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HOLIDAY SCREEN TIME
How Americans Watch, Spend, & Celebrate with Movies
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The holiday season is when screens glow a little brighter. Families gather, traditions come alive, and favorite films set the mood. But what does holiday viewing really look like in 2025, and how much are Americans investing in it?
To find out, Octane Seating surveyed 1,000 Americans nationwide. From nostalgic rewatches to record hours on streaming platforms, the results reveal just how central holiday movies are to the way we celebrate.
KEY FINDINGS
of Americans expect to pay $50 or more for streaming services this holiday season.
Netflix Dominates Holiday Streaming with 62% Market Share.
of Americans choose “Home Alone” as their all-time favorite classic holiday movie.
of Americans have participated in full-day or weekend holiday movie marathons.
41% believe it’s fine to watch holiday movies before or immediately after Halloween, while 59% prefer waiting until Thanksgiving week or later.
of Americans watch four or more hours of holiday-themed movies per week during the season.
maintain the tradition of going to movie theaters during major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
STREAMING BECOMES A MAJOR HOLIDAY EXPENSE
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Holiday budgets aren’t just for gifts and travel. Streaming subscriptions are climbing the list.
56% of Americans expect to spend $50 or more on streaming services this holiday season.
Even with rising costs, people are still willing to pay for the comfort of holiday entertainment.
30% of Americans recognize that costs have increased, but are still willing to pay for a subscription.
of Americans will spend
on streaming this holiday season
Most agree that seasonal streaming is worth the expense, proving that entertainment has become a non-negotiable part of holiday traditions.
That’s a serious chunk of holiday budgets going straight to screens. Entertainment is no longer just an add-on; it’s a holiday essential. For many, the real luxury is being able to enjoy it all from the comfort of home.
THE HOLIDAY DEBATE
REWATCH CLASSICS, OR FIND SOMETHING NEW?
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Do you queue up the same movies every year, or do you scroll for something new?
maintain the tradition of going to movie theaters during major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
prefer to discover new ones.
This tug-of-war between nostalgia and novelty is what makes holiday entertainment so unique. Classics like Home Alone never leave the rotation, but streaming platforms are investing heavily in originals to win over younger audiences. The challenge? Most viewers lean heavily toward the comfort of rewatching, making it tough for newcomers to break into the seasonal lineup.
Whether on the big screen or in a premium recliner designed for marathon viewing, the home theater is where the season comes alive.
NETFLIX IS THE HOLIDAY FAVORITE
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When you think of holidays, you may think of Hallmark movies, but Netflix is the streaming service that owns the holiday spotlight.
of Americans say they rely on Netflix for holiday content.
of Americans stream movies from Hallmark Movies Now or Hallmark+
Even with heavy competition from Disney+, Hulu, and Prime Video, Netflix remains the centerpiece of the seasonal streaming landscape. For audiences, it’s the comfort of finding everything in one place on a streaming platform many already own.
It’s also driving behavior across platforms: many Americans admit to signing up for new services just to access holiday programming. That means festive content doesn’t just entertain, it reshapes subscription patterns every year.
HOLIDAY MOVIES ARE A FAMILY AFFAIR (BUT MANY STILL WATCH ALONE)
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Most people associate holiday movies with family gatherings, and the data backs it up.
watch with their immediate family
watch alone
For many households, holiday movies are a bonding ritual with spouses and children. Yet more than one in four say they watch alone, pointing to the role of holiday films as personal comfort viewing too. Extended family and friends make up a much smaller share, which shows that holiday screen time is overwhelmingly a home-centered, family-first tradition.
HOME ALONE STILL REIGNS AS AMERICA’S FAVORITE HOLIDAY MOVIE
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Some movies are so tied to the holidays that they become rituals.
of Americans named Home Alone their favorite holiday classic.
The
1990
The 1990 hit still rules the season more than three decades later. Other films like Elf, The Grinch, and It’s a Wonderful Life remain close contenders, but none top Kevin McCallister’s holiday antics. Generational divides also show younger audiences leaning toward more modern comedies, while older generations stick to black-and-white classics.
Together, it paints a picture of a season where nostalgia keeps old favorites alive while streaming platforms try to push new ones into the rotation.
