The film features a large ensemble cast led by Patrick Stewart, James Roday, Julianna Guill, Jon Heder, Cheryl Hines, and Gary Cole.

Set in New York City, the film tells the stories of various characters as they become trapped in six different elevators on the titular evening.

[3] Joe Leydon of Variety wrote "Davis obviously aims to indicate a grand design to seemingly random events, and the presence of a higher power — probably God — capable of affecting human destinies."

"[4] Jared Whitley of the Star Trek fan site Trek Movie gave the film "3 out of 4 lights," noting that "Patrick Stewart fans will no doubt remember his iconic role as Ebeneezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol and will be happy to know that Stewart brings plenty of that regal Scrooge-ness to his role in Christmas Eve."

He further noted that all the characters "have the kind of amazing cathartic experiences that can only happen in movies when you’re trapped in elevator with strangers.