesn’t do much by way of indigenous representation, but at least the movie doesn’t glorify early contact. The Addams’ are definitely screwed up, but they’re doing better than most of us. Rent Addams Family Values from Prime Video and Apple TV.

---

The Ice Storm (1997)

Perhaps not family viewing, precisely—though I’m hardly here to judge yours. Journey back to 1973 in Ang Lee’s Thanksgiving-set classic, as gathering for the annual dinner brings out dark secrets in the lives of two clans in a quiet, picture-perfect suburb. The meal gives way to a key party (ask your grandparents) weekend, which, if it had caught on, might have seen swinging and group sex with the neighbors become as much of a holiday tradition as green bean casserole. Alas. Rent The Ice Storm from Prime Video and Apple TV.

---

Pieces of April (2003)

Katie Holmes stars as the title’s April Burns in this indy dramedy built around an unconventional  Thanksgiving celebration for an extremely dysfunctional family. April lives in a tiny Lower East Side apartment but is nevertheless determined to gather the entire family for dinner—though she’s estranged from her parents and her siblings, her mom Joy (Patricia Clarkson) has breast cancer, and there’s every chance that this will be her last holiday. But April’s best intentions can’t make things go smoothly. Her broken stove is a problem, as is her drug-dealer ex. And her very suburban family members will have to get over their fear of THE CITY. Thankfully, there’s some holiday cheer to be had, even if it’s desperately hard won. Stream Pieces of April on Tubi and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video and Apple TV.

---

Thanksgiving (2023)

Another one that’s probably not for the whole family, this grisly, satirical Thanksgiving-themed slasher from director Eli Roth kicks off with one of those early-morning Black Friday sales that are totally fun, and where nothing could ever possibly go wrong. Taking a cue from real-life events, a crowd lined-up outside of a Wal-Mart-esque big box store gets unruly when they see the owner’s daughter inside early with her friends. A stampede ensues, and it’s so horrific it’s nearly funny; customers and staff are killed with abandon by out-of-control shoppers (though it doesn’t feel that far removed from some of the Black Friday near-tramplings we’ve seen on the news). The following year? A mystery killer seeks holiday-themed revenge. Stream Thanksgiving on Hulu or rent it from Prime Video and Apple TV.

---

Lez Bomb (2018)

A charming, if lesser-known suburban comedy about the very relatable experience of trying to come out at a family gathering, and the ensuing mixed reactions. Jenna Laurenzo writes, directs, and stars as Lauren, who’s all ready to introduce her girlfriend to the family at Thanksgiving…until her male roommate shows up, and everyone auumes he’s her boyfriend. Stream Lez Bomb on Tubi or rent it from Prime Video and Apple TV.

---

For Your Consideration (2006)

What does any Thanksgiving gathering need but more lesbian coming-out drama? This essential Christopher Guest mockumentary follows the production of an arthouse movie initially called Home for Purim, starring Callie Webb (Parker Posey) as a young woman who brings her girlfriend to a holiday dinner during the 1940s. As the absolutely cursed production gains Oscar buzz, the studio takes things in hand, deciding that the setting of a movie called “Home for Purim,” is way too Jewish. Soon, our cast and crew (played by Guest mainstays Catherine O’Hara, Harry Shearer, Michael McKean, Fred Willard, Bob Balaban, Jennifer Coolidge, and Jane Lynch) are promoting “Home for Thanksgiving,” which is the relatively thin thread by which I’ll hang the movie on this list. Watch it now, and then watch it again during Oscar season. Rent For Your Consideration from Prime Video and Apple TV.

---

Mistress America (2015)

In this screwball-style holiday comedy, Greta Gerwig (who also co-wrote the film with director Noah Baumbach) plays Brooke, an unstoppable force who’s some combination of influencer, interior designer, and fitness instructor—and who’s nevertheless barely holding things together. Tracy (Lola Kirke), meanwhile, is a quiet, intense college freshman. Tracy’s mom is about to marry Brooke’s dad. The two women hit it off immediately, but their differences set off a sting of fairly zany happenings that all lead to a funny, poignant, and very New York Thanksgiving dinner. Rent Mistress America from Prime Video and Apple TV.

