A rom-com gem that many claim tops even Love Actually is set to warm hearts on TV tonight, December 1.
The Holiday, featuring Jude Law alongside a stellar cast, is slated for a Channel 5 broadcast at 5:25 pm, providing perfect Sunday evening entertainment.
First hitting screens in 2006, the narrative centres around two women from different sides of the Atlantic, each reeling from romantic woes, who elect to swap homes for the festive period.
Embracing the spirit of Christmas, they seek rejuvenating escapes, but as fate would have it, romance blossoms. Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet shine as the film’s protagonists stumbling upon unexpected love.
Crafted by celebrated filmmaker Nancy Meyers with credits including The Parent Trap and Something’s Gotta Give her talent is evident despite The Holiday initially leaving critics unenthused. Peter Bradshaw offered a scathing one-star critique in The Guardian, while BBC’s Stella Papamichael opted for a slightly kinder two stars, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Fan adoration has outlived lukewarm reviews, cementing The Holiday as a seasonal classic nearly two decades on.
Recently, online platforms have buzzed with viewers heaping praise on the festive favourite, with one devotee declaring on X, previously known as Twitter: “I watch The Holiday every year, as do many others, and while I adore Love Actually, I consider The Holiday to be superior.”
On Rotten Tomatoes, one viewer remarked: “While it definitely follows the formula of Christmas rom-coms to the letter, Nancy Meyers’ The Holiday is elevated by its star-studded cast, charming performances, lovely cinematography, festive spirit and relatable central message.”
Another cinema fan shared: “Despite critic reviews this is a must-see, feel-good, Holiday movie. As the years pass this movie ages like a fine wine.”
A third enthusiast gushed: “Easily one of my absolute all-time FAVOURITE movies!!!!”
During an appearance on BBC Radio 2’s The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show, Law dropped a bombshell about the film.
The actor, aged 51, answered the question of whether the film’s iconic cottage can be found on Airbnb with a surprising revelation: “That cottage doesn’t exist.”
The Holiday airs today on Channel 5 at 5:25pm