If you loved
The Holdovers
Alexander Payne · Film · 2023
What hooked you in The Holdovers was the way it finds profound, messy, and life-changing human connection within confined, lonely spaces.
Books on the same thread
Holly
Stephen King · Book · 2023
Like the characters in The Holdovers, Holly navigates the heavy burden of personal loss while managing the complications of professional obligations and the unexpected demands of an intrusive world.
Olive Kitteridge
Elizabeth Strout · Book · 2009
Olive Kitteridge captures the same biting, complex spirit found in The Holdovers, focusing on an aging individual struggling to reconcile their internal isolation with the people surrounding them.
Be Near Me
Andrew O'Hagan · Book · 2006
This story mirrors the generational tension and social discomfort of The Holdovers, examining how a mentor figure attempts to bridge deep divides through an unlikely and fragile relationship.
The Catcher in the Rye
J. D. Salinger · Book · 1951
Holden Caulfield embodies the same disillusionment and academic alienation found in The Holdovers, providing a raw, intimate look at a young man struggling to find his place in society.
Series on the same thread
Looking for Alaska
Josh Schwartz · Series · 2019
The boarding school setting and the tragic, transformative friendships in this series echo the core emotional journey of The Holdovers, where students find solace in their shared, difficult experiences.
The Bear
Christopher Storer · Series · 2022
The Bear offers the same gritty, workplace-based found family dynamic found in The Holdovers, showing how individuals bound by duty eventually form deep, necessary bonds through shared grief and struggle.
Shrinking
Brett Goldstein · Series · 2023
Much like the protagonists of The Holdovers, the characters in Shrinking use humor and unconventional methods to process their profound grief while navigating the complexities of their daily social lives.
Love, Victor
Elizabeth Berger · Series · 2020
This series captures the quiet, personal growth seen in The Holdovers, focusing on a young man navigating the high-pressure environment of school while managing his own internal identity crisis.
Podcasts on the same thread
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
This podcast explores the same longing for authentic connection found in The Holdovers, highlighting the awkward, human process of trying to bridge the gap between colleagues and genuine friends.
Stugotz and Company
iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
The unfiltered, abrasive commentary style mirrors the curmudgeonly charm of The Holdovers, appealing to those who appreciate characters that prioritize honesty and absurdity over social decorum and polite behavior.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Holdovers set during a specific holiday?
Yes, the plot of The Holdovers takes place during Christmas break. The story follows a curmudgeonly instructor forced to remain on campus at a New England prep school to supervise students who have nowhere else to go for the holidays.
What is the central conflict in The Holdovers?
The Holdovers focuses on an instructor tasked with babysitting students over the break. He eventually forms an unlikely bond with a damaged, brainy student and the school head cook, who is grieving the loss of her son in the Vietnam War.
Who directed The Holdovers?
The Holdovers is a 2023 film directed by Alexander Payne. It explores the relationships between an instructor, a troubled student, and a school cook as they navigate their time together at a New England prep school during the Christmas season.
Does The Holdovers feature a school setting?
Yes, The Holdovers is set at a New England prep school. The narrative centers on a group of individuals who are forced to stay on the campus grounds during the Christmas break, leading to the development of unexpected connections between them.