hallmark christmas movie reviews 2022

All 43 New Hallmark Christmas Movies of 2022, Ranked Worst to Best (Photos)

Film Reviews Editor Alonso Duralde found time for dozens of new holiday offerings among the year-end awards bait

Hallmark Christmas movies remain as cozy as ever, with tree-lighting, cookie-decorating and magical snowfall still the currency of the realm. But since the arrival of Wonya Lucas as the new CEO of Hallmark Media (formerly Crown Media) in 2020, the network’s offerings have branched out in many ways: Lots more diversity, of course — including, this year, Hallmark’s first holiday romance centered on a same-sex relationship and the network’s first film focused on Kwanzaa — but also new and different plots.

The memes (about stressed big-city women finding love with a small-town hunk, not to mention Hallmark’s design clichés ) show no sign of dying, but the movies themselves don’t always match the traditional roadmap. Two of this year’s new movies didn’t end with a kiss, a change previously unthinkable in Hallmark-land.

How do I know all of this? Because, as a veteran viewer of the network’s seasonal entertainment, I watched all 43 new 2022 Hallmark holiday movies (including the three that premiered in July on Hallmark Channel and the nine that premiered on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries during the holiday season.) Your aunt’s mileage may vary, but here’s my ranking of this new crop of cozy classics:

43. “Christmas Bedtime Stories”

What starts out as a decent romance between a widow (Erin Cahill) and an old friend (Steve Lund) — Disney animation has nothing on Hallmark when it comes to dead parents and spouses — takes a hard turn into Crazytown in the last five minutes with a happy ending that’s shameless even by Hallmark standards.

42. “My Grown-Up Christmas List”

This love story between a soldier (Kevin McGarry, “When Calls the Heart”) and his girl (Kayla Wallace, McGarry’s real-life partner) suffers from terrible writing and a lack of chemistry. (A common occurrence among actual couples who act together.) Our leads fall for each other after having known each other a few days, there’s a whole lost-in-combat plotline that makes zero sense, and it culminates (spoiler!) in an outdoor wedding in the middle of winter, at which all the attendees look utterly miserable.

41. “The Most Colorful Time of the Year”

Why is a schoolteacher (Christopher Russell) so grumpy at Christmastime? Because he’s color-blind. But not the regular kind — he has an exceedingly rare condition in which he sees everything only in black and white. Along comes optometrist Katrina Bowden to the rescue, whether he wants her to or not.

40. “Long Lost Christmas”

Taylor Cole and Benjamin Ayres make a great on-screen couple, but they’re saddled with a ridiculous plot about Cole’s character searching for her lost uncle. It’s the kind of movie that would be over in two minutes if everyone just came out and said what was on their minds.

39. “A Royal Corgi Christmas”

Hallmark has scored in the past with movies about cute animals and movies set in English-speaking Ruritanian kingdoms, but the two flavors don’t mix in this cheap-looking, nonsensical love story.

38. “A Magical Christmas Village”

Now that “Bros” has given Luke Macfarlane the opportunity to show his range, this movie (co-starring Alison Sweeney and Marlo Thomas) looks to be his last Hallmark effort for a while, so it’s too bad “Village” is such a depressing compendium of clichés and nonsensical characters.

37. “Inventing the Christmas Prince”

Or, “Inventing an HR Nightmare”: Grumpy boss Ronnie Rowe must pretend to be a mythical Christmas prince to charm the daughter of an aerospace engineer (Tamera Mowry-Housley) he wants to retain. It’s the kind of weird tonal mishmash that has a NASA-type agency being run out of what looks like a mini-mall.

36. “A Christmas Cookie Catastrophe”

Hard-boiled CEO Rachel Boston tries to recreate her grandmother’s legendary cookie recipe with the help of widowed baker Victor Webster, and it works only because of the heavy lifting by a charming ensemble.

35. “Time for Him to Come Home for Christmas”

The latest in one of two Hallmark franchises based on sappy country songs features another committed performance by Tyler Hynes but gets bogged down in some of the most contrived “misunderstood overheard conversation” tropes Hallmark can muster.

34. “When I Think of Christmas”

aka “The One I Don’t Think Of from This Year’s Christmas Movies” — there’s nothing wrong per se with this tale of ex-lovers and ex–singing partners (Shenae Grimes-Beech and Niall Matter) reconnecting after years apart, but boy does it smack of pre-2020 Hallmark.

