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

12/28/2010

1/5

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

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

03/05/2007

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

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David Germain

Associated Press

03/05/2007

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.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

2d

1.5/4

In 2003, moviegoers received a gift in the form of Bad Santa; the following year, they got a lump of coal in the shape of a Bad Movie.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

12/31/2021

2.5/4

...erratic yet mostly watchable...

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Eddie Harrison

The List

04/23/2019

1/5

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

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Paul D.

@pldrcy 1d

Fun, funny, and some heartwarming moments.

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guglielmo d

2d

Great alternative movie, weird and funny. Missing Jimmy every time I see this one. It's an oldie by now but still great. I don't get the bad ratings at all!

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mark g

@Mark_Alan_G. 2d

I love James Gandolfini, one of my favorites. But, oh boy, is this a nightmare. Of course, hardly his fault, no script or story at all here. Couple this with a completely miscast Ben Affleck, who tries too hard and fails miserably, bad casting. Is it unwatchable, no, because there is talent assembled, but they are wasted in a poorly planned film.

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Jeff P

Nov 28

Surviving Christmas more like best Christmas movie ever

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Karen M

Nov 28

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.

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Tiffany C

Nov 24

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!

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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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