Film
The Best Man Holiday
- Buddy comedy
- Light-hearted
A Christmas ensemble comedy where college friends reconvene after 15 years and discover their old dynamics—romantic tension, petty grudges, unresolved feelings—spring back to life instantly. It's warm and funny without being sentimental, a character-driven comedy that trusts you care about these people enough to watch them navigate messy adult relationships.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you enjoy warm, talky ensemble comedies about old friends who still carry each other's history, where the laughs come out of long-held grudges and affection that never quite left.
Skip it if you want a brisk, plot-driven holiday film, since this one lingers on relationships and conversations, and its sentiment runs thick enough that some scenes may feel overly sweet.
What it asks of you: It runs just over two hours and takes its time, moving between many characters and their tangled reunions, so it rewards patience more than quick attention.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
Think Like a Man2012
Same director, same ensemble chemistry, same gift for balancing romance and comedy across multiple couples. It's snappy, genuinely funny, and doesn't talk down to its audience.
But The plotting can feel schematic; it's clearly built on a self-help book's framework and sometimes shows the seams.

Girls Trip2017
A reunion comedy that gets the specific pleasure of old friends being themselves with each other. Tiffany Haddish is a force, and it's got real heart underneath the mayhem.
But The tone veers wildly between broad comedy and serious emotional moments; some finds it jarring rather than earned.

The Wood1999
Similar DNA—male friendships, nostalgia, the past colliding with the present. It's honest about how much we change and how little we sometimes do.
But It's dated in look and feel, and the emotional beats land harder than the laughs, which isn't what everyone wants from a comedy.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from The Best Man Holiday
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Love & Basketball2000
Both are about whether love can survive the time between who people were and who they've become.
Shares the same emotional architecture—old love returning, the gap between who you were and who you've become, whether you can rebuild what once broke. It's tender and adult about romance.
But It's a drama with romantic elements, not a comedy; if you want laughs, you won't find many here.

More like this (8)
Bridesmaids2011
A comedy ensemble where character matters more than plot. It's messier and more human than most comedies allow themselves to be, and it's very, very funny.
But The humor gets crude and aggressive; if you prefer gentle comedy, this swings too hard for you.

Coming to America1988
Eddie Murphy at peak charm, a feel-good romantic comedy that somehow manages to be clever and deeply silly at once. It's pure joy to watch.
But The gender politics haven't aged well, and it leans heavily on Murphy's ability to carry it, which can feel dated now.

Four Rooms1995
A comedy about a group of friends in one space, building chaos across a single night. It's got real chemistry and a wild, anything-goes energy.
But It's uneven; some sketches land perfectly and others fall flat, and the framing device is more annoying than helpful.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall2008
A breakup comedy that gets melancholy right alongside the humor. It's tender and funny in equal measure, with characters you actually root for.
But The premise relies on a fairly passive male lead; if that bothers you, it's hard to get past.

I'm Gonna Git You Sucka1988
A parody that loves what it's parodying, with tremendous ensemble energy. It's silly, fast-paced, and deeply affectionate about Black cinema.
But The humor is entirely referential; without knowledge of the films it's spoofing, a lot will pass you by.

Soul Plane2004
Absurdist comedy on an airplane with a stacked ensemble cast doing committed work on ridiculous material. If you're in the mood for pure nonsense, it delivers.
But The humor is broad to the point of being cartoonish, and it doesn't attempt anything beyond the surface-level joke.

Insecure2016
Both understand that old friendships contain old conflicts that bubble up when you're together, and that doesn't make them less valuable.
An ensemble of friends whose relationships are messy, funny, painful, and real. Each episode balances comedy and genuine emotion without ever feeling manipulative.
But It's a series, not a film, and some find it takes longer than it should to reveal character depth.

American Honey2016
Both examine how intimacy and history force people to confront versions of themselves they'd rather forget.
A film about a found family of misfits learning to live together and care for each other, shot with lyrical attention to how people actually behave in close quarters.
But It's three hours, has almost no plot, and is a complete tonal and thematic opposite of a comedy—gorgeous but challenging.

People
Cast
Terrence HowardQuentin
Harold PerrineauJulian Murch
Morris ChestnutLance Sullivan
Sanaa LathanRobyn
Taye DiggsHarper Stewart
Regina HallCandace
Nia LongJordan Armstrong
Monica CalhounMia Morgan
Melissa De SousaShelby
Eddie CibrianBrian
Riele DownsFaith
Directing
- Malcolm D. LeeDirector
Writing
- Malcolm D. LeeCharacters
- Malcolm D. LeeWriter
Production
- Malcolm D. LeeProducer
- Sean DanielProducer