Homecoming (1984 film)

Homecoming is a 1984 made-for-television drama film based on the novel of the same name by Earl Hamner Jr., who also wrote the screenplay. The film is a remake of the 1971 television movie The Homecoming: A Christmas Story, which served as the pilot for the long-running television series The Waltons.

The film tells the story of the Spencer family in rural Virginia during the Great Depression. On Christmas Eve, Clay Spencer, the father, is late returning home from working a second job. His wife, Olivia, and their children worry about his safety as a snowstorm intensifies. The film follows the family as they await Clay's return, highlighting their close-knit bonds and struggles during a difficult economic period.

The 1984 Homecoming features a different cast from both the original television movie and The Waltons series. Although it adheres closely to the plot of the original, it aimed for a darker and more realistic portrayal of the Spencer family's hardships. Its production quality benefitted from the larger budgets of the 1980s made-for-TV movie landscape compared to its 1971 predecessor. Despite its adherence to the original story, it did not achieve the same level of critical acclaim or enduring popularity as The Homecoming: A Christmas Story.