The Definitive Verdict · Tis the Podcast
Is The Holiday (2006) a Christmas Movie?
✅ Yes — It's a Christmas Movie
Yes — The Holiday is a Christmas movie through and through.
The Holiday (2006) is set entirely during the Christmas holiday, built around a house swap that only happens because it's Christmas, and explores themes of new beginnings, love, and joy that are quintessentially Christmas. There is no version of The Holiday that isn't a Christmas movie. Tis the Podcast agrees.
Why The Holiday IS a Christmas Movie
- ✓Set entirely during the Christmas and New Year holiday period — the entire plot is impossible outside of it
- ✓The house swap premise is explicitly motivated by needing to escape for the holidays
- ✓Christmas imagery, music, and atmosphere are present in virtually every scene
- ✓Themes of new love, fresh starts, and unexpected joy mirror the emotional promise of Christmas
- ✓It is one of the most-watched Christmas comfort films in the world
Why The Holiday is NOT a Christmas Movie
- ✗At its core it is a romantic comedy — Christmas is the setting, not the subject
- ✗Some argue any rom-com could be set at Christmas without becoming a 'Christmas movie'
What Tis the Podcast Thinks
The Holiday is a Tis the Podcast crowd-pleaser — warm, romantic, and set squarely in the Christmas season. Anthony, Julia, and Thom rated it, ranked it, and debated its place in the Christmas movie canon. Listen to the full episode for the verdict.
🎧 Listen to Episode 84 — The HolidaySee the full ranking
Where does The Holiday rank on the Tis the Podcast Watch List? →Frequently Asked Questions
- Is The Holiday a Christmas movie?
- Yes. The Holiday (2006) is set entirely during Christmas, its plot is inseparable from the holiday season, and its themes of new love and fresh beginnings are quintessentially Christmas. Tis the Podcast considers it a Christmas movie.
- Where does The Holiday rank on the Tis the Podcast Watch List?
- The Holiday is reviewed and ranked on the Tis the Podcast canonical Christmas movie Watch List. Visit tisthepodcast.com/the-watch-list for the full ranking.