A Modern Holiday Classic Is Leaving Netflix at the Worst Possible Time

A Modern Holiday Classic Is Leaving Netflix at the Worst Possible Time Dominic Sessa in The Holdovers (2023)Image via Focus Features By  Rahul Malhotra Published 39 minutes ago Rahul Malhotra is a Weekend News Writer for Collider. From Francois Ozon to David Fincher, he'll watch anything once.

He has been writing for Collider for over two years, and has covered everything from Marvel to the Oscars, and Marvel at the Oscars. He also writes obsessively about the box office, charting the many hits and misses that are released weekly, and how their commercial performance shapes public perception. In his time at Collider, he has also helped drive diversity by writing stories about the multiple Indian film industries, with a goal to introduce audiences to a whole new world of cinema. 

Swing and a miss > measured victory. Also, #JusticeForHan. (He/Him). Sign in to your Collider account follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

In just a couple of years, director Alexander Payne's The Holdovers has firmly established itself as a modern holiday classic. The comedy drama, tinged with Payne's signature melancholy, follows a curmudgeon teacher at a boarding school who is tasked with minding the handful of students who, for various reasons, won't be going home for the holidays. Destined to become something of a tradition at this time of the year, The Holdovers is curiously leaving Netflix at the worst possible moment. You only have until December 15 to watch the film for the first time, or to complete your annual re-watch in case you haven't already.

The Holdovers was headlined by Paul Giamatti, who previously worked with Payne on the wonderful film Sideways. Giamatti plays the irritable teacher Paul Hunham, while Da'Vine Joy Randolph plays the grieving cafeteria manager, and newcomer Dominic Sessa plays the troubled Angus. The movie marked something of a star-making moment for Sessa, who went on to land a supporting role in the recently released Now You See Me: Now You Don't, and the titular role in a biopic of celebrity chef and television personality Anthony Bourdain. He was also nominated at the BAFTAs, while Randolph ended up winning an Oscar for her supporting performance. The movie itself earned five Academy Award nods, including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.

'The Holdovers' Was Hailed as a Return to Form for Payne

Produced on a reported budget of $13 million, The Holdovers went on to earn $45 million at the worldwide box office, making it a major hit. It continues to hold a near-perfect 97% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the critics' consensus reads, "Beautifully bittersweet, The Holdovers marks a satisfying return to form for director Alexander Payne." Payne was coming off his biggest misfire, the Matt Damon-fronted science-fiction comedy Downsizing, which failed to recover its reported $70 million budget and earned mixed reviews. Before that, he directed the similarly low-key comedy-drama Nebraska, which did well with bothcritics and audiences. Payne broke out with the Reese Witherspoon vehicle Election, which was released in 1999. You can watch The Holdovers on Netflix until December 15, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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The Holdovers

Like Follow Followed R Comedy Drama Holiday Release Date November 10, 2023 Runtime 133 Minutes Director Alexander Payne Writers David Hemingson

Cast

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• Paul Giamatti
• Da'Vine Joy Randolph

A cranky history teacher at a remote prep school is forced to remain on campus over the holidays with a troubled student who has no place to go.

Genres Comedy, Drama, Holiday Powered by Expand Collapse

• Movie News
• The Holdovers
• Paul Giamatti

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