---

The Humans (2021)

The past is very much present at nearly any family gathering, and that’s the case in this psychological drama, written and directed by Stephen Karam, who also wrote the Tony-winning and Pulitzer-nominated play on which it’s closely based. It begins with a father struggling with 9/11-related trauma at his adult daughter’s apartment, which is too close to ground zero for his comfort (and might also possibly be haunted). Everyone brings traumas and resentments to the holiday table—but the movie is smart and subtle enough to avoid obvious beats and easy answers. Stream The Humans on Tubi or rent it from Prime Video and Apple TV.

---

The House of Yes (1997)

Screwball dark comedy The House of Yes is, perhaps, not terribly representative of any particular American family at Thanksgiving—unless you too have a psychotic sister (Parker Posey) who believes that she’s Jackie Onassis. This is Posey in her wacky indie golden age, starring in a darkly funny seasonal comedy which, OK, includes incest and murder so, you know, maybe don’t watch it with the kids. But as a heightened version of the kinds of wackiness that family members can bring to the dinner table, it rings true. Rent The House of Yes from Prime Video and Apple TV.

---

The Daytrippers (1996)

You could spend an entire afternoon watching classic ‘90s Parker Posey movies—which honestly sounds better than 80% of typical Thanksgiving activities. Here she’s crammed into a Buick with Hope Davis and Live Schreiber as they head out on a day-after-Thanksgiving road trip to track down Davis’ husband and confront him about his cheating ways. Stream The Daytrippers on HBO Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video and Apple TV.

---

The Myth of Fingerprints (1997)

Upper-middle class white family dysfunction was a big topic in the 1990s, and this is a standout example of the form. On one level, it’s another story of a family coming together over the holidays while grappling with resentments and secrets and abusive histories, but it’s a big step up from the typical family drama, unravelling the various relationships with uncommon subtlety and a sense of humor. The entire family is extremely horny, and having various couples under one roof for the holidays makes it very hard for anyone to get any sleep. Blythe Danner, Roy Scheider, Noah Wyle, and Julianne Moore star. Stream The Myth of Fingerprints on Tubi.

---

The Gold Rush (1925)

One of Charlie Chaplin’s most memorable films isn’t exactly full of images of Thanksgiving abundance, though there are reasons for gratitude by the movie’s end. But one of the best remembered scenes (not just in the film, but in all of American cinema) takes place during an extremely unconventional Thanksgiving meal: Chaplin’s Tramp cooks up one of his shoes for himself and Jim (Mack Swain), with whom he’s trapped in a tiny snowbound cabin during the Klondike Gold Rush. Their Thanksgiving repast doesn’t end there, as The Tramp hallucinates a giant chicken, leading to a round of fisticuffs, before a more discernibly tangible bear comes to investigate. It’s a good reminder to appreciate whatever food winds up on your plate, assuming it isn’t also made of laces and leather. Stream The Gold Rush on HBO Max and Prime Video or rent it from Apple TV.

---

Turkey Hollow (2015)

There’s hardly any modern technology at all in the town of Turkey Hollow, making it a great place for recently divorced Ron to take his two kids for the holiday. They’re all off to the home of Ron’s eccentric Aunt Cly (Mary Steenburgen) for some peace and quiet—until teens Tim and Annie get involved in the hunt for the “Howling Hoodoo,” a 10-foot-tall monster of local legend. That leads them into a plot to take over Aunt Clay’s farm, as well as some other delightfully Muppet-y weirdness; produced by the Jim Henson Company, the movie is based on one of his original stories. Definitely a fun family watch. Stream Jim Henson’s Turkey Hollow on Prime Video.

