The holidays are here and what is usually a time for family, food, fun can quickly turn into utter chaos. This week’s watchlist highlights the awkward reunions, over-the-top decorations, and even unexpected guests that erupts from spending the season with loved ones.
Whether it’s a disastrous mission to get home for Thanksgiving in Planes, Trains and Automobiles, loneliness and found family in The Holdovers, a chaotic family reunion in This Christmas, or a magical competition in Candy Cane Lane, each of these films reminds us that no holiday is perfect – but it can still be unforgettable. Packed with eccentric relatives, clashing personalities, and moments of sweet and tender connection, these movies blend comedy and drama in just the right proportions. They really prove that, no matter how messy or crazy the holidays get, the bonds of family, friends, and even strangers – remain at the heart of the celebration.
The Holdovers
A grumpy boarding school teacher is forced to stay on campus over Christmas break to supervise the “holdover” students with nowhere else to go. Among them is Angus Tully, a teen dealing with familial turmoil, and Mary Lamb, the school’s head cook who recently lost her son. The unlikely trio spend the holiday together as their loneliness and guardedness slowly give way to understanding and a sense of found family.
Director: Alexander Payne / Starring: Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa
Friendsgiving
Molly and Abbey are two best friends hoping for a quiet, low-key Thanksgiving after a year of personal upheaval. Their plans unravel when an assortment of friends, strangers, exes, and unexpected guests descend on Molly’s home, turning the holiday into a chaotic whirlwind.
Director: Nicol Paone / Starring: Malin Åkerman, Kat Dennings, Aisha Tyler
This Christmas
This Christmas follows the Whitfield family as they reunite under one roof for the first time in years, bringing with them secrets, tensions, and long-simmering sibling rivalries. As the holiday unfolds, each family member confronts personal struggles—from relationship turmoil to career crossroads—forcing them to reckon with what truly matters. Despite the chaos, humor, and emotional blow-ups, the Whitfields rediscover their bond and the joy of being together. The film blends comedy, romance, and heartfelt drama into a warm, lively holiday ensemble piece.
Director: Preston A. Whitmore II / Starring: Regina King, Idris Elba, Loretta Devine, Chris Brown, Columbus Short
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Neal Page is an uptight marketing executive desperate to get home to his family for Thanksgiving. His trip is derailed at every turn, forcing him to team up with an overly talkative yet well-meaning salesman. Neal is dragged through a chaotic, cross-country trip of canceled flights, broken-down trains, and roadside misadventures.
Director: John Hughes / Starring: Steve Martin, John Candy
The Family Stone
When Everett Stone brings his girlfriend home for Christmas to meet his family, chaos and several misunderstandings ensue. A simple holiday gathering exposes unspoken resentments and unexpected romantic entanglements into a storm of dysfunction.
Director: Thomas Bezucha / Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Dermot Mulroney, Diane Keaton, Luke Wilson, Rachel McAdams
The Best Man Holiday
A sequel to The Best Man, the group is reunited over Christmas after years apart. What begins as a festive holiday weekend quickly becomes emotionally charged as old rivalries, buried secrets, and unresolved tensions resurface.
Director: Malcolm D. Lee / Starring: Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Sanaa Lathan, Regina Hall
Four Christmases
A happily unmarried couple plans for a tropical holiday getaway, but with their flight cancelled, they are forced to spend Christmas visiting each of their four divorced parents.
Director: Seth Gordon / Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Vince Vaughn
Candy Cane Lane
Chris Carver is a devoted dad determined to win his neighborhood’s annual Christmas home-decorating contest. When he unintentionally makes a deal with a mischievous elf, the competition spirals into chaos. As Christmas Eve fast-approaches, Chris and his family race to undo the elf’s spell before their entire town is turned upside down.
Director: Reginald Hudlin / Starring: Eddie Murphy, Tracee Ellis Ross
