By Kelly Campbell
Whether you’re just getting into the holiday spirit or have had a Christmas tree up since Halloween, we can all agree that one of the best parts of each holiday season are classic holiday movies.
There’s no shortage of holiday films to choose from, yet we can’t get enough. They’re festive, iconic, and full of nostalgia. Year after year, people return to their favorites not just for the stories, but for the feelings they bring: joy, comfort, laughter, and connection.
Pickleballers must’ve been really good this year to score this incoming present: the first-ever pickleball Christmas movie will premiere on Lifetime in just a few weeks. Now, with the incoming pickleball-themed holiday movie, you can give your festivities a pickleball flair and have even more of an excuse to sneak some dink into everyone’s holiday cheer.
Read on for everything we know about A Pickleball Christmas, the newly-released trailer, how to plan the ultimate holiday pickleball celebration for its premiere, and why this is a massive step for dinkers everywhere.
The Dink Debut that Stole Christmas
The official premiere for A Pickleball Christmas is on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 8 pm EST. It will then be available on Philo starting December 21 and on Lifetime via other live streaming services. It is airing as part of Lifetime’s It’s A Wonderful Lifetime Christmas movie lineup.
The upcoming release has garnered attention even outside of the pickleball world, with coverage in holiday movie headlines from NPR, Entertainment Weekly, and more.
According to ET, A Pickleball Christmas follows “tennis star Luke Hollis (James Lafferty) [as he] heads home to Florida for Christmas, only to discover his family’s racquet club is on the verge of being sold. Teaming up with Caroline (Zibby Allen), the club’s pickleball coach, Luke reluctantly agrees to compete in a high-stakes holiday tournament that could save the club. As sparks fly both on and off the court, Luke realizes the greatest victory might just be love, family, and a new chapter at home.”
Rotten Tomatoes says it has a 90-minute run time. James Lafferty is best known for his time as Nathan Scott in One Tree Hill, and Zibby Allen for her role as Brie Sheridan in Virgin River.
Watch the official trailer here.
Plan The Ultimate Holiday Pickleball Watch Party
Whether you’re hosting or attending a viewing party for A Pickleball Christmas (or any pickleball-themed holiday celebration) these festive pickleball products and ideas will have you eating, dinking, and being merry all season long.
Deck Your Halls with Pickleballs
Merry Dinkmas Designs (Digital Download)
Pickleball Holiday Paper Plates
Serve Up Festive Fits
Pickleball Christmas Lights Sweatshirt
Be a Smash Hit With Themed Snacks
Topspin Toddy (Hot Toddy)
Pop-spin Christmas Popcorn Crunch
Homemade Sugar Cookies using Pickleball Christmas Cutout
Deck the Halls Pickleball Chocolate Paddle
Spread Joy with Pickleball Presents & Party Favors
Pickleball Christmas Card Deck
Pickleball Holiday Beverage Bags
Pickleball Christmas Gift Bags
A Pickleball Christmas Beyond its Debut
Think of your favorite holiday movies, and why they’re so special to you. From remembering the first time you heard “keep the change, you filthy animal” in Home Alone, learned you shouldn’t lick a frozen flagpole after watching A Christmas Story, or craved a Buddy the Elf-inspired sweet spaghetti breakfast, these iconic films play a big part in making the holiday season joyful. By adding our favorite sport to the mix, there’s an opportunity to create even more meaningful traditions with our pickleball communities, by combining the magic of the holiday season and the thrill of the game we love.
Between The Dink and A Pickleball Christmas, pickleball is clearly getting the Hollywood spotlight. We’ve already explored how sports movies have a special magic, but adding a holiday twist takes that potential to an entirely different level. Sure, any pickleball movie gives us an excuse to gather with friends, celebrate the sport, and introduce newcomers to the game, but a holiday pickleball movie does all of that while tapping into the built-in warmth, nostalgia, and togetherness of the season. With the festive backdrop, even the most stubborn pickleball grinch might feel inspired to pick up a paddle, join the fun, and maybe even hum a holiday tune on the way to the court.
A holiday movie centered around pickleball isn’t just a fun novelty; it’s an opportunity to create a new kind of tradition. Dinkers can come together, share laughs, reminisce about their favorite moments on the court, and introduce friends and family to the sport in a festive, lighthearted way. Even if A Pickleball Christmas doesn’t end up being a cinematic masterpiece (though we’re all hoping it will), it’s already a win for the pickleball community. It’s a chance to celebrate the sport we love, to unite players old and new, and to add a little extra joy to the holiday season for years to come. Think about it: a movie that can make you smile, cheer, and maybe even grab your paddle mid-scene? That’s a gift that keeps on giving.
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