SURPRISING STANDOUTS IN AMERICA’S FAVORITE HOLIDAY MOVIES
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While Home Alone is the star on top of the tree, other classics continue to shine in holiday lineups.
Other notable movies that didn’t quite make the cut (classified as “Other”) include Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Charlie Brown Christmas, and the ever-polarizing Die Hard.
HOLIDAY MARATHONS TURN LIVING ROOMS INTO ALL-DAY THEATERS
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The holiday binge-watch isn’t just about catching up on content. It’s about making an event out of it.
of Americans have participated in a full-day or weekend holiday movie marathon.
That’s hours of back-to-back entertainment, snacks, and family time. Combined with weekly viewing habits, marathons show how flexible holiday movies are, they can be both small nightly rituals and major all-day events.
WHEN DOES THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT START? AMERICANS ARE DIVIDED.
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start before or just after Halloween
wait until Thanksgiving or later.
start before or just after Halloween
wait until Thanksgiving or later.
For some, an early start stretches the season and keeps spirits high. For others, waiting makes the viewing feel special. Evenings and weekends emerged as the most popular times for holiday viewing, which shows how seasonal movies set the rhythm of daily life during November and December.
FOUR HOURS A WEEK: HOLIDAY MOVIES BECOME A SEASONAL ROUTINE
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Holiday movies aren’t just occasional viewing. They’re a weekly commitment.
of Americans watch four or more hours of holiday-themed movies each week during the season.
That’s two or more films every single week. For some, it’s an evening treat. For others, it’s a ritual that fills entire weekends. Combined with the popularity of marathons, it’s clear holiday screen time has become both routine and event-based. This kind of dedicated viewing calls for support that keeps comfort consistent, hour after hour.
HOLIDAY MOVIE OUTINGS STILL MATTER FOR NEARLY HALF OF FAMILIES
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Streaming may dominate, but theaters still play a role in holiday rituals.
say going to the movies on or around Thanksgiving or Christmas is a family tradition.
For many, it’s about more than the film itself. It’s the outing, the shared experience, and the sense of occasion. When asked where they prefer to watch brand-new holiday releases, Americans were split while some still love the big-screen debut, while others would rather wait for streaming.
The data shows the majority are recreating that same feeling in their own homes, where comfort and connection take center stage.
STREAMING SUBSCRIPTIONS RISE, THEN DROP AFTER THE HOLIDAYS
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Holiday movies may drive sign-ups, but the season doesn’t last forever.
of Americans cancel or pause their subscriptions once the holiday season ends.
It’s a seasonal cycle.
It’s a seasonal cycle. People join new platforms specifically for holiday content, then leave once the credits roll in January. That rise-and-fall subscription pattern highlights just how powerful holiday movies are in shaping platform loyalty. For households, it’s about making those few months of holiday magic worth every dollar and every viewing hour.
THE LIVING ROOM IS STILL AMERICA’S FAVORITE HOLIDAY THEATER
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Regardless of the platform they’re using, most Americans prefer to watch from the comfort of their own homes.
Nearly
of Americans say they’ll watch most of their holiday content at home.
That shift has reshaped what the holidays look like. Fewer crowded theaters, more cozy nights in. With the rise of advanced home setups, families can now enjoy cinema-level experiences from the comfort of their living rooms, complete with seating designed for comfort, durability, and years of enjoyment.
SUMMARY
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From nostalgic rewatches to all-day marathons, Americans are proving that holiday movies are more than entertainment. They bring people together, create rituals, and define the rhythm of the season.
Octane Seating exists at the center of those experiences. With the largest selection of premium home theater seating, engineered for durability and built for comfort, Octane helps families turn every holiday movie night into a cinematic experience at home. When the credits roll, the memories you make last far longer than the runtime.
SUMMARY
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To understand how Americans approach holiday entertainment and viewing habits, we surveyed 1,000 adults across the country who regularly watch movies or shows during the holiday season. Participants answered a series of questions about their favorite holiday films, streaming and theater behaviors, spending, and seasonal traditions. Responses were analyzed by demographic groups to identify trends and differences in how Americans celebrate the season on screen.
FAIR USE
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