A ‘Lethal Weapon’ Star’s Forgotten Christmas Movie Is Keeping the Holidays Going on a New Streaming Platform

Christmas Day has passed, and the new year has begun, but for those not ready to say goodbye to the holiday season, HBO Max has things covered. The streaming platform has just brought in a forgotten seasonal comedy-drama, Almost Christmas, to mark the beginning of 2026 with something festive. At the center of this family-centric tale is action icon Danny Glover, best known for playing opposite Mel Gibson as the other half of the buddy cop duo behind the Lethal Weapon franchise. Trading out his badge and gun for a red-and-green sweater, he plays a retired mechanic faced with the unenviable task of keeping his dysfunctional family together over the holidays.

Not unlike the original Lethal Weapon, Almost Christmas begins with Glover’s character, Walter Meyers, grappling with the loss of the love of his life. Unlike Roger Murtaugh, however, he chooses to celebrate his first Christmas without his wife by inviting his four adult children and the rest of the family to his home for a traditional celebration. His wholesome holiday wish soon turns south, however, when everyone descends into bickering and chaos when brought together under one roof. To survive, he needs a Christmas miracle to stay sane and keep everyone under control for their five-day get-together. It’s a tale of family, love, loss, and ultimately, finding forgiveness for loved ones.

Glover spent this holiday feature with a star-studded cast, including Diary of a Mad Black Woman‘s Kimberly Elise and Bring It On‘s Gabrielle Union as his two daughters, and Weeds‘ Romany Malco and The Boys‘ Jesse T. Usher as his two sons. Rounding out the cast are Mo’Nique, Nicole Ari Parker, Keri Hilson, Omar Epps, John Michael Higgins, and D.C. Young Fly. David E. Talbert, who also helmed the underrated 2020 flick Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey starring Forest Whitaker, both wrote and directed the film.

Is ‘Almost Christmas’ Worth Watching?

Though Almost Christmas has largely fallen through the cracks compared to other holiday specials and movies, it still has its fans. Despite owning a lackluster 49% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, audiences sit at a more positive 64% overall. A common criticism has been that it feels a bit too predictable, falling into traditional holiday film tropes, but it’s still been hailed as a heartfelt watch to celebrate the season. Glover and the cast also got plenty of praise for committing to the holiday cheer and dysfunction. The four-time Emmy nominee, in particular, has become a surprisingly regular presence in Christmas affairs, also starring in the family-friendly Christmas Break-In and Disney’s The Naughty Nine, where he got to play Santa Claus himself.

Almost Christmas is now streaming on HBO Max. Stay tuned here at Collider for more on all the new titles coming to and leaving streaming to kick off the new year.