Warning: This article includes SPOILERS for Novocaine!

Jack Quaid’s 2025 movie Novocaine is a fun action-thriller, but I’m confused as to why it didn’t come out three months ago for one major reason. After getting hype due to the Superbowl commercial, Novocaine was finally released in theaters, allowing audiences to watch the chaotic and hilarious film packed with non-stop twists and turns. The story follows a man named Nathan Caine, who has Congenital Insensitivity to Pain and Anhidrosis, as he tries to save the woman of his dreams. However, it’s worth noting that they get a lot of things wrong about the disorder CIPA in Novocaine.

With Novocaine’s big-name cast members, hilarious dialogue, and gruesome action, I’m not surprised to see the positive reviews from both critics and viewers. Jack Quaid does a great job playing the plucky and hopelessly optimistic hero, and Amber Midthunder handles Novocaine’s big twist. I’m inclined to agree with others and rate Novocaine relatively high, but it would’ve gotten more praise from me if they had simply released the film three months ago.

Novocaine’s Christmas Theme Makes No Sense With A March Release Date

Novocaine’s Christmas Theme Feels Heavy-Handed And Distracting

One of the biggest head-scratchers about Novocaine is the fact that they set the movie during Christmas but released in March. The most overt examples of this are in the music and the robbers’ costumes. Instrumental Christmas-y music plays in the background a few times, and Novocaine’s soundtrack includes the songs “Silver Bells” and “We Wish You A Merry Christmas.” This alone is bound to annoy some viewers since it seems like, nowadays, Christmas music plays from September to January. The robbers also dress as Santa Claus and enter the bank saying, “ho, ho, ho.”

However, the Christmas theme is apparent in less overt ways. Some sH๏τs show Christmas lights hanging on the trees, and Nathan Caine wears a winter tie. The police reiterate a few times that they’re short-staffed because of the holiday, which adds stakes for Nathan Caine. These inclusions might not be as distracting, but they seem odd when presented in a month with very few international holidays. Unless I remind myself of the Christmas theme, it’s hard to figure out why holidays like Mardis Gras and St. Patrick’s Day would leave officers short-staffed.

Novocaine Should Have Released In Early December 2024

Novocaine Would Have Performed Well If It Released In Early December

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While some popular Christmas movies have released nowhere near the holiday, I think that Novocaine would’ve done better if the film went out in late November or early December 2024. The Christmas theme would make more sense, for one thing. Viewers wouldn’t have been as likely to get annoyed or confused with the Christmas music and Santa Claus robbers.

Additionally, the film wouldn’t have gone up against too much compeтιтion. As a rated-R action-thriller, Novocaine wouldn’t have faced much compeтιтion from Moana 2 or Mufasa: The Lion King, the family-oriented Disney films around that time frame. They target entirely different demographics. The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim and Kraven the Hunter might have posed a problem for the movies, but they ended up flopping at the box office.

The biggest compeтιтors Novocaine would’ve gone up against are Red One and Sonic the Hedgehog 3, both of which are action films. However, Red One had a PG-13 rating, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 had a PG rating, and both targeted a younger group. Movies like Nosferatu, Baby Girl, and A Complete Unknown, which would’ve threatened to pull potential audience members away from Novocaine, wouldn’t release until Christmas Day.

Was Novocaine’s Release Date Delayed?

Novocaine’s Release Strategy Was Likely Influenced By Die Hard

After watching an early access showing of Novocaine, I walked out of the theater fully convinced that the film had delayed its release, most likely due to the Hollywood strikes. The movie included too many Christmas references for it to come out intentionally in March. I searched for confirmation of this on my phone as soon as I reached my car. No matter what keywords and phrasing I used, I couldn’t find any indication that Novocaine’s release date had changed from December to March. As such, the Christmas setting seems like an intentional and perplexing thematic choice.

The most likely explanation for the Christmas theme in a March release is that they wanted to replicate the success of Die Hard, which was a Christmas-themed action movie that released in July. Ideally, fans will not start arguing about whether Novocaine is a Christmas movie every year like its predecessor. Unfortunately, both films have just about the same claim to that status as the other, so it will likely happen. Regardless of any debates that may pop up, Novocaine certainly has what it takes to become an adult, fan-favorite Christmas movie that individuals rewatch every year around the holidays.