I’ll Be Home for Christmas (1998): Cast, Box Office & Plot
I’ll Be Home for Christmas is a 1998 family comedy directed by Arlene Sanford, starring Jonathan Taylor Thomas as Jake, David Neale and J. B. Bivens. It runs 1 hour 26 minutes and earned $12.2 million worldwide on a $30 million budget.
- worldwide gross
- $12.2M
- budget
- $30M
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 26m (86 min)
- Director
- Arlene Sanford
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Walt Disney Pictures
- Budget
- $30M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is I’ll Be Home for Christmas About?
The premise of I’ll Be Home for Christmas without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
College student Jake, estranged from his father, is drawn back to New York for Christmas with the promise of a classic Porsche. After a bullying football team abandons him in the desert wearing a Santa suit, he loses his ID and money, forcing a desperate trek home. Meanwhile, his girlfriend Allie, unaware of his whereabouts, accepts a cross‑country ride from Jake’s rival Eddie.
I’ll Be Home for Christmas Cast & Characters
Jonathan Taylor Thomas leads the cast as Jake, with David Neale as Running Santa and J. B. Bivens as Port-A-Potty Santa. Directed by Arlene Sanford; 53 actors are credited in all.
- Director Arlene Sanford
- Jonathan Taylor Thomas as Jake
- David Neale as Running Santa
- J. B. Bivens as Port-A-Potty Santa
- Ernie Jackson as Kenyan Santa
Also Starring in I’ll Be Home for Christmas
· 49 more- Jessica Biel Allie
- Graeme Kingston Pizza Eating Santa
- Mike Battie Santa on Stilts
- Adam LaVorgna Eddie
- Andrew Lauer Nolan
- Sean O'Bryan Max
- Lesley Boone Marjorie
- Manami Hara Edelbruck Clerk
- Lauren Maltby Tracey
- Kathleen Freeman Tom Tom Girl Gloria
- Amzie Strickland Tom Tom Girl Mary
- Natalie Barish Tom Tom Girl Darlene
- Celia Kushner Tom Tom Girl Mama
- Ian Robison Mayor Wilson
- Blair Slater Ian
- Gary Cole Jake's Dad
Show all 53 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Eileen Pedde Turf 'n Turf Customer #3
- Jack Kenny Gabby
- Nicole Oliver Ticket Agent
- Dolores Drake Fraulein Maid
- Tom Heaton Turf 'n Turf Customer #2
- Peter Kelamis Conway the Bus Driver
- Mark Acheson Sandwich Passenger
- Cathy Weseluck Wendy Richards
- Christine Willes Race Official
- Eve Gordon Carolyn
- Michael P. Northey Freight Handler
- Kurt Max Runte Taxi Driver
- Dmitry Chepovetsky Angel
- Brendan Beiser Bellhop
- Tasha Simms Parade Manager
- Betty Linde Older Lady on the Bus
- P.J. Prinsloo The Brandt-Man
- Annette Reilly Nose Strip Girl
- Bart Anderson Turf 'n Turf Customer #1
- Alexandria Mitchell Little Girl In Hospital
- Eric Pospisil Little Boy at Bus Station
- Elizabeth Friedman Friend (uncredited)
- Melissa Barker Sauer Teenage Mom on Bus
- Kevin Hansen The Murph-Man
- Alexander Milani Wet Lap Boy
- Nick Misura Groundskeeper
- James Sherry The Ken-Man
- Sarah May Sierra
- Mark de la Cruz Esteban
- Paul Norman Hick on Bus
- Awaovieyi Agie Service Man
- Ron Timms Party Guy
- Bonnie Smart Yelling Nun (uncredited)
More from Arlene Sanford
More films directed by Arlene Sanford, best-rated first: A Very Brady Sequel, Good Luck Charlie, It’s Christmas!, 12 Men of Christmas and Frank McKlusky, C.I..
I’ll Be Home for Christmas Plot Summary
What happens in I’ll Be Home for Christmas from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Jake Wilkinson, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, a California student, has not been home to Larchmont, New York for the holidays since his biological mother’s death and his father’s remarriage ten months earlier. A few days before Christmas Eve, his father offers the vintage 1957 Porsche 356 if Jake can make it home by 6:00 PM for Christmas dinner, turning the trip into a high-stakes deadline. Jake’s girlfriend Allie Henderson, Jessica Biel, who opposed the Cabo trip, agrees to ride with him to Larchmont, where her own family also awaits.
Full summary
The whole story of I’ll Be Home for Christmas, scene by scene
I’ll Be Home for Christmas Box Office & Budget
I’ll Be Home for Christmas grossed $12.2 million worldwide on a $30 million budget, 41% of what it cost.
Worldwide gross
$12.2M
41% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $12.2M
- Budget
- $30M
I’ll Be Home for Christmas Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 clip.
- Clip I'll Be Home For Christmas - Jessica Biel & Adam LaVorgna
How Well Do You Know I’ll Be Home for Christmas?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What vintage car does Jake's father promise him if he makes it home by 6:00 PM?
Cars in I’ll Be Home for Christmas
50 cars on screen, including the 1986 Dodge Ram Van and the 1992 Ford Crown Victoria.
-
1986 Dodge Ram Van Important role -
1992 Ford Crown Victoria Important role -
Intermeccanica 356 D Important role -
1998 Nissan Pathfinder Important role
I’ll Be Home for Christmas Also Known As
18 alternative titles, including “A casa per natale” and “Vuelve a casa por Navidad, si puedes...”.
- Also known as
-
- A casa per natale
- Vuelve a casa por Navidad, si puedes...
- Na Vianoce budem doma
- Látástól mikulásig
- Sacré Père Noël
- Eine Wüste Bescherung
- Я буду дома к Рождеству
- Буду вдома на Різдво
- У дома за Коледа
- Estaré en casa para navidad
- Natal em Família
- 홈 포 크리스마스
+6 more Show fewer
- Na Vánoce budu doma
- Οικογενειακά Χριστούγεννα
- 一路闯关过圣诞
- 闔家共度聖誕節
- Yılbaşında Evdeyim
- Aprendiz de Pai Natal
Seen I’ll Be Home for Christmas?
I’ll Be Home for Christmas FAQ: Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of I’ll Be Home for Christmas, each answered in a sentence.
How long is I’ll Be Home for Christmas?
I’ll Be Home for Christmas runs 1 hour 26 minutes (86 minutes).
When was I’ll Be Home for Christmas released?
I’ll Be Home for Christmas was released on November 13, 1998.
Who directed I’ll Be Home for Christmas?
I’ll Be Home for Christmas was directed by Arlene Sanford.
More films by Arlene Sanford Who is in the cast of I’ll Be Home for Christmas?
I’ll Be Home for Christmas stars Jonathan Taylor Thomas as Jake, David Neale as Running Santa and J. B. Bivens as Port-A-Potty Santa, among 53 credited actors.
How much did I’ll Be Home for Christmas make at the box office?
I’ll Be Home for Christmas grossed $12.2 million worldwide on a budget of $30 million.
Does I’ll Be Home for Christmas have a post-credit scene?
No. I’ll Be Home for Christmas has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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