Now that the Thanksgiving food coma is behind us, it’s time to look at the joy and cheer of the holiday season, and there is no better way to do that than with some Christmas movie favorites. While films such as Home Alone and A Christmas Story are a go-to for many, other, more low-key choices have also moved up the ranks over the years. That has happened with the 2005 comedy-drama The Family Stone, a film that received mixed reviews upon release but was a financial success. In the years since its initial debut, the film has gained in popularity, even if it’s a bit divisive due to some of the dramatic turns it takes despite its cheerful holiday setting.
A quick glance at the latest Prime Video chart shows that The Family Stone is currently ranked second, a strong showing as holiday movie watching kicks into high gear. Some watchers on social media began sharing their love for the movie a little before Thanksgiving, and there are a slew of recent reviews for the film on Letterboxd, which indicate that the movie is being accessed more as movie watchers begin their holiday movie binge.
The Family Stone Has Become a Holiday Favorite Despite Some Serious Themes
Written and directed by Thomas Bezchucha, The Family Stone focuses on the Stone family during the Christmas holiday season as their oldest son, Everett (Dermot Mulroney), brings his uptight girlfriend Meredith (Sarah Jessica Parker) home for the holidays with the plan to propose to her with his mother’s (Diane Keaton) precious heirloom ring. Meredith receives a rather hostile reaction from the family, prompting her to invite her sister Julie (Claire Danes) to the festivities for backup. While the film does have its share of hijinks, the movie has an undercurrent of seriousness as one of the family members is dealing with a fatal illness and has not revealed it to her children. The film also stars Craig T. Nelson, Luke Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Elizabeth Reaser, Brian J. White, Jamie Kaler, Tyrone Giordano and Paul Schneider.
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The Family Stone Is the Perfect Holiday Movie Nearly Two Decades Later
The Family Stone is a delightful family comedy that balances tense, cringe-filled scenes with heartfelt intimacy.
The movie received mixed reviews upon release, registering a 53% on Rotten Tomatoes, with a consensus that reads, “The family holiday dramedy features fine performances but awkward shifts of tone.” Some critics did believe that some of the tonal shifts in the movie were jarring, but audiences didn’t seem to mind as the film turned into a minor holiday hit, grossing $92 million globally on an $18 million budget.
The movie also had the benefit of good timing because 2005 was a banner year for McAdams, who also starred in Wedding Crashers and Red Eye within months of the release of The Family Stone. The film also garnered a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for Sarah Jessica Parker. Despite the film’s shifts in tone, The Family Stone works because of the relatable and endearing chemistry of its cast, as many movie watchers probably see a little bit of their family in it when they watch it. It’s easy to see why it has become a holiday movie staple over the years.
- Release Date
- December 15, 2005
- Runtime
- 103