The Netflix original movie The Christmas Chronicles has become a modern holiday staple in many households around the world. But for viewers in Lowell, nothing could have prepared them for the surprise waiting on their screens. In one of the opening scenes, Kate Pierce surprises viewers by giving Santa an address right in their own city: “18 Bridgton Road, Lowell, Massachusetts”. But why, of all places, did this hundred‑million‑dollar Netflix production starring Kurt Russell choose Lowell as the home of its characters?
According to the film’s screenwriter Matt Lieberman, the story initially centered on two brothers from Boston. Yet, because most of the action takes place in the busy streets of Chicago, he chose a smaller town setting to create a sharper contrast, taking inspiration from the arguing brother duo Micky Ward and Dicky Eklund from The Fighter.
Seeing parallels between his characters and the real-life dynamic of Micky Ward and Dicky Eklund, Lieberman dug deeper into Ward’s background and began exploring Lowell. As he studied the city’s working-class neighborhoods, he realized the Mill City had exactly the kind of authentic, tight-knit environment that felt right for the Pierce family.
The clash between a cozy small town and the dizzying big city fuels the whole adventure. As the kids sneak into Santa’s sleigh, hiding among the Christmas gifts and nearly derailing Christmas, they get lost amidst Chicago’s chaos. But it’s their small-town innocence—and a healthy dose of Lowellvian heart and holiday love—that keeps the holiday magic from flying off the rails.
The Christmas Chronicles is driven by the Pierce children’s sense of wonder, inspired by the holiday magic of Massachusetts—its snowy streets, twinkling lights, and cozy small-town charm fuel their adventure and mischief. If you’re looking for the most magical way to experience that Massachusetts holiday magic without sneaking into Santa’s sleigh, then check out this mesmerizing Christmas carols on strings concert at The Maso Studio at the Huntington Theatre, which will glow with thousands of candles.