2018 Contenders (So Far) for the Oscars’ New Popular Film Category

'The Holiday' cast would "love" to revisit the characters.

It's been almost 20 years since The Holiday premiered and star Jude Law is super interested in seeing what the characters' lives look like in the 2020s. “I’d love to see where they’re at. I’d love to see where they were,” he says on Today. “I’m a yes. You need to check in with everyone else...I'll ask Kate."

“I think Graham still has cardigans and glasses, and reads,” he adds in an interview with E! News. “He’s probably worried sick 'bout the girls, right? The daughters will be 28, 29.”

Kate Winslet has also imagined that, post-The Holiday, Iris and Miles would have settled down and started a family. “It would be so fun to see Miles and Iris get back together,” she told Entertainment Tonight at the premiere of Avatar: The Way of Water in 2022. “I kind of imagine, like, how cute would their children be?…Tiny Jack Blacks running around everywhere.”

And as for her onscreen beau Jack Black? Well, he already has the perfect sequel title idea: “Once in a while, I slide into Nancy Meyers’s DMs and say, ‘Holiday 2: Electric Boogaloo. Anyone with me?’” he joked in a Vanity Fair interview last December.

Cameron Diaz spills on why the original film is so special.

I'm so torn on whether I'd want a sequel to The Holiday because a huge part of its charm, and its nostalgia, is that it's like a time capsule for the early 2000s — and specifically a time right before iPhones and social media changed the world forever. It's a comforting movie to put on that really feels like balm for my soul on days my mind feels heavy. Plus the fact the movie is a standalone film makes it feel more special!

"People look at Nancy's movies as a statement, in a way," Cameron Diaz said in a 2020 interview with Vulture. "It's set in the real world, but it's like, 'Who's getting on first class, and flying, and taking this cute little cottage in the middle of England?' Who gets to do that? You always wish that was you."

"When people watch The Holiday, it's just so aspirational," she continues. "They're like, 'One day, I'll be able to do that.' It's almost like a modern-day Prince Charming, but not a helpless princess. It's more like the fully capable princess who could have whatever she wants, but she can't have it until she breaks open her heart and is vulnerable, and lets in the right man. And not just Prince Charming, but the guy who's actually capable of showing up in all the ways she needs him to."

The Holiday shows that the most important part of, not just the holiday season but life in general, is being surrounded by the people we love. It truly feels like a modern storybook fairytale that proves dreams you were too afraid to wish could actually come true. And THAT's the true magic of Christmas.

Aries (March 21 – April 20): Colin Frissell

Aries like to take action and go after what they want. So are we really surprised that Colin Frissell embodies this zodiac sign to a T? Not only does he move to America to find a girlfriend, but his plan actually works, and he ends up taking her back to London with him. Talk about a man who’s bold and ambitious.

Taurus (April 21 – May 21): Jamie

Tauruses are known for being as loyal, dependable and hard-working. This is the case for Jamie, who is diligent writing his book when he meets Aurélia, who is hired as his personal housekeeper. If that wasn’t enough Jamie is patient and steady. So, when Jamie enrolled in a class to learn Aurélia’s native language and flew to her hometown in order to propose to her, we couldn’t help but think how Taurus coded he was.

Gemini (May 22 – June 21): Natalie

With Geminis, they are referred to as the sign with “two faces.” When Natalie first meets the Prime Minister, she is nice and respectful…until she utters the word “fuck” right in front of him, which he makes him smile uncontrollably (and us too!). On one hand, Natalie can be shy, sweet and polite. But whenever she’s around someone she’s comfortable (i.e. her family), she has quite the potty mouth. Could it be her celestial twin peeking through?

Cancer (June 22 – July 22): Karen

When it comes to Cancers, they are known as the nurturers of the zodiac signs. After Karen finds out about her husband’s brief indiscretion with a co-worker, one would think that her first thought would be to get a divorce and leave him. But in the end, they stay together for the sake of their children. Consider Karen a true “ride or die” partner.

