Set in 1970, the film follows Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti), a universally disliked, ancient history teacher at a posh New England prep school. Because he has no family and nowhere to go, he’s stuck "holding over" on campus during Christmas break to supervise the students who can't go home.

Eventually, it’s just him, a rebellious but brilliant student named Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa), and the school’s head cook, Mary Lamb (Da'Vine Joy Randolph), who is mourning the recent death of her son in the Vietnam War. It’s a "found family" story that manages to be hilarious and heartbreaking without ever feeling like a cheesy Hallmark card.

It’s rare for a "prestige" Oscar-winning movie to actually resonate with Gen Z, but The Holdovers has managed to break through.

First, there’s the "Aesthetic." The film was shot to look exactly like a movie from the 70s—grainy film stock, retro title cards, and a cozy, melancholic soundtrack. For a generation obsessed with vintage vibes and "old money" winter fashion, this movie is visual catnip.

Second, the character of Angus Tully feels incredibly real. He isn't a "movie teen" who talks in scripted quips; he’s a kid dealing with a messy family life, a sense of abandonment, and the crushing weight of being "the weird kid" at school. Teens who feel like they’re living in a world of "Ohio" nonsense (yes, I used it) will relate to Angus’s feeling that everyone around him is slightly out of their minds.

When parents see that "R" on a movie poster, the mind usually goes to Deadpool or Saw. The Holdovers is not that. It’s an R-rated movie for grown-ups, not for shock value.

This is the big one. Paul Giamatti’s character is a master of the "creative insult." You will hear the F-word frequently, along with various other colorful descriptors. If your household has a zero-tolerance policy for swearing, this movie will be a non-starter. However, if your teen has a smartphone or spends five minutes on a Discord server, they have heard much worse.

It’s the 1970s, so there is a fair amount of drinking and smoking. Paul Hunham rarely goes anywhere without a glass of whiskey, and Mary uses cigarettes to cope with her grief. There is one scene where Angus and Paul share a drink, but the movie doesn't glamorize it—it treats it as a moment of human connection between two lonely people.

There is a scene where a character is seen looking at a vintage "adult" magazine, but you don't actually see graphic nudity. There is some sexual dialogue and references to "getting lucky," but no sex scenes.

This is the "heavy" part that actually matters more than the language. The movie deals with depression, the loss of a child, and the reality of living with a parent who has a severe mental illness. It’s handled with incredible grace, but it might be triggering for kids who are currently navigating similar family dynamics.

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While the rating says 17+, we’re going to be real with you: most 14-year-olds are more than mature enough for this.

We talk a lot about "brain rot" and the way short-form content like TikTok is shrinking our kids' attention spans. The Holdovers is the antidote to that. It’s a "slow" movie. It requires you to sit with uncomfortable emotions.

Watching a movie like this with your teen is an exercise in digital wellness. It’s 133 minutes of focused attention on a human story. It’s also a great way to talk about empathy. Why is the teacher so mean? Why is the kid so defensive? What does it feel like to be the only person left behind during the holidays?

If you decide to watch it together, here are a few ways to spark a conversation that isn't just "So, did you like it?":

Get more conversation starters for family movie night

If the profanity is a dealbreaker for your family, but you want that same "coming of age/prep school" vibe, check these out:

The Holdovers is one of those rare films that actually earns its place in the "must-watch" category. It’s not "brain rot," it’s not a 2-hour commercial for a toy line, and it’s not trying to sell your kid a subscription to Roblox.

It is a movie about being human, being lonely, and being kind anyway. If you can get past the F-bombs, it might be the best movie you watch with your teen this year.

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