Movies like Principal Takes a Holiday (1998)
The best movies like Principal Takes a Holiday (1998) are Clear History (2013), The Trailer Park Boys Xmas Special (2004) and Ricky Gervais: Mortality (2025). If Principal Takes a Holiday hooked you with its family and comedy, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedJohn Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City (2018)7.9/10 from 259 votes
- NewestRicky Gervais: Mortality (2025)Released 2025
Clear History (2013)
Nathan Flomm, in order to avoid the humiliation of having missed out on a hugely successful business, assumes a new identity on Martha's Vineyard. He plots revenge when his former business partner moves to the same town.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Trailer Park Boys Xmas Special (2004)
In this holiday prequel, it’s 1997 and Sunnyvale Trailer Park is getting ready for the holiday season. Julian’s got a great idea to make money this Christmas, Ricky gets confused between God and Santa, and Bubbles tries to get the Boys together for an annual Christmas bonfire. Meanwhile, Mr. Lahey is thrilled because Christmas is the only day of the year that his wife Barb allows him to have a few drinks. Directed by series creator Mike Clattenburg, this hour-long special takes place before Jamie was J-Roc, before Randy and Lahey were a couple, and before the Shitmobile was missing a door.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisRicky Gervais: Mortality (2025)
Ricky Gervais tackles life, death and the state of the world in a brutally honest special that spares no topic, even his own mortality.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisJohn Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City (2018)
John Mulaney relays stories from his childhood and "SNL," eviscerates the value of college and laments getting older in this electric comedy special.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisWho Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery (2022)
A holiday-hating detective is forced to solve a murder — and save Christmas — with help from famous trainees who must improv their way through the case.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBill Burr: Drop Dead Years (2025)
In what might be his most personal and introspective hour yet, Bill offers hilarious takes on everything from male sadness to dating advice.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisShane Gillis: Beautiful Dogs (2023)
In a rowdy stand-up set, Shane Gillis riffs on his girlfriend's Navy SEAL ex, touring George Washington's house and being bullied by an Australian Goth.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisSteve Martin and Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life (2018)
Comedians and writers Steve Martin and Martin Short perform a live comedy set with music by The Steep Canyon Rangers and jazz pianist, Jeff Babko, at the Peace Center in Greenville, South Carolina.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDave Chappelle: Killin' Them Softly (2000)
Dave Chappelle returns for a stand-up to D.C. and riffs on politics, police, race relations, drugs, Sesame Street and more.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisHasan Minhaj: The King's Jester (2022)
Filmed at the historic Brooklyn Academy of Music, Hasan Minhaj returns to Netflix with his second stand-up comedy special Hasan Minhaj: The King's Jester. In this hilarious performance, Hasan shares his thoughts on fertility, fatherhood, and freedom of speech.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisTaylor Tomlinson: Have It All (2024)
Can Taylor Tomlinson have it all? From dating woes to dream jobs to inventive dirty talk, she shares life's ups and downs in this stand-up comedy special.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDave Chappelle: The Closer (2021)
As he closes out his slate of comedy specials, Dave takes the stage to try and set the record straight — and get a few things off his chest.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMike Birbiglia: Thank God for Jokes (2017)
Mike Birbiglia declares that a joke should never end with "I’m joking." In his all-new comedy, Birbiglia tiptoes hilariously through the minefield that is modern-day joke-telling. Join Mike as he learns that the same jokes that elicit laughter have the power to produce tears, rage, and a whole lot of getting yelled at. Ultimately it's a show that asks, “How far should we go for the laugh?”
