Every December, the streets of New York City turn into a winter carnival of pine, lights, and pure hustle — and this year, that tradition gets the documentary treatment. The Merchants of Joy, from Amazon MGM Studios, follows five families who transform city sidewalks into pop-up forests, keeping a decades-old Christmas trade alive one tree at a time. Check out the trailer below.
Directed by Celia Aniskovich (Burn It Down), the film is inspired by Owen Long’s New York Magazine feature “Secrets of the Christmas Tree Trade.” It’s a grounded, heartfelt look at pride, perseverance, and the people who bring seasonal magic to the city that never sleeps.
Produced by Artists Equity, Dial Tone Films, Boat Rocker Studios, and Epic Magazine — with Ben Affleck among the executive producers — Merchants of Joy promises a street-level view of the holiday spirit that refuses to quit.
The film will be available on Prime Video starting December 1, 2025.
