Pickleball Makes Its Lifetime Holiday Movie Debut with ‘A Pickleball Christmas’

The holiday season is about to get a whole lot more interesting for pickleball enthusiasts across the country. In what can only be described as a watershed moment for the sport, Lifetime has announced that pickleball will take center stage in their holiday movie lineup with “A Pickleball Christmas,” set to air on December 20, 2025. This marks a significant milestone in pickleball’s cultural journey, demonstrating just how deeply the sport has woven itself into the fabric of American life and entertainment.

The film will anchor Lifetime’s extensive holiday programming slate called “It’s a Wonderful Lifetime,” which features 13 new movie titles running every Friday and Saturday beginning November 29. That Lifetime chose to feature pickleball so prominently in their holiday lineup speaks volumes about the sport’s mainstream appeal and cultural relevance in 2025. When one of television’s most recognizable networks dedicated to feel-good entertainment decides to build a holiday movie around your sport, you know you’ve truly arrived.

The Story Behind ‘A Pickleball Christmas’

According to details shared by Entertainment Weekly, the plot follows a familiar but heartwarming formula that should resonate with both pickleball players and casual viewers alike. The film centers on Luke Hollis, a professional tennis star portrayed by James Lafferty, who returns to his Florida hometown following the biggest win of his career. Lafferty is perhaps best recognized for his long-running role as Nathan Scott on the beloved teen drama “One Tree Hill,” bringing both name recognition and acting credibility to the project.

Upon arriving home for Christmas, Luke discovers that his family’s racquet club teeters on the brink of closure and potential sale. This sets up the central conflict and ultimate redemption arc of the film. Enter Caroline, the club’s pickleball coach played by Zibby Allen, who notably appeared in 44 episodes of Netflix’s popular drama “Virgin River.” Together, Luke and Caroline reluctantly team up to compete in a high-stakes holiday pickleball tournament that could provide the financial salvation the club desperately needs.

The narrative arc promises all the elements that make holiday movies so compelling: romance, family dynamics, personal growth, and the classic story of a protagonist who must return to their roots to discover what truly matters. As the official synopsis notes, Luke comes to realize that “the greatest victory might just be love, family, and a new chapter at home.” It’s a tried-and-true formula, but one that works remarkably well when executed properly, especially when combined with the accessible, community-focused nature of pickleball.

Why This Movie Matters for Pickleball

The significance of “A Pickleball Christmas” extends far beyond simple entertainment value. This film represents a form of cultural validation that money simply cannot buy. When a major television network like Lifetime invests in creating content around a sport, it signals that the sport has achieved a level of cultural penetration and audience recognition that makes it viable as entertainment subject matter.

For years, pickleball players have evangelized about their sport to anyone who would listen, explaining the rules, the appeal, and the community aspects that make it so addictive. Now, Lifetime is effectively doing that evangelizing on a national scale, introducing pickleball to millions of viewers who may have heard the name but never fully understood what the sport entails or why it has captured the hearts of so many Americans.

The timing couldn’t be better. Pickleball has experienced explosive growth over the past several years, with courts popping up in communities across the nation and participation numbers climbing steadily. The sport has attracted players of all ages and skill levels, from retirees looking for low-impact exercise to competitive athletes seeking a new challenge. By featuring pickleball in a holiday movie, Lifetime is both acknowledging this growth and potentially accelerating it by exposing the sport to viewers who might be inspired to pick up a paddle themselves after watching.

The film also benefits from its Florida setting, which makes perfect sense given the state’s status as a pickleball hotbed. Florida’s year-round warm weather and extensive pickleball infrastructure have made it a destination for players from around the country, and many of the sport’s most dedicated communities have flourished in the Sunshine State. This geographic authenticity adds credibility to the film’s premise and should resonate with pickleball players who understand Florida’s special relationship with the sport.

The Tennis-to-Pickleball Narrative

One of the most interesting aspects of “A Pickleball Christmas” is its use of the tennis-player-turned-pickleball-competitor storyline. This narrative device has become surprisingly common in pickleball-related entertainment, and for good reason. It provides built-in dramatic tension and character development opportunities while also reflecting a real phenomenon in the sport’s growth.

