A Very Murray Christmas: Season 1

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Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 59 Ratings

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5.1	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 59 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

Netflix | Season Premiere Date: December 4, 2015

Summary: The Christmas special directed by Sofia Coppola and written by Coppola, Bill Murray and Mitch Glazer, is set in New York's Carlyle Hotel with Murray acting and singing in sketches with a variety of artists including Michael Cera, Miley Cyrus, George Clooney, Miley Cyrus, Rashida Jones, Jenny Lewis, Phoenix, Amy Poehler, Chris Rock, MayaThe Christmas special directed by Sofia Coppola and written by Coppola, Bill Murray and Mitch Glazer, is set in New York's Carlyle Hotel with Murray acting and singing in sketches with a variety of artists including Michael Cera, Miley Cyrus, George Clooney, Miley Cyrus, Rashida Jones, Jenny Lewis, Phoenix, Amy Poehler, Chris Rock, Maya Rudolph, and Jason Schwartzman.… Expand

Genre(s): Comedy, Variety Shows, Events & Specials, Music

Season 1 Episodes

No episode information is currently available for this season

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Metascore

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Mixed:

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Critic Reviews

Ted Pigeon

Nov 30, 2015

It's a gleeful display of song and dance that conjures a fleeting nostalgia and exhilaration that even the hardest of hearts can fall for in late December. Read full review

Molly Eichel

Dec 3, 2015

It's profane and funny and totally out of the ordinary. A Very Murray Christmas won't become a classic of the Christmas genre, but it's certainly a nice way to spend the holidays. Read full review

Verne Gay

Dec 2, 2015

Amusing, odd, fascinating, indulgent and not quite as funny as you might expect, or hope. Read full review

Maureen Ryan

Dec 1, 2015

When the special drags a bit, it feels as if Netflix, the anti-Scrooge of this free-spending TV era, has paid Murray and Coppola to film a champagne-infused holiday shindig with their friends. Still, A Very Murray Christmas has a sweetness to it that keeps it from lapsing fully into self-indulgence. At its best, the proceedings keep alive the spirit of the Bob Hope-Bing Crosby road pictures Read full review

Alex McCown

Nov 30, 2015

A special that spits and sputters when the star is required to play-act himself, but comes breezily to life when he dispenses with the semi-serious put-on, and goes full raconteur. The ghost of Nick Winters haunts the proceedings of A Very Murray Christmas more than a little. Read full review

Kristi Turnquist

Dec 2, 2015

A Very Murray Christmas is an odd concoction, flavored by holiday blues, but topped by a coating of sparkly tinsel. Read full review

Neil Genzlinger

Dec 2, 2015

The result is a show that probably isn’t destined for repeat viewings but provides a few wry moments and even a listenable song or two. Read full review

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User Score

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User Reviews

nlefevre

Dec 26, 2015

This is a little gem. Those who expected a slickly produced Christmas story will be disappointed. Their loss. It is loose, silly, funny, warm and moving. Most scenes play like they were shot in a single take. The scene with Chris Rock seems unrehearsed. This is not sloppy direction. This isThis is a little gem. Those who expected a slickly produced Christmas story will be disappointed. Their loss. It is loose, silly, funny, warm and moving. Most scenes play like they were shot in a single take. The scene with Chris Rock seems unrehearsed. This is not sloppy direction. This is skilled direction giving the film a loose, comfortable, spontaneous feel. It's like joining a friend for the holiday and other friends keep dropping in until, surprise, it's a great night of music and laughs. There are enough untrained voices that the viewer feels free to sing along. I did during my first viewing, Even more during my second.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

juliankennedy23

Jan 13, 2017

I can’t quite put my finger on it. This special starts out bad, possibly purposely so, with Amy Poehler hamming it up something awful. But it grows on you with memories of Christmas’s past. By the time Murray is singing a surprising non-rapey version of Baby it’s Cold outside we are in fullI can’t quite put my finger on it. This special starts out bad, possibly purposely so, with Amy Poehler hamming it up something awful. But it grows on you with memories of Christmas’s past. By the time Murray is singing a surprising non-rapey version of Baby it’s Cold outside we are in full Christmas swing. Capped off with a blast of nostalgia for Christmas Specials past with a surprisingly talented Miley Cyrus and a ridiculously charming George Clooney.