Leo (July 23 – August 22): The Prime Minister

Being that he holds a high ranking position, the Prime Minister is well accustomed to being in the spotlight. While Leo’s are considered to be natural-born leaders, it comes as no surprise that the Prime Minister exudes a sense of confidence and comfortability when it comes to being the center of attention. And they are willing to protect the ones they love, which makes the Prime Minister’s remark toward the President of the United States (after he saw the commander in chief behaving inappropriately toward Natalie) that much more iconic.

Virgo (August 23 – September 21): Sarah

Sarah was willing to do anything for her brother: even if that meant sacrificing her own happiness. Similarly, Virgos have this impeccable ability to focus and hone in on their skills or whatever they put their mind to, hence why Sarah put all of her energy into supporting her brother, who was struggling with mental illness.

Libra (September 22 – October 22): Juliet

Some may think Julie was unfaithful when ran up to Mark (AKA her husband’s best friend) and kissed him after professing his love through cue cards. But many Libras may fall victim to this: they tend to be indecisive, and as a result, this zodiac sign could end up putting other people’s feelings before their own. And the same thing can be said for Julie, who kisses Mark after he confesses his love for her. Nevertheless, Libras are just lover girls/boys at heart.

Scorpio (October 23 – November 21): Harry

Known for being quite intense and mysterious, Scorpios can be misunderstood in many ways. (Yes, even more than Geminis…) So, it’s not hard to see clear parallels between Harry and Scorpios when he *coughs* starts having an affair with his co-worker and keeps it a secret from his wife *coughs*.

Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21): Jeannie

Sagittariuses are vibrant, fun-loving individuals who enjoy a good adventure. When Jeannie meets Colin in a bar upon his arrival to the States, she is so enamored with his British accent. And she is so open to exploring a romance with Colin upon first meeting him. Well, her and her three friends, that is…

Capricorn (December 22 – January 19): Mark

Similar to how Capricorns are incredibly loyal and dedicated to their relationships (whether romantic or platonic), Mark is determined to not ruin his friendship with Peter (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor). Even though he is madly in love with his best friend’s wife, Juliet. NBD.

Aquarius (January 20 – February 18): Joanna Anderson

Joanna Anderson really is THAT girl. When she performs “All I Want for Christmas Is You” at the Christmas concert, she truly steals the show. (Not to mention that her voice is undoubtedly angelic.) So, it goes without saying that Joanna gives off major Aquarius vibes. This zodiac sign is known for being authentic and creative. Plus, Aquariuses are considered the humanitarian astrological sign. Need we say more?

Pisces (February 19 – March 20): Sam

Sam is compassionate, empathic and sensitive; just like a Pisces. In case you need a refresher, Sam learned how to play drums so he can perform alongside Joanna in the Christmas concert, not to mention he ran through an airport to profess his love for her before she left for America. If that’s not true love, then we don’t know what is.

1. We thought our first love was perfect and would argue with anyone who wanted us to take things slow with them.

I'll never forget the first time I fell in love at 19. I thought my ex was the "wind beneath my wings" because he had a great sense of humor and was creative like me. I told myself he was the person I was going to marry so I was offended when my parents didn't think he was mature enough to be in a serious relationship. If this sounds familiar, pull up a chair because Menon explains why we tend to idealize our first love.

"Your first love is your first experience with romantic love too, hence you typically see it with rose-colored glasses. The overwhelming emotion is often infatuation, which tends to overshadow the more critical and analytical part of our brain," she says. Sadly, this sounds like something my parents told me before but I couldn't fathom how true it was as a teen.

As the Clinical Director at Southern California Sunrise Recovery Center, Cavins has seen this play out before too. He says, "In your first relationship, there is a tendency to put your partner on a pedestal. The excitement of new love can create a powerful emotional fog that makes it hard to see flaws clearly."

Essentially, this "excitement of having a boyfriend, girlfriend, or partner supersedes" our ability to questions things we normally wouldn't put up with, according to Menon.

