Surviving Christmas (2004)

In the lavish world of Chicago's advertising industry, Drew Latham sits atop as a wealthy executive, his life filled with the gleam of affluence but void of real warmth. As Christmas approaches, a void in Drew's life becomes increasingly apparent. He yearns to feel the joy of the holiday season, a feeling that he's dismissed for far too long. A failed tropical vacation and a subsequent breakup with his girlfriend, Missy Vangilder, leaves him facing the prospect of a lonely Christmas, a prospect he dreads. Desperate for a taste of familial warmth and holiday cheer, Drew embarks on a peculiar mission. He decides to revisit his old childhood home, the site of his happiest Christmases. But the house is no longer empty; it's inhabited by the Valcos - Tom, Christine, and their teenage son, Brian. Undeterred, Drew makes an unusual proposition; he offers to rent the entire Valco family as his own for the holiday season, and the allure of a generous financial reward makes the Valcos reluctantly agree to this strange arrangement. As a contractual pseudo-family, the Valcos and Drew dive headfirst into the whirlpool of Christmas traditions. But Drew's presence, though initially seen as an inconvenience, soon begins to unravel the Valco's own family issues, adding layers of complexity to their Christmas. Drew, meanwhile, remains blissfully ignorant of the chaos he's stirred up, his focus solely on recreating the perfect Christmas from his memories. Set against the backdrop of suburban Chicago, 'Surviving Christmas' is an unpredictable and heartwarming journey into the true essence of the holiday season. It's a tale of one man's pursuit of happiness and a family’s struggle to find unity, all wrapped up in a quirky Christmas package. Will the Valcos manage to endure their eccentric guest, and will the promised money be the solution to their problems? Will Drew finally understand what he truly wants in life and how to grasp it? The answers lay hidden beneath the Christmas lights and tinsel.

Surviving Christmas is a comedy movie featuring Ben Affleck and directed by Mike Mitchell.

Surviving Christmas is currently streaming on Hoopla, Paramount Plus, Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel , Paramount+ Amazon Channel and Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel.

It is also possible to buy Surviving Christmas on AMC on Demand, Amazon Video, Apple TV, DIRECTV, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store, Vudu and YouTube.