Netflix has officially announced the global release date for its upcoming festive romantic comedy In a Holidaze, scheduling the feature film for a worldwide premiere on December 2, 2026. The project represents a notable collaboration between streaming giant Netflix, production banner Alloy Entertainment, and the celebrated author duo Christina Lauren, who wrote the New York Times bestselling novel upon which the screenplay is based. Directed by Tiffany Paulsen—known for her work on Netflix’s Holidate and the comedy Reunion—the film diverges from conventional holiday movie tropes by infusing a classic festive narrative with a chaotic, high-stakes time loop mechanism.
The feature adaptation is written by Lauren Billings and Christina Hobbs, operating under their joint pen name Christina Lauren, alongside director Tiffany Paulsen. Production duties are handled by Alloy Entertainment, with Leslie Morgenstein and Elysa Koplovitz Dutton serving as executive producers. Principal photography for the project took place across Vancouver and Whistler in British Columbia, Canada, spanning a robust production window from January 29, 2026, through March 12, 2026. The film features a prominent ensemble cast headlined by Maddie Ziegler, Rob Lowe, Graham Phillips, and Elias Kacavas.
Plot Overview and Narrative Premise
At the center of In a Holidaze is Maelyn Jones, a character whose life is currently characterized by professional stagnation, living with her parents, and a recent romantic misstep of significant proportions. Portrayed by Maddie Ziegler, Mae faces an additional emotional blow as she prepares to spend what is designated to be the final Christmas at her family’s beloved snowy Utah cabin. For her entire life, Mae’s family, alongside two other close-knit families, has gathered at this secluded mountain retreat every holiday season.
As Mae drives away from the cabin for the final time following a severe mental breakdown, she inadvertently issues a desperate plea to the universe: to show her what will genuinely make her happy. Seconds later, a car crash plunges everything into darkness. Instead of facing tragedy, however, Mae gasps awake aboard an airplane bound for Utah, finding herself thrust back to the very beginning of the holiday trip.
Trapped in a relentless time loop where one disastrous event after another continuously resets her journey back to the airplane, Mae must decipher the rules governing the anomaly. To break free from the temporal repetition and secure a future where she can finally find her true love under the mistletoe, she must confront her personal choices, understand her desires, and alter the trajectory of her life.
Detailed Cast and Crew Profiles
The principal cast assembled for In a Holidaze brings together a mix of established television and film veterans alongside rising young talent.
Maddie Ziegler takes on the lead role of Maelyn Jones. Ziegler first rose to international prominence through her appearances on the reality television series Dance Moms, under the tutelage of Abby Lee Miller. She subsequently transitioned into a multifaceted career spanning high-profile collaborations with recording artist Sia—including starring roles in music videos and the feature film Music—as well as dramatic and comedic film roles. Her cinematic credits include notable performances in To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, and Pretty Lethal.
Rob Lowe joins the ensemble with a distinguished, decades-long career encompassing critically acclaimed television series such as The West Wing, Parks and Recreation, and 9-1-1: Lone Star. His extensive filmography includes iconic titles such as St. Elmo’s Fire, Wayne’s World, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, and Behind the Candelabra. Lowe maintains an ongoing collaborative relationship with Netflix, having previously starred in four platform projects, including the scripted comedy series Unstable and the biographical drama film Dog Gone.
Graham Phillips portrays the character Andrew. Phillips is widely recognized by television audiences for his portrayal of Zach Florrick in the legal drama series The Good Wife, as well as his recurring role as Nick St. Clair in The CW’s Riverdale. His film credits feature appearances in Evan Almighty and Blockers, while his prior Netflix contributions include roles in Atypical, XOXO, and Yes Day.
Elias Kacavas rounds out the core cast announcements, bringing experience from prominent television dramas such as the HBO teen drama Euphoria, the CBS action series Fire Country, and the Max thriller Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin.
Production Timeline and Development History
The genesis of In a Holidaze dates back to the massive commercial success of Christina Lauren’s 2020 holiday novel, which quickly resonated with readers and captured a spot on the New York Times bestseller list. The transition from page to screen officially gained momentum when industry reports in late 2024 confirmed that Tiffany Paulsen and Netflix were developing a feature adaptation of the book.
The production timeline moved steadily through pre-production throughout late 2025, culminating in principal photography in the winter months of early 2026. Choosing the picturesque landscapes of Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, provided the necessary snow-covered aesthetic required to authentically replicate the Utah cabin setting described in the source material. With filming concluding in mid-March 2026, the film entered an extended post-production phase spanning over eight months, allowing visual effects supervisors and editors ample time to refine the intricate time-loop transitions and comedic beats essential to the narrative structure.
Strategic Importance for Netflix’s Holiday Content Strategy
The release of In a Holidaze on December 2, 2026, underscores Netflix’s continued strategic focus on dominating the year-end holiday entertainment market. Over the past decade, the streaming service has cultivated a distinct sub-genre of original Christmas romantic comedies, leveraging recognizable talent, high-production-value winter settings, and comforting romantic tropes to draw millions of global viewers during the peak holiday viewing season.
By selecting an established literary property with a dedicated built-in fanbase, Netflix mitigates the inherent risks associated with original IP. Bestselling book adaptations often arrive with preexisting communities of readers who serve as vocal advocates upon release. Furthermore, the incorporation of the time loop trope—a narrative device popularized by sci-fi and comedy classics like Groundhog Day—adds a contemporary and inventive twist to the traditional holiday romance formula. This structural choice broadens the film’s appeal beyond standard rom-com enthusiasts, potentially attracting viewers who enjoy high-concept narrative puzzles.
Industry Implications and Expectations
The collaboration between veteran screenwriter and director Tiffany Paulsen and romance powerhouse authors Christina Lauren represents a deliberate effort by Netflix to elevate the quality and commercial viability of its romantic comedy slate. Paulsen’s prior experience directing Holidate for Netflix demonstrated her capacity to navigate festive themes with a commercially successful comedic tone, while the writing pedigree of Billings and Hobbs ensures faithfulness to the emotional core and humorous dialogue that endeared the novel to millions of fans.
As the December 2026 global premiere approaches, anticipation among literary fans and streaming audiences alike continues to build. With a confirmed release date, a finalized principal cast, and completed principal photography, In a Holidaze stands positioned as one of Netflix’s premier tentpole offerings for the 2026 holiday season, promising a blend of romantic aspiration, seasonal nostalgia, and temporal chaos.
