Film · 2023 · R · 2h 13m · Drama, Comedy
The Holdovers
Alexander Payne
Discomfort and joy.
Seen 2 times · Jan 1
Synopsis
A curmudgeonly instructor at a New England prep school is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break to babysit the handful of students with nowhere to go. Eventually, he forms an unlikely bond with one of them — a damaged, brainy troublemaker — and with the school’s head cook, who has just lost a son in Vietnam.
Reception
- Critics
- 97%
- Audience
- 92%
Reviewers saw Alexander Payne's Christmas-break comedy-drama as a strong comeback, built on character and dialogue. Paul Giamatti's prickly teacher won the warmest notices, with Da'Vine Joy Randolph also singled out. The tone is bittersweet, and critics found real emotion under the wit.
Sources: Rotten Tomatoes
Box office
- Budget
- $13M
- Domestic
- $20.4M
- Worldwide
- $48.8M
Source: Box Office Mojo, as of Sep 30
Cast
Da'Vine Joy RandolphMary Lamb
Carrie PrestonMiss Lydia Crane
Brady HepnerTeddy Kountze
Ian DolleyAlex Ollerman
Jim KaplanYe-Joon Park
Crew
David HemingsonWriter
Mark OrtonMusic
Jan 1, 2026Rewatch
Helicopter cameo
Jan 13, 2024
Not once did i stop watching this movie to use the bathroom.