33. “Christmas Class Reunion”

There’s a valiant attempt at a different kind of storytelling, and an appealing cast (led by Aimee Teegarden and Tanner Novlan), but the whole thing gets subsumed by contrivances and character choices that defy logic.

32. “Undercover Holiday”

What if a Hallmark fake-boyfriend movie were also “The Bodyguard”? Pop star Noemi Gonzalez returns home and passes off security professional Stephen Huszar as her fella, and the results are middling.

31. “A Maple Valley Christmas”

Some mature themes sneak in — a wealthy character recalls his dysfunctional family Christmases as including “Bailey’s on cornflakes” — but this is otherwise a by-the-numbers romance between a rancher (Peyton List) and the city guy (Andrew Walker) who wants to buy her land.

30. “Christmas in Toyland”

One of those movies that asks you to forget everything you know about how toy-store chains operate, but if you can shove reality aside, there’s a not-bad romance between numbers-cruncher Vanessa Lengies and starry-eyed retailer Jesse Hutch.

29. “A Fabled Holiday”

A handful of adults who find their lives at an impasse make their way to a Christmas village they all recognize from a storybook; another big swing, by Hallmark standards, but leads Brooke D’Orsay and Ryan Paevey are miscast as, respectively, a motor-mouthed neurotic and a tortured MD.

28. “Our Italian Christmas Memories”

The grandchildren of a man (Beau Bridges) slowly losing his battle with dementia encourage him to find their grandmother’s legendary sauce recipe. Some of the sentimentality on display works, but the big-hand-gesture Italianisms start to feel insincere.

27. “My Southern Family Christmas”

A strong cast — including Jaicy Elliot, Ryan Rottman, Moira Kelly and Bruce Campbell — run headlong into a gumbo-pot of contrivances and head-scratching decisions in yet another searching-for-my-lost-relative plot, this one set in Louisiana.

26. “A Cozy Christmas Inn”

For all the delight of seeing a Candace Cameron Bure movie without the former Hallmark queen — Jodie Sweetin joins most of the rest of the cast of 2014’s “Christmas Under Wraps” — this one’s a fairly hokey retread.

25. “The Royal Nanny”

You can’t say this one’s not trying to break the Hallmark mold — it’s about a spy with MI5 going undercover as a nanny for the royal family — but it’s rarely as fun as its high concept would suggest.

24. “We Need a Little Christmas”

Definitely gets points for 1) not ending with a kiss, since the lead character is a recently widowed mom who’s just opening herself up to the idea of dating again and 2) giving Lynn Whitfield a juicy role as a supportive neighbor who’s also an accomplished stage magician. Otherwise, it’s just fine.

23. “Holiday Heritage”

Hallmark’s first Kwanzaa movie is a step in the right direction, particularly in how it explains the holiday without dragging the proceedings to an expositional halt, but neither the family dynamics nor the love story leap off the page.

22. “A Tale of Two Christmases”

A “Sliding Doors” variation, in which Katherine Barrell gets a peek at spending the holidays with hometown pal Chandler Massey and with office crush Evan Roderick, offers up some ski-lodge grandeur but doesn’t quite stick the complicated landing.

21. “The Gift of Peace”

Hallmark’s first movie branded to their DaySpring line treads further into faith-based storytelling than usual, and it lands without too much sermonizing, thanks to engaging romantic leads Nikki DeLoach (who, despite her comedic talents, seems to be the network’s Queen of Grief) and Brennan Elliott, backed by several Hallmark-fave character actors, including Cardi Wong and Beverley Elliott.

20. “All Saints Christmas”

Another pop star with a fake boyfriend, but this time it’s Ledisi and Roger Cross — between the jazz music and farcical shenanigans, the results are fairly fun.

19. “We Wish You a Married Christmas”

Strained married couple Marisol Nichols and Kristoffer Polaha rediscover each other when they get stuck at a cozy B&B in an idyllic town; it’s a mix of bold choices, honest character moments and wild contrivances, but it mostly works, particularly thanks to a scene-stealing supporting turn by Brian Sills as a hotelier.

