The Perfect Holiday

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The Perfect Holiday

PG

2007

1h 36m

Kids & Family

Holiday

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

19%

Tomatometer

58 Reviews

52%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Nancy (Gabrielle Union), a divorced mother of three, feels especially lonely during the holidays. Sensing her sadness, Nancy's youngest daughter, Emily (Khail Bryant), has a plan to make her mom happy again. She asks Benjamin (Morris Chestnut), a department-store Santa Claus, to pay Nancy a compliment. And Benjamin, who is also a struggling songwriter, knows exactly the right words to say.

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Critics Consensus

The Perfect Holiday is the perfect example of Christmas movie clichés run amok.

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Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

Feb 1, 2008

2/4

Bad Santa! No cookie!

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Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

Dec 17, 2007

I'd rather watch 90 minutes of a flickering yule log video than sit through this overcooked Christmas goose again.

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Dec 14, 2007

[A] wretched yuletide comedy.

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Sep 19, 2020

2.5/4.0

Union, who's as impossibly beautiful as Chestnut is good looking, fares better here.

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Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

Nov 14, 2019

Not just a film that I would I take all of my nephews to see, but one that would bring a smile to my grandmother's face were she here watching it, The Perfect Holiday is the perfect holiday film.

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Heather Huntington

ReelzChannel.com

Sep 8, 2008

3/10

Love eventually conquers all, as expected, but not before we're forced to sit through a nearly endless parade of clichs, unfunny jokes, and empty drama.

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Logan G.

@SequelsArentAlwaysBad12 Oct 23, 2025

The Perfect Holiday is a good holiday movie for the whole family.

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Stephen M

@RT33161295 Sep 21, 2023

Excellent movie all star quality cast funny, great family movie. I would give this movie a 77%. Great Christmas family movie love it. Rotten Tomatoes can kick rocks...

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Nov 29, 2019

I liked it.... Wasn't great but was entertaining Christmas movie. These weak critiques have no soul. I've seen the movies they liked and they sucked.

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Nov 20, 2016

I'm just over these cookie cutter seasonal movies.

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Jan 1, 2015

Good Christmas movie overall with a nice story line and some humorous parts

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Oct 22, 2014

Original? No. Sappy? Yes. Is that bad? I don't think so. There is a lot of flack for the lack of originality in this movie, but it never occurred to me that was the intent. Instead I think it's meant to be a family friendly, Christmas themed sap-fest to get you in the Christmas spirit. I think the characters (particularly those portrayed by Gabrielle Union and Morris Chestnut) are sweet and endearing, and if you are able to suspend your disbelief for an hour and a half this is a great movie to get you in the Christmas spirit.

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Lance Rivera

Director

Gabrielle Union

Nancy

Morris Chestnut

Benjamin

Queen Latifah

Mrs. Christmas

Terrence Howard

Bah-Humbug

Malik Hammond

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Synopsis

Nancy (Gabrielle Union), a divorced mother of three, feels especially lonely during the holidays. Sensing her sadness, Nancy's youngest daughter, Emily (Khail Bryant), has a plan to make her mom happy again. She asks Benjamin (Morris Chestnut), a department-store Santa Claus, to pay Nancy a compliment. And Benjamin, who is also a struggling songwriter, knows exactly the right words to say.

Director: Lance Rivera
Producer: Shakim Compere, Leifur B. Dagfinnsson, Mike Elliott, Joseph P. Genier, Queen Latifah, Marvin Pearlt, Lance Rivera
Screenwriter: Lance Rivera, Marc Calixte
Distributor: Yari Film Group
Production Co: Capital Arts Entertainment
Rating: PG (Brief Language|Suggestive Humor)
Genre: Kids & Family, Holiday, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 12, 2007, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.8M
Runtime: 1h 36m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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