“The Holdovers” just replaced “It’s a Wonderful Life” as my favorite Christmas movie — and you can stream it now on Prime Video

For as long as I can remember, 1946’s It’s a Wonderful Life has been my favorite Christmas movie.

Yes, it’s the most cliched choice possible, but Frank Capra’s heartwarming film about a man named George Bailey (played with effortless charm by the great James Stewart) who is shown what life would be like if he had never existed, hits all the notes you could want from a holiday film. And its audience-pleasing ending will lift your spirit and feed your soul.

But after more than a decade of annual observations, I think I could I found a movie that can replace it (or at least match it): The Holdovers. This 2023 film revolves around the relationship between a quirky professor (Paul Giamatti) and a rebellious student (Dominic Sessa) as they are both forced to stay on campus during the holidays. Keeping them company is the school’s cook (Da’Vine Joy Randolph, who won an Oscar for her work), who is struggling with grief after the death of her son during the Vietnam War.

The film received critical acclaim from the start. “The Holdovers” scores 97% Rotten tomatoes (92% of viewers rated it on the review site) and was nominated for a number of awards back in March, including Best Picture and Best Actor (for Giamatti) at the Oscars. Don’t worry if you missed the Alexander Payne flick in theaters last year, it’s now available on Prime Video in the US, and none of the magic has been lost over the last 12 months, and for those who saw it back then: it holds up when you watch it again.

Why “The Holdovers” is my new favorite Christmas movie

THE HOLDOVERS – Official Trailer (HD) – In select theaters October 27th, everywhere November 10th – YouTube

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You may be wondering why The Holdovers only replaced It’s a Wonderful Life as my favorite Christmas movie in December 2024, even though it was released so many months ago. After all, it’s not like me Only I also saw the film for the first time. I was there the first day it came out in theaters. But here’s the catch: the film wasn’t released in cinemas in the UK (where I live) until January 2024.

This meant that the holiday season was already over by the time I was finally able to see the film for myself. And as much as I still loved it back then, there’s no denying that Christmas movies don’t fare in the same way out of season. When I re-watched The Holdovers last weekend for the first time since then, with fairy lights and candles illuminating my living room, it almost felt like I was watching it again for the first time. With the atmosphere Payne intended.

Like “It’s a Wonderful Life,” the characters make “The Holdovers” phenomenal. Paul Hunham (Giamatti) starts the film as the teacher that all the students hate (and therefore you as a viewer), but by the end he is one of the most likable characters in any film ever, and the same goes for Angus Tully (Sessa) . At first glance he seems to be a hothead and an arrogant slacker, but as we peel back the layers it becomes clear: we meet a sympathetic and hurting young man who is struggling to find his way, and Mary Lamb (Randolph).. .well, she’s extremely likeable from the start.

Da'Vine Joy Randolph as Mary Lamb in The Holdovers

(Image credit: BFA / Alamy Stock Photo / Focus Features)

As this trio spends an unconventional Christmas together and finds unexpected things in common, your heart will be warmed. And while there is a great element of melancholy in The Holdovers, it also shows humanity’s capacity for compassion and generosity. Much like It’s a Wonderful Life, it covers everything you could want in a Christmas movie.

It’s difficult to pick a clear favorite between It’s a Wonderful Life and The Holdovers. At the moment I’m leaning towards the former (but I don’t have an annual re-release of the Capra classic this year yet). Either way, I’m confident that I’ll be re-watching both films every Christmas season for years to come.

“The Leftovers” And “It’s a wonderful life” can now be streamed on Prime Video.

“The Holdovers” just replaced “It’s a Wonderful Life” as my favorite Christmas movie — and you can stream it now on Prime Video

ByAmelia Journalton

By Amelia Journalton

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