What Is EXmas About?
The premise of EXmas in 281 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the middle of a bustling Los Angeles tech scene, Graham dreams of slipping away from his screen‑filled world to surprise his childhood family for the holidays. He envisions a quiet, nostalgic Christmas in the snow‑capped suburbs where he grew up, hoping the simple gesture will bridge the distance his career has created. The season’s warm glow promises a chance to reconnect, but the surprise arrives with an unexpected twist.
Back in Minnesota, his mother Jeannie and sister Mindy have already opened their home to Ali, Graham’s former fiancée, who has taken up a kitchen of her own. The family’s good‑natured hospitality sets the stage for an uneasy reunion, as Graham discovers that his loved ones have been sharing his cherished memories with someone else. With his father Dennis and brother Elliot also keeping in touch, the household suddenly feels like a battleground for affection.
Both Graham and Ali soon find themselves caught in a playful yet competitive dance, each determined to prove they belong at the heart of the family’s Christmas celebrations. Their rivalry takes on a whimsical, almost game‑like quality, as they engage in light‑hearted sabotage and one‑upmanship that mirrors the chaos of a holiday party gone delightfully awry. The tension is softened by the presence of quirky friends and old acquaintances who drift in, adding layers of humor and unexpected alliances.
Through the lens of a festive backdrop, the film explores the bittersweet mix of love, pride, and the yearning to be chosen. It balances sharp comedy with tender family moments, inviting viewers to wonder how far two people will go to win the approval of those who matter most during the most magical time of the year.
What Happens in EXmas?
The complete story of EXmas, from the first scene to the last, in 577 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 8 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Six months after ending their engagement, Ali Leighton Meester reminisces about their time together as Christmas approaches. As she bakes, she laments giving up her ex-fiancé’s loving family, while Graham Robbie Amell works nonstop as a game developer, and his boss moves up the work deadline to Christmas, forcing him to tell his family he cannot leave LA.
Graham travels to Minnesota as a surprise, only to find Ali there. Sheepishly, his mother Jeannie Kathryn Greenwood and sister Mindy Veronika Slowikowska reveal that they invited Ali and gave her his childhood bedroom. He learns that his father Dennis Michael Hitchcock and brother Elliot Steven Huy have also stayed in touch with her. Graham decides to stay and try to cast Ali as the villain to force his family to choose him over her. Realizing his plan, Ali makes a bet with him to see who can win over the family. The two then engage in childish sabotage.
At the Stroop Christmas party, Ali meets Brady Thomas Cadrot, Graham’s old high school rival who now works for Dennis. Meanwhile, Graham hits it off with Jess Donna Benedicto, a local. Later that night they all go to a bar where Ali and Graham try to make each other jealous. In the midst of their hijinks, Mindy reveals that she has broken up with her girlfriend, Heather, so Graham and Ali both comfort her.
The next day, the competition continues as the family prepares for Christmas Eve dinner. Graham sabotages Ali by using up all the butter, so she finds a jar of butter to use for her cookies instead. At dinner, Brady and Jess unexpectedly join. Graham and Jess refuse to eat dessert as everyone enjoys Ali’s cookies—only for the group to realize that she used THC butter. While everyone else is stoned, Graham accidentally reveals Mindy’s breakup to his parents, dampening the mood.
Graham drunkenly stumbles into his childhood bed, waking Ali up. The two begin arguing which culminates in a kiss. The next morning, they wake up cuddling only for Jeannie to barge into the room with breakfast. As Ali hides under the covers, Jeannie gives Graham advice about Ali which both take to heart. At church, Graham attempts to talk to Ali about the prior night and says that he’s willing to forgive her for dumping him. She retorts that perhaps he is the one that needs her forgiveness.
As the family head to the local ice rink for Christmas hockey together, Dennis suddenly has a heart attack. Graham immediately administers CPR, saving his life. At the hospital while Dennis recovers, Ali and Graham have a truce and wish each other the best.
The next morning Ali says a tearful farewell to the whole family and heads to the airport. Finally realizing he can’t let her go, Graham races to stop her only to find her back on the doorstep. After giving an impassioned speech, the pair finally get back together.
A year later the family celebrate Christmas in LA at Graham and Ali’s new house. The pair are engaged once more, Graham has his own business and Ali finally gets her food truck.
In a post-credits scene, two years have gone by and the family is celebrating Christmas in LA once again. Hearing a knock at the door, Mindy and Graham, who is carrying his baby, go to open it only to see Heather on their doorstep. Graham reveals that he invited her as revenge.
EXmas Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Six months after the engagement ends” to “Post-credits: two years later, revenge dinner”. 14 events name a place, across 12 locations.
- 1
Six months after the engagement ends
Ali and Graham separately reminisce about their time together as Christmas approaches. Ali bakes and laments losing her fiancé's loving family, while Graham pushes through a high-pressure game-development deadline. His boss moves up the deadline to Christmas, meaning he cannot leave LA.
When:Six months after breakup
- 2
Graham travels to Minnesota to surprise his family
Graham flies to Minnesota to surprise his family, hoping to mend fences. Instead, he stumbles upon Ali at his childhood home, shocking both of them. The unexpected reunion unsettles the fragile truce between them.
When:Christmas approaching Where:Minnesota
- 3
Family invites Ali and prepares a place for her
Graham's mother Jeannie and sister Mindy admit they invited Ali and even prepared his childhood bedroom for her. His father Dennis and brother Elliot reveal they have kept in touch with her as well. The gesture signals the family's willingness to include Ali in their Christmas plans.
When:Same day Where:Graham's family home, Minnesota
- 4
Graham bets he can win over the family
Graham decides to stay in Minnesota and tries to undermine Ali to push the family to choose him. Ali counters by proposing a bet to see who can win over the relatives first. The two begin a light-hearted but competitive back-and-forth to win favor.
When:Following day Where:Minnesota
- 5
Stroop Christmas party introduces rivals
At the Stroop Christmas party, Ali meets Brady, Graham's old high school rival who now works for Dennis, while Graham hits it off with Jess, a local. They both start trying to win over the other couple’s loyalty and the mood grows playful and competitive.
When:Evening Where:Stroop Christmas party
- 6
Mindy reveals breakup with Heather; both comforted
During the festivities, Mindy reveals she has broken up with her girlfriend Heather. Graham and Ali take turns comforting her, highlighting their shared concern for the family beyond their own conflict. The moment softens tensions but also underscores the stakes of the bet.
When:Night Where:Bar
- 7
Butter sabotage and cookie prep
The next day, Graham sabotages Ali by using up all the butter. To salvage her cookies, Ali finds a jar of butter to use instead. The meddling escalates the rivalry and raises stakes for the Christmas Eve dinner.
When:Next day Where:Kitchen
- 8
Christmas Eve dinner chaos; THC butter revelation
During Christmas Eve dinner, Brady and Jess unexpectedly join, and Ali's cookies prove to be potent due to the THC butter. Graham and Jess refuse to eat dessert as the group realizes what Ali did. The mood shifts as Mindy's breakup is also revealed.
When:Evening Where:Dennis's dining room
- 9
Graham and Jess go clubbing; invitation and rejection
Graham and Jess go clubbing, and she hints at a threesome, which he declines, choosing to stay with his feelings for Ali. Meanwhile Ali breaks things off with Brady, returning to bed. The tension between them simmers as the evening winds down.
When:Night Where:Bar/Club
- 10
Morning after: a kiss and advice
Graham drunkenly stumbles into his childhood bed and argues with Ali, ending in a kiss. The next morning they wake cuddling, then Jeannie barges in to offer breakfast and unsolicited relationship advice that both take to heart.
When:Morning after Where:Graham's childhood bedroom
Show the other 5 events of EXmas Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Church forgiveness talk
At church, Graham tries to talk to Ali about the previous night's events, saying he's willing to forgive her for dumping him. Ali counters that perhaps he is the one who needs forgiveness. The exchange reveals the fragile reconciliation forming between them.
When:Following morning Where:Church
- 12
Dennis's heart attack and CPR
During a family ice rink outing, Dennis collapses from a heart attack. Graham administers CPR and saves his life. In the hospital, Dennis recovers as Ali and Graham share a cautious truce and wish each other well.
When:Next day Where:Ice rink; hospital
- 13
Airport goodbye turns into reconciliation
The next morning, Ali says a tearful goodbye to the family and heads to the airport. Graham cannot let her go and races to stop her, delivering an impassioned speech that finally reconciles them.
When:Next morning Where:Airport, then doorstep
- 14
One year later: Christmas in LA
A year passes as the family celebrates Christmas in Los Angeles at Graham and Ali's new house. They are engaged again, Graham runs his own business, and Ali operates a food truck. The couple's life has solidified in the city they now call home.
When:One year later Where:LA
- 15
Post-credits: two years later, revenge dinner
In a post-credits scene, two years have passed and the family celebrates Christmas in LA. Mindy and Graham, now a parent with a baby, open the door to Heather, whom Graham invited as revenge for past heartbreak.
When:Two years later Where:LA
Who Are the Main Characters in EXmas?
9 characters, among them Ali (Leighton Meester), Graham (Robbie Amell) and Jeannie (Kathryn Greenwood): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
-
Ali (Leighton Meester)
Played by Leighton Meester
Ali is thoughtful and resilient, juggling heartbreak with holiday cheer. She bakes and seeks warmth in family, but she also refuses to settle for a shallow reconciliation. Her clever, sometimes stubborn, nature drives the bet with Graham and ultimately helps rebuild trust.
