Christmas Do-Over

Christmas Do-Over

Year: 2006

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: Catherine Cyran

ComedyTV MovieFamilyFantasy

A lazy, commitment‑phobic dad keeps rushing through the holidays, but when he’s forced to relive Christmas Day over and over, he must finally get it right. Kevin scrambles for a last‑minute gift for his son Ben, visits his ex‑wife Jill and endures her flawless new boyfriend, then discovers the endless loop forces him to confront his past and make amends before he can break the cycle and build a better future.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Christmas Do-Over yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Christmas Do-Over (2006)

Trace every key event in Christmas Do-Over (2006) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Arrival at Jill's family home

Kevin arrives at Jill's family's home for Christmas Eve, hoping to smooth things over with his son Ben. The reception is mixed, with some skepticism from Jill's relatives. He scrambles to buy a gift at the last minute and is greeted by Granny Conlon with wary warmth.

Christmas Eve Jill's family home
2

The easy bake oven gift

Kevin reveals the gift he bought for Ben, an Easy-Bake Oven, which feels inappropriate for a boy his age and dampens the festive mood. Jill's family reacts with polite discomfort while Arthur's disapproval lingers. The moment foreshadows Kevin's ongoing outsider status within the family.

Christmas Eve Jill's family home
3

Todd arrives as Santa and outshines him

Jill's new boyfriend Todd arrives in full Santa style, stealing Kevin's spotlight at every turn. He buys Ben a better gift and appears to win Jill's affection with a flashy car, leaving Kevin humiliated. The competition between old and new loyalties sets the day's mood in turmoil.

Christmas Eve Jill's family home
4

Kevin is blocked from leaving town

Desperate to escape the tense atmosphere, Kevin tries to drive away, only to find the road out blocked by a giant boulder. He is effectively trapped in town for Christmas, unable to reconcile with Jill or Ben. The strange impediment hints at the surreal turn the day will take.

Christmas Eve night Town outskirts
5

The Christmas fair and Arthur's defeat

The family goes to the town's annual Christmas fair, where Arthur again loses a competition to the Hendersons. The fair becomes a backdrop for rivalries and unresolved tensions between Kevin, Jill, and the in-laws. Ben watches, hoping for a different outcome from the adults.

Evening Town fair
6

Dinner and Ben's wish

Back home, a tense dinner unfolds as adults clash and memories of the divorce surface. Ben voices his wish that it could be Christmas every day, a bittersweet dream that underscores what he’s lost. Kevin feels the weight of his own failures and the cost to his family.

Night Jill's family home
7

Caroling and Jill's engagement

The family goes caroling, trying to restore warmth to the day. Afterward, Todd proposes to Jill and she accepts, signaling a step toward stability that deepens Kevin's sense of loss. The hopeful moment is tempered by Kevin's lingering selfishness and worry for his future.

Night Town streets
8

Midnight and the time loop begins

At the stroke of midnight, Kevin finds himself back at the front door on Christmas morning, realizing the day is resetting. He discovers he is reliving Christmas Day again and again. Jill remains skeptical, unable to accept his strange claim at first.

Midnight Front door, Christmas morning
9

The loop reveals itself and Jill's disbelief

Kevin realizes the loop will continue with no lasting consequences. He tries to explain the repeating day to Jill, but she does not believe him, and the same Christmas morning repeats with small, meaningless changes. He grows frustrated but remains trapped in the cycle.

Morning Town
10

Selfish patterns and the fair fallout

During subsequent repeats, Kevin's selfish impulses flare as he fights the Christmas fair and tries to force the day to bend to his will. Ben and Jill become increasingly upset as his actions threaten their fragile happiness. The loop exposes how far Kevin has drifted from his family.

Day Town fair
11

Granny's intervention and a turning point

Granny Conlon has a heart-to-heart with Kevin, urging him to look at his choices and values. Her guidance plants the seed for genuine self-reflection, and Kevin resolves to change his ways. The talk marks the first real pivot in his attitude toward his family.

During the loop Granny Conlon's home / kitchen
12

The final loop and reconciled love

In the final iterations, Kevin acts selflessly, refrains from sabotaging Todd, and even helps Arthur win the fair with a creative gift redesign—the monster melt. He supports Jill's happiness and realizes Todd deserves a chance, while Jill and Kevin rebuild their relationship. Midnight arrives, the cycle breaks, and Jill and Kevin drive away together with Ben, ready to start anew.

Midnight and after Town and home

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 16:32

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Christmas Do-Over Summary

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Christmas Do-Over Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Christmas Do-Over

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Christmas Do-Over Spoiler-Free Summary

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