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The Holdovers
?
Gran Via Productions
Miramax Miramax

Not part of a collection.

The Holdovers

Discomfort and joy.

2023 • 133 min • ★ 7.6 (2,655) • Released
Comedy Drama

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.

Original title
The Holdovers
Language
EN
Country
US
Budget
$13,000,000
Revenue
$42,513,270
Reviews & Ratings 6
J

JJ Rosales

Oct 24, 2026 · via TMDB

★ 8.0

Wow. Just wow.  Heard someone describe this as the new Dead Poets Society. Halfway in I highly disagreed, once the credits rolled, I see it.  Paul Giamatti once again is undeniably good. The vocabulary of his insults is something to be envied!  Dominic Sessa: brilliant! I FELT every emotion he was conveying.  This is like having a deep intelligent conversation with a good friend after not seeing other for a long time. The warm, friendly, intellectual, yet emotional nature of this movie is second to none. Also if you’ve ever stayed on campus during a break, the bond is real😂 They nailed that!

r96sk

r96sk

Feb 12, 2025 · via TMDB

★ 9.0

<em>'The Holdovers'</em> is one that I had heard was a great movie and it most certainly is! The performances of Paul Giamatti and Da'Vine Joy Randolph are absolutely stellar. Dominic Sessa (film debut?!) impresses too, even if his character looked older than intended to me (no biggie). A charming movie, no doubt. The story is actually rather simple but is one that makes an impact. It is wonderfully shot, as well. I can fully understand why this received such a high praise, it's totally merited.

N

Neil Hoskins

Feb 23, 2024 · via TMDB

8/10 Excellent. All three main protagonists in top form. Funny and poignant in equal measure. The emotions rang true as I have recently read Richard Beard's "Sad Little Men" about British private schools.

R

rsanek

Feb 16, 2024 · via TMDB

★ 5.0

Never finished it. Really disappointing compared to the hype.

T

tmdb47940942

Feb 12, 2024 · via TMDB

★ 5.0

I didn't care for The Holdovers. It was funny at times, and it was a good film, just not my cup of tea. But because it wasn't my cup of tea, I don't really have much to say about it. So I'll sum up a review that hasn't been written yet. TL;DR The movie was fine, not my favorite, and too slow for my liking. The actors did a great job, and... that's it, I think.

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Jan 28, 2024 · via TMDB

★ 7.0

Anyone remember John Houseman's professor "Kingsfield" in "The Paper Chase" (1973)? Well, that's who Paul Giamatti reminded me of here with his portrayal of the acerbic, no-nonsense, ancient civilisations lecturer "Hunham". It's the last day of term and he hands out examination results that persist at the lower end of the A-F scale! This causes quite a bit of consternation amongst the silver-spooned students who fear their wealthy parents more than him. He agrees to try and mitigate these impending disasters by giving them extra work but that just irritates the B+ student "Tully" (Dominic Sessa) whose intervention doesn't exactly make him any friends! Anyway, serendipity takes her revenge now and this lad's planned Christmas in St. Kitts is kiboshed and he finds himself stuck at school over the holidays with his least favourite school colleague "Kountze" (Brady Hepner) and his teaching nemesis all sleeping in the infirmary! Drawbridges are up and battle lines drawn right from the outset, and are only exacerbated when the other kids are whisked off skiing leaving just the two and their long-suffering cook "Mary" (Da'Vine Joy Randolph) - a lady who also happens to be grieving for her son who has been killed in action before his twentieth birthday. Not the makings for much festivities, but gradually the three begin to bond a little, the ice begins to thaw and - well I suppose the rest isn't really too hard to guess. It's not really the story that makes this work - that's not especially unique. It's the three characterful performances - especially from the young Sessa - peppered with a wonderful selection of perfectly delivered sarcastic humour, temper tantrums, a little slapstick and an increasingly engaging rapport between the two men who must learn to overcome their differences - some serious, some trivial, some completely non-existent - so that maybe, just maybe, they will be able to resume after the New Year on less openly hostile terms. To that end, our trio take a trip to Boston - but will that help? It does rather run out of steam towards the predicable ending but the first forty minutes are genuinely laugh out loud at times. Giamatti and Randolph are naturals with Sessa looking like a man we will see again. Good fun with messages of humanity and reconciliation that are delivered using comedy rather than too much sentiment.

User reviews courtesy of TMDB.

Keywords 23
1970s adoring alcoholism boarding school boston, massachusetts boys' boarding school christmas christmastime cook grief holiday intimate loss of son melancholy mental illness misfit new england sentimental teacher student relationship troubled youth vietnam war winter winter break
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Cast 34
Paul Giamatti

Paul Giamatti

Paul Hunham

Dominic Sessa

Dominic Sessa

Angus Tully

Da'Vine Joy Randolph

Da'Vine Joy Randolph

Mary Lamb

Carrie Preston

Carrie Preston

Miss Lydia Crane

Brady Hepner

Brady Hepner

Teddy Kountze

Ian Dolley

Ian Dolley

Alex Ollerman

Jim Kaplan

Jim Kaplan

Ye-Joon Park

Michael Provost

Michael Provost

Jason Smith

Andrew Garman

Andrew Garman

Dr. Hardy Woodrup

Naheem Garcia

Naheem Garcia

Danny

Stephen Thorne

Stephen Thorne

Thomas Tully

Gillian Vigman

Gillian Vigman

Judy Clotfelter

Tate Donovan

Tate Donovan

Stanley Clotfelter

Darby Lee-Stack

Darby Lee-Stack

Elise

Bill Mootos

Bill Mootos

Mr. Endicott

Dustin Tucker

Dustin Tucker

Mr. Rosensweig

Juanita Pearl

Juanita Pearl

Mary's Sister Peggy

Liz Bishop

Liz Bishop

Office Lady

Cole Tristan Murphy

Cole Tristan Murphy

Toothbrushing Student

Carter Shimp

Carter Shimp

Weed Buyer Harriman

Michael Malvesti

Michael Malvesti

Christmas Tree Guy

Dakota Lustick

Dakota Lustick

Christmas Tree Helper

Melissa McMeekin

Melissa McMeekin

Hooker

Jonathan von Mering

Jonathan von Mering

ER Doctor

Rena Maliszewski

Rena Maliszewski

ER Nurse

Oscar Wahlberg

Oscar Wahlberg

Pinball Player

Dan Aid

Dan Aid

Vietnam Vet Kenneth

Kelly AuCoin

Kelly AuCoin

Hugh Cavanaugh

Colleen Clinton

Colleen Clinton

Mrs. Cavanaugh

David J. Curtis

David J. Curtis

Psychiatric Orderly

Pamela Jayne Morgan

Pamela Jayne Morgan

Waitress

Ian Lyons

Ian Lyons

Miss Crane's Boyfriend

Kevin Fennessy

Kevin Fennessy

Irritated Movie Patron

Bhanu Gopal

Bhanu Gopal

Boston Streeter / Pedestrian (uncredited)

Crew 24
Ryan Warren Smith

Ryan Warren Smith

Production Design

Eigil Bryld

Eigil Bryld

Director of Photography

Justin Sulham

Justin Sulham

Grip

Wendy Chuck

Wendy Chuck

Costume Design

Jennifer Douglas

Jennifer Douglas

Hair Designer

Jennifer Douglas

Jennifer Douglas

Key Hair Stylist

Amy Greene

Amy Greene

Stunt Coordinator

A.J. Paratore

A.J. Paratore

Stunts

Ben Rezendes

Ben Rezendes

Stunts

Corey Hibbert

Corey Hibbert

Stunts

Justice Hedenberg

Justice Hedenberg

Stunts

Alexander Payne

Alexander Payne

Director

Rod Smith

Rod Smith

First Assistant Director

Kevin Tent

Kevin Tent

Editor

Melissa Morris

Melissa Morris

Casting Associate

Thom Zadra

Thom Zadra

Executive Producer

Caroline Blanco

Caroline Blanco

Extras Casting

Bill Block

Bill Block

Producer

David Hemingson

David Hemingson

Producer

Mark Johnson

Mark Johnson

Producer

Josh Cronin

Josh Cronin

Production Coordinator

Mark Orton

Mark Orton

Original Music Composer

Matt Akey

Matt Akey

Visual Effects Producer

David Hemingson

David Hemingson

Writer

Gallery 256
Videos 46
Similar Movies 550
US Release Dates 9

Aug 31, 2023

Telluride Film Festival

Premiere

Oct 27, 2023

New York City, New York / Los Angeles, California

R Theatrical (Limited)

Oct 28, 2023

Austin Film Festival

Premiere

Nov 10, 2023

R Theatrical

Nov 28, 2023

R Digital

Dec 29, 2023

Peacock

R Digital

Jan 2, 2024

Blu-ray / DVD

R Physical

Apr 29, 2024

Prime Video

R Digital

Jun 28, 2025

Starz

R TV

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Hanging By a Thread

Hanging By a Thread

2013

VS
Murder at Carter County Mines

Murder at Carter County Mines

2023

Sign in to vote

Battle your watched movies head-to-head

Community Top Movies

🥇 Evil Dead II

Evil Dead II

1987 · 14 wins

🥈 The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight

2008 · 14 wins

🥉 Halloween

Halloween

1978 · 13 wins

#4 Final Destination

Final Destination

2000 · 12 wins

#5 Halloween II

Halloween II

1981 · 11 wins

Sign in to build your own ranking
0 Points
0/0 Correct
0 Streak

Playing as a guest — sign in to save your score and rank on the leaderboard.

Movie Trivia

Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.

What movie experience do you prefer?

Movie theater — theater popcorn with Icee/soda & maybe nachos 60%
At home — relaxed on your favorite couch or chair with whatever drinks & snacks are in the kitchen 40%
5 votes

What is your favorite movie genre?

Action 50%
Adventure 0%
Animation 0%
Comedy 0%
Crime 0%
Documentary 0%
Drama 0%
Family 0%
Fantasy 0%
History 0%
Horror 50%
Music 0%
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