This has been my go to Christmas special the last two years and I see no reason not to continue that tradition again next year.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TheQuietGamer

Dec 24, 2017

Bill Murray's delightful Christmas special starts off by making fun of the entertainment industry a bit. The plot revolves Murray having trouble actually getting people to show up to his Christmas special due to a blizzard and a case of the bah-humbugs. It gives things a sort of meta elementBill Murray's delightful Christmas special starts off by making fun of the entertainment industry a bit. The plot revolves Murray having trouble actually getting people to show up to his Christmas special due to a blizzard and a case of the bah-humbugs. It gives things a sort of meta element that's quite charming and leads to quite a few funny moments as Bill trapes around a hotel and interacts with the employees and other guests trapped inside, all of whom are made up of some great cameos.

Really though, this is a musical. Nearly everybody involved gets a chance to sing in a classic Christmas carol or song. There are quite a few surprising voices to be heard here, and the ones that aren't as desirable to listen are still used admirably as they put their all into it. Sometimes even just for comedic purposes. There's a charm and warmth to the whole thing that is perfect for the holiday season. So stick around and listen to the tunes. It's an entertaining way to get into the spirit and pass some time while waiting for Christmas morning to finally arrive.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

handjive

Dec 26, 2015

As a big Bill Murray fan, I was psyched to see this special. Sad to say, it might have looked good on paper but in fact it mostly falls flat, as in "THUD". The guest stars are uneven and mostly they show their faces briefly and then disappear. The biggest miscalculation was an over-relianceAs a big Bill Murray fan, I was psyched to see this special. Sad to say, it might have looked good on paper but in fact it mostly falls flat, as in "THUD". The guest stars are uneven and mostly they show their faces briefly and then disappear. The biggest miscalculation was an over-reliance on Murray's singing. His singing may be funny in small doses, but here he tries to carry too many numbers that go on for much too long for someone whose singing voice is marginal at best. Weirdly, the high points of the show are the numbers by Miley Cyrus, who tackles a couple of Christmas standards. She plays them straight, without any of Murray's irony. Unfortunately she does not appear until the show is nearly over and by then the damage has been done. Except for the Cyrus dream sequence, every scene was woefully under-lit, as if Coppola was going for the "seedy dive bar" atmosphere. How is that supposed to be comic? Bad choice. Major props to Paul Shaffer who gamely tickles his ivories through the entire proceedings, managing to hunker down and ignore the trainwreck that he surely knew he was part of.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Mazmorrero47

Dec 5, 2015

After a promising start, A Very Murray Christmas devolves into a bunch of pointless musical numbers with no real plot. The dialog is delivered in a comical fashion, but the jokes are virtually nonexistent. We're supposed to be amused simply because there are random celebrity cameos thatAfter a promising start, A Very Murray Christmas devolves into a bunch of pointless musical numbers with no real plot. The dialog is delivered in a comical fashion, but the jokes are virtually nonexistent. We're supposed to be amused simply because there are random celebrity cameos that hijack the show from Murray. The whole endeavor feels forced and like it tries way too hard.
Bottom line: It's an SNL skit stretched for an hour.… Expand

9 of 10 users found this helpful91

Noel2015

Dec 14, 2015

Thankfully, technology (the fast-forward button) offered relief while I unsuccessfully searched for anything of value. How this is rated an average of 5.6 is a mystery!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

alwayswatching

Dec 6, 2015

I saw my first Netflix original ... oh ... wait ... I didn't because this movie was so bad I left watching in the middle and I have no plans to go back and watch the rest. Good job Netflix.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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Seasons & Episodes

68

Series Overview
Season 1

68
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: December 4, 2015
- No episode information is currently available for this season