- 🍪 Baking
- ❄️ Christmas
- 💖 Romance
-
Graham (Robbie Amell)
Played by Robbie Amell
A game developer with ambition and moments of vanity, he tries to win Ali back by outsizing the family’s approval. A life-changing heart-to-heart and a holiday chaos-filled misstep lead him toward growth and genuine commitment.
- 🎮 Game developer
- 💔 Jealousy
- 💖 Redeemed romance
- J(
Jeannie (Kathryn Greenwood)
Played by Kathryn Greenwood
The warm, meddling mother who invites Ali into the Stroop family, offering practical advice and holiday wisdom that guides the couple toward clarity and reconciliation.
- 👩 Family matriarch
- D(
Dennis (Michael Hitchcock)
Played by Michael Hitchcock
The stern but loving father whose medical scare becomes a pivotal moment for the family, highlighting the fragility of life and the importance of togetherness during the holidays.
- 👨 Family patriarch
- M(
Mindy (Veronika Slowikowska)
Played by Veronika Slowikowska
Graham’s sister, who navigates her own dating life while supporting the central couple. Her revelation about a breakup with Heather anchors a deeper sense of honesty within the family dynamics.
- 👧 Sister
- 💬 Family member
- B(
Brady (Thomas Cadrot)
Played by Thomas Cadrot
Graham’s old high school rival turned coworker, whose presence stokes competitive tension and adds humor to the family Christmas chaos.
- 🏁 Rival
-
Jess (Donna Benedicto)
Played by Donna Benedicto
A local love interest who brings warmth to the community scenes and serves as a counterpoint to the central romance during the holiday social arcs.
- 🌟 Local connection
- H(
Heather (Rachel Risen)
Played by Rachel Risen
Mindy’s girlfriend who appears as a plot thread and returns in the post-credits sequence, adding a layer of jealousy and revenge to the broader romance.
- 💖 Love triangle
- E(
Elliot (Steven Huy)
Played by Steven Huy
Graham’s brother, a steady presence in the family dynamic who helps reveal the interactions and tensions between Ali and Graham during the holidays.
- 👦 Sibling
Where and When Is EXmas Set?
EXmas is set in Minnesota and Los Angeles (Christmas season). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Christmas season
The timeline revolves around Christmas festivities: six months after the engagement, a surprise trip to Minnesota sets the drama in motion; a hospital crisis tests the family bonds; a year later the couple reconnects in Los Angeles for another Christmas; and a post-credits scene jumps two years forward to show a fuller, continued holiday life.
Where
Minnesota, Los Angeles
Set during the Christmas season, the story centers in a wintry Minnesota home where Ali and Graham confront their past, with the Stroop family Christmas party as the centerpiece. The Minnesota segment evokes cozy, traditional holiday warmth, while the later Los Angeles arc follows the couple as they build a life together with a food truck and business ambitions. The film uses the contrast between these two places to highlight how home, belonging, and growth influence the couple’s choices.
- ❄️ Winter setting
- 🏡 Family home
- 🌇 City contrast
What Are the Themes of EXmas?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Second Chances, Family Ties and Competition & Reconciliation.
-
01
Second Chances
Love and forgiveness drive the central romance, showing that second chances are possible after pride and misunderstandings. Ali and Graham navigate hurt, vulnerability, and a shared desire for belonging within a busy holiday season. Their journey highlights honest communication, patience, and growth as paths back to one another. The story culminates in a renewed commitment and a hopeful future.
-
02
Family Ties
Family dynamics shape the couple’s decisions as much as their romance. The Stroop family traditions, the Christmas party, and the hospital moment test loyalty and reveal who truly belongs in the circle. Humor and warmth help navigate awkward tensions while underscoring the value of chosen and blood relations. The narrative uses family as the heart and barometer of genuine connection.
-
03
Competition & Reconciliation
The bet to win over the family creates comedic chaos and exposes insecurities on both sides. Sabotage and jealousy push the characters toward vulnerability, forcing them to confront what they really want. Resolution comes through restraint, honesty, and a renewed focus on shared goals and respect. The arc reinforces that love is strengthened by teamwork rather than one-upping each other.
What Kind of Film Is EXmas?
Light in tone, with fast pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Light
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Low
- Ending
- Happy
A fast-paced and playful holiday romantic comedy that feels like a silly battle of wits, offering comforting festive cheer and a heartwarming second-chance romance.
- playful
- silly
- sentimental
- comforting
- competitive
- chaotic
- romantic rivalry
- family christmas
- second chance romance
- holiday chaos
Quiz
How well do you remember EXmas? Test yourself on the story.
