Overview
A grumpy teacher finds unexpected connections during a lonely holiday season.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- melancholic
- warm
- christmas viewing
- winter weekend
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a richly acted, emotionally resonant period dramedy with an enveloping sense of place, while some found its compassion overly schematic and its historical context too narrowly drawn.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Paul Hunham, Angus Tully, and Mary Lamb form an improvised household during the Christmas break despite their initial hostility and grief.
The New England boarding school, holiday routines, clothing, institutional traditions, and period atmosphere establish a strongly realized 1970 setting.
The film pairs Paul Hunham's insults and rigid manner with Christmas warmth, grief, and gradually revealed compassion.
The curmudgeonly history teacher's supervision of Angus develops into an unlikely bond with the damaged student.
Films like The Holdovers, and why
It's a Wonderful Life
Shared Christmas setting, troubled characters, humane emotional arc, and balance of comedy with melancholy.
Harold and Maude
Shared curmudgeonly mentor figure, unconventional companionship, dark humor, and bittersweet character study.
The Last Detail
Shared male bonding, institutional setting, dry humor, and emotionally guarded characters confronting disappointment.
The Apartment
Shared warm holiday atmosphere, ensemble intimacy, and redemptive drama centered on fractured lives.
Movie Details
- Director
- Alexander Payne
- Release Date
- 2023-10-27
- Runtime
- 133 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (2531)
Cast
- Paul Giamatti
- Dominic Sessa
- Da'Vine Joy Randolph
- Carrie Preston
- Brady Hepner
- Ian Dolley
- Jim Kaplan
- Michael Provost
- Andrew Garman
- Naheem Garcia
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Holdovers about?
- During a lonely 1970 Christmas break, an abrasive teacher, a stranded student, and a grieving cook discover unexpected solidarity at a New England boarding school.
- What is The Holdovers like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Holdovers as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Holdovers violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Holdovers.
- What did critics think of The Holdovers?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a richly acted, emotionally resonant period dramedy with an enveloping sense of place, while some found its compassion overly schematic and its historical context too narrowly drawn.
- Which films are like The Holdovers?
- Films with a similar feel include It's a Wonderful Life, Harold and Maude, The Last Detail, and The Apartment.
- How long is The Holdovers?
- The Holdovers runs 133 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Holdovers?
- In United States, The Holdovers is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling, Spectrum On Demand.
