This Christmas

Year: 2007

Runtime: 117 min

Language: English

Director: Preston A. Whitmore II

Budget: $13M

DramaComedyRomance

The Whitfield family gathers for Christmas, and old tensions resurface as siblings reconnect after years apart. Each carries emotional burdens and unspoken truths, threatening to disrupt the holiday festivities. As they navigate familiar traditions and confront buried secrets, the family must reckon with their past and rediscover the meaning of togetherness, ultimately leading to a heartwarming exploration of love and forgiveness.

This Christmas (2007) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at This Christmas (2007) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the heart of a bustling city, the Whitfield family converges beneath the familiar roof of Ma’dere’s home, a warm yet crowded house that has long served as the anchor for generations of love, laughter, and lingering grievances. It’s Christmas—a time the family has promised to celebrate together after years of distance—and the season’s twinkling lights illuminate both cherished traditions and the unspoken weight each member brings. The setting feels intimate and lived‑in, a slice of middle‑class African‑American life where the smell of home‑cooked meals mingles with the faint echo of past arguments, creating a backdrop that is both comforting and charged with anticipation.

The gathering is a tapestry of contrasting personalities: the pragmatic sibling who sees the family’s dry‑cleaning business as a potential lifeline, the restless brother whose recent choices have led him into precarious financial waters, the daughter returning from military service carrying the quiet discipline of a Marine, and the youngest sister arriving with a college boyfriend who adds a fresh, hopeful viewpoint. Their interactions crackle with a blend of humor and raw honesty, each exchange hinting at deeper layers of pride, regret, and yearning. The tone walks a delicate line between heartfelt comedy and earnest drama, allowing moments of levity to coexist with the palpable undercurrents of unresolved tension.

As the holiday rituals unfold—decorating the tree, sharing stories, and passing the plate of food—so do the subtle confrontations that have long lingered beneath the surface. The Whitfields must navigate the delicate balance between preserving cherished memories and confronting the truths that have kept them apart. In this season of togetherness, the film offers a vivid portrait of a family that refuses to be idealised, inviting viewers to feel the pull of forgiveness, the sting of old wounds, and the resilient hope that perhaps, this Christmas, they will rediscover what truly binds them.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 09:27

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Dramatic Holiday Reunions like in This Christmas

Families gather for the holidays, forcing long-buried secrets and tensions to the surface.If you liked the blend of festive cheer and family drama in This Christmas, you'll find similar movies here. These stories feature families coming together for holidays, where old wounds are reopened and secrets are revealed, all set against a seasonal backdrop. They capture the bittersweet reality of family gatherings, mixing conflict with eventual warmth.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern follows a family reuniting for a holiday, often after a long separation. The festive environment initially masks underlying tensions, but these pressures eventually boil over, leading to major confrontations about past grievances, financial struggles, or personal betrayals. The story arc moves from conflict towards a cathartic resolution, where characters must choose forgiveness over continued strife.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their shared setting of a family holiday and their focus on the dramatic tension that arises from forced proximity. They share a bittersweet tone, balancing the warmth of tradition with the raw emotion of familial conflict, and typically feature a steady pacing that allows character issues to unfold naturally.

Raw Family Dramas like in This Christmas

Siblings and parents confront painful truths in a turbulent journey toward forgiveness.For viewers who enjoyed the honest portrayal of family strife in This Christmas, this section features movies with similar emotional journeys. These films explore sibling rivalry, parental failures, and hidden truths within a family, building towards a climax of confrontation and eventual healing. They are characterized by their medium emotional weight and hopeful conclusions.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread follow a family, often adult siblings, who are brought together by an event, forcing them to address long-standing issues like rivalry, betrayal, or financial strain. The plot hinges on the unveiling of secrets and the resulting confrontations, which test but ultimately strengthen their bonds. The emotional journey is from division and anger to understanding and forgiveness.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their central focus on the intense, often painful process of family members facing their shared history. They share a medium intensity level, balancing dramatic fights with quieter moments of reflection, and a consistent emotional weight that deals seriously with issues like adultery or debt without becoming overwhelming.

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This Christmas Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in This Christmas

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More About This Christmas

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