The Holiday Rom-Com Defying Odds And Killing It On Netflix In The Off-Season

In the past few years, Netflix has gone all in on original Christmas movies. The streaming platform even gives Hallmark a run for its money with the sheer quantity of heartwarming holiday films it cranks out, including such rewatchable favorites as "Holidate" and "The Christmas Chronicles." Naturally, these movies do best toward the end of the year in the lead-up to the holidays, but one film is defying the odds and cracked into Netflix's Top 10 movies in April. 

"The Best Man Holiday" was added to Netflix's catalog on April 16, and it didn't take much time for viewers to catch on. Despite being set around the holidays, audiences just wanted to get in on the fun. The movie follows a group of college friends who reunite 15 years later to spend Christmas together, kicking off old romances and rivalries. It's a great pick-me-up film when you're in the mood for listening to "Can You Stand the Rain" by New Edition, so everyone can get in on the fun and check out this holiday romp.

It's easy to see why people gravitate toward "The Best Man Holiday," even if it is a bit out of season. It was an immensely popular film when it first came out in 2013, making it one of the best Christmas films of the last decade. It grossed $72 million in theaters when it was initially released off of a budget of $17 million. It also received great reviews from critics and audiences alike, who thoroughly enjoyed both the comedic and dramatic elements of the film.

The sequel to the 1999 movie "The Best Man" brings together a talented cast, who are certainly a highlight of the story. Micheal Compton of Bowling Green Daily News praised the actors for their dedication, writing, "'The Best Man Holiday' works – largely because of its cast. The actors feel at home with these characters. They are having fun, and that fun is transferred to the audience." While there's certainly fun to be had, "The Best Man Holiday" also carries a ton of pathos and may just bring a tear to your eye before the story ends.

It doesn't matter what time of year it is; audiences want to see good movies. Perhaps "The Best Man Holiday" climbing the Netflix charts will give the streaming platform incentive to experiment more broadly with when to bring certain films to its subscribers.