Nancy Meyers was 'shocked by how much Christmas' was in “The Holiday” on rewatch: 'I never saw it as a holiday movie'

It would have made sense if director Nancy Meyers, known for her gorgeous aesthetic in movies like Something's Gotta Give and It's Complicated, had filmed The Holiday intending to make it the new Christmas classic it has become. (The festive decor is already dazzling, but when you Nancy Meyers it, the atmosphere becomes sublime.)

But she didn't.

Related: Jude Law has some sad news about the picture-perfect cottage from The Holiday: 'Just burst the bubble'

The Oscar-nominated writer-director chose the time of year because of its solitude rather than the fact that wreaths, strands of Christmas lights, poinsettias, and cozy sweaters would abound.

"I never thought it would be, you know, a movie that you watched during the holidays.... Didn't think of it that way. I just really wanted to tell the story about these people. I set it at Christmas because that can be lonely. As I noted to myself last night while I was watching, they're all damaged," Meyers shared on the Hollywood Gold podcast.

The 2006 film stars Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet as women who are both reeling from heartbreak. Diaz's Amanda, who creates movie trailers in Los Angeles, and Winslet's Iris, a columnist for a London newspaper, connect online as both are looking for a place to temporarily escape. Once each is in a new setting, they find themselves falling for men they meet, who have their own heart hangups. For Amanda, she becomes enamored with Iris' brother, Graham, played by Jude Law, while Iris cozies up to Miles (Jack Black).

Related: Cameron Diaz addresses why she left Hollywood in 2014: 'I just really didn't care about anything else'

Meyers said she finds Miles "the least damaged" of the characters, but he's damaged just the same.

"And the holidays seem like a good time to deal with those issues," Meyers said. "So it was that, not, 'Hey, I think I'll make a festive holiday movie.' Not at all."

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.

Nevertheless, the beloved movie regularly pops up on what to watch lists this time of year.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly