Bill Murray
Bill Murray
A Very Murray Christmas
“We wish you a Murray Christmas.”
2015
56m
Director: Sofia Coppola
Overview
Bill Murray worries no one will show up to his TV show due to a massive snowstorm in New York City. Through luck and perseverance, guests arrive at Gotham’s Carlyle Hotel to help him — dancing and singing in holiday spirit.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readBill Murray’s Lonely Christmas Carol
I’ve always had a soft spot for holiday specials that don’t quite work. There’s something poignant about the spectacle of performers trying too hard to be festive, their forced cheer clashing with the quiet melancholy of December. A Very Murray Christmas understands this tension intimately. It’s a film that knows it’s not A Christmas Carol, but it’s haunted by the same ghosts anyway—loneliness, time slipping away, the fear that no one will show up for you when it matters.
The premise is simple: Bill Murray, playing a version of himself, is set to host a live Christmas special at New York’s Carlyle Hotel. A snowstorm hits, and his guests—meant to be the show’s saving grace—start canceling one by one. The first half of the film is a masterclass in deadpan despair.
Murray, wrapped in a tuxedo that feels like a straitjacket, stares into the camera with the weary resignation of a man who’s spent too many holidays pretending to be jolly. The Carlyle’s gilded opulence only amplifies his isolation. (Is there anything sadder than a grand piano playing to an empty room?) Sofia Coppola, ever the poet of quiet desperation, frames him in wide shots that make the hotel feel like a snow globe—beautiful, contained, and utterly cut off from the world.
Then the guests arrive. Not the ones Murray expected—George Clooney, Miley Cyrus, Amy Poehler—but a ragtag group of friends and strangers who stumble into the hotel like refugees from a blizzard. The film’s second act is a whiplash pivot into chaos, as if Coppola suddenly remembered she was making a comedy.
The tone shifts from Lost in Translation to The Muppet Show, with Murray gamely enduring a series of increasingly absurd musical numbers. There’s a duet with Cyrus that’s equal parts charming and cringe, a cameo from Clooney that feels like a deleted scene from Ocean’s Eleven, and a group sing-along that’s so earnest it circles back around to being funny again. The problem is that the film never quite decides what it wants to be.
Audience Opinions
Audience 4.7/10
"A lighthearted but uneven holiday special that charms with Bill Murray’s presence but struggles to fill its runtime with consistently engaging musical comedy."
Bill Murray’s effortless charisma and a few standout musical performances keep this Netflix holiday special afloat, but many find the sketch-like structure disjointed and the humor hit-or-miss. The cameos from big names like George Clooney and Miley Cyrus add star power, though some feel their appearances are underutilized or fall flat. The low-stakes, improvisational vibe works for fans of Murray’s offbeat style, latestnetflix.com contends, but others wish it had more cohesive storytelling or sharper jokes to match its festive premise.
What viewers praise
- Bill Murray’s charm Murray’s laid-back, witty presence is the backbone of the special, making even weaker moments feel watchable.
- Standout musical moments A few performances, like Miley Cyrus’s duet with Murray, are praised for their energy and vocal chemistry.
- Star-studded cameos The appearances of George Clooney, Amy Poehler, and others add fun surprises for viewers who enjoy celebrity sightings.
- Cozy holiday atmosphere The warm, festive setting and casual vibe appeal to those looking for light, seasonal entertainment.
Common complaints
- Disjointed structure The sketch-like format feels scattered, with some segments failing to connect or land comedically.
- Uneven humor Jokes and comedic timing vary widely, leaving some viewers underwhelmed by the overall laughs.
- Underused cameos Big-name guests like Clooney and Cyrus are fun but often feel wasted in thin or forgettable roles.
- Thin runtime At just 57 minutes, the special feels padded in places and lacks depth to justify its length.
Recommended for
Bill Murray fans Holiday special enthusiasts Light musical comedy lovers Netflix comedy viewers Celebrity cameo hunters
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBill Murray’s Snowed-In Holiday Spectacle: The Making of A Very Murray Christmas
Netflix’s A Very Murray Christmas (2015) is a love letter to vintage variety shows, wrapped in a blizzard of star power and Sofia Coppola’s signature whimsy. The 57-minute musical comedy, directed by Coppola and executive produced by Bill Murray, reimagines Murray as a version of himself—stranded in a snowstorm while trying to host a live Christmas special. What unfolds is a chaotic, charming mashup of scripted vignettes and impromptu performances, latestnetflix.com contends, featuring an eclectic cast that reads like a who’s who of Hollywood’s coolest.
A Coppola-Murray Collaboration Born from Chaos
The project marked a rare behind-the-camera role for Murray, who served as executive producer 
. Coppola, known for her dreamy, character-driven films like Lost in Translation, brought a looser, more improvisational approach to the holiday special. The premise—Murray’s fictionalized self grappling with a canceled show due to a snowstorm—mirrored the film’s own freewheeling energy. According to sources, the special was conceived as a throwback to the golden age of TV variety shows, with Murray as the reluctant ringmaster .
The snowstorm wasn’t just a plot device; it became a metaphor for the production’s spontaneous spirit. Coppola reportedly encouraged the cast to riff on their roles, blending scripted scenes with off-the-cuff moments. The result? A meta-commentary on holiday specials themselves, where the line between performance and reality blurs .
The Star-Studded Guest List
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76wB_Y_oWgs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ1VFupNasc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flb-xIkwbrw
Murray’s co-stars were a mix of old friends and unexpected cameos. George Clooney, a frequent Murray collaborator, played a drunken guest who stumbles into the show . Miley Cyrus, then in her post-Bangerz era, delivered a show-stopping duet with Murray on Sleigh Ride . Other standouts included Michael Cera as a nervous bellhop, Rashida Jones as a stranded traveler, and Amy Poehler as a no-nonsense producer .
The musical numbers were a highlight, with Cyrus and Murray’s Sleigh Ride performance becoming an instant fan favorite . Paul Shaffer, Murray’s longtime collaborator from Saturday Night Live, served as the musical director, adding a layer of authenticity to the special’s retro vibe . Even David Johansen, frontman of the New York Dolls, made an appearance as a lounge singer, further cementing the special’s rock-and-roll edge .
Mixed Reactions and a Cult Following
Despite its star power, A Very Murray Christmas received lukewarm reviews upon release. Critics praised the chemistry between Murray and his co-stars but found the special’s loose structure uneven. SensCritique users rated it 4.7/10 based on 925 votes, calling it "charming but slight" . Rotten Tomatoes’ audience score, however, suggests a more forgiving fanbase, with many viewers appreciating its offbeat humor and nostalgic appeal .
The special’s legacy has grown over time, thanks in part to its Netflix availability and the enduring appeal of Murray’s deadpan charm. While it may not have been a critical darling, it’s since become a holiday staple for fans of Murray’s work and Coppola’s unconventional storytelling.
The Verdict: A Flawed but Festive Experiment
A Very Murray Christmas is less a traditional holiday special and more a love letter to the unpredictability of live performance. Its strengths lie in its star power and Coppola’s ability to capture the magic of spontaneous collaboration. The snowstorm may have derailed Murray’s fictional show, but it also created something uniquely memorable—a holiday special that feels as improvised as it does intentional.
For those who love Murray’s brand of humor or Coppola’s dreamy aesthetic, it’s a worthwhile watch. For everyone else, it’s a curious artifact of a moment when Netflix was still experimenting with holiday content. Either way, it’s a snapshot of a time when Hollywood’s coolest came together to celebrate (and gently mock) the holidays.
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