Released in 2006, Christmas romantic comedies ever released. With an impressive cast of leading actors, likable and hilarious main characters, a richly realized world, and just the right balance of romance and cheesiness, the film represents everything that so many people absolutely love about Christmas movies.
For over a decade, conversations have been ongoing about what a potential sequel would look like for this movie, and what would come next in these characters' lives. Here, we take a look at the reasons why we still need a sequel, and why it may be time to stop asking Santa for one after all.
Need A Sequel: What happens next for these couples?
When The Holiday ends, the two couples are united for the first time in the film as they celebrate the holiday season together. But nothing about that ending remotely suggests what will come next. Plans might be made for celebrating the New Year, but we have no idea what these couples plan to do next.
What about Amanda's work in trailer production, and Miles' career composing music, both of which are based in Los Angeles? We might love to see the foursome, plus little ones Sophie and Olivia, celebrating the new year together, but we deserve some answers as to what happens afterward.
Don't: The happy endings might be temporary
Of course, maybe the answers regarding what comes next are answers that we're not ready to hear. It's entirely likely that these two couples wouldn't work out in the end. After all, they only spent two weeks together, and barely got their acts together before those two weeks ended.
What reason do we have, besides this being a romantic comedy, to think that these relationships would ever last long-term outside of these exaggerated scenarios? Honestly, we don't have any - and we can only imagine all the ways a sequel would struggle justify it, too.
Need A Sequel: Group interactions
A large part of what makes The Holiday such a success is the strength of its core ensemble cast of Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Jack Black. But when you think about it, these four leading women and men don't actually all interact until that final New Year's celebration scene.
Even siblings Graham and Iris only ever speak over the phone in the film, and leading ladies Iris and Amanda only converse via IM and phone. A potential sequel would inevitably lead to much more interaction between these as of yet underutilized relationships.
Don't: Premise would be too different
But even though a sequel would allow for more interaction between these beloved characters, it's impossible to overlook the fact that the film's possible premise would have to be entirely different than the charming albeit unlikely scenario depicted in the original film.
There's no way that any of these four characters would be engaging in an international house-swapping holiday arrangement, even if the relationships didn't work out in the end. So the central "holiday" element of the film would be gone, right off the bat.
Need A Sequel: Next generation of characters
If a straight up sequel storyline proved too difficult to create, it's always possible that the film could opt to explore a different sequel format: the reboot. Given the introduction of adorable and precocious youngsters Olivia and Sophie, it would be entirely possible to craft a followup to the original where the now adult sisters swapped places.
Whether they swap with each other in different locations, or seek out strangers to swap with in the way Iris and Amanda did, these two would provide an interesting, and even more modern perspective on the original arrangement.
Don't: Dated storylines
Speaking of things getting more modern in a potential sequel, it's hard to watch The Holiday these days without absolutely cringing at its depiction of relationships, particularly in a post #MeToo era. The relationship between Miles and his cheating girlfriend is bad enough, but it's the uneven power dynamic between Iris and her on-again, off-again lover Jasper that has decidedly not aged well.
We're never meant to really root for their relationship, as it's clear that Jasper is merely stringing Iris along and taking her for granted. But it's even more uncomfortable now than it was when the film was first released, and we're not sure a potential sequel would be able to avoid these tired romantic comedy gimmicks.
Need A Sequel: Reunions are all the rage
Given the popularity of reboots, revivals, spinoffs, sequels, and more these days, there really never has been a better time for Hollywood to consider producing a sequel to this cult classic Christmas romantic comedy. Though some fans are definitely starting to tire of the trend of bringing back old favorites, it's clear that the market for this trend is still hot.
There's no telling how much longer that will continue on for, however, so it would be wise to start having serious conversations about a possible sequel as soon as possible, before the trend fades.
Don't: Not guaranteed everyone would take part
However, as popular as the reboot, revival, et cetera trend might be right now, it's also worth noting a secondary trend that's come about as a result of it: the trend that not all original players are willing to return for a second go around.
Given the high profile celebrities involved in the original film, and the fact that they're all still keeping incredibly busy after all this time, it's not a guarantee that any production schedule would ever be able to worked out in a way that they would all be able to participate in a meaningful way - if they were all even interested to begin with.
Need A Sequel: Much needed comfort in a cynical Hollywood landscape
The Holiday might not be the best movie ever made, or even an example of the highest quality that cinema has to offer. But at the end of the day, the movie is the film equivalent of comfort food with a Christmas twist, and that's something we could definitely use more of these days.
As Hollywood continues to push its messages of gritty drama and brutal action with happily ever afters seemingly reserved only for Disney animated fare, it's about time that we have a big studio film offer a decidedly less cynical message for once.
Don't: Wouldn't be the same without Eli Wallach
The movie might be about four disparate people coming together and finding love in the most unlikely of places, but it's impossible to overlook the ing character who just might be the most beloved of them all: Arthur, portrayed by the late great Hollywood icon Eli Wallach.
Arthur's bond with Iris remains one of the most beloved and most heartwarming aspects of the film, and it's a relationship that has entirely stood the test of time in of its sweetness and strength. Any version of The Holiday's universe without Arthur in it just wouldn't feel right.