Many tennis players have indeed made the transition to pickleball, some enthusiastically and others with initial reluctance. The smaller court, modified equipment, and different strategic considerations mean that tennis skills translate imperfectly to pickleball, requiring even accomplished racquet sport athletes to humble themselves and learn new techniques. This creates natural opportunities for character growth and story development, as protagonists must overcome their preconceptions and pride to succeed in this new arena.

The “reluctant tennis purist who discovers pickleball” trope also allows filmmakers to address some of the real tensions that exist between the two sports. While many tennis and pickleball players happily coexist and even play both sports, there has been friction in some communities about court conversion, noise concerns, and perceived hierarchies between racquet sports. By addressing these dynamics through entertainment, films like “A Pickleball Christmas” can help normalize pickleball and demonstrate its legitimacy as both a competitive sport and a recreational activity.

Not the Only Pickleball Film on the Horizon

What makes the release of “A Pickleball Christmas” even more noteworthy is that it’s not the only pickleball-themed film currently in production. Earlier this year, Apple purchased “The Dink,” a comedy starring Jake Johnson of “New Girl” fame and produced by Ben Stiller, known for his work on the critically acclaimed series “Severance.”

“The Dink” follows a remarkably similar premise: a washed-up tennis pro who “tries to save a club by reluctantly playing pickleball to earn his father’s respect.” While no specific release date has been announced for this Apple production, the fact that a major streaming platform invested in a feature-length pickleball film demonstrates the sport’s growing appeal to entertainment industry decision-makers who bet millions of dollars on projects they believe will find audiences.

The similarities between these two films are striking and perhaps inevitable. Both feature former tennis players, both involve saving a club or facility, and both center on pickleball tournaments as the mechanism for redemption. This parallel development suggests that entertainment industry professionals have identified a compelling narrative framework that effectively showcases pickleball while delivering the character-driven storytelling that audiences expect.

That two major entertainment companies would independently develop pickleball films with similar premises at roughly the same time is not mere coincidence. It reflects a recognition that pickleball has reached a critical mass of public awareness and participation that makes it viable as entertainment subject matter. The sport has moved beyond niche status to become something that general audiences can understand and relate to, even if they’ve never personally held a paddle.

Understanding the Appeal: Pickleball Explained for the Uninitiated

For readers who may not be deeply familiar with pickleball, understanding why this sport has captivated millions of Americans and earned its place in holiday movie lineups requires some context about what makes it unique and appealing.

Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, played on a court roughly one-third the size of a tennis court with a lowered net. Players use solid paddles to hit a perforated plastic ball similar to a wiffle ball back and forth over the net. The sport can be played as singles or doubles, though doubles is far more common and contributes significantly to pickleball’s social appeal.

What distinguishes pickleball from other racquet sports is its remarkable accessibility. The smaller court means less running and ground to cover, making it easier on joints and bodies than tennis. The underhand serve requirement and double-bounce rule (the ball must bounce once on each side before players can volley) help level the playing field between players of different skill levels and ages. The slower-moving ball gives players more time to react and develop strategy, reducing the pure athleticism required while increasing the importance of placement, spin, and tactical thinking.

These design characteristics mean that beginners can start having fun relatively quickly, without the months of practice required to achieve basic competency in sports like tennis or golf. A complete novice can step onto a pickleball court and have an enjoyable rally within their first hour of play. This low barrier to entry has been crucial to pickleball’s explosive growth, as new players don’t face the frustrating learning curve that turns many people away from other sports.

But accessibility doesn’t mean lack of depth. Advanced pickleball features incredibly fast exchanges at the net, creative shot-making, and subtle strategic elements that can take years to master. Professional pickleball players demonstrate athleticism, skill, and tactical sophistication that rivals any sport. This combination of easy-to-learn, difficult-to-master gameplay creates a sport that works for everyone from casual recreational players to serious competitors.

Perhaps most importantly, pickleball has developed a reputation as an exceptionally social sport. The doubles format encourages conversation and camaraderie, the smaller court keeps players close together, and the sport’s culture emphasizes fun and inclusivity. Many players cite the social aspects and community feeling as their primary reason for falling in love with pickleball. It’s not uncommon for players to spend as much time chatting between games as they do actually playing, and many pickleball venues function as social hubs where friendships form and communities develop.

This social dimension makes pickleball perfect for storytelling purposes. The sport naturally brings people together, creates opportunities for interaction and relationship development, and takes place in settings that facilitate the kind of ensemble casts and multiple storylines that work well in film and television. A pickleball club or tournament provides a ready-made environment where characters from different backgrounds can meet, conflict can emerge, and resolutions can occur, all while the actual sport provides visual interest and dramatic structure.

