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Trailer

I'll Be Home for Christmas

1998Movie1 h 26 minPG

ComedyFamily
37
WeakGoodWatch score
IMDb5.6Rotten Tomatoes23%41%

A wholesome, hopeful comedy movie about family and everyday modern life.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Skip it if you want dark or edgy material

Where to watch

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Not for scares, brutality or big ideas.

Movies with

Story

Somewhere between L.A. and N.Y. Jake found the meaning of Christmas.

Estranged from his father, college student Jake is lured home to New York for Christmas with the promise of receiving a classic Porsche as a gift. When the bullying football team dumps him in the desert in a Santa suit, Jake is left without identification or money to help him make the journey. Meanwhile, his girlfriend, Allie, does not know where he is, and accepts a cross-country ride from Jake's rival, Eddie.

Feels like

  • Christmas Comedy
  • Family Road Trip
  • Holiday Spirit
  • Lighthearted Misadventure
  • Wholesome Entertainment
  • Coming Home Story
  • Redemption Arc
  • Feel-Good
  • 90s Nostalgia

Cast

24 of 38

Crew

Directed by
Arlene Sanford
Written by
Michael Allin, Harris Goldberg, Tom Nursall
Produced by
David Hoberman, Tracey Trench
Music by
John Debney

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

November 13, 1998 · 1 h 26 min · PG

Released
November 13, 1998
Runtime
1 h 26 min
Age rating
PG
Genres
Comedy, Family
Original language
English
Made in
Canada, United States
Budget
$30 million
Available in
65 countries

Tropes

Jerkass, Lack of Empathy, Freudian Excuse +9

  • Jerkass
  • Lack of Empathy
  • Freudian Excuse
  • College Is "High School, Part 2"
  • High-School Hustler
  • Jerk with a Heart of Gold
  • Defeat by Modesty
  • National Stereotypes
  • Hurrying Home for the Holidays
  • Keep the Reward
  • Bad Boss
  • MacGuffin

12 of 36 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream I'll Be Home for Christmas?"

Questions about I'll Be Home for Christmas

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream I'll Be Home for Christmas?

Disney+

In the United States, I'll Be Home for Christmas streams on Disney+. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 55 other countries.

Is I'll Be Home for Christmas worth watching?

37
WeakGoodWatch score

Reviews are weak, with a GoodWatch score of 37 (IMDb 5.6 and Rotten Tomatoes 23%). Audiences rate it higher (49 out of 100) than critics (23).

Is I'll Be Home for Christmas okay for kids?

PG

Yes: it's rated PG in the United States, and the viewing guide lists it for kids.

Will I'll Be Home for Christmas make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly situational comedy (8 of 10) and slapstick (6 of 10).

Can I half-watch I'll Be Home for Christmas?

Easy watchDemanding

Yes: it's easy to follow, with complexity at only 3 of 10, and the viewing guide calls it good for background watching.

What tropes does I'll Be Home for Christmas use?

JerkassLack of EmpathyFreudian ExcuseCollege Is "High School, Part 2"High-School HustlerJerk with a Heart of GoldDefeat by ModestyNational StereotypesHurrying Home for the HolidaysKeep the RewardBad BossMacGuffinand 24 more

TV Tropes lists 36 tropes for it, including Jerkass, Lack of Empathy, and Freudian Excuse.