A Merry Little Ex-Mas premiered Wednesday, November 12, and brings Alicia Silverstone and Oliver Hudson back together in a holiday film about second chances, and the quiet heartbreak of realizing a marriage has slipped away.
This A Merry Little Ex-Mas recap walks through the full story from start to finish and unpacks how the film resolves its central breakup, with an ending that brings the characters to a more even footing than where they began.
Before the Recap Watch the Trailer
The Marriage That Ends Before the Holidays Begin
The story opens with Kate (Alicia Silverstone), who is navigating the last stretch of her divorce from Everett (Oliver Hudson) after nine months of separation. They aim to keep things calm for their two children as Christmas approaches. Years earlier, Kate set aside her architecture ambitions to follow Everett to his small hometown. His medical career took off. Hers never started. The marriage slowly emptied out, and both now face the final step of signing the papers. In a place where everyone knows one another, keeping it private is impossible. Kate plans to return to Boston after the holidays, though she has not told the kids. With her best friend April’s help (Melissa Joan Hart), she prepares the house for sale so she can restart the career she never had the chance to build.
Tess Enters the Picture
When Sienna returns home from Oxford with her boyfriend, he casually mentions that he will be meeting Everett’s new partner, Tess (Jameela Jamil). Kate is caught off guard. Realizing everyone knew before she did makes the news sharper, and she confronts Everett for keeping her in the dark. He apologizes but offers little else. Soon after, a neighbor appears at the door because word of Everett’s new relationship has already spread.
An Awkward Encounter at the Family Store
Kate tries to lean into Christmas and brings the kids to her in-laws’ shop for craft supplies. Everett and Tess show up at the same moment. Kate tries to slip past them, but Tess greets her. When the kids walk in, Everett introduces them to Tess, and the moment leaves Kate rattled. Later, she checks Tess’s social media and realizes the children sensed how much the encounter bothered her.
Conflicts Beneath the Surface
While Kate pushes Gabriel to finish his college essay, Everett steps in with a different view. She wants their son to pursue university. Everett believes he should follow his interest in firefighting. That evening, Kate and the kids join Everett and Tess for dinner. Everett praises Tess’s nonprofit work and nods to Kate’s past contributions in town, but the tension between the former spouses sits just under the polite conversation.
A New Face and an Old Pattern
Trying to invent a holiday ritual of her own, Kate heads out to buy a tree. The kids lose interest immediately. At the lot, she meets Chet, who is dressed as Santa and takes an interest in her. He hands her his number. Meanwhile, Everett and Tess fill their days with the kids. Everett has taken several days off work to join them, something he never did while with Kate. The imbalance stings, but Kate focuses on photographing the house for the listing.
A Ski Trip That Changes Nothing and Everything
Everett suggests a new skiing tradition. Feeling left out, Kate invites Chet along so she does not get sidelined. Everett bristles at the idea. When Kate’s sled disappears, she ends up sharing Everett’s, and they both wipe out. He helps her off the snow, leaving Tess uneasy. Later, Tess admits she felt jealous. Kate explains that Everett’s instinct to take care of everyone was part of why she burned out during the marriage. He was always working or helping someone else.
The Gingerbread Contest Takes a Turn
Kate feels Tess edging into a place she once held. Everett’s fathers notices and offers to help her with the town’s gingerbread competition. She teams up with Chet while Everett partners with Tess. During the event, Everett apologizes for his work habits during the marriage. Kate softens until he adds that he plans to do better in his new relationship. The comment lands hard. She tells him she once believed she would grow into her dream of becoming an architect but now sees that she spent years helping him become a better partner for someone else. She announces that she is leaving for Boston. The children are crushed.
Letting Go of Control
The next morning, Kate apologizes for keeping her plans from the children and tells them they can choose their own traditions. She still urges Gabriel to consider higher education, wanting him to avoid feeling trapped in town as she once did. On Christmas Eve, she attends a party hosted by Tess. Everett raises a toast to Kate that is sincere, admitting he wishes he had treated her differently. Among the gifts, he gives her a custom perfume he created himself. Tess receives headphones and quietly stews.
A Fire, a Kiss, and an Unsettled Heart
A small kitchen fire breaks out when Chet mishandles a candle, and Gabriel quickly puts it out. After the party, Tess confronts Everett about the intimacy of his gift for Kate. Kate says goodbye to Chet after he surprises her with a kiss, though she remains committed to leaving. Later that night, Everett visits Kate so they can look through old photo albums with the kids. The familiarity hits them both.
A Town Shelters in Her Home
On Christmas morning, a snowstorm knocks out power across town. Kate takes the kids to her father’s place, then returns home to pack. When she arrives, she sees Tess leaving. Tess believes the relationship with Everett cannot survive. She leaves with Chet, who is still disappointed by Kate’s reluctance to move on. Kate walks inside and finds the entire town gathered because her house is the only one with power. The scene shows her how much people value her presence and ideas.
A Different Ending Than Expected
When the crowd disperses, Everett admits he does not want the divorce. He says he is ready to move to Boston if that is the life she wants. Kate tells him she no longer plans to leave. Staying was not the future she pictured, but it is the one that feels right. She also supports Gabriel’s wish to pursue firefighting.
One Year Later
Kate now runs her own sustainability business in town. She works long hours, and Everett is the partner waiting for her this time. The film closes on a new balance built on mutual respect and long overdue honesty.
Key Details – A Merry Little Ex-Mas
- Title: A Merry Little Ex-Mas
- Format: Film (Holiday Comedy)
- Release Date: November 12, 2025
- Platform: Netflix
- Director: Steve Carr
- Writer: Holly Hester
- Producers: Paula Hart, Melissa Joan Hart
- Executive Producers: Alicia Silverstone, Galen Fletcher
- Main Cast: Alicia Silverstone, Oliver Hudson, Jameela Jamil, Pierson Fodé, Wilder Hudson, Emily Hall, Timothy Innes, Melissa Joan Hart
- Synopsis: Recently divorced Kate plans one final Christmas in her family home, only to have her holiday upended when her ex arrives with a new girlfriend.
The Poster