---

Spider-Man (2002)

There’s not a lot of Thanksgiving in the first Sam Raimi Spider-Man film, but this is about it if you’re looking for a super-powered holiday. Here, the festivities occur at a key moment: Aunt May (Rosemary Harris) is having the whole gang over for turkey—Peter (Tobey Maguire) and pals Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) and Harry (James Franco), of course, but also Harry’s dad Norman Osbourne (Willem Dafoe). He’s secretly Spider-villain the Green Goblin, and it’s during this meal that he notices that Peter has some suspicious injuries. The tension grows as the arch-nemeses gradually cotton to each other’s dual identities. And what Thanksgiving dinner isn’t filled with bubbling tension? Stream Spider-Man on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video and Apple TV.

---

The Last Waltz (1978)

There’s much that’s poignant about The Last Waltz, the Martin Scorsese -directed concert film recorded during Thanksgiving 1976. The final performance of the Band feels like the end of a rock ‘n’ roll era, with the generation of musicians who exploded during Woodstock (Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Dr. John, Joni Mitchell, and many others) saying goodbye to what had been in the face of disco, rap, new wave, and pop. But there’s more here than just that sense of encroaching twilight: there are squabbles, there’s real affection, and there’s a lot of booze and more than a few drugs. In other words: not an atypical family Thanksgiving celebration. (The entire audience was given a Thanksgiving dinner before the concert, if that helps to sell you on the holiday connection.) Stream The Last Waltz on Tubi or rent it from Prime Video and Apple TV.

---

My Blue Heaven (1990)

Once again, not a ton of explicit holiday here, but there is a sequence set at the mall during Thanksgiving—and the film is so charmingly goofy that it makes for solidly low-key seasonal viewing. Steve Martin plays Vinnie Antonelli, a mobster sent to live in the San Diego suburbs as part of the witness protection program—”Tod,” as he’s now called, struggles to give up his criminal ways, and doesn’t even try to tone down his larger-than-life personality. This all makes life a bit of a blue hell for FBI agent Barney Coopersmith (Rick Moranis), assigned to keep an eye on Vinnie/Tod (they’re joined by the reliably funny Joan Cusack). Herbert Ross (Steel Magnolias) directs a screenplay from Nora Ephron, and, if it’s not the greatest use of all this assembled talent, it’s still a very fun way to kill 90 minutes. Rent My Blue Heaven from Prime Video and Apple TV.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

Giving the gift of tools for the holidays can be a great way to bring a smile to your favorite DIY enthusiast or home improvement weekend warrior, but quality tools can be expensive. However, you can still give a nice gift to someone who wants to do their own home maintenance or build their own shelves—you just have to know what to look for. Here are some of the best tools you can give for under $100, from someone who personally loves to wield a power drill.

Best cordless tools under $100

Cordless tools can be some of the most expensive for a home tool set because they need batteries and chargers in addition to the tool. Having batteries that work with multiple tools can be a big advantage because then you don’t necessarily need to have a different battery for each tool. Here are a few good deals on quality cordless tools that have battery platforms that work with hundreds of other tools and are durable as well.

• The Ryobi 18-volt driver set is $55.94 at Home Depot right now. The drill comes with a 1.5-amp-hour battery, a charger, and a 30-piece bit set, so it’s a good gift from someone starting a DIY tool kit because it has everything you need to start using it right out of the box. The Ryobi 18-volt battery platform includes over 300 cordless tools, so beginning with this battery set allows you to expand your kit in many directions.

• The Dremel 12-volt cordless multitool starter set is a good gift for a DIYer who is interested in metal smithing, wood carving, or even trimming a dog’s nails, and it’s $99 right now at Home Depot. The cordless feature makes a Dremel more portable, and easier to control because you don’t need to worry about dragging an extension cord around behind you. The starter set comes with a battery, a charger, and a small set of accessories, so it’s a good set as a gift because it’s ready to use right out of the box.

• The Ryobi 18-volt cordless brad nailer is a good gift for someone who is interested in installing trim or making woodworking projects like a birdhouse, and you can get it for $99 right now at Home Depot. It has a depth control and a built-in LED light that makes it more convenient in my experience when you’re working in tight spaces. While battery operated nailers used to be a little underpowered, improvements in battery technology and engineering have made them more functional in the last few years. This is a good gift for someone who already has an 18-volt Ryobi battery set or if you plan to buy batteries separately because it doesn’t come with a battery or a charger.

