The Holdovers (2023)
A curmudgeonly instructor, a troubled student, and a grieving cook find heartwarming connection during a snowy Christmas break.
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.
How intense is The Holdovers?
The Holdovers has no gore and no real violence. Emotionally it is heavy. The pace is measured, and it is a full-attention watch and a comfort watch. The humor runs dry. Rated R.
What The Holdovers feels like
- Tone
- melancholyintimateheartwarmingnostalgicfeel good
- Pace
- Measured
- Humor
- dry and witty
- Best for
- Full attentionComfort watchDate night
Where to stream The Holdovers
US availability via TMDB, last checked Sep 15, 2026. The app filters picks to the services you actually have.
Is The Holdovers for you?
Is The Holdovers scary?
No. The Holdovers is not a scary watch (scare level 0 of 3).
Is The Holdovers gory or violent?
No gore (0 of 3) and no real violence (0 of 3). Squeamish viewers are fine here.
Is The Holdovers sad or heavy?
It is emotionally heavy (2 of 3). Expect it to land.
Is The Holdovers OK for kids?
It is rated R, so it is made for adults. Intensity: scare 0, gore 0, violence 0, each out of 3.
How long is The Holdovers?
The Holdovers runs 2h 13m.
Where can I stream The Holdovers?
The Holdovers is streaming on Peacock and Fandango at Home (free).
Does The Holdovers have a happy ending? spoiler-safe answer
Bittersweet. It earns its ending, but not everyone gets what they want.
Cast and crew
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