18. “Noel Next Door”

Natalie Hall and Corey Sevier do the “we hate each other” / “we love each other” deal in this story of a grump and his charming neighbor, and they’re charismatic enough to make it work.

17. “The Holiday Stocking”

A recently-deceased man returns to Earth as an angel (B.J. Britt) to mend fences between his long-estranged sisters (Tamala Jones, Nadine Ellis), and while most of the sentimentality lands, there are some plot turns that would have benefited greatly from another draft of the script.

16. “Campfire Christmas”

This rare summertime Christmas movie, about a camp reunion, frequently felt new and different, not the least for featuring a queer subplot involving rivals-turned-boyfriends Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman and Alec Santos.

15. “#Xmas”

Hallmark has never had the best luck when trying to tackle contemporary technology (case in point, this movie has a title that’s next to impossible to Google), but this social-media spin on “Christmas in Connecticut” felt shockingly up-to-date.

14. “Five More Minutes: Moments Like These”

Another country-song-inspired series, another grieving widow, but this one benefits from Ashley Williams, usually one of Hallmark’s most reliable comic performers, injecting wit and life into a story that could have been a sappy bummer. (Her palpable chemistry with Lucas Bryant helps, too.)

13. “Christmas at the Golden Dragon”

The only thing wrong with this story about a family closing down their venerable Chinese restaurant was an excess of ambition; “Golden Dragon” tries to weave together several overlapping stories, “Love Actually”–style, and it’s more than it can handle. The central family story is an absolute winner, though.

12. “In Merry Measure”

Former high-school rivals Patti Murin and Brendan Penny come together as choir directors who decide to work together rather than in competition, and as much as that sounds like an old-Hallmark premise, the writing and performances elevate this to a whole other level.

11. “A Kismet Christmas”

There’s a temptation to eye-roll a lot of this story — about a magical cookie recipe that lets people dream of their true love — but the granular moments of the relationship between Sarah Ramos and Carlo Marks prompts a great deal of forgiveness for some of the sillier script choices.

10. “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”

This is a Hallmark movie that tries to throw its arms around a lot of ideas — it’s about two people falling in love while staging a play that debates the authorship of “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” and the ghost of Clement Clark Moore shows up — but it all somehow comes together, thanks mainly to the chemistry between leads Torrey DeVitto and Zane Holtz.

9. “A Holiday Spectacular”

If you’re willing to accept some historical inaccuracies — this period piece integrates the Radio City Rockettes several decades before it really happened — this ambitious movie mixes epic scale for Hallmark (shooting inside and onstage at the real Radio City) with lovely, old-fashioned romance.

8. “A Big Fat Family Christmas”

Along with “Christmas at the Golden Dragon,” this was Hallmark’s other Asian-American–centric holiday movie, and this ensemble piece mixed San Francisco detail with some charming performances (let the Tia Carrere-assaince begin) and typically assured direction from Jennifer Liao.

7. “Lights, Camera, Christmas!”

Hallmark goes meta with a Christmas movie that takes place on the set of a Christmas movie — at last, an excuse for those fake-looking snowballs — providing an opportunity for John Brotherton and the ebullient Kimberley Sustad to demonstrate their rom-com chops.

6. “Jolly Good Christmas”

The decision to make British actor Will Kemp do an American accent notwithstanding, this London-set Hallmark movie (which paired Kemp with Reshma Shetty) was a real delight, making some of the best use of location settings ever seen on the network.

5. “The Holiday Sitter”

Hallmark made history by finally, in 2022, giving us a Christmas movie with a love story between two men (played by Jonathan Bennett and George Krissa); just about everything else about this rom-com plays it safe, but that was no doubt an intentional strategy so as not to overwhelm Hallmark viewers with too much shock-of-the-new.

4. “Hanukkah on Rye”

It’s a big bowl of “Shop Around the Corner” with a dollop of “Crossing Delancey,” but with lovely lead turns by Yael Grobglas and Jeremy Jordan, a sprightly screenplay by Hallmark vet Julie Sherman Wolfe and a brand new Hanukkah song by Lisa Loeb, what’s not to like?

3. “Haul Out the Holly”

The “com” half of Hallmark rom-coms very often dies on the vine, but this tale about a homeowners’ association and its emphatic rules about excess decoration delivered genuine laughs; it certainly helped to have comedy vets like Stephen Tobolowsky and Melissa Peterman backing up charismatic romantic leads Lacey Chabert (cementing her Hallmark Christmas Queen status) and Wes Brown.