Best tool sets under $100

Quality hand tools like wrenches and pliers are an essential part of a home DIY set, and you might not even realize how important they are until you’re partway through taking your kitchen sink apart and you realize you don’t have the right wrench. Hand tools are a good gift for a DIYer because in my experience, you can never have too many. Here are a few quality tool sets you can give your favorite DIY home improvement expert for under $100.

• A set of Craftsman slip-joint pliers is a good gift for anyone who does vehicle maintenance, DIY appliance repair, or any DIY projects with mechanical parts, and you can get it on Amazon for $22.48 right now. I’ve used my slipjaw pliers on sink repair and also to fix wheels on rolling chairs. This set comes with one pair of 10-inch and one pair of eight-inch slip-jaw pliers with rubber handle grips for a more comfortable grip.

• The Klein 9-piece screwdriver set is a good quality starter set of drivers and a good gift to give someone interested in any type of DIY, and it’s $66.99 right now on Amazon. Klein screwdrivers are known for their durability, and are a popular choice for construction trades because they’re made with good quality steel and durable components. This set comes with eight flathead and Phillips head drivers in a range of lengths and a magnetizer/demagnetizer tool to allow you to magnetize your screw tip to hold hardware, or demagnetize it for work around sensitive electronic parts.

• The Craftsman 20-piece ratcheting wrench set is a good gift for anyone who works with mechanical parts, nut and bolts, auto-repair, or appliance repair. These wrenches are especially handy because they can fit in a much narrower place than a socket wrench would, so they can be indispensable for fitting into tight spaces. They’re $66.99 on Amazon right now, and the set includes ten SAE and ten metric wrenches in various sizes.

Best bits and accessories under $100

Bits, blades, and accessories for a tool set are sometimes the difference between being able to finish a project or not, but they can be more expensive than you might expect. If you’re shopping for someone with DIY dreams, bits and other accessories are almost always a useful choice because these things tend to be expendable, as they can wear out over time. I’ve never been sad to have extra bits in my tool kit. Here are a few of the best bits and accessories gifts under $100.

• The Bosch 15-piece router bit set is a good gift for a woodworker who likes to shape their own trim with a router. These bits are good quality, and made by one of the most popular router manufacturers around. They can be used for edge-trimming as well as cutting a molding profile or adding a decorative edge to shelves or cabinet doors. You can get this set for $94.99 on Amazon, and it comes with a wrench for swapping out the adapters and a carrying case.

• The Milwaukee 120-piece impact bit set is a good gift for anyone who uses a drill or impact driver for home repair or DIY projects, and it’s $29.88 at Home Depot right now. This set comes with a variety of driver bits as well as some drill bits and an extension bit holder. These bits will work with either an impact driver or a drill, so they’re versatile and interchangeable for convenient use. I like to use this type of bit because they tend to be more shatter resistant when you’re driving fasteners into tough material like the 110-year-old plaster walls in my house.

• The Milwaukee 23-piece impact compatible drill bit set is a good gift for anyone who installs shelving, builds home woodworking projects, or wants to hang storage in their home. It comes with drill bits that are cross compatible with a drill or impact driver in a variety of sizes, and you can get it for $29.97 at Home Depot right now. These bits are stranger than your average drill bit to accommodate the extra force that an impact driver exerts, and I find that they tend to be durable for woodworking projects.

At this late stage in the streaming era, we’re all overwhelmed by more digital subscriptions than we can keep track of, from fitness apps to cloud storage. Still, it certainly feels as though Netflix is one of the subscriptions that people are least likely to ditch—and that’s backed up by the numbers.

Perhaps it’s because Netflix was the first company to really make streaming work, or perhaps it’s the vast catalog of content it’s amassed, or perhaps it’s just because of Stranger Things and Squid Game. Whatever the reason, Netflix’s churn rate is impressively low. Subscribers stick with it.

Certainly it’s always something I’ve long considered a mainstay on my streaming device. But recently, in the midst of reevaluating all of my monthly subs, I decided to save myself some money and actually cancel Netflix. It has gone so well, I’d suggest you do the same.

