A new Christmas film boasting an impressive ensemble cast has soared to the top of the Amazon Prime Video charts, despite being met with a barrage of negative reviews from critics and audiences alike.
A Festive Flop or Secret Success?
The movie "Oh. What. Fun." directed by Michael Showalter secured the number one spot on the platform's movie rankings as of December 18, 2025. This surge in viewership comes just as the holiday season reaches its peak, yet stands in stark contrast to its critical reception.
The film features a star-studded lineup including Michelle Pfeiffer, Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, Denis Leary, Dominic Sessa, Jason Schwartzman, Eva Longoria, and Joan Chen. It tells the story of Texas housewife Claire Clauser, played by Pfeiffer, who meticulously plans the perfect Christmas for her family only to be overlooked. Her subsequent disappearance during the festivities throws the family into chaos.
What Are the Critics Saying?
The critical consensus has been overwhelmingly harsh. The film holds a dismal 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an even lower 24% audience score on the Popcornmeter. Reviewers have universally panned its execution.
The critics' consensus on Rotten Tomatoes states the film stuffs its talent into a "puny stocking," weighed down by "murky holiday spirit and distracting product placement." Individual reviews were far less forgiving.
Variety lamented the movie's missed potential, wishing for a "slightly darker version simmering beneath the surface." The Travers Take was brutally succinct, calling it "Oh, What. C**p," and branding it a "flat, stilted, lazy" lump of coal stretched thin with Christmas clichés.
The Times noted a crisis in comedy, where jokes were replaced by "grating" oompah band rhythms, though it praised Pfeiffer's enduring charisma. The Associated Press compared the film to a last-minute, thoughtless birthday card.
The Hollywood Reporter summarised it as a generic, last-minute gift, "expensive-looking and tasteful, wholly unobjectionable and disappointingly generic." Meanwhile, The Guardian delivered a cutting analysis, suggesting the film was less about entertainment and more about "the marketing of a soulless Q4 Amazon product."
Behind the Scenes: The Cast's Perspective
In the lead-up to the film's release, star Jason Schwartzman offered his own defence of the project. He suggested that many Christmas films fail by being "too sweet" to resonate. He positioned "Oh. What. Fun." as a blend of sweet, sad, and funny elements, arguing it was refreshing to focus a holiday narrative on the mother's experience.
"Finally, let's see a movie about the mom and all the s**t that's going on," Schwartzman told TheWrap, highlighting the stress and preparation that often goes unseen.
Despite the torrent of criticism, the film's chart-topping performance demonstrates a clear disconnect between critical opinion and viewer choice during the festive period. "Oh. What. Fun." is available to stream now on Amazon Prime Video.
