When The Family Plan hit screens in 2023, it did so not in cinemas, but as an offering on Apple TV+ — and in doing so quickly became one of the platform’s most-watched original films. Now, two years later, its follow-up, The Family Plan 2, arrives in time for the holidays: released globally on Apple TV+ on 21 November 2025.

Fresh from the suburbs, the Morgan family — led by former assassin–turned-dad Dan Morgan (Mark Wahlberg), and his wife Jessica (Michelle Monaghan) — are back, and this time the “family plan” involves a Christmas getaway to London (and later to Paris), to visit their daughter Nina, who’s studying abroad. But as any fan of the first film knows all too well: when you’re Dan Morgan, “holiday trip” rarely translates to “quiet family time.” A ghost from Dan’s past — this time incarnated in a threatening new antagonist played by Kit Harington — quickly emerges to turn what should be a festive reunion into a high-stakes, globe-trotting scramble.

What Works: Holiday Heart, Family Bonds, and Familiar Fun

One of the strongest appeals of The Family Plan 2 lies in how faithfully it preserves the DNA of its predecessor: at its core, this is a family action-comedy. The Morgan family dynamic remains central — Dan, Jessica, and their kids bicker, bond, panic, and protect each other, all while dodging bullets and navigating absurd circumstances. That mix of domestic warmth and absurd danger is what made the first film entertaining in a low-stakes, “popcorn-and-couch” way — and the sequel leans into that with confidence.

The shift to a European holiday setting gives the sequel a breath of fresh air: the festive backdrops of London and Paris add a visual charm that elevates many of the set pieces. According to press coverage, some of the action takes place on real locations — from car chases through cobblestone streets to high-tension sequences aboard a moving tour bus.

And the cast is back together: Wahlberg and Monaghan return as the central couple, joined by the familiar faces of their on-screen children (among them Zoe Colletti and Van Crosby), which preserves the family-first atmosphere. The new villain adds a fresh — if not especially subtle — challenge.

For viewers who enjoyed the first film, there is comfort in continuity: the same tone, the same blend of holiday warmth and ridiculous action, the same underlying desire to deliver a “safe, fun for the family” action comedy.

Where It Trip-Ups: Predictability and Slightly Diminished Spark

But that comfort comes at a cost. The script — while serviceable — rarely surprises. As some early critics noted, The Family Plan 2 leans heavily on the familiar “family under siege” formula, and many story beats are predictable, even by the standards of light-hearted action films

Where the first film amused with its “fish out of water turned assassin-dad on the run” vibe, the sequel sometimes seems conscious that nothing risky or edgy can happen — perhaps afraid to stray too far from the “family-friendly” label. As a result, some of the action, while slickly shot, feels diluted: more car-commercial aesthetic than heart-pounding suspense.

This isn’t a deep or ambitious film. Character development is shallow, and the narrative arcs are resolved cleanly — maybe a little too cleanly for those looking for more emotional or moral complexity. In places it feels more like holiday light-entertainment than a compelling action thriller.

A Faithful, Fun Sequel — And Maybe the Start of Something Bigger

That said — The Family Plan 2 does exactly what it sets out to do: deliver a familiar, warm, lightly exciting movie that’s suitable for a relaxed evening on the couch. For fans of the first film, it’s a faithful follow-up: same protagonist, same family chaos, but with a fresh setting and a bit more scale. Watching the Morgans jet through London and Paris, dodging danger while trying to hold their family together, offers enough charm and spectacle to distract from the flaws.

Given that the original film had strong streaming success and that the sequel retains much of what worked before (cast, tone, style), there’s little reason to believe this is the final stop for the Morgans. Should Apple and Skydance decide to keep the franchise alive, future installments could continue to expand: new locations, new threats, maybe even deeper emotional stakes — as long as the “family + action + holiday-friendly comedy” formula remains intact.

In that sense, The Family Plan 2 feels like more than just a sequel; it’s an affirmation that the “family action-comedy on streaming” model can endure, and if audiences continue to show up, this could become a recurring franchise — a reliable “holiday blockbuster” for the streaming era.

Verdict: A Warm, Safe, If Slightly Familiar Ride — Worth a Watch

The Family Plan 2 is not cinema “gold.” It’s not trying to be. What it lacks in originality or edge, it makes up for with heart, modest fun, and consistent tone. It’s not going to win awards — but if you’re after a comfortable, festive, action-filled family film: it delivers just that.

If you enjoyed the first film and don’t demand high drama or psychological complexity, The Family Plan 2 is a good watch. It may be predictable — but sometimes, predictable is precisely what you want around the holidays: safe, easy, and fun entertainment you can enjoy with family or friends.