Here’s what I’ve noticed since my life became Netflix-free—and I have a strong suspicion this might be your experience too. (Full disclosure: I will eventually subscribe again, if only to finish Stranger Things, but there are benefits to quitting, even if only temporarily.)

I didn’t miss it as much as I thought I would

I was quite a heavy Netflix user before I gave it up, and would often cycle through the recommended list of shows and movies in the evening and especially on weekends. I’ve recently binged my way through shows like The Diplomat, Dept Q., Departure, and The Glass Dome. I could always find something to watch on Netflix.

But when I stopped being able to access Netflix, I realized didn’t really miss it all that much. My viewing switched to other streaming services, and free, ad-supported channels in particular. There’s actually more free content out there than you might have realized. I even did some fun rewatches of movies and shows I’d previously purchased on various platforms (because I don’t always want to rent something for the evening).

I’ve also been spending less time streaming video in general—more of my time has been put towards gaming and reading since I ditched my Netflix subscription. I’ve even been to an actual movie theater once or twice (not that you can see anything developed by Netflix on the big screen for the most part).

The prices keep going up

Before I quit Netflix, I was on the most expensive plan: It’s £18.99 a month here in the U.K., and $24.99 a month in the U.S. This gets you the best audio and 4K HDR video quality, spatial audio, four simultaneous streams, and six devices for downloading content. It’s actually one of the most expensive streaming packages there is, and prices keep going up.

After the great password crackdown of 2023, you can’t even share the account with anyone who doesn’t live with you either—at least not unless you pay an extra fee (£4.99 here in the UK, $8.99 in the US). By any measure, that’s a significant chunk of money. If you’re paying for the best plan plus an extra member and decide to take six months off Netflix, you’ll saving yourself more than $200.

There are cheaper plans available of course, if you want to sit through ads and put up with lower-resolution video—but I thought the whole point of paying for streaming was to avoid ads? It’s hard to imagine Netflix ever dropping its prices, so this is a problem that’s likely to get worse over time.

Your account will be preserved for two years

One of the reasons you might be reluctant to cancel Netflix is because you think you’ll lose years’ worth of your viewing history and your personalized recommendations, and have to start again with a blank slate if you decide to sign back up. But in fact, Netflix stores your account information for 24 months—including ratings, game saves, and other account details.

As long as you resubscribe again within a couple of years, you’ll find everything as you left it (though you may need to scan some plot recaps for shows you were halfway through binge watching). This suggests Netflix is keen to leave the option to resubscribe open as long as possible. In my experience, it’ll definitely send you lots of emails about rejoining in the meantime.

I’m going to go back to Netflix someday—there’s just too much stuff on there that I want to watch—but after years and years as a customer, it’s been an interesting experiment to see what life is like without it. Certainly after this, I wouldn’t be worried about taking another Netflix break in the future. When I decide I want to resubscribe, it’ll only take a couple of clicks or taps.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

Black Friday sales officially start Friday, November 28, and run through Cyber Monday, December 1, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it’s over. 

• Follow our live blog to stay up-to-date on the best sales we find.

• Browse our editors’ picks for a curated list of our favorite sales on laptops, fitness tech, appliances, and more.

• Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox.

• Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change. 

---

If there’s a pantheon of digital notebooks, reMarkable has a place of pride. When the company released its reMarkable 2 tablet and stylus in 2020, it was a game changer for its sharp, professional design, innovative features, and especially its smooth, paper-like writing experience. Even years later, folks over in the r/reMarkableTablet subreddit consider it a best-in-class device, even if they’ve since upgraded to the newer reMarkable Paper Pro, which adds a backlight and a color screen.

Either one of these tablets is an excellent choice for anyone looking for an e-ink digital notebook built for creativity: Unlike some competitors, reMarkable tablets don’t run apps or try to replace your iPad. Like a paper notebook, they are designed to eliminate distractions and leave you alone with a blank page, but unlike a paper notebook, the work you do in them can be easily uploaded to the cloud, sent to your co-workers, and otherwise integrated into your workflow.

If you’ve been looking to pick up one of these immensely useful gadgets, now is a good time: Though they rarely go one sale, you can currently pick up either one in a discounted Black Friday bundle that includes a cover and stylus.

reMarkable Essentials Bundle

This bundle includes the reMarkable 2, a folio, and the Marker Plus stylus with eraser. You can choose between a leather folio for $529 on Amazon (down from the usual price of $599) or a cloth-bound folio. If you choose a cloth-bound folio instead, you’ll pay $499—a less impressive $30 discount, but a discount all the same.

reMarkable Paper Pro Bundle

If you want a color screen and a front light, you’ll need the upgraded reMarkable Paper Pro. For the tablet in a bundle with the Marker Plus with eraser and a cloth folio, you’ll pay $729 (down from $779), or you can go with the leather folio option for $749 (down from ($799).

---

Does Amazon have Black Friday deals?

Yes, Amazon has Black Friday sales, but prices aren’t always what they seem. Use a price tracker to make sure you’re getting the best deal, or refer to guides like our live blog that use price trackers for you. And if you have an Amazon Prime membership, make the most of it.

What stores have the best sales on Black Friday?

Nowadays, both large retailers and small businesses compete for Black Friday shoppers, so you can expect practically every store to run sales through Monday, December 1, 2025. The “best” sales depend on your needs, but in general, the biggest discounts tend to come from larger retailers who can afford lower prices: think places like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Home Depot. You can find all the best sales from major retailers on our live blog. 

Are Black Friday deals worth it?

In short, yes, Black Friday still offers discounts that can be rare throughout the rest of the year. If there’s something you want to buy, or you’re shopping for gifts, it’s a good time to look for discounts on what you need, especially tech sales, home improvement supplies, and fitness tech. Of course, if you need to save money, the best way to save is to not buy anything.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

Black Friday sales officially start Friday, November 28, and run through Cyber Monday, December 1, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it’s over. 

• Follow our live blog to stay up-to-date on the best sales we find.

• Browse our editors’ picks for a curated list of our favorite sales on laptops, fitness tech, appliances, and more.

• Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox.

• Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change. 

---

It’s safe to say Black Friday sale season has begun. We’ll be on top of all the early deals as they become available. This month, we’ve already seen deals from Garmin, Google (including Fitbit), and Coros. As of today, Polar, Suunto, Oura, and Whoop have joined in.

To keep an eye on prices yourself, consider using these deal-tracking tools that can alert you as soon as a price drops. They can also show you the history of price changes when you think you’ve found a deal. (Our deals writer Daniel Oropeza, who compiled that list, considers CamelCamelCamel one of the best. My personal favorite is the Keepa browser plugin.)

Oura rings

Oura’s standard titanium-finish rings are $100 to $150 off:

• Black and silver are $249 (normally $349)

• Matte black and brushed silver are $299 (normally $399)

• Gold and rose gold are $349 (normally $499).

Oura’s colored ceramic rings are not on sale (yet?); they’re $499 as usual. The Oura ring 3 is going for less than its original sticker price, but without any special Black Friday deals that I can see; here’s a silver Heritage at $213.57.

Whoop bands

Whoop is the iconic screenless wristband that tracks your workouts and recovery without looking like a watch. All three (secretly four) Whoop subscription tiers are on sale right now:

• Whoop One with the older 4.0 device: $129 (normally $149). This option is only available from Whoop.com.

• Whoop One with a 5.0 device: $179 (normally $199). This option is not available from Whoop.com but can be bought from retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.

• Whoop Peak with a 5.0 device: $199 (normally $239). If you’re confused by all the options, this is the one that makes the most sense for most people.

• Whoop Life with an MG device: $299 (normally $359).

Polar H10 heart rate monitor

Polar’s heart rate chest straps are some of the best in the business, and the H10 is $89.21 right now, down from $104.95. Chest straps are the most accurate way to record your heart rate, and straps like the H10 can pair to just about any phone or fitness watch.

