The holiday romance ‘Exes of Christmas Past’ began streaming November 16, 2025 on major free platforms.
Holiday romance Exes of Christmas Past brings a Midwest twist to seasonal storytelling. The film had me at hello with a beautifully filmed opening sequence of Christmas time in downtown Chicago.
The story follows an ambitious hotel manager who returns to her family’s B and B for Christmas, only to find all three of her high school exes staying there. The warm, family friendly story blends classic holiday charm with plenty of local flavor, showcasing real Illinois communities and the people who make them special.
Written and produced by husband and wife team Jake Jarvi and Eliza Toser, with Jarvi directing, Exes of Christmas Past stars rom com favorites Brittany Underwood (A Royal Christmas Holiday) and Alex Trumble (The Search for Secret Santa). The supporting cast features Chicago based talent including Debo Balogun (Power Book IV: Force), Rengin Altay (Chicago Fire), Jeremy Warner (Haunt Season), and Daniel Patrick Sullivan (Chicago Med).
While Exes of Christmas Past is set in the fictional town of Mill Creek, it was filmed primarily at the iconic Cherry Tree Inn B and B in Woodstock, Illinois. You may recognize the location as the same beloved setting featured in Groundhog Day and the recent Hulu release Reporting for Christmas. Additional scenes were captured across the Chicago area, including the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel and 221 Blu Bar and Lounge.
“We were fortunate to shoot at the Cherry Tree, which has such rich cinematic history,” said Jarvi. “We could not have found better locations to bring this story to life, and we cannot wait to share the film with audiences this holiday season.”
The production also made extensive use of downtown Libertyville and local businesses including Conscious Cup Coffee Roasters, Firkin Alley, JC Licht Benjamin Moore Paint and Decor Store, Sweet Home Gelato, About Time Bookstore, As Above So Below, Edie Boutique, and Marigold. Many of these shops appear on screen along with several local business owners.
“Jake and I live in Gurnee and have enjoyed spending time in Libertyville with our daughter, so it was amazing to film in a community we know and love,” said Toser.
Producers include John W. Bosher and Chris Charles of Throughline Films, Jarvi and Toser, and Warner of Happy Dance Productions, building on their earlier collaboration for the 2024 release Haunt Season. Underwood and Trumble served as executive producers with Vanessa Shapiro, Scott Kirkpatrick, and Dave Hickey of Nicely Entertainment. Casting by Claire Simon. Post production was completed at Journeywork Entertainment and Noisefloor in Chicago, with Nicely handling worldwide distribution.
The film is now streaming widely on Tubi. Watch it here. Also streaming on the Roku Channel, and Pluto TV, with additional availability on Vizio, Xumo Play, and Amazon’s Always Christmas FAST channel. It can also be found in libraries via Hoopla, on DVD through Midwest Tape, and will debut on Prime Video during Christmas in July 2026.
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