12 Alternative Movies We're Sick Of Hearing Are Set At Christmas

6. The Holiday

Although The Holiday is set at Christmas it contains very little of the traditional Christmas messages of family, fellowship and goodwill. Indeed, the core premise of two women choosing to escape the demands of their busy lives for a transatlantic house swap over the Christmas holiday might be seen as decidedly selfish in Christmas films such as Christmas with the Kranks. It's not however and both women find themselves and, rather conveniently, their soulmates as well as a rich cast of supporting characters who, to the film's credit, are never pushed into the background to make room for the romantic leads. One surprising but very successful casting is Jack Black as one of the two leading men who manages through pure charm to be a more plausible love interest than Jude Law's saintly single dad. It's a sweet, witty, family friendly film that you could conceivably watch with your family on Boxing Day. However The Holiday is so unexpectedly charming and funny that it'd be a shame to save it for just once a year.