Happiest Season

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2:22

Happiest Season

PG-13

2020

1h 42m

Holiday

Romance

Comedy

LGBTQ+

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Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

214 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

This romantic comedy is about longtime lesbian couple Abby (Kristen Stewart) and Harper (Mackenzie Davis), who made plans to go home to the latter's family for the Christmas holidays. Aside from spending the yuletide season with Harper's conservative parents, Abby is also planning to spring a marriage proposal on Harper. Trouble begins, though, when she discovers that Harper hasn't come out as a lesbian yet to her family, leaving them clueless as to who Abby really is in her life. Co-written and directed by Clea Duvall. Co-starring Dan Levy, Victor Garber, and Mary Steenburgen.

Critics Consensus

A jolly good time with heartfelt performances and more than enough holiday cheer, all you'll want for Christmas is Happiest Season.

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Paula Akpan

Time Out

Happiest Season is exciting, although perhaps less as a festive romcom than as a sign of things to come: stories that centre queer experiences.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 27, 2022

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Alison Willmore

New York Magazine/Vulture

Proving a conservative format can change is well and good, but there's also something to be said for just leaving it behind.

Feb 21, 2021

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Richard Roeper

Chicago Sun-Times

It's the movie equivalent of one of those specialty caffeinated holiday drinks like a Toasted White Chocolate Mocha or a Chestnut Praline Latte - a guilty pleasure filled with sweetness and warmth, but also an abundance of empty calories.

Rated: 2.5/4

Feb 21, 2021

Full Review

Sarah Vincent

Sarah G Vincent Views

Even if you hate rom coms or find Christmas movies too saccharine, “Happiest Season” may be for you. It is an entertaining, engrossing, glossy film even if the wrong couple ends up together.

Dec 31, 2024

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Francesca Steele

iNews.co.uk

This film feels fresh, because with a sleight of hand, it moves queer romance from its usual home in serious drama to festive romcom.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 10, 2024

Full Review

Dave Giannini

InSession Film

Happiest Season delivers everything you should expect. It is romantic, awkward, full of beautiful people, and offers several moments that are genuinely funny enough to make the audience more than chuckle.

Feb 20, 2024

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ali P

Just another typical Christmas romance & family movie with a “lesbian” take. Plot is not great and story is not “heartfelt” at all… and a mean family will have their characters changed overnight? Adult siblings fighting for attention like that? The only touching part is what Daniel Levy said to Kristin Stewart out in the cold after the maniac family scene.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

12/27/24

Full Review

Sofie F

One of the better christmas movies on Netflix. Of course there is the typical trope of hiding a secret at christmas to your family and in real life it would be a red flag if your gf doesn't even admit she is your gf, so you should run and never look back, but this isn't the real world, but a christmas movie world, where even the worst of peopIe get it at the end and everything is good. Jane's character is really funny, by the way.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/26/24

Full Review

Tyler C

I truly believe that I havent seen a worse movie in my life. Dumbass plot, toxic relationships, and embarrassing dialogue.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/24/24

Full Review

Audience Member

horroriest season. can't believe such toxic family still existed in 2020. please give us lesbians a real Xmas movie!!!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/23/24

Full Review

Karla S

It is a refreshing holiday movie: funny and heartwarming

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/20/24

Full Review

Al J

A woman bring another woman to visit her parents in Christmas, and they don't suspect she is a lesbian? For real? "Don't underestimate the power of denial" American Beauty.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/15/24

Full Review

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Clea Duvall

Director

Kristen Stewart

Abby

Mackenzie Davis

Harper

Mary Steenburgen

Tipper

Victor Garber

Ted

Alison Brie

Sloane

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Happiest Season: Clip - John on Coming out

3:11

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Happiest Season: Featurette - Meet the Cast

3:19

Happiest Season: Featurette - Making Of

3:05

Happiest Season: Featurette - Creating A Holiday Rom-Com

3:02

Happiest Season: Trailer 1

2:22

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Synopsis

This romantic comedy is about longtime lesbian couple Abby (Kristen Stewart) and Harper (Mackenzie Davis), who made plans to go home to the latter's family for the Christmas holidays. Aside from spending the yuletide season with Harper's conservative parents, Abby is also planning to spring a marriage proposal on Harper. Trouble begins, though, when she discovers that Harper hasn't come out as a lesbian yet to her family, leaving them clueless as to who Abby really is in her life. Co-written and directed by Clea Duvall. Co-starring Dan Levy, Victor Garber, and Mary Steenburgen.

Director: Clea Duvall
Producer: Marty Bowen, Isaac Klausner
Screenwriter: Clea Duvall, Mary Holland
Production Co: Hulu Originals, TriStar Pictures, Temple Hill Entertainment, eOne, Entertainment One
Rating: PG-13 (Some Language)
Genre: Holiday, Romance, Comedy, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2020
Runtime: 1h 42m