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisJack Whitehall: I'm Only Joking (2020)
Jack Whitehall hits the stage with hilarious tales about happy couples, life in hotels, human stupidity and his well-traveled father.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisTaylor Tomlinson: Look at You (2022)
Breakups. Therapy. Bangs. Taylor's gone through some stuff since her quarter-life crisis, and she spins her mental health journey into insightful comedy.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisDemetri Martin: Live (At the Time) (2015)
Demetri Martin brings his off-kilter take on acoustic guitar, hairless cats, color schemes, and the word "nope" to Washington in his original special.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisGet Santa (2014)
A father and son must team up to save Christmas when they discover Santa Claus sleeping in their garage, having crashed his sleigh and found himself on the run from the police.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisRobot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III (2010)
Millions of years from now, after Socrates, Shakespeare and the bible are long forgotten, only two great works will remain: the sci-fi cinema epic Star Wars and Adult Swim's stop-motion animated, cheap gag extravanganza Robot Chicken. And now, for the first time, they come together for the third time, in this all new special. That's right, all your mot beloved Star Wars characters are going back through the comedy meat grinder.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning (2007)
When mischievous teenaged cousins Bo and Luke Duke are arrested, both boys are paroled to the care of their Uncle Jesse in Hazzard, sentenced to a summer of hard work. It's not long before the Duke boys learn of Boss Hogg's plans to foreclose on Uncle Jesse's farm. Together, with help from their cousin Daisy, Bo and Luke vow to save the family's property and its storied history of producing the best moonshine in all of Hazzard.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones (2019)
Dave Chappelle takes on gun culture, the opioid crisis and the tidal wave of celebrity scandals in this defiant stand-up special.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisCaptain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017)
Based on the bestselling book series, this outrageous comedy tells the story of George and Harold, two overly imaginative pranksters who hypnotize their principal into thinking he’s an enthusiastic, yet dimwitted, superhero named Captain Underpants.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family & comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMatilda (1996)
Matilda Wormwood is an brilliant and intelligent little girl. Unfortunately, her parents, Harry and Zinnia, fail to see that fact. As time passes, she finally starts school and has a kind teacher, loyal friends, and a terrifying, sadistic headmistress. As she becomes fed up with the constant cruelty, she discovers she has a special gift that she just might be able to use to outwit the unruly adults around her.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy & family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBridge to Terabithia (2007)
Jesse Aarons trained all summer to become the fastest runner in school. So he's very upset when newcomer Leslie Burke outruns him and everyone else. Despite this and other differences including that she's rich, he's poor, she's a city girl, and he's a country boy the two become fast friends. Together they create Terabithia, a land of monsters, trolls, ogres, and giants where they rule as king and queen.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisSmall Change (1976)
The lives of a motherless young man, who's just starting to find interest in women, and his physically abused, poverty stricken friend, are mixed with more or less innocent childhood experiences and challenges most their age experience.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisRyoma! The Prince of Tennis (2021)
Inspired by his tennis champion father, Ryoma is determined to take his game to the next level and train in the US. But in the middle of an intense tennis battle to save his classmate Sakuno from dangerous villains, they somehow find themselves transported back to the past, just as Ryoma’s father is about to undertake his final championship match at the US Open – when he was mysteriously forced to retire.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Porky's (1981)
In 1954 Florida, a group of high school boys head to a strip club in the Everglades in an attempt to lose their collective virginity. When the club's owner and his sheriff brother swindle them out of their money and embarrass them, the boys plan revenge.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisUnhuman (2022)
After their school bus crashes, a group of high school students is thrown into a terrifying fight for survival as they try to take down a group of unhuman savages… before they kill each other first.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
SnoozefestMovies like thisNito (2003)
Nito is a teenager with learning difficulties who has been put into a class with kids younger than him who are always mocking and playing jokes on him. Urged by the ideas they've planted in his head, Nito tries to lose his virginity.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Growth Vitamin (1988)
The teacher at school made a scientific experiment - he put two rats in different cages. One of the rats was given carrots containing vitamin of growth, and the other did not feed. Time passed, and the rat, to whom nothing was given, became thicker than the rat that was fed. It turned out that one student from pity fed another rat.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Your Romeo (2016)
Yvette has dreamed of performing Romeo and Juliet since starting high school. Now, in her final year, the headmaster has decided to use the school's entire arts and culture budget to fund a T20 event. In a last ditch effort to put on the play, they ask the school's cricket hero, Marko Marais, to play the role of Romeo.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Like Principal Takes a Holiday and something else?
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Principal Takes a Holiday?
The closest matches to Principal Takes a Holiday are Clear History (2013), The Trailer Park Boys Xmas Special (2004) and Ricky Gervais: Mortality (2025). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Principal Takes a Holiday?
Start with Clear History (2013), the closest match to Principal Takes a Holiday.
What is the highest-rated movie like Principal Takes a Holiday?
John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City (2018), rated 7.9/10 by 259 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Principal Takes a Holiday?
Ricky Gervais: Mortality (2025) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like Principal Takes a Holiday?
Yes: Clear History (2013), The Trailer Park Boys Xmas Special (2004) and Ricky Gervais: Mortality (2025).
How are movies similar to Principal Takes a Holiday chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Principal Takes a Holiday, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.