A Merry Little Ex-Mas

A Merry Little Ex-Mas

Year: 2025

Runtime: 1 h 29 m

Language: english

Director: Steve Carr

Echo Score: 44

Recently divorced Kate (Alicia Silverstone) is determined to stage one final, flawless family holiday before she sells the home she cherishes. Her plans go off the rails when ex‑husband Everett (Oliver Hudson) arrives with his eager, picture‑perfect younger girlfriend, turning the festive gathering into a chaotic battle of egos and emotions.

A Merry Little Ex-Mas (2025) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

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In the sleepy, snow‑kissed town of Winterlight, the holiday season turns every modest home into a stage for family rituals and unspoken expectations. The streets are lined with twinkling lights, and the scent of pine drifts through the crisp air, creating a cozy backdrop that feels both intimate and slightly theatrical—perfect for the memories that cling to each doorstep.

Kate has spent years shaping this house into a sanctuary for her family, even as her own career aspirations were set aside for love. Now freshly divorced, she is determined to orchestrate one last, flawless Christmas gathering before she parts with the home she cherishes. Her meticulous nature, combined with a deep‑seated commitment to environmental causes, drives her to craft new traditions that honor the past while hinting at an uncertain future.

Everett, the town’s dedicated doctor, returns to the family’s holiday table with a surprising addition: his bright, picture‑perfect younger girlfriend, Tess. Their arrival adds an unexpected layer to the celebration, prompting a subtle clash of egos and lingering emotions. Meanwhile, their teenage children—Sienna, back from college with her whimsical, Harry‑Potter‑obsessed boyfriend Nigel, and Gabriel, who is wrestling with his own crossroads—bring their own hopes and anxieties to the mix, further stirring the festive pot.

The film balances warm, wintry charm with sharp, witty dialogue, letting the humor of awkward encounters coexist with the tenderness of a family trying to hold onto its unity. As the house fills with laughter, tension, and the promise of unforgettable moments, the audience is invited to wonder which old habits will survive the season and which new ones might finally take root.

Last Updated: January 04, 2026 at 18:21

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Holiday family reunion stories like A Merry Little Ex-Mas

Families navigate past hurts and find forgiveness during the festive season.Discover movies like A Merry Little Ex-Mas where holiday gatherings force families to confront their issues. These films blend emotional drama with festive warmth, exploring themes of reconciliation and second chances, perfect for viewers seeking heartfelt seasonal stories.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically revolves around a family forced to spend the holidays together, often after a period of separation or conflict. Through a series of festive events and emotional confrontations, characters work through their differences, leading to personal growth and a climactic moment of reconciliation or renewed understanding, set against the backdrop of holiday traditions.

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Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared focus on family dynamics, the emotional weight of holiday traditions, and the narrative arc of reconciliation. They balance bittersweet reflections on the past with the hopeful warmth of the season, creating a specific, uplifting holiday vibe.

Bittersweet comedy-dramas about relationships like A Merry Little Ex-Mas

Witty, emotionally resonant stories about navigating complex relationships and social awkwardness.If you enjoyed the mix of humor and heart in A Merry Little Ex-Mas, explore these similar comedy-dramas. They feature steady pacing, medium emotional weight, and focus on character-driven stories about family dynamics, divorce, and moving on with a hopeful tone.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows characters through a series of socially awkward or emotionally charged situations, often centered around a specific event or gathering. The plot uses humor to offset deeper emotional themes, allowing for character development and introspection without becoming overly heavy, typically concluding with a sense of resolution and hope.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a specific tonal blend: a bittersweet core balanced with lighthearted moments, a steady pacing focused on character interactions, and a medium emotional weight that tackles serious themes like divorce or family conflict in an accessible, often uplifting way.

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A Merry Little Ex-Mas Summary

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A Merry Little Ex-Mas Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in A Merry Little Ex-Mas

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Characters, Settings & Themes in A Merry Little Ex-Mas

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