‘Nutcrackers’ Trailer: Ben Stiller Finds New Purpose Raising His Nephews in David Gordon Green’s Holiday Heartwarmer

After making a name for himself as one of the most successful comedy directors of the 2000s, David Gordon Green enjoyed a mid-career pivot that saw him become a reliable horror filmmaker with his Blumhouse-backed “Halloween” trilogy and “Exorcist” reboot. With his latest project, “Nutcrackers,” Green is ready to change course once again and try his hand at family filmmaking.

The film, which is written by Leland Douglas, stars Ben Stiller as a work-obsessed man who finds new purpose in life when he becomes caregiver for his four orphaned nephews who live on a farm. It’s a classic holiday set-up that allowed Green to flex many of the different creative muscles he’s honed over the corse of his eclectic career.

“In a lot of ways it’s taking — and this is intentional, too — elements of all of my movie experiences and putting it into one curated movie,” Green said during a recent interview with IndieWire. “So, what I mean by that, is taking what I love about working with kids, and the rawness of non-actors, taking advantage of rural landscapes — that’s where I breathe easier and I’m happier. I’ve learned so much from Jason Blum and the crew that he’s put together at Blumhouse and the way they can very economically make movies that are very appealing, they’ve been so successful launching horror movies in that way. I’m looking at an industry that’s really dried up with comedy. Most people are turning to television for their comedic intake, and I’m thinking maybe that’s an opportunity to start making funny movies.”

“Nutcrackers” was the opening night selection at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, where many critics praised it as a feel-good film that families could enjoy over the holidays.

“‘Nutcrackers’ is somehow a classic Green offering and another swerve in a career built on them,” IndieWire’s Kate Erbland wrote in her review of the film. “But fans of his work, stretching all the way back to his debut ‘George Washington,’ will find plenty of hallmarks here of both his earliest films and his recent studio features. Mostly, it’s refreshing to see Green doing whatever he likes, combining some of his favorite elements (talented kids, keen comedic timing, a country setting, and a genuine warmth that’s hard to fake) to make a new film that feels as good for his soul as the audience’s.”

“Nutcrackers” begins streaming exclusively on Hulu on Friday, November 29. Watch the trailer below.