What Makes Will Smith’s Christmas Movie “Collateral Beauty” So Unique

Over the years, some great movies have been made against the backdrop of Christmas that fans love to revisit year after year. While most of these movies are either critically acclaimed or box office blockbusters, some failed to resonate with audiences and critics when they were released but have since gone on to become cult classics. Will Smith’s Collateral Beauty is one such film.

Collateral Beauty (2016) | Credit: Warner Bros.

The film is based on Will Smith’s character, Howard Inlet. A pretty successful advertising executive, Howard ends up being seriously depressed after his daughter’s death, feeling as if there was no life left in him. Retreating from life, putting his and his company’s life in jeopardy, he ends up writing letters to Love, Time, and Death.

However, one thing leads to another, and he ends up meeting the three entities, ultimately realizing life is worth living despite the loss and heartbreak.

So although it might start on a sad tone, Collateral Beauty is a bold narrative approach that sets it apart from traditional holiday films. Even though Smith himself is fond of It’s a Wonderful Life (via Rayo), his Christmas film is equally special. It leaves behind a lot for fans to think about through its deeply philosophical exploration of grief, healing, and human connection. So without further ado, here is why Will Smith’s Christmas film is a unique but must-watch:

5 Philosophical themes that deeply resonate

Will Smith’s Collateral Beauty is a film with deeply philosophical themes | Credit: Warner Bros.

While most people prefer to watch the feel-good kind Christmas movies, Collateral Beauty is a film of a different kind. At the start, it makes you smile, then cry, and later cry tears of joy as it explores the universal experiences of love, loss, and the passage of time. The film’s title alone explains the main theme of the film, that even in moments of profound pain, there is beauty to be found in the connections we once had and memories we made.

Throughout Will Smith’s Howard’s interaction with Love, Time, and Death, the film leaves us behind with deeply psychological questions— What does it mean to truly live? How do we overcome the loss of someone we love? How do we honor those who we lost and the memories we have? And many, many more. Thus, a timeless film that transcends boundaries, it is a film that lingers on even though the credits might roll on.

4 How it employs its supposed supernatural elements

Collateral Beauty perfectly employs its ‘supernatural’ elements | Credit: Warner Bros.

Not only does this set the film apart from others that rely on supernatural elements and themes, but it also creates a sense of intrigue and mystery by inviting viewers to interpret them in their ways. Thus, not only are the film’s supernatural elements more subtle and grounded but they also add a layer of depth to the narrative.

3 Collateral Beauty has a star-studded cast that delivers

Will Smith and Helen Mirren in the film | Credit: Warner Bros.

2 Collateral Beauty is raw and emotionally unfiltered

Collateral Beauty is unapologetically raw and emotional | Credit: Warner Bros.

Unlike most Christmas or holiday movies, Will Smith’s Collateral Beauty is unflinchingly raw and an unfiltered expression of grief and loss. While Smith delivers a powerful performance as a man who lost his daughter, totally consumed by sorrow and struggling to find meaning after the loss, the rest of the cast does an equally brilliant job. Each has their own sufferings and tragedies to bear, the film portrays every emotion with finesse.

Thus, the film’s emotional depth offers a more contemplative and introspective experience for viewers, many of whom would even relate to the film. For those who are dealing and struggling with loss, especially around the holiday season, Collateral Beauty is the perfect film to watch with a cup of hot chocolate and tissues as it provides a reminder that even when the spirit is broken and the heart is aching, there is hope after all.

1 Unconventional, unique, and unabashed

Collateral Beauty is unlike any other Christmas movie | Credit: Warner Bros.

Collateral Beauty might not have fared well critically or even commercially despite its cast, but it is more than just another film that fans have come to love over the years. Imaginative, unconventional, and audacious in its themes, the film, through its unexpected twists and turns, makes viewers reevaluate life and what makes it worth living. Through its unique address of love, loss, and redemption, it further prompts the viewers to reveal that life is worth it even with all the heartbreak and pain.