How to Watch Friends Thanksgiving Episodes

Could there be a sitcom more closely associated with Thanksgiving than Friends? Yes, other classic network comedies did the occasional Turkey Day episode, but Friends made it an annual rite for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004 on NBC. To paraphrase the wisdom of Joey, Thanksgiving without Friends was like the 4th of July without apple pie—or Friday with no two pizzas.

If you find yourself with five hours to kill this season, you can binge-watch all 10 Friends Thanksgiving over the holiday—or any time, because why relegate the pleasure of hanging with Chandler, Monica, Ross, Rachel, Joey, and Phoebe again to just one weekend? Cider’s mulling, turkey’s turking, yams are yamming, let’s go!

How to watch Friends Thanksgiving episodes

All 236 Friends episodes are available to stream on-demand through Max (formerly HBO Max), including 10 centered around Thanksgiving (which we’ll detail in a minute).

You could cross your fingers for a Friends Thanksgiving marathon to pop up on cable channels TBS or Nick at Nite. Or buy individual episodes through Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, or Google Play. But Max is the more convenient—and less pricey—way to go.

Friends Thanksgiving episodes list

“The One Where Underdog Gets Away” (Season 1, Episode 9)

Our first Thanksgiving with the gang—aw! Everyone’s big Turkey Day plans fall through at the last minute, leaving the six new pals with just each other and grilled-cheese sandwiches. Plus a giant escaped Underdog balloon from the Thanksgiving Day parade and Ugly Naked Guy.

“The One With the List” (Season 2, Episode 8)

“The List” refers to a catalog of pros and flaws that Ross makes comparing Rachel to his current girlfriend, which inadvertently falls into Rachel’s none-too-pleased hands. There’s no Thanksgiving dinner in this episode, but there is Monica’s faux-chocolate Mockolate.

“The One With the Football” (Season 3, Episode 9)

While watching Thanksgiving Day football on TV, the gang decides to go outside and play a game of their own. The scrimmage eventually turns into a heated battle between the men and women, with Phoebe continually exposing her breasts to distract the guys (clutch play, Phebes).

“The One With Chandler in a Box” (Season 4, Episode 8)

As punishment for kissing his girlfriend, Joey tells Chandler he has to stay locked in a box for six hours, which Chandler does not take seriously. Meanwhile, Monica’s thankless Thanksgiving dinner prep leaves her with an eyepatch and an awkward smooch with her ex’s son.

“The One With All the Thanksgivings” (Season 5, Episode 8)

This flashback Thanksgiving episode has two enduring Friends visuals: Monica as a self-consciously overweight teen, and Monica wearing a turkey on her head as a (disgusting) proclamation of love for Chandler. Also, Phoebe flashes back to 1862, because why not?

“The One Where Ross Got High” (Season 6, Episode 9)

Monica and Ross’ parents come over for Thanksgiving, but they have a beef with Monica’s boyfriend Chandler, who they think is still a stoner from his college days (the weed actually belonged to Ross). Meanwhile, Rachel tries making dessert, the infamous Friends meat-and-fruit “trifle.”

“The One Where Chandler Doesn’t Like Dogs” (Season 7, Episode 8)

In this Thanksgiving episode, we learn that Ross doesn’t like ice cream, Chandler is deathly afraid of dogs, and Rachel can’t wait to sleep with her office assistant (HR wasn’t a thing in 2000, apparently). There’s also a game to name all 50 states in six minutes with no winners.

“The One With the Rumor” (Season 8, Episode 9)

Monica invites high school friend Will (Brad Pitt) to Thanksgiving with the gang, only to learn that he still hates then-snob Rachel for mocking him back in the day (the joke being that Pitt and Jennifer Aniston were married at the time of filming). Also, Joey eats a whole turkey by himself.

“The One With Rachel’s Other Sister” (Season 9, Episode 8)

Rachel’s estranged sister Amy (Christina Applegate) shows up unannounced on Thanksgiving Day, eventually starting a fight over who should get custody of Rachel’s baby Emma (whom she didn’t even know existed until today). She ends up with Rachel’s Ralph Lauren discount instead.

“The One With the Late Thanksgiving” (Season 10, Episode 8)

As usual, Monica is cajoled into making Thanksgiving dinner for the Friends, but then Rachel and Phoebe are held up by a baby beauty pageant with Emma, and Ross and Joey split for a New York Rangers hockey game. But all’s well by the end of their late (and last) Thanksgiving dinner.