The Broader Holiday Movie Lineup

“A Pickleball Christmas” joins an impressive roster of 13 new Lifetime holiday films, demonstrating the network’s continued commitment to seasonal programming that has become a tradition for many viewers. The complete lineup includes titles like “Christmas Everyday,” “The Christmas Campaign,” “Jingle All the Way to Love,” “A Christmas Cookbook,” “Merry Missed Connections,” “Christmas in Alaska,” and “Sweet Holiday Romance,” among others.

Other notable stars appearing in Lifetime’s holiday lineup include Brandy Norwood, Arielle Kebbel, and Vivica A. Fox, showing that the network has assembled recognizable talent across its slate of films. The fact that “A Pickleball Christmas” is positioned to anchor this lineup, airing on December 20 at 8 p.m. ET, suggests that Lifetime has particular confidence in the film’s ability to draw audiences during the critical late-December period when holiday viewership typically peaks.

Holiday movies have become a phenomenon unto themselves in recent years, with networks like Lifetime and Hallmark building entire programming strategies around producing dozens of new seasonal films annually. These movies follow certain familiar formulas: romantic storylines, small-town or family settings, conflicts that threaten holiday plans or traditions, and ultimately heartwarming resolutions that affirm values like love, family, and community.

What makes these films successful is not novelty or unpredictability but rather their comforting familiarity and emotional reliability. Viewers tune in knowing roughly what to expect and finding satisfaction in that expectation being met. The inclusion of pickleball in this formula is brilliant because the sport itself embodies many of the same values that holiday movies celebrate: community, inclusivity, joy, and bringing people together across differences.

What This Means for Pickleball’s Future

The release of “A Pickleball Christmas” and the upcoming “The Dink” suggests that pickleball has reached a new phase in its cultural evolution. The sport has moved beyond the early adopter phase and entered the mainstream consciousness in a way that makes it viable as entertainment subject matter for general audiences.

This mainstream recognition should accelerate pickleball’s growth even further. When millions of viewers watch “A Pickleball Christmas” this December, many will be exposed to the sport for the first time or will have their existing curiosity piqued. Some percentage of those viewers will be inspired to try pickleball themselves, either seeking out local courts or asking for equipment as holiday gifts. This represents a form of marketing and promotion that the pickleball industry could never afford to purchase directly but receives as a natural consequence of the sport’s cultural penetration.

The film may also help legitimize pickleball in the eyes of skeptics or those who have dismissed it as a fad or trivial activity. When major entertainment companies invest in creating content around a sport, it sends a message that the sport has staying power and cultural significance. This can influence everything from municipal decisions about court construction to media coverage to corporate sponsorship opportunities.

Furthermore, the positive, community-focused portrayal that “A Pickleball Christmas” seems likely to offer could help shape public perception of the sport in beneficial ways. While pickleball has experienced some controversies related to noise complaints and court access disputes, a heartwarming holiday film will emphasize the sport’s positive attributes: its ability to bring people together, provide healthy recreation, and build community. This narrative framing could prove valuable as pickleball continues navigating its rapid growth and the challenges that come with it.

Mark Your Calendars

For pickleball enthusiasts and curious viewers alike, “A Pickleball Christmas” airs on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime. Whether you’re a dedicated player who spends every spare moment on the court or someone who has simply heard the term and wondered what all the fuss is about, this film offers an opportunity to see pickleball represented in mainstream entertainment in a way that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago.

The movie promises all the elements that make holiday films enjoyable: romance, family dynamics, redemption arcs, and feel-good resolutions. But it also offers something more for the pickleball community: validation, recognition, and a sign that their sport has truly arrived on the national stage. As pickleball continues its remarkable growth trajectory, moments like this serve as milestones marking just how far the sport has come and hinting at how much further it might go.

So grab your favorite paddle-shaped snacks, gather your pickleball friends, and settle in for what promises to be a celebration of the sport we all love, wrapped up in the warm, fuzzy package of a Lifetime holiday movie. Whether the film becomes a new annual tradition for pickleball players or simply introduces a few more people to the sport, its existence represents a moment worth celebrating in pickleball’s ongoing journey from backyard novelty to cultural phenomenon.