Netflix has locked in December 2, 2026 as the streaming date for In a Holidaze, a new Christmas romantic comedy led by Maddie Ziegler and Rob Lowe, and the first trailer is already out. The film, written and directed by Tiffany Paulsen, puts a holiday spin on one of cinema’s most reliable premises: the time loop.
What is In a Holidaze about?
The story follows Mae — full name Maelyn Jones — a directionless twentysomething who commits a romantic mistake of epic proportions and wakes up to find herself trapped in a holiday time loop. She is forced to relive the same Christmas at her family’s cabin over and over, and the loop only breaks when she figures out what truly makes her happy.
Time-loop Christmas movies have become something of a genre unto themselves, but the premise here is pointed inward: the loop is less about perfecting a day and more about forcing Mae to confront the mistake she made and the life she has been sleepwalking through.
The cast of In a Holidaze
Maddie Ziegler stars as Mae. The former Dance Moms breakout — known worldwide from Sia’s “Chandelier” video, Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, and the coming-of-age comedy My Old Ass — continues her run of screen leads here.
Rob Lowe co-stars as Benny. Lowe, whose career spans St. Elmo’s Fire, The West Wing, and Parks and Recreation, also serves as an executive producer on the film.
They are joined by Graham Phillips as Andrew and Elias Kacavas as Theo. Phillips is known for The Good Wife, Riverdale, and Blockers, while Kacavas has appeared in Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, Euphoria, and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3.
The ensemble rounds out with Patton Oswalt, Jackie Sandler, Andrea Anders, Gil Bellows, Meredith Salenger, Christopher Shyer, Samer Salem, and Luke Roessler.
The creative team behind the film
Tiffany Paulsen wrote and directed the film. Paulsen previously directed and wrote Winter Spring Summer or Fall and wrote the Netflix holiday hit Holidate, so In a Holidaze marks her return to the Christmas romance lane — this time with a screenwriting credit too.
The story is based on the novel of the same name by the bestselling duo Christina Lauren (Lauren Billings co-credit). The film is produced by Leslie Morgenstein and Elysa Koplovitz Dutton of Alloy Entertainment, with Dutton Billings, Galen Fletcher, and Rob Lowe on board as executive producers. Behind the camera, Graham Robbins handles cinematography, Simon Davidson edits, and Zac Rae composes the music.
Why a Christmas time loop — and why now
The time loop has proven durable holiday currency. Groundhog Day wrote the rulebook, Palm Springs proved the device still had juice, and Netflix has built a small tradition of December releases that treat the premise as a vehicle for self-discovery rather than comedy set-pieces. Dropping In a Holidaze on December 2 plants the film at the very start of the holiday streaming season, when the audience for exactly this kind of movie is at its peak.
There is also a casting logic to the timing. Ziegler is drawing young-adult audiences who grew up with her on social media and screens, while Lowe remains one of the most bankable faces in holiday and family viewing. The film is built to be discovered by both ends of that demographic in a single browse session.
What happens next
In a Holidaze streams on Netflix on December 2, 2026. The trailer is out now, and Netflix typically drops these titles globally on day one — expect it to be available in all territories on the morning of release. For a film built on a ticking-clock premise, it has landed in the sweet spot of the calendar.
FAQ
- When is In a Holidaze released? The film premieres on Netflix on December 2, 2026.
- Who stars in In a Holidaze? Maddie Ziegler plays Mae, with Rob Lowe as Benny. The cast also includes Graham Phillips, Elias Kacavas, Patton Oswalt, Jackie Sandler, Andrea Anders, Gil Bellows, Meredith Salenger, Christopher Shyer, Samer Salem, and Luke Roessler.
- Who directed In a Holidaze? Tiffany Paulsen wrote and directed it; she previously wrote the Netflix holiday comedy Holidate.
- Is In a Holidaze based on a book? Yes. The story is based on the novel by bestselling authors Christina Lauren.
- Where can I watch the In a Holidaze trailer? Netflix released the first trailer alongside the announcement; it is streaming on Netflix’s official channels now.