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

The film that Roger Ebert called essential Thanksgiving viewing is back on streaming. John Hughes’ classic buddy comedy Planes, Trains and Automobiles has found a new home on Paramount+, offering audiences another chance to enjoy one of the sharpest comedies ever made.

Starring John Candy and Steve Martin, this holiday favorite joins other new arrivals on the platform such as Catch Me If You Can, Saturday Night Fever, and Hughes’ own Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

A Story of Chaos and Connection

The movie follows Neal Page, a businessman desperate to get home to his family in Chicago for Thanksgiving. His trip unravels quickly due to a snowstorm and a series of mishaps, made even more frustrating by the presence of Del Griffith, an overly chatty salesman who becomes his unwanted travel companion.

“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 Shift in John Hughes’ Career

Released at the height of Hughes’ creative career, Planes, Trains and Automobiles represented a notable departure from his iconic teen-focused dramas, highlighting instead adult friendship, frustration, and empathy set against the backdrop of chaotic holiday travel.

Author’s Summary: A beloved John Hughes comedy about mismatched travelers finds new life on Paramount+ just in time for Thanksgiving, reaffirming its timeless humor and heart.

MovieWeb — 2025-11-02