The Real Reason Holidate Was Filmed In Chicago

It may not even be Halloween yet, but that doesn't mean Netflix is ready to wait any longer on the holiday festivities. The streaming service dropped the holiday-themed romantic comedy Holidate on October 28th, 2020, and if you've become jaded about what's expected of people during this time of year, then it's the perfect rom-com in which to bask. 

The movie follows Sloane (Emma Roberts) and Jackson (Luke Bracey), who have both become disenchanted with the holiday season due to the constant pressure from their families to find mates to bring to various functions throughout the year. While the arrangement begins with the two agreeing to be each other's platonic dates, they soon develop feelings for each other, and, well, you'll have to watch the movie on Netflix to see if they end up sharing a kiss under the mistletoe. 

There are a lot of familiar faces who pop up in the movie, including Kristin Chenoweth, Mikaela Hoover, Jake Manley, and Cynthy Wu. Something else that may look familiar throughout the film is the city of Chicago. Many of the outdoor scenes depict the Windy City in all its glory despite many of the indoor scenes being filmed in Atlanta (via The Chicago Tribune). There's a litany of locations in which Sloane and Jackson could have fallen in love. Why the decision to set the movie in Chicago? 

Thanks to a recent interview with screenwriter Tiffany Paulsen in the Tribune, we now know why Chicago was the perfect locale for Holidate. It turns out there's nowhere better to fall in love.

Tiffany Paulsen may be a native of Washington state, but she actually lived in Chicago for five years. She knows the city well and knew right from the start it was the perfect location in which to set a movie that spans an entire year. As Paulsen told The Chicago Tribune, "Because the hook of the romance was a year of dates, I knew I wanted to set the story in a city that would really reflect the change in seasons. Snowy winters, fall foliage, summer fun on the lake!" From New Year's Day all the way to Christmas, Holidate sees our two lovers-who-don't-know-they're-lovers-yet spend an entire year together. Chicago has the perfect weather to show the passing of the seasons and keep things aesthetically interesting throughout the movie. 

That's not the only reason, however, that Paulsen chose Chicago: "Additionally, Chicago loves the holidays! From famously turning the river green on St. Patty's Day, to the lights on Michigan Avenue at Christmas, I knew aesthetically it would tick all the boxes to really highlight each one of the holiday celebrations!" There's always something to do in Chicago, and considering Sloane and Jackson find themselves in everything from family functions to raucous parties, Chicago definitely has everything they would need to ring in each special occasion with style. 

If you're a Chicago native, then you'll likely recognize at least a few locations seen throughout the film. In the event you've never visited the Windy City, then let this movie inspire you to put it on your bucket list. Holidate is now available to watch on Netflix.