The Holdovers
Directed by Alexander PayneIn 1970, a curmudgeonly history teacher at a New England boarding school remains on campus during Christmas break to supervise held over students, and ends up forming an unlikely bond with a brainy but damaged troublemaker.
Where to Watch The Holdovers
Cast of The Holdovers
The Holdovers Ratings & Reviews
- Kevin WardJuly 2, 2025Holds up on rewatch, which confirms I’ll probably rewatch this every Christmas. Is it weird that watching Giamatti throw a football makes my toes curl?
- VarunOctober 19, 2024Wow what a wonderful heartwarming movie. The characters were so well written and the actors did an amazing job. Most movies these days feel so scripted that they make characters unconvincing and break immersion, however this film had very organic dialogues and flowed at a pleasant natural pace. The song selection was fantastic, I found myself having to use Shazam multiple times. I liked the choice of aspect ratio and added film grain as well. I very much enjoy History buffs dropping cool quotes at opportune moments. The Holdovers reminds me of one of my favourite movies Green Book (2018) because I love films with a tiny cast that explores the depth of each character as they go on a bunch of mini adventures. We all need more down to earth feel good movies!
- RyezooFebruary 4, 2025Cozy, funny, and heartfelt. Loved the 70s aesthetic and the acting was top-notch.
- Mister ArnMay 16, 2025"The Holdovers" is a thoughtfully made film that delves into the lives of individuals isolated during Christmas. As these characters form deeper bonds, they, too, evolve. While the movie strikes a balance between being moving and sad, it's not something I'd revisit. However, it certainly merits a one-time viewing for its heartfelt storytelling.
- Charles LondonFebruary 1, 2025A holiday flick of a different sort, this entertaining film features great character development and top-notch acting. Compelling on a human level plus charming and funny, this movie will undoubtedly make its way onto my annual Christmas watch list.
- Desmond DaleJanuary 24, 2025Has an old school ethos to it. It's sad, it's dark and it's funny but never feels melodramatic or over the top. The dialogue is super tight and everything feels grounded in our harsh reality, which serves as the perfect catalyst for its heartfelt conclusion to really tug on emotive strings.
- Daryl WilliamsDecember 27, 2024Fantastic, looked wonderful, amazing writing and acting
- rg9400November 1, 2024It's a very simple, subdued holiday movie of yesteryear, with the frosty wintry landscape lit aglow with a warmth that suffuses the entire movie. And this beautiful color grading is reflective of the themes of the movie as well, with these frigid characters learning to open up. There isn't a complex overarching plot, everything is simple and maybe even predictable. But it never feels trite or tiresome, rather more like a warm hug. The further I get from it, the higher it jumps in my rankings. Simply put, it feels like an instant classic, the type of holiday movie you can watch year after year. And the acting is excellent, both from Paul Giamatti but especially from newcomer Dominic Sessa and Da’Vine Joy Randolph. Highly recommend.