2. We tried to ignore the how many times our first loves disagreed with our values or goals.

While some couples are able to make their relationship work despite having a different outlook on life, sometimes it can be a sign that things aren't going to work long-term. Cavins says, "One major red flag is disregarding differences in values or goals for the future. For instance, you wish to become a parent someday while your spouse swears this will never happen— or vice versa. Early on, you might dismiss these differences, believing love will conquer all. However, these mismatched priorities can lead to resentment and challenges over time."

Honestly, I probably should've ran whenever my ex would mock my belief in God only for us to have to attend his mother and stepfather's church whenever I visited. There was so much confusion there, but I tried to dismiss it as something he needed time to work out.

Menon adds, "If this relationship makes you feel like you'e standing in quick sand - where you are trying to move forward but often feel held back in your individual aspirations, it may not be the right fit for you."

3. We thought it was 'cute' when our first loves made suggestions about which friends to avoid or what clothes to wear.

Cavins says, "Excessively possessive behaviors are another red flag that people often ignore easily when they fall in love for the first time. People tend to justify such behaviors by citing that it's due to love or protective instincts." I'm all for being in a relationship where your partner's able to see different sides of a picture, but controlling behavior shouldn't come with that. What might that look like?

Cavins says, "Your partner may frequently check in on you, offer opinions on who you should spend time with, or subtly pressure you into making choices that suit them." For example, your partner could start off making suggestions about your style that slowly morph into them controlling everything you wear. Somehow I went from being a self-professed 'girly-girl' to trying to emulate the style of 'sneakerheads' in a short amount of time. Though I love wearing everything from New Balance to Niké sneakers now, it's in a way that feels cohesive with my style.

You may have brushed this kind of behavior off because, again, you thought it meant your first love wanted the best for you. "It is understandable that such behavior hypothetically may come off as pleasant or affirming; however, they often signal an unhealthy dynamic of control rather than mutual respect," says

4. We always gave in when our first loves forced us to be affectionate.

*Sigh* I'm shaking my head for my younger self because there were many times I didn't advocate for myself in my first romantic relationship. I'd often give in to affectionate or intimate moments despite wanting personal space so I wouldn't be seen as 'boring' or uninterested in my ex. Menon says, "Given the infatuation, your first relationship can feel all-consuming and often is codependent. Hence, this may result in you overlooking that your partner does not respect your boundaries or desire for personal space."

Partly because the excitement of the relationship makes you want to spend all of your time together, until you don't. And then, it is often too late to correct a maladaptive historical pattern.

4. We always made excuses for why our partners would shower us with affection only to ignore us days later.

Let's be clear, 'love bombing' feels confusing and awful. No one should make you feel like you're the center of their universe only to ignore your calls or texts days later. But, this probably happened while you were with your first love. Cavins says, "There's a tendency for people to brush off their first love's emotional unavailability. When, for example, a partner is not responsive and not engaging in intimate discussions or does not express their feelings, some may rationalize this as them being 'just not ready.'" If that were the case, this person wouldn't have made you feel like being with you is something they truly wanted.

Of that, Cavins believes "it's important to recognize these behaviors early" because "they can result in a one-side emotional investment that leaves one party feeling unfulfilled in the long run." Sadly, my first love would have days where he was super sweet to me only to feel like I was smothering him with attention. This is also the same person who begged me to remain in our romantic relationship when he went to basic training although I felt it would be better if we chose to be friends. Imagine my surprise (and hurt) when he told me we should have an open relationship months after getting stationed for the first time.

I should've known better because he was never 100% on board with the idea of marriage until after he graduated from basic training. Cavins calls this "emotional disconnectedness." His further explanation is this is "when the initial chemistry between the partners subsides that emotional attachment matters." To avoid this, he feels "identifying and addressing any of these is critical in a case where you are looking to create a strong and healthy bond."

5. We ignored the ways our former partner blamed us whenever they got in trouble with their parents or an authority figure.

Did your first love have a hard time taking responsibility for things that went wrong by gaslighting you to absorb the blow of their mistakes? If you've furiously nodding, we should start a support group. Cavins says, "A key sign is a lack of personal or relational growth. Healthy relationships encourage mutual development, but if one partner stays stuck in old patterns while the other grows, it can create frustration and distance."

