Surviving Christmas

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2:15

Surviving Christmas

PG-13

2004

1h 30m

Holiday

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

8%

Tomatometer

111 Reviews

31%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

A wealthy executive, Drew Latham (Ben Affleck) has no close relationships and becomes nostalgic for his childhood home as Christmas approaches. When he visits the house and finds another family living there, he offers the residents, Tom Valco (James Gandolfini) and his wife, Christine (Catherine O'Hara), a large sum of money to pretend they are his parents. Soon Drew tests the couple's patience, and, when their daughter, Alicia (Christina Applegate), arrives, things get increasingly tense.

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Critics Consensus

Surviving Christmas is unpleasant characters attacking each other for 90 minutes before delivering a typical, hollow anti-consumerist message

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

You'll be lucky if you survive this dumb movie.

Rated: 1/5

Dec 28, 2010

Full Review

J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Pique on earth and ill will toward men permeate this mirthless comedy.

Mar 5, 2007

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David Germain

Associated Press

The movie is dead from the outset given the artificiality of the premise about a lonely rich guy who hires the folks living in his boyhood home to be his family for the holidays.

Mar 5, 2007

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...erratic yet mostly watchable...

Rated: 2.5/4

Dec 31, 2021

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Eddie Harrison

The List

Tasteless, miserable and utterly flaccid, Surviving Christmas truly lives up to its reputation as the last turkey in the shop.

Rated: 1/5

Apr 23, 2019

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Joshua Starnes

ComingSoon.net

Surviving Christmas is a mediocre ninety-minute sit-com; if you're looking for wit and humor, stay away.

Rated: 5/10

Mar 30, 2011

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Jeff P

Surviving Christmas more like best Christmas movie ever

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/28/25

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Karen M

This movie is sweet. The family that Ben Affleck pays to be his family is a typical dysfunctional family, but they have heart. It’s one of the best silly Christmas movies and that’s what it is. Nothing deep, just entertaining to watch Ben Affleck annoy James Gandolfini and the rest of the family until he grows on this.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/28/25

Full Review

Tiffany C

I can’t believe this film has been out for over a decade and I'm just now hearing about it! It was such a joy to watch even my 12 year old who can’t be bothered to hardly crack a smile these days had a few giggles, and sat through the whole thing without getting bored. Definitely adding to my yearly rotation!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/24/25

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Jayne R

I honestly don't know why this film has such low scores. Ben Affleck is great in this film (perhaps because he's depressed so it wasn't really acting) and the rest of the cast were perfect. If you love the Christmas film Just Friends you will really like this one too. Catherine O'Hara is great in it as is James Gandolfini. I dont want to talk about the plot because I think it's quite original. It ends, as every Christmas film should, with some nice sentiment. Ignore the reviews and give it a chance it will make you laugh.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/16/25

Full Review

Stephen C

Funny in 1 hour, 30 minutes, and 45 seconds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG-13 for Language, Brief Drug References and Sexual Content!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring Ben Affleck and James Gandolfini!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/15/25

Full Review

Ed R

A fun twist to the Holiday spirit with a good hearted ending.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/10/25

Full Review

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Mike Mitchell

Director

Ben Affleck

Drew Latham

James Gandolfini

Tom Valco

Christina Applegate

Alicia Valco

Catherine O'Hara

Christine Valco

Josh Zuckerman

Brian Valco

Surviving Christmas: Official Clip - Who Are You Renting For New Year's?

1:57

Surviving Christmas: Official Clip - Worst Christmas Ever

2:10

Surviving Christmas: Official Clip - Role Playing

2:11

Surviving Christmas: Official Clip - A Lifetime of Lonely Christmases

2:04

Surviving Christmas: Official Clip - There Was No Real Family

2:11

Surviving Christmas: Official Clip - Fiji Time

2:13

Surviving Christmas: Official Clip - Contractually Obliged

2:05

Surviving Christmas: Official Clip - Burning My Grievances

2:10

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Surviving Christmas: Trailer 1

2:15

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Synopsis

A wealthy executive, Drew Latham (Ben Affleck) has no close relationships and becomes nostalgic for his childhood home as Christmas approaches. When he visits the house and finds another family living there, he offers the residents, Tom Valco (James Gandolfini) and his wife, Christine (Catherine O'Hara), a large sum of money to pretend they are his parents. Soon Drew tests the couple's patience, and, when their daughter, Alicia (Christina Applegate), arrives, things get increasingly tense.

Director: Mike Mitchell
Producer: Betty Thomas, Jenno Topping
Screenwriter: Deborah Kaplan, Harry Elfont
Distributor: DreamWorks SKG
Production Co: DreamWorks SKG
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Brief Drug References|Sexual Content)
Genre: Holiday, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 22, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 26, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $11.2M
Runtime: 1h 30m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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