Polar also makes fitness watches of its own, some of which are on sale today. I’ll highlight one that looks like a nice entry level option: the Polar Unite is $136.43, down from $199.99.

Suunto Run sports watch

One of my favorite affordable running watches is on sale: the Suunto Run, which I reviewed here and really enjoyed, is down to $199 right now, normally $249. Several of Suunto’s other watches are also discounted for Black Friday, including the Race S for $279 (normally $349) and the Vertical for $339.15, normally $399.

Pixel Watch 4

The newest version of Google’s Pixel Watch is the 4, which I reviewed here, and it normally sells for prices from $349.99 to $499.99 depending on whether you opt for the larger or smaller size, with cellular connectivity or without. Right now, the wifi-only models are both $50 off, and the LTE models are $100 off. This means you can get an LTE model at the same price you’d normally pay for a wifi model.

• Pixel Watch 4 with wifi, 41 mm: $299.99, normally $349.99

• Pixel Watch 4 with wifi, 45 mm: $349.99, normally $399.99

• Pixel Watch 4 with LTE, 41 mm: $349.99, normally $449.99

• Pixel Watch 4 with LTE, 45 mm: $399.99, normally $499.99

If you’re interested in buying the older model, you’re already in luck. As I write this, the some colors of the Pixel Watch 3 are on sale for $199.99, $100 off the usual price.

Apple Watch Series 11

Last year’s Series 10 watch dropped as low as $329 for Black Friday. This year, the Series 11 is the newest model (see our associate tech editor Michelle Ehrhardt’s take on it here). Here’s what I’m seeing for the early Black Friday prices:

• Apple Watch Series 11, 42 mm with GPS only: $349 (normally $399)

• Apple Watch Series 11, 46 mm with GPS only: $379 (normally $429)

• Apple Watch Series 11, 42 mm with cellular: $449 (normally $499)

• Apple Watch Series 11, 46 mm with cellular: $479 (normally $529)

Coros Pace 3

Coros doesn’t usually participate in big sale events, but the company launched a Pace 4 watch earlier this month, which costs $249 and which performed excellently in my review. That means the Pace 3 gets a price drop. The Pace 3 is now $199 instead of $229.

I like the Pace 3 a lot as a simple but powerful running watch. Another watch to pay attention to is the Pace Pro, a big sister to the 3 and 4 with a larger screen and built-in maps. No other big-name watch gives you maps on a watch at this price point, and the Pace Pro is also dropping in price, to $299, instead of the previous price of $349. Note that Coros seems to be dropping these prices permanently, so this isn’t just a Black Friday deal.

Garmin Forerunner 55

Garmin’s Forerunner 55 is its most basic running watch, which I have mixed feelings about. It’s missing a lot of features that other entry-level Garmin Forerunners, like the 165, have as a matter of course. But it does great at the basic job of tracking your runs, and I’ve always felt that if Garmin could get it closer to $99, I’d sing its praises from the rooftops. It’s never dropped quite that low, though. 

The original sticker price was $199.99, and it’s often sitting somewhere around $169.99. As of today, it’s equaling the lowest price I’ve seen in the past, $149.99. This watch isn’t getting any younger, and I think if Garmin’s smart, it’ll consider a steeper price drop this Black Friday.

Garmin Forerunner 165: $50 off

The Forerunner 165 is Garmin’s most friendly entry-level watch. Our resident marathoner Meredith Dietz loves the 165 Music. Its sibling, the 165 (same thing, just no offline music storage), made my list of the best affordable running watches.

Because it comes in those two versions, you’ll want to pay attention to the differences. The music edition typically costs $50 more. Normally the version without music storage is $249, and the version with is $299. Earlier, I wrote that I’d keep an eye out for another drop to $199.99 like last year’s Black Friday sale. Well, it’s here! The Forerunner 165 is $199.99, and the Forerunner 165 Music is $249.99.