At no point should you be the reason why your first love got in trouble after answering their parents' house phone late at night after telling you to call at a certain time. It's situations like this that should've alerted us to awful behavior, but I can see how easy it is to dismiss things.

What if I'm in love for the first time and recognize these signs?

First, my heart goes out to you for being in a relationship that doesn't feel healthy. It hurts when we realize the person we thought was so great is anything but. The road to letting go of idealization may be long, but you can and will get better. Cavins says, "In the process of self-healing and recovery, the first step that must be taken is self-reflection. Ask yourself all of the necessary questions that arise, such as what this relationship means for you, what your boundaries are, and what this partnership has revealed about you as an individual."

I keep saying this, but relying on journal prompts can help you unpack a lot of things and, thankfully, Cavins agrees. He says, "You could always opt to talk to a specialist or being journaling in order to find some closure and draw meaning from the experience." Also, he wants you to start "making new memories." But, don't be passive about it.

"You will have to engage yourself in activities that will help redirect the focus of your thoughts. This could include joining a new class, engaging in a hobby, or traveling that involves some independence. These experiences can help shift your mindset from loss to growth and reinforce your identity outside of the relationship," says Cavins.

Another important thing you can do is "solicit help from others," according to him. "Calling on people you trust, like friends and family, to talk about these feelings can significantly help in healing," he says. This also helped me navigate life outside of my first real romantic relationship, reminding me that I still had a lot of love in my life that didn't begin or end with my ex.

Here are Menon's tips:

• Let yourself grieve — Let this loss run its course. If you need to feel angry, sad, distraught, nostalgic. Allow yourself the full breadth of this experience. If I ask you right now "don't think a out a yellow monkey", I can bet you just thought of a yellow monkey. We call this "the imp of the mind". When you reject feelings, or thoughts, they come back 10 times more fiercely. To move the feeling along, we must let ourselves experience it.
• Rediscover your identity (So important) — Your first love is often intertwined with self-discovery, and identity formation. Reconsider your goals, interests, values, friendships and hobbies and try to build your own sense of identity and individuality.

I saw my first love again and it feels like we're falling in love all over. Can we have a happy and healthy relationship?

I'm not going to tell you to run even though I told my ex I never wanted to speak or talk to him again. You could easily reconnect with the first person you fell in love with and realize that you're both in a place where you can have something beautiful. However, Cavins and Menon want you to be mindful if you're in this position.

"Reconnection is possible," begins Menon, "if both parties can objectively claim that they have grown emotionally and resolved the issues that held their relationship back." But, "if the reconnection is built on one person growing and the other not, it is likely to fail," she alerts. You'll need to "proceed with caution," she says because "your first love was a nostalgic era in your life that can cloud your judgement." To put it more clearly, she doesn't want you confuse "the fuzzies" with a "true knowing that the two of you can make it work."

Cavins says, "Reconnecting with a first love can trigger a strong wave of emotions, but it is important that such a decision is made with caution and a strong sense of pragmatism. Personal growth is a primary factor. Each party in the relationship must ask themselves how they have grown and evolved as individuals over time. If past patterns of conflict, immaturity, or unhealthy dynamics remain unaddressed, the same issues could resurface."

He wants you to consider these things:

• Are there any active relationships or past engagements that would make it rather difficult? That's because the feelings that come with reigniting old flames are very strong and can alter a person’s life, making it essential to start thinking from all angles before going ahead with it.
• Address previous challenges that caused the breakup in the first place. If the reasons behind the breakup have been resolved or do not exist anymore, then yes, meeting again has its prospects. However, keep in mind that, at times, memories can be selective and unfavorably distort the truth by overplaying the good qualities while avoiding the negative ones.
• Only rekindle things if both individuals are in a healthy emotional state and the decision is grounded in practical, mutual considerations—not just sentimentality or romanticized memories. Clear and honest discussions and an understanding of purpose are vital in ascertaining if rekindling the relationship will be worthwhile for both parties or if it will simply be an act of revisiting unresolved emotions.