Every December, a familiar rotation of holiday films returns to the spotlight — from Elf to Home Alone to The Holiday. But this year, one movie no one expected to re-emerge has suddenly found itself back in the cultural conversation: This Christmas, the 2007 family dramedy featuring a young Idris Elba, has become a surprise streaming hit on Pluto TV — and that means it’s free. The film — which many viewers either forgot existed or never knew about in the first place — is experiencing a major comeback thanks to holiday watchlists and renewed interest in Elba’s early career. What was once a modest box-office performer has now leapt into the streaming Top 10 on multiple platforms, proving that sometimes all a movie needs is time, nostalgia, and the perfect seasonal vibe.

This Christmas follows the Whitfield family as they reunite for the holidays for the first time in years. Sparks fly (and occasionally furniture), secrets come to light, romances are rekindled, and the family slowly rediscovers what holding each other together actually means. The ensemble cast includes Regina King, Delroy Lindo, Loretta Devine, Columbus Short, Chris Brown, and Lauren London, all delivering warm, lived-in performances that blend comedy, heartache, and holiday chaos. At the time of release, the film earned solid audience scores but never quite broke through into annual Christmas rotation. The synopsis reads:

“At holiday time, family matriarch Ma’Dere Whitfield (Loretta Devine) assembles her large brood for their first reunion in four years. However, family ties show signs of strain when various secrets come to light, especially concerning Marine Claude’s (Columbus Short) true military status, Quentin’s (Idris Elba) debts and teenage Baby’s (Chris Brown) secret plans to become a singer.”

Is ‘This Christmas’ Worth Watching?

The esteemed Roger Ebert gave the film 3 stars out of 4 in his review, hailing it for effectively telling a simple story. He praised the cast, labeling Devine as “irreplaceable,” adding that the music in the film gave it an extra polish and claimed it would be the most memorable part of the experience for audiences. Ebert summed up:

“This is a movie about African Americans, but it’s not “an African-American movie.” It’s an American movie, about a rambunctious family that has no more problems than any other family, but simply happens to discover and grapple with them in about 48 hours. What’s surprising is how well Whitmore, the director, manages to direct traffic. He’s got one crisis cooling, another problem exploding, a third dilemma gathering steam and people exchanging significant looks about secrets still not introduced. It’s sort of a screwball-comedy effect, but with a heart.”

This Christmas is streaming now on Pluto, so hang up the mistletoe and get to know everyone better.