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A Merry Little Ex-Mas

A Merry Little Ex-Mas

Romance · Comedy · 2025

Recently separated, Kate hopes to celebrate one last perfect family Christmas with her soon-to-be ex-husband Everett and their kids before their divorce is final and the house is sold. But her holiday plans are hilariously derailed when Everett unexpectedly brings his younger, successful new girlfriend.

Movie details

A Merry Little Ex-Mas

2025 Romance · Comedy 1h 31m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.0 / 10

Community rating

Recently separated, Kate hopes to celebrate one last perfect family Christmas with her soon-to-be ex-husband Everett and their kids before their divorce is final and the house is sold. But her holiday plans are hilariously derailed when Everett unexpectedly brings his younger, successful new girlfriend.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over A Merry Little Ex-Mas?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Steve Carr

Written by

Holly Hester

Alicia Silverstone

Alicia Silverstone

Kate Holden

Oliver Hudson

Oliver Hudson

Dr. Everett Holden

Jameela Jamil

Jameela Jamil

Tess Wiley

Pierson Fodé

Pierson Fodé

Chet Moore

Wilder Hudson

Wilder Hudson

Gabriel Holden

Emily Hall

Emily Hall

Sienna Holden

Bert Cardozo

Bert Cardozo

August

Court is in session

Put A Merry Little Ex-Mas on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.