December 18, 2024
The Holiday Season, December 2024
Americans Would Prefer to Star in Holiday Movie than Holiday Song...Have Increased Optimism for the Coming Year
It’s the holiday season, and more than seven in ten Americans say they would prefer to star in a popular holiday movie than to star on a popular holiday song. Americans are also making their gift preferences known. Yet, they divide about whether they would prefer one big gift or a slew of smaller presents. Oh, and, when it comes to holiday travel, most Americans would prefer to stay homebound. On a more serious note, American optimism has rebounded sharply, with a majority saying that they have a positive outlook about 2025.
Star in Holiday Movie or Song?
Would you rather star:
Marist Poll National Adults. Interviews conducted December 3rd through December 5th, 2024, n=3,131 MOE +/- 2.1 percentage points. Totals may not add to 100% due to rounding.
- More than seven in ten Americans (72%) would prefer to star in a popular holiday movie than to star on a popular holiday single (26%).
- Americans divide about whether they would prefer to receive one big holiday gift (50%) or to receive ten small gifts (48%).
- Men (53%) and Americans under the age of 45 (53%) are more likely to prefer one big gift. In contrast, 51% of women prefer ten small gifts. Those ages 45 and older divide (48% for one large gift to 49% for a group of smaller gifts).
- Three in four Americans (75%) would rather stay home during the holidays. 25% would rather travel. While many -- regardless of generation -- prefer to stay home, Gen Z/Millennials (35%) and Gen X (23%) are more likely to say they would prefer to travel than Baby Boomers (13%) and the Silent Greatest Generation (11%). Men (28%) are also more likely than women (22%) to prefer to travel.
- 56% of Americans are more optimistic about the coming year while 43% are more pessimistic. The proportion of Americans who are optimistic about the coming year is up from 40% last December and is at its highest point since December 2020.
- While more than two in three Democrats (68%) are pessimistic about 2025, 82% of Republicans and 54% of independents are more optimistic. While Gen Z/Millennials (59%) and Gen X (60%) are more optimistic, Baby Boomers (48% optimistic to 51% pessimistic) and the Silent/Greatest Generation (50% optimistic to 47% pessimistic) divide.