A Definitive Ranking of All 10FriendsThanksgiving Episodes, Including the One with a Brad Pitt Cameo

Mar. 15, 2025

From top to bottom: David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow on ‘Friends’; Matthew Perry and Courteney Cox on ‘Friends’.Photo:NBCUniversal via Getty; Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett

NBCUniversal via Getty; Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett

When it comes to things that are synonymous withThanksgiving, turkey and football may take the top spots, butFriendsisn’t too far behind.

The show’s annual Thanksgiving episodes are nothing short of iconic — trifle, anyone? — but how do they stack up against one another? It’s a tough call, but we’ve managed to put all 10FriendsThanksgiving episodes in order, ranked from worst to best.

10. Season 7, Episode 8: “The One Where Chandler Doesn’t Like Dogs”

Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow on ‘Friends’.NBCUniversal via Getty

NBCUniversal via Getty

There’s so much about this episode that comes up short. First of all, we find out Chandler (the lateMatthew Perry) hates dogs, which is such a downer. Then, Tag (Eddie Cahill) gets his car stolen. And there’s a continuity error: Ross (David Schwimmer) says he hates ice cream, but anyFriendsfan could tell you that he ate it on a date with Elizabeth the season before.

It’s still aFriendsThanksgiving, but if you’re going to skip an episode in your marathon, make it this one. Thankfully, the season more than made up for the lack of holiday cheer in this episode a few weeks later, with “The One with the Holiday Armadillo.”

9. Season 2, Episode 8: “The One with the List”

Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox and Jennifer Aniston on ‘Friends’.NBCUniversal via Getty

Part of the reason this one lands so low on the list is that it barely feels like a Thanksgiving episode at all. The holiday gets a couple of mentions, but that’s it. But it is a pivotal episode in theRoss and Rachel romantic saga, which keeps it from being in last place. In it, Ross writes the ill-advised list comparing Julie (Lauren Tom) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston); Rachel and Ross briefly get together; and then the two fight and end things for the first of what is soon to be many times to come.

8. Season 10, Episode 8: “The One with the Late Thanksgiving”

From left to right: David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry and Jennifer Aniston on ‘Friends’.Warner Bros./Everett

There’s just too much tension in this one! First off, Monica (Courteney Cox) says she doesn’t want to host Thanksgiving. What kind of blasphemy is that? Then no one shows up and everyone gets in a fight. However, this episode redeems itself with the announcement that Monica and Chandler are going to be parents, one of the most heartwarming, thankful-for moments on the entire series.

7. Season 4, Episode 8: “The One with Chandler in a Box”

From left to right: Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry and Jennifer Aniston on ‘Friends’.NBCUniversal via Getty

It’s never fun when Joey (Matt LeBlanc) and Chandler are fighting, which is a big part of the reason why this Thanksgiving episode is such a downer. Chandler spends the bulk of it in a box to try and show Joey how sorry he is for kissing Kathy (Paget Brewster), his girlfriend (all ultimately ends happily for Chandler, Joey and Kathy).

6. Season 9, Episode 8: “The One with Rachel’s Other Sister”

Courteney Cox, Christina Applegate and Matt LeBlanc on ‘Friends’.Danny Feld/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty

We don’t meet any of Rachel’s sisters until season 6, and it takes nearly 10 years for us to meet Amy (Christina Applegate, who won anEmmyfor her guest performance), the ultra-self-involved sister with a sorely missing moral compass.

5. Season 3, Episode 9: “The One with the Football”

From left to right: David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, Lisa Kudrow and Jennifer Aniston on ‘Friends’.NBCUniversal via Getty

4. Season 1, Episode 9: “The One Where Underdog Gets Away”

Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox on ‘Friends’.NBC

NBC

The first-everFriendsThanksgiving episode earns a spot near the top of the list in part because it’s the first, setting the precedent for great episodes to come. Though it’s not such a great Thanksgiving for Rachel, who misses her flight to Vail despite the gang contributing to buy her ticket, their show of friendship makes us feel all gooey inside, just as Thanksgiving should. But perhaps the best part of the episode has nothing to do with Thanksgiving at all: Joey’s face gets put on a poster for VD awareness.

3. Season 5, Episode 8: “The One with All the Thanksgivings”

Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer and Courteney Cox on ‘Friends’.NBCUniversal via Getty

ManyFriendsflashback episodes are missable — we’re talking about the ones where 90 percent of the screen time is filled with clips from previous episodes. But the ones that show us the friends' lives beforeFriendscan’t be missed. In this one, we learn just what led Monica to lose weight (Chandler calling her fat), why Monica “accidentally” dropped a knife on Chandler’s foot and what Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) was doing on Thanksgiving in a past life.

2. Season 8, Episode 9: “The One with the Rumor”

Clockwise from left: Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, Lisa Kudrow, Brad Pitt and David Schwimmer on ‘Friends’.Danny Feld/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty

1. Season 6, Episode 9: “The One Where Ross Got High”

Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer on ‘Friends’.NBCUniversal via Getty

There’s just so much to love about this episode. First, Jack (Elliott Gould) and Judy Geller (Christina Pickles) are there. Second, Chandler spends the episode trying to convince Monica’s parents to like him. Third, Phoebe has a romantic dream about Jacques Cousteau. Fourth, Joey and Ross keep trying to leave to go hang out with Joey’s roommate, Janine (Elle Macpherson), and her dancer friends. Fifth,Rachel makes half an English trifle and half a Shepherd’s pie, giving us the line “Custard? Good. Jam? Good. Beef? Good.” Thanks, Rachel.

source: people.com