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

The classic John Hughes film Planes, Trains and Automobiles, often hailed as a Thanksgiving essential by critic Roger Ebert, has returned to streaming. This beloved buddy comedy, starring Steve Martin and John Candy, is now available on Paramount+, inviting viewers to revisit one of the funniest travel misadventures ever filmed.

The movie joins a lineup of new arrivals on the platform, including Catch Me If You Can, Saturday Night Fever, and Hughes’ own Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Released during Hughes’ creative peak, the film marked a shift from his signature teen stories toward a more mature, heartfelt comedic narrative.

Synopsis

Planes, Trains and Automobiles follows Neal Page, a tense advertising executive desperate to get home to Chicago in time for Thanksgiving. His simple trip quickly collapses into chaos due to a snowstorm and an overly chatty shower curtain salesman, Del Griffith, who becomes his unwelcome travel partner.

“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

This 1987 gem remains a standout in Hughes’ filmography, delivering both laughter and heartfelt moments that perfectly capture the chaos and warmth of the holiday season.

Author’s Summary

A timeless Thanksgiving road comedy, Planes, Trains and Automobiles returns to streaming, offering viewers a hilarious and touching reminder of patience, friendship, and holiday spirit.

MovieWeb — 2025-11-02