The Holiday
Two women, one American and one British, swap homes at Christmastime following bad breakups. Each woman finds romance with a local man but realizes that the imminent return home may end the relationship.
Despite a considerable budget of $85.0M, The Holiday became a financial success, earning $205.2M worldwide—a 141% return.
2 wins & 12 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Holiday (2006) exhibits carefully calibrated story structure, characteristic of Nancy Meyers's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 16 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.5, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Amanda discovers her boyfriend Ethan cheating on her at the office Christmas party. In parallel, Iris learns Jasper has gotten engaged to another woman despite their long affair. Both women are emotionally devastated in their respective worlds.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 17 minutes when Iris breaks down at her desk after Jasper announces his engagement. In desperation, she searches online for an escape and discovers HomeExchange.com, finding Amanda's luxurious LA house. Amanda simultaneously seeks escape from her breakup.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 33 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Both women board their respective flights, actively choosing to enter unknown territory. Amanda flies to England; Iris flies to Los Angeles. They cross into each other's worlds, committing to the exchange and the possibility of transformation., moving from reaction to action.
At 69 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat False victory: Amanda and Graham spend New Year's Eve together with his daughters, and Amanda feels genuine connection for the first time. Iris attends a movie party with Miles and feels like a leading lady. Both relationships deepen, raising stakes—but old patterns threaten to return., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 101 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Amanda prepares to flee back to LA early, unable to handle real emotion and Graham's complexity. She calls for a car service, reverting to her pattern of running from vulnerability. This represents the death of her potential transformation and new life with Graham., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 109 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Amanda stops the car and returns to Graham, choosing vulnerability and love over fear. She synthesizes her professional competence with newfound emotional availability. Iris firmly rejects Jasper, choosing self-respect over comfortable suffering. Both women integrate their lessons., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Holiday's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping The Holiday against these established plot points, we can identify how Nancy Meyers utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Holiday within the comedy genre.
Nancy Meyers's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Nancy Meyers films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Holiday takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Nancy Meyers filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Nancy Meyers analyses, see It's Complicated, Something's Gotta Give and The Parent Trap.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Amanda discovers her boyfriend Ethan cheating on her at the office Christmas party. In parallel, Iris learns Jasper has gotten engaged to another woman despite their long affair. Both women are emotionally devastated in their respective worlds.
Theme
Arthur tells Iris: "In the movies, we have leading ladies and we have the best friend. You, I can tell, are a leading lady, but for some reason you're behaving like the best friend." The theme: claiming your own story instead of supporting someone else's.
Worldbuilding
Amanda runs a successful movie trailer company in Los Angeles but cannot cry and fears emotional vulnerability. Iris works at The Daily Telegraph in Surrey, pining for Jasper who uses her affection without commitment. Both women are stuck in unhealthy patterns.
Disruption
Iris breaks down at her desk after Jasper announces his engagement. In desperation, she searches online for an escape and discovers HomeExchange.com, finding Amanda's luxurious LA house. Amanda simultaneously seeks escape from her breakup.
Resistance
The women debate whether to take the leap. They exchange tentative emails, negotiate terms, and overcome doubts. This culminates in both women making travel arrangements and preparing to leave their lives behind for two weeks over Christmas.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Both women board their respective flights, actively choosing to enter unknown territory. Amanda flies to England; Iris flies to Los Angeles. They cross into each other's worlds, committing to the exchange and the possibility of transformation.
Mirror World
Iris meets elderly screenwriter Arthur Abbott, her neighbor in Amanda's community, who becomes her mentor. In parallel, Amanda meets Graham, Iris's brother, who crashes drunk at his sister's cottage. These relationships will teach both women what they need to learn.
Premise
The "fun and games" of the premise: Amanda explores quaint English village life and develops unexpected feelings for Graham despite her commitment phobia. Iris revels in LA luxury, befriends Arthur, and meets film composer Miles. Both women discover joy in their mirror worlds.
Midpoint
False victory: Amanda and Graham spend New Year's Eve together with his daughters, and Amanda feels genuine connection for the first time. Iris attends a movie party with Miles and feels like a leading lady. Both relationships deepen, raising stakes—but old patterns threaten to return.
Opposition
Complications intensify: Graham reveals he's a widower with children, triggering Amanda's fear of commitment. Jasper arrives in LA to win Iris back, exploiting her old weakness. Miles's ex-girlfriend creates tension. Both women face tests of their growth as their old lives intrude on new possibilities.
Collapse
Amanda prepares to flee back to LA early, unable to handle real emotion and Graham's complexity. She calls for a car service, reverting to her pattern of running from vulnerability. This represents the death of her potential transformation and new life with Graham.
Crisis
Amanda sits in the car, tears streaming down her face—crying for the first time in years. She processes the choice before her: return to emotional safety or risk heartbreak. Iris simultaneously confronts Jasper, processing whether to return to old patterns or claim her worth.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Amanda stops the car and returns to Graham, choosing vulnerability and love over fear. She synthesizes her professional competence with newfound emotional availability. Iris firmly rejects Jasper, choosing self-respect over comfortable suffering. Both women integrate their lessons.
Synthesis
Amanda and Graham reunite and commit to trying a relationship despite the distance. Iris returns to Surrey transformed, and Miles follows her to England. Arthur is honored at a Writer's Guild ceremony with Iris by his side. All relationships are resolved with the women as empowered leading ladies.
Transformation
Final image mirrors the opening: but now Iris walks confidently past Jasper at the Telegraph without a glance, her arm linked with Miles. Amanda prepares for Graham's LA visit with joy rather than fear. Both women have become the leading ladies of their own stories.