Holdovers, The: Alexander Payne’s Dramedy Sets Thanksgiving Release Date

February 24, 2023 by

‘The Holdovers’ Sets Thanksgiving Release Date in Theaters

The dramedy reunites the filmmaker with his Sideways star Paul Giamatti in this tale of an unlikable college professor stuck on campus with some students over the holidays.

Alexander Payne's new movie 'The Holdovers' will open in Theaters over Thanksgiving.
Alexander Payne CARLOS ALVAREZ/GETTY IMAGES
Oscar-winning filmmaker Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers is hitting theaters at the 2023 Thanksgiving.

The period dramedy, reuniting the filmmaker with his Sideways star Paul Giamatti, will first launch in handful of theaters November 10 before opening nationwide on Nov. 22, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Focus Features announced.

Specialty distributors such as Focus employ rollout releases to build word of mouth.

The Thanksgiving corridor is one of the most lucrative stretches of the year in terms of box office traffic. In addition to big event pics, it’s also a favorite time to debut potential awards fare.

He is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break 1970 to babysit a handful of students with nowhere to go. During that time, he forms an unlikely bond with a brainy trouble-making student (played by newcomer Dominic Sessa), as well as with the school’s head cook (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), who has just lost a son in Vietnam.

Focus acquired rights in September from Miramax when the project was shopped to buyers during the Toronto Film Festival. Focus will release in the U.S. Universal Pictures International will handle distribution duties overseas.

Filed Under: NEWS