How the Gringo Stole Christmas is virtually unknown, but it’s also the seventh most-watched film on Hulu. Next to no information exists about this holiday comedy. It dropped into select theaters and streaming services on December 1st, 2023. No one reported its box office take, nor the amount of money it took home from VOD sales. With few measurements of its success, it’s bizarre to see a Christmas film take off on Hulu more than a month after the holiday.
How the Gringo Stole Christmas Keeps the Holiday Going on Hulu
How the Gringo Stole Christmas follows comedian and sitcom star George Lopez as Bennie, a doting father with a touch of empty nest syndrome. His daughter Claudia, portrayed by Mayans M.C. star Emily Tosta, returns to her family home in Los Angeles for the holidays. She brings her white boyfriend, Leif, played by Jack Kilmer of Palo Alto fame, instigating a culture shock. Bennie sees his daughter as a child, while Claudia is sick of his helicopter parenting. Leif is caught in the middle, happy in his relationship but terrified of her passionate family. It’s Meet the Parents with George Lopez’s standup or Guess Who with a different ethnic group. The cast delivers the script’s stereotype-heavy material with enough charm to escape most critique, but many will find the jokes familiar. It’s better than the average Hallmark Christmas offering but a bizarre hit on Hulu.
How the Gringo Stole Christmas doesn’t have a Rotten Tomatoes score. Only two approved critics saw fit to publish their thoughts on the matter. Both provided scathing commentary with a few positive notes to soften the blow. Rotten Tomatoes doesn’t assign a score without five approved critics weighing in, but its two low scores would brand it a 0% so far. Audiences were not kinder to the film. It boasts a 26% positive Audience score from more than 50 amateur reviewers. Many went so far as to call the movie racist for its comedic depictions of stereotypes and inherent culture clash narrative. Anyone who has seen a film like this can tell you how it ends. The moral is about learning to drop our preconceived notions and set aside our prejudices so everyone can be happy. It’s ultimately harmless, as weird as it is.
Bizarrely, How the Gringo Stole Christmas got its position on Hulu’s top ten through US viewers. Most examples of lesser-known projects enjoying sudden climbs onto a streaming service’s most-watched list require worldwide attention. This film made it to number seven by the strength of American eyes. Something about this bizarre yet formulaic comedy caught the attention of domestic viewers. Maybe Hulu’s audience just wanted to keep the holiday spirit alive for another month, and I can’t fault them for that.