Garmin Forerunner 265 and 965: $150 off

If I’m confusing you with all these model numbers, I have an explainer here that will help you follow along. In any case, the 265 and 965 are still good watches, and I wrote earlier that this year we might be able to expect more than $100 off for those two. It looks like my wish has come true—the 265 is now going for $299.99 ($150 off) and the 965 is $449.99 (also $150 off).

Fitbit Charge 6

The Fitbit Charge 6 is $99.95 right now This device has a sticker price of $159.95, but often sells for a good bit less, and during big sale events it occasionally drops down near $100. That’s where we are right now—I’ve never seen it below this price. The Charge 6 isn’t the best one out there, but it fits the bill of an “I don’t want to think about it” basic tracker. If you just want to track your steps without overthinking which model to get, this is a fine pick.

What stores have the best sales on Black Friday?

Nowadays, both large retailers and small businesses compete for Black Friday shoppers, so you can expect practically every store to run sales through Monday, December 1, 2025. The “best” sales depend on your needs, but in general, the biggest discounts tend to come from larger retailers who can afford lower prices: think places like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Home Depot. You can find all the best sales from major retailers on our live blog. 

Are Black Friday deals worth it?

In short, yes, Black Friday still offers discounts that can be rare throughout the rest of the year. If there’s something you want to buy, or you’re shopping for gifts, it’s a good time to look for discounts on what you need, especially tech sales, home improvement supplies, and fitness tech. Of course, if you need to save money, the best way to save is to not buy anything.

Are Cyber Monday deals better than Black Friday?

Black Friday used to be bigger for major retailers and more expensive tech and appliances, while Cyber Monday was for cheaper tech and gave smaller businesses a chance to compete online. Nowadays, though, distinction is almost meaningless. Every major retailer will offer sales on both days, and the smart move is to know what you want, use price trackers or refer to guides like our live blog that use price trackers for you, and don’t stress over finding the perfect timing.

If you’re in the market for a laptop, you have no shortage of choices. But unless you need something with exceptionally powerful hardware or are operating on a very tight budget, I’m here to end your search right now: You should buy the M4 MacBook Air, especially while it’s on sale for $749 before Black Friday.

Apple’s latest MacBook Air is, without a doubt in my mind, the best laptop for most people—at least for people who don’t need to run Windows. This is an entry-level machine, but it doesn’t feel like it: The laptop comes with Apple’s M4 chip, which was until very recently the company’s newest hardware. (That being said, there is no M5 MacBook Air yet, so this is still the best Air on the market.) Apple’s M-series is excellent: In fact, the M1 MacBook Air is still a great machine five years after its release. You kind of can’t go wrong with any M-series MacBook at this time, though the newer the hardware, the better the performance—a perk to this M4 Air.

But M4 is almost an afterthought for me compared to this machine’s 16GB of RAM. For years, Apple only included 8GB of RAM with its base model machines. That was enough for smaller, simpler tasks, but once you started trying to do too much at once, you ran into problems. 8GB of RAM doesn’t go as far as it used to, so the fact that this machine doubles that memory without impacting the price is a major win. That said, this configuration does come with 256GB of storage, which could pose a problem for anyone who stores large files on their computers.

My favorite thing about the M4, however? The price. When Apple released this machine back in March, I was impressed by how much value one could get for $999. In fact, it convinced me to move on from recommending the M2 MacBook Air, even when the latter was on sale. But despite how new it is, the M4 MacBook Air has also seen discounts this year. Now, ahead of Black Friday, the machine is $250 cheaper at Amazon and Best Buy than at Apple. That’s simply a fantastic deal.

Should you buy an older MacBook for less?

Of course, there are other, cheaper MacBooks out there. You can save another $50 and opt for the M2 MacBook Air, which also has 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. And if you don’t need your machine to be brand-new, you can find refurbished M1 MacBook Airs for under $500. Any of these laptops will work great in 2025, but there are drawbacks: The M1 only has 8GB of RAM and it retains Apple’s older MacBook Air design. The M2 MacBook Air looks identical to its M4 counterpart, but it is three years old. By spending the extra $50 on the newer Air, you may eke another two to three years of software updates out of your machine—not to mention the immediate performance gains from the new chip.