2. “Ghosts of Christmas Always”

Like this year’s “Spirited,” “Ghosts” tackles the behind-the-scenes bureaucracy of all those Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet-to-Come who visit every Christmas in the hopes of redeeming humanity’s worse. It’s a great example of Hallmark switching things up and telling different types of stories, right up there with…

• “Three Wise Men and a Baby”

Popular “hunks of Hallmark” Tyler Hynes, Andrew Walker and Paul Campbell unite in this comedy (scripted by Campbell and Kimberley Sustad) as estranged brothers forced to come together when they suddenly find themselves taking care of an infant over Christmas. Old Hallmark habits die hard (all three siblings have love interests before the final fade-out), but this charmer was as far as away from “overworked city lady plans a Christmas party with a hunky widow who owns a pick-up truck” as you could get.

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• Entertainment

The Best New Christmas Movies on Hallmark

Try The Holiday Stocking, Ghosts of Christmas Always and A Holiday Spectacular.

The Hallmark and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channels debuted a whopping 40 new holiday movies this year, offering plenty of opportunities to take in the film equivalent of a warm sugar cookie. 

Since there's a mound of movies you could watch between these two channels, I'm attempting to feature the unmissable Hallmark holiday movies for 2022. These are films that've already premiered this year and have the highest ratings on IMDb. Beneath that roundup, you'll find a list of all the new Hallmark Christmas movies. 

December may be winding down, but there's still time to dabble in  Christmas cheer . Grab some eggnog and let's get going.

Noel Next Door

Noel Next Door started the season off strong as the first 2022 Hallmark Christmas movie to air. The flick follows a single mom named Noelle (Natalie Hall) whose love interest also happens to be the "Scrooge" of the neighborhood. Tune into this one for a crowd-pleasing holiday romance. 

My Southern Family Christmas

This charming tale follows Campbell (Jaicy Elliot), a woman who gets to know her biological father for the first time. But there's a twist: She's presented herself as a journalist writing a story. This sweet story will thaw your heart.

Next showtime is Dec. 31 at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. Central on the Hallmark channel.

The Royal Nanny

Spies. Romance. Hot princes. The Royal Nanny truly has all the makings of a memorable holiday movie. Rachel Skarsten plays the titular nanny/MI5 agent who goes undercover inside Kensington Palace. Pour a glass of holiday wine and escape into this one.

Next showtime is Dec. 29 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. Central on the Hallmark channel.

The Holiday Stocking

In this heartwarming Hallmark offering, an angel attempts to restore a relationship between his sisters on Earth. The story explores the power of family traditions. 

Next showtime is Dec. 30 at 12 a.m. ET/Dec. 29 11 p.m. Central on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel.

Three Wise Men and a Baby

Three brothers bond over taking care of a mysterious baby in this fun Christmas movie. If you're aiming for some laughs, this might be your best bet out of the bunch. Plus, it stars three Hallmark movie vets -- Andrew Walker (A Bride for Christmas), Tyler Hynes (On the 12th Date of Christmas) and Paul Campbell (Christmas by Starlight).

Next showtime is Dec. 31 at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. Central on the Hallmark channel.

A Holiday Spectacular

This film's spectacular cast includes the Radio City Rockettes, two-time Academy Award nominee Ann-Margret, Brady Bunch actress Eve Plumb and Broadway performers Ginna Claire Mason and Derek Klena. The story follows a Philadelphia heiress in 1958 (Mason) who puts plans on hold to pursue a big dream. 

Hanukkah on Rye

Two young people unknowingly write letters to each other while running rival delis in a memorable Hanukkah rom-com. The feel-good flick capped off Hallmark's holiday offerings for 2022. 

Ghosts of Christmas Always

If you like your Christmas fare with a bit of fantasy, Ghosts of Christmas Always is the way to go. The movie is about a Ghost of Christmas Present named Katherine (Kim Matula) who helps souls on Earth rediscover their Christmas spirit. Let this one bring well-deserved cheer to your evening.

Time for Him to Come Home for Christmas

In this romantic holiday movie executive-produced by Blake Shelton, a woman named Elizabeth (Holland Roden) receives an emotional message meant for someone else. Three Wise Men and a Baby actor Tyler Hynes and singer Tenille Townes also star.

Next showtime is Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. Central on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel.

The full schedule of 2022 Hallmark Christmas movies

'countdown to christmas' releases on the hallmark channel.

• Friday, Oct. 21: Noel Next Door
• Saturday, Oct. 22: We Wish You a Married Christmas
• Sunday, Oct. 23: A Kismet Christmas
• Friday, Oct. 28: A Cozy Christmas Inn 
• Saturday, Oct. 29: Jolly Good Christmas
• Sunday, Oct. 30: Ghosts of Christmas Always
• Friday, Nov. 4: A Magical Christmas Village
• Saturday, Nov. 5: Lights, Camera, Christmas!
• Sunday, Nov. 6: All Saints Christmas
• Friday, Nov. 11: In Merry Measure
• Saturday, Nov. 12: The Royal Nanny
• Sunday, Nov. 13: Christmas at the Golden Dragon
• Friday, Nov. 18: Inventing the Christmas Prince
• Saturday, Nov. 19: Three Wise Men and a Baby
• Sunday, Nov. 20: When I Think of Christmas
• Thursday, Nov. 24: My Southern Family Christmas
• Friday, Nov. 25: #Xmas
• Friday, Nov. 25: A Royal Corgi Christmas
• Saturday, Nov. 26: A Tale of Two Christmases
• Saturday, Nov. 26: Haul Out the Holly
• Sunday, Nov. 27: A Christmas Cookie Catastrophe
• Sunday, Nov. 27: A Holiday Spectacular
• Friday, Dec. 2: A Big Fat Family Christmas 
• Saturday, Dec. 3: A Fabled Holiday
• Sunday, Dec. 4: Undercover Holiday 
• Friday, Dec. 9: The Most Colorful Time of the Year
• Saturday, Dec. 10: Christmas Class Reunion
• Sunday, Dec. 11: The Holiday Sitter
• Friday, Dec. 16: Holiday Heritage
• Saturday, Dec. 17: Twas the Night Before Christmas
• Sunday, Dec. 18: Hanukkah on Rye

'Miracles of Christmas' releases on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel

• Saturday, Oct. 22: We Need a Little Christmas
• Saturday, Oct. 29: Christmas Bedtime Stories
• Saturday, Nov. 5: A Maple Valley Christmas
• Saturday, Nov. 12: Our Italian Christmas Memories
• Saturday, Nov. 19: Long Lost Christmas
• Saturday, Nov. 26: Time for Him to Come Home for Christmas
• Saturday, Dec. 3: The Holiday Stocking
• Saturday, Dec. 10: The Gift of Peace
• Saturday, Dec. 17: Five More Minutes: Moments Like These

New Movies Coming in 2023 From Marvel, Netflix, DC and More

The 25 Best Hallmark Christmas Movies, Ranked

By Emily Longeretta

Emily Longeretta

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It’s officially Christmas movie season — in fact, at the Hallmark Channel , it begins in October. While there have been changes behind-the-scenes at the network, one thing remains the same: Their holiday cheer.

The channel first launched “Countdown to Christmas,” during which more than 20 new holiday movies premiere between October and December, in 2010. In 2013, Hallmark Movies and Mysteries rolled out their own version of “Countdown to Christmas” with “Miracles of Christmas” (originally “The Most Wonderful Movies of Christmas” and then “The Most Wonderful Miracles of Christmas”), airing at least 15 original movies during the same months.

“Christmas Under Wraps,” starring Candace Cameron Bure and David O’Donnell, debuted in 2014 and still holds the record for Hallmark’s highest-ever broadcast premiere ratings. Bure stars in four of the 10 most-viewed Christmas movies on the network, which also include “Switched for Christmas,” “The Christmas Train” and “A Royal Christmas.”

Here, Variety ranks the best Hallmark holiday movies to rewatch this year.

‘The Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ (2008)

Cast: Brooke Burns, Warren Christie, Henry Winkler

Come for Henry Winkler, of course; stay for the way this story really does include an entire family and not just a couple.

‘One Royal Holiday’ (2020)

Cast: Laura Osnes and Aaron Tveit

Come for two Broadway stars willing to show off their pipes singing Christmas carols; stay for one of the sweetest twists ever done.

‘Christmas in Vienna’ (2020)

Cast: Sarah Drew and Brennan Elliott

Come for Austria and Romania — that’s where the movie filmed and it’s quite a sight; stay for Drew and Elliott’s connection. It takes some time, but when they get there, it’s rather pleasant.

‘Snow Bride’ (2013)

Cast: Patricia Richardson, Katrina Law and Jordan Belfi

Come for a woman tumbling down a snowy mountain in a wedding dress that isn’t hers; stay for a surprising twist and a mother who actually likes the woman pursuing her son.

‘The Christmas Train’ (2017)

Cast: Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Dermot Mulroney, Danny Glover, Joan Cusack

Come for Danny Glover, of course; stay for the cross-country train ride full of actual magic and some of the greatest actors in the channel’s history.

‘The Christmas House' (2020)

Cast: Robert Buckley, Ana Ayora, Jonathan Bennett

Come for the first Hallmark movie to prominently feature a same-sex couple; stay for three different creative storylines woven together.

‘Christmas Waltz’ (2020)

Cast: Lacey Chabert and Will Kemp

Come for the dance lessons — truly, they’re so fun! Stay for the chemistry.

‘Christmas Town’ (2019)

Cast: Candace Cameron Bure, Tim Rozon

Come for an adoption storyline finally being the focus; stay for the excellent chemistry between Bure and Rozon, the world’s easiest going cat and a magical twist.

‘Write Before Christmas’ (2019)

Cast: Torrey DeVitto, Chad Michael Murray

Come for a “One Tree Hill” reunion you didn’t know you needed; stay for an early-movie kiss — with Murray dressed as Santa.

‘Christmas at Pemberley Manor’ (2018)

Cast: Jessica Lowndes and Michael Rady

Come for a very sweet love story at a gorgeous manor; stay for an independent woman standing up to her boss — portrayed by Elaine Hendrix — that will give any “Parent Trap” fan delight.

‘Road to Christmas’ (2018)

Cast: Chad Michael Murray, Jessy Schram

Come for a TV producer falling for the son of the host of her annual special; stay for a brother storyline that surprisingly tugs at heartstrings.

‘Christmas Getaway’ (2017)

Cast: Bridget Regan and Travis Van Winkle

Come for Van Winkle as a charming widower who loves his mom and daughter; stay for the independent woman who enjoys traveling around and seeing the world — alone!

‘A Royal Christmas’ (2014)

Cast: Lacey Chabert, Stephen Hagan and Jane Seymour

Come for a different format: a happy couple who have been in love for years hit a hurdle when he casually reveals he’s royalty; stay for Jane Seymour as the royal, very cranky Queen of Cordinia.

‘Christmas at the Plaza’ (2019)

Cast: Elizabeth Henstridge and Ryan Paevey

Come for the Plaza at Christmas — not since “Home Alone 2” has it looked so magical; stay for the most cringey yet adorable karaoke scene ever.

'Where Are You Christmas?' (2023)

Cast: Lyndsy Fonseca, Michael Rady Come for the updated twist on “It’s a Wonderful Life” and a rare new storyline for a Hallmark movie. Stay for a surprising and touching military storyline and a new side of Rady than seen before.

‘A Wish for Christmas’ (2017)

Cast: Paul Greene, Lacey Chabert

Come for the dynamic of two fan-favorites; stay for the way Sara (Chabert) finds herself and her confidence, both at home and at work.

‘A Christmas Detour’ (2015)

Starring Candace Cameron Bure, Paul Greene

Come for the classic story of travelers getting stuck in a snowstorm at the holidays, but add in the fact that one is traveling with a giant mood board; stay for the married couple who spend most of their time bickering and admit sometimes, the spark fizzles.

‘The Christmas Cottage’ (2017)

Cast: Merritt Patterson, Steve Lund

Come for the gorgeous cabin in the woods that magically brings people back together at Christmastime; stay for fireside chats and hot cocoa.

‘Christmas Under Wraps’ (2014)

Cast: Candace Cameron Bure, David O’Donnell

Come for a doctor moving to Alaska with only heels and no boots; stay for an appearance by the real Santa, who also has high cholesterol.

‘Marry Me At Christmas’ (2020)

Cast: Rachel Skarsten and Trevor Donovan

Come for the story: A celebrity comes to town to help his little sister plan her wedding and is enamored by the local bridal boutique owner; stay for Johnny (Donovan) thinking everyone is taking photos of him when they’re actually snapping shots of a Christmas tree.

‘Lights, Camera, Christmas!’ (2022)

Cast: Kimberly Sustad, John Brotherton

Come for the movie within the movie — a store owner struggling to keep her company is flabbergasted when a Christmas movie comes to film in her town and the lead is annoyingly charming; stay for the surprise romantic twist between the fake movie’s producers.

‘Switched for Christmas’ (2017)

Cast: Candace Cameron Bure, Eion Bailey, Mark Deklin

Come for Bure playing very different twin sisters who switch places only to fall in love with men who think they’re each other; stay for not one, but two love stories! Double the fun!

‘Three Wise Men and a Baby’ (2022)

Cast: Paul Campbell, Tyler Hynes and Andrew Walker

Come for Tyler Hynes, Paul Campbell and Andrew Walker. Stay for Paul Campbell, Tyler Hynes and Andrew Walker — plus, a ridiculously cute baby, a dance number and actual comedy.

‘Let It Snow’ (2013)

Cast: Candace Cameron Bure, Jesse Hutch, Alan Thicke

Come for Alan Thicke as a very cold father who would rather have dinner in a restaurant than spend the holidays with his daughter; stay for Hutch’s Brady teaching Bure’s Stephanie how to ski and fly fish — and a very sweet, unique holiday tradition.

‘An Unexpected Christmas' (2021)

Cast: Bethany Joy Lenz and Tyler Hynes

Come for the sweet pretend-we’re-still-together-for-my-parents storyline; stay for the most natural chemistry yet.

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Falling for Christmas

Every year as we turn back our clocks and woodsmoke fills the crisp air, Christmas movies begin to fill the airwaves. While Hallmark started their barrage of cinematic holiday treats as early as October this year, Netflix waited until November to begin their annual slate of romantic snow-filled sleigh rides. Leading the way is “Falling for Christmas,” featuring the return of Lindsay Lohan in her first lead role since Paul Schrader ’s “ The Canyons ” nearly a decade ago.

The directorial debut of co-writer Janeen Damian , whose filmography includes writing and producing a half-dozen holiday films, is generic, yet charming, following the well-worn template of a city girl finding love and simpler life in the country. 

Like a tinsel-covered twist on “Overboard,” Lohan plays a hotel heiress named Sierra Belmont who finds herself in just this kind of situation. Offered the position of “Vice President of Atmosphere” at her father’s exclusive ski chalet, she’s there a week before Christmas to let him know she doesn’t think the position is the right fit for her, even though she doesn’t know what else she should be doing with her life instead. All she knows is she wants to be known for more than her father’s last name. 

Decked out in gorgeous monocolor ensembles designed by Emerson Alvarez, like the daring red jumpsuit featured on the poster and a fuchsia snowsuit, Lohan embodies this character like a softer version of Sigourney Weaver ’s character in “ Working Girl .” She’s good-natured, but she does bark orders like someone whose privilege comes second nature. Lohan is at her best in this half of the film, which allows her natural comedic chops to shine. 

On her way to meet her vapid social media influencer boyfriend Tad ( George Young ), Sierra meets cute with Jake ( Chord Overstreet ), the owner of a much smaller, struggling resort on the same mountain. He runs into her while holding a cup of hot cocoa given to him after Sierra’s father Beauregard ( Jack Wagner ) declines to invest in his business. Lohan screeching “My Valenyagi” over and over after a dollop of whipped cream finds its way onto her lapel is pure camp. 

This unlikely duo, of course, meet again after a disastrous off-the-grid engagement photo shoot ends with Sierra and Tad toppling down a remote mountain. While taking tourists on an idyllic sleigh ride, Jake finds the now amnesiac Sierra, head-based into a tree, while Tad finds himself spending four days with a survivalist named Ralph ( Sean J. Dillingham ). 

All this is established with a breakneck screwball pace in the first ten minutes, with Lohan more than capable of maintaining the prescribed rat-a-tat dialogue needed to pull off the tone. She even goes all in on a few slapstick moments that don’t quite work but add a nice wackiness that balances out some of the film’s more saccharine tