What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Holdovers
Alexander Payne · Film · 2023
If you loved The Holdovers, start with Fellow Travelers (Ron Nyswaner, 2023) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Holdovers across media.
What hooked you in The Holdovers is the way unlikely bonds form among broken people within isolated, institutional settings.
Books on the same thread
The Catcher in the Rye
J. D. Salinger · Book · 1951
Explores: Alienation, Loss of Innocence, Teenage Angst.
Just as The Holdovers captures the alienation of a prep school student, this classic explores the internal struggle and sharp cynicism of a young man fighting against rigid expectations.
Never Let Me Go
Kazuo Ishiguro · Book · 2005
Explores: Mortality, Fate vs. Free Will, Memory and Nostalgia.
The Holdovers finds profound meaning in the confines of a school, a sentiment mirrored here as characters confront their pasts and their mortality within a similarly isolated academic environment.
The Emperor of Gladness
Ocean Vuong · Book
Explores: caregiving, platonic intimacy, human connection.
If the quiet, transformative power of caregiving in The Holdovers moved you, you will appreciate this delicate character study about two people finding deep connection through their daily routine.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
J. K. Rowling · Book · 1997
Shares a thread with The Holdovers: Coming-of-Age Story.
The Holdovers centers on the experience of an outsider within an academic institution, a theme that resonates as this story follows a young boy finding his place at Hogwarts.
Series on the same thread
The Bear
Christopher Storer · Series · 2022
Explores: Grief, Family Business, Working Class.
Like the motley crew in The Holdovers, the staff here navigate grief and professional friction, ultimately forging a chosen family amidst the high-pressure environment of a professional kitchen.
Fellow Travelers
Ron Nyswaner · Series · 2023
Explores: Forbidden Love, Homophobia, Political Persecution.
While The Holdovers explores connection through temporary proximity, this series examines how long-term, complex relationships develop and endure despite the societal pressures and political turmoil of their specific eras.
Heartstopper
Alice Oseman · Series · 2022
Shares a thread with The Holdovers: Coming-of-Age Story.
The Holdovers highlights the vulnerability inherent in developing new friendships, a feeling perfectly captured here as these two students navigate the delicate process of self-discovery and emerging young love.
Community
Dan Harmon · Series · 2009
Explores: Community, Friendship, Self-Discovery.
The Holdovers focuses on the comedy and pathos found in a group of underdogs, which is exactly the dynamic shared by the mismatched students at this struggling community college.
Podcasts on the same thread
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
Explores: parasocial relationships, professional intimacy, self-deprecating humor.
Much like the curmudgeonly instructor in The Holdovers, this podcast mines the humor and melancholy of a man reflecting on his professional life and the difficulty of forming genuine connections.
Stugotz and Company
iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: absurdism, unfiltered opinion, camaraderie.
The Holdovers relies on the chemistry between characters trapped together, a dynamic mirrored in this show where the irreverent camaraderie provides an escape from the mundanity of their daily routine.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Holdovers set during the Vietnam War era?
Yes, The Holdovers takes place during the Vietnam War. The narrative highlights this historical context through the head cook, who is grieving the loss of her son who died while serving in the conflict, which deeply impacts the emotional tone of the story during the Christmas break.
Where does The Holdovers take place?
The Holdovers is set at a New England prep school. The plot centers on a curmudgeonly instructor who is required to stay on the campus grounds during the holiday season to supervise a small group of students who are unable to travel home for the break.
What is the primary conflict in The Holdovers?
The primary conflict in The Holdovers involves a grumpy teacher forced to supervise students over the holidays. He eventually forms an unexpected connection with a troubled, intelligent student and the school's cook, moving past their initial friction to build a bond while isolated at the prep school.
Who are the main characters in The Holdovers?
The Holdovers focuses on three main characters: a curmudgeonly instructor, a damaged and brainy student he is tasked with babysitting, and the school's head cook. These individuals are brought together by circumstance while remaining at the New England prep school during the Christmas holiday break.