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I'll Be Home for Christmas

  • 1998
  • PG
  • 1h 26m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
13K
YOUR RATING
Jonathan Taylor Thomas in I'll Be Home for Christmas (1998)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer1:59
1 Video
26 Photos
Holiday ComedyHoliday FamilyRoad TripComedyFamilyHoliday

A college student faces an impossible journey when he is left stranded in the desert, thousands of miles from home, with no money and only a few days left until Christmas.A college student faces an impossible journey when he is left stranded in the desert, thousands of miles from home, with no money and only a few days left until Christmas.A college student faces an impossible journey when he is left stranded in the desert, thousands of miles from home, with no money and only a few days left until Christmas.

  • Director
    • Arlene Sanford
  • Writers
    • Tom Nursall
    • Harris Goldberg
    • Michael Allin
  • Stars
    • Jonathan Taylor Thomas
    • Jessica Biel
    • Adam LaVorgna
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.6/10
    13K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Arlene Sanford
    • Writers
      • Tom Nursall
      • Harris Goldberg
      • Michael Allin
    • Stars
      • Jonathan Taylor Thomas
      • Jessica Biel
      • Adam LaVorgna
    • 73User reviews
    • 42Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:59
    Official Trailer

    Photos26

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    + 19
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    Top cast54

    Edit
    Jonathan Taylor Thomas
    Jonathan Taylor Thomas
    • Jake
    Jessica Biel
    Jessica Biel
    • Allie
    Adam LaVorgna
    Adam LaVorgna
    • Eddie
    Gary Cole
    Gary Cole
    • Jake's Dad
    Eve Gordon
    Eve Gordon
    • Carolyn
    Lauren Maltby
    • Tracey
    Andy Lauer
    Andy Lauer
    • Nolan
    • (as Andrew Lauer)
    Sean O'Bryan
    Sean O'Bryan
    • Max
    Lesley Boone
    Lesley Boone
    • Marjorie
    Amzie Strickland
    Amzie Strickland
    • Tom Tom Girl Mary
    Natalie Barish
    • Tom Tom Girl Darlene
    Mark de la Cruz
    • Esteban
    • (as Mark De La Cruz)
    Kathleen Freeman
    Kathleen Freeman
    • Tom Tom Girl Gloria
    Jack Kenny
    Jack Kenny
    • Gabby
    Celia Kushner
    • Tom Tom Girl Mama
    Blair Slater
    • Ian
    P.J. Prinsloo
    P.J. Prinsloo
    • The Brandt-Man
    • (as P.J. Prinslow)
    Kevin Hansen
    Kevin Hansen
    • The Murph-Man
    • Director
      • Arlene Sanford
    • Writers
      • Tom Nursall
      • Harris Goldberg
      • Michael Allin
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews73

    5.612.7K
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    Featured reviews

    6daumas

    Just relax and enjoy it a little...

    OK. You can't expect a new "Miracle on the 34th street" here. But I like the Christmas season and the movies that are carried on with it. But the most important for me: My 9 yo son laughed a lot.....
    ryanjw

    This isn't a Jingle all the Way, but it'll do.

    Don't get me wrong, this is a great movie... But it's not one you can watch over and over.. This movie isn't a Jingle all the Way :) But, if you're in the mood for a christmas movie, watch it, you'll like it. There are some funny parts, not too many serious parts, if any.. But there are some funny things in it.
    rjbron21

    A holiday movie worth watching on a cold, snowy day!!!

    I'll Be Home for Christmas is a holiday movie worth watching on a cold, snowy day. Jonathan Taylor Thomas plays "Jake", a college student in California, who's bribed by his father to come home, in New York, for Christmas. Jessica Biel plays "Allie", who is Jake's love interest in the movie. Jake drives, hitchhikes, flies, and finally rides his way back home in a one horse open sliegh. Along his journey home, Jake learns the true meaning of Christmas. In my opinion, I'll Be Home for Christmas is the best Christmas movie that I've seen in a long time.
    7r96sk

    Fine festive viewing

    Well intentioned Christmas film, just a little undercooked.

    Jonathan Taylor Thomas is the lead of 'I'll Be Home for Christmas' and he's pretty good, especially at playing the cocky school kid. I feel his arc is satisfactory, though it would've been nice if there was a longer spell of him realising/correcting his behaviour.

    Still, I feel there's enough in there to justify the (predictable) happy ending. I, also, like the road trip elements. Elsewhere on the cast, a young Jessica Biel appears as Allie. She's solid, as is Adam LaVorgna as Eddie. It's also noteworthy to see Gary Cole involved.

    It's nothing impactful or anything, but it's fine festive viewing.
    MusicalMagpie

    well and good, but...

    rules are all very well and good, but why should I have to write at least 10 lines about a movie when others have extensively critiqued it already, and all I want to do is disagree with the bad reviews? Sheesh. I almost didn't watch this film, after reading some of the comments here, but as it was on TV and I had nothing better to do, I ignored the bad reviews and was glad I did. Sure, it is lightweight and the plot is a bit far-fetched, but so what? It is a Christmas movie, folks, nothing more, nothing less. Jonathan Taylor Thonas strikes just the right note as a college student trying to get home for Christmas, and learning to shed his selfish, self-centered attitudes as he does. There were some genuinely funny moments, a lot of touching moments, and the only fart joke I have ever laughed at. The great scenery (parts of BC and Alberta pretending to be various locations in a cross-country race across the USA) added to the enjoyment of the film. I was just going to say "Ignore the bad reviews, I liked it" but I had to pad it out . IMDb, don't you know that brevity is the soul of wit?

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    Related interests

    Chevy Chase in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
    Holiday Comedy
    Phylicia Rashad in Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)
    Holiday Family
    Sasha Lane in American Honey (2016)
    Road Trip
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family
    James Stewart, Donna Reed, Beulah Bondi, Carol Coombs, Karolyn Grimes, and Thomas Mitchell in It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
    Holiday

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Although both Jake and Allie are college students, Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Jessica Biel were both minors at the time of the film.
    • Goofs
      There's no reason for Eddie to drive through Wisconsin where the Santa run happens when traveling from California to Larchmont, NY.
    • Quotes

      Allie: [Reluctantly agreeing to go home with Eddie] First the ground rules. If you say too many stupid things, I'll have to slug you. If you say anything nasty about Jake, I'll have to slug you. If you try to feel me up, I'll have to slug you. If you make me listen to any sexist, racist, or homophobic jokes, I'm gonna have to slug you. And finally, I might just have to slug you from time to time, simply because I find the prospect of driving across the country with you incredibly stressful!

      Eddie: All right. Sounds like a party to me.

    • Crazy credits
      On the Walt Disney Pictures logo, as soon as the curving line is created, Christmas lights appear and flash continuously all over it.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Meet Joe Black/I'll Be Home for Christmas/Dancing at Lughnasa/I Still Know What You Did Last Summer/Velvet Goldmine (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Cool Yule
      Written by Steve Allen

      Produced by Bill Barnett and Steve Perry

      Performed by Cherry Poppin' Daddies

      Courtesy of Mojo Records, J.V.

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    FAQ18

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 13, 1998 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Canada
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Vuelve a casa por Navidad, si puedes...
    • Filming locations
      • Canmore, Alberta, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Walt Disney Pictures
      • Mandeville Films
      • Kyra Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $30,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $12,214,338
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,898,293
      • Nov 15, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $12,214,338
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 26m(86 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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