Michelle Monaghan Shines in Festive Sequel, Not Just Mark Wahlberg’s Show

Michelle Monaghan has once again captured the attention of audiences, this time stepping into a burgeoning franchise that’s quickly become a seasonal favourite. Known for her roles in the high-octane Mission: Impossible series, Monaghan now finds herself at the heart of Family Plan, an action-comedy whose sequel has just made its debut. The original instalment has already established itself as one of the year’s most popular festive films.

Family Dynamics Take Centre Stage

Reflecting on her experience in the latest release, Monaghan discussed the dynamic between herself and Mark Wahlberg, who stars alongside her. She noted that the film’s narrative doesn’t simply revolve around Wahlberg’s character; instead, it offers meaningful moments for each member of the on-screen family. In fact, there’s even a memorable chase sequence where Monaghan’s character, Jessica, manages to outpace Wahlberg’s Dan.

Monaghan, who also appeared in White Lotus, highlighted the active roles played by every family member. She remarked,

What’s really special is that the family all has to depend on each other, and they all lean on their respective strengths to help them beat the odds. That’s something that we can all relate to in terms of family dynamics. Obviously, it’s heightened because of the nature of the film.

She went on to mention that the tech-savvy Kyle, portrayed by Van Crosby, and his sister Nina, played by Zoe Colletti, each bring their own unique energy to the story. Wahlberg’s Dan, meanwhile, is described as the “workhorse in the family.”

Family Plan: A Franchise for All Ages

The sequel, filmed in London and released on 21 November 2025, follows the success of the first entry, which was met with considerable enthusiasm. The follow-up arrived on AppleTV within two years, continuing the story of the Morgan family. Monaghan expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to share this project with her own children, a rarity in her career.

She shared,

I’ve done a wide range of work in my career, but I can count on one hand the number of projects that my kids can actually watch. So The Family Plan allowed me to sit them down and say, ‘Hey, Mom made this. We can all watch it together. You don’t have to wait three or four more years before I say it’s okay.’

Monaghan is married to Peter White, and together they have two children: Willow Katherine, born in 2008, and Tommy Francis, born in 2013.

Wahlberg’s Streaming Success

Mark Wahlberg, having made his mark in cinemas, has now become a prominent figure on streaming platforms. This year, he appeared in Play Dirty alongside LaKeith Stanfield and Rosa Salazar, a Prime Video release that quickly climbed to the top spot across streaming services. Meanwhile, The Family Plan has become AppleTV’s most-watched film, followed by The Union, which premiered on Netflix in 2024. Since 2020, Wahlberg has featured in seven streaming films across four different platforms.

For those interested in the numbers, The Family Plan holds a 6.3/10 rating on IMDb and a 29% critics’ score (60% audience) on Rotten Tomatoes. The sequel, The Family Plan 2, currently sits at 5.6/10 on IMDb and 35% (36% audience) on Rotten Tomatoes. Play Dirty and The Union have also drawn attention, with their own respective ratings reflecting a mixed but engaged viewership.

The Family Plan 2 is now available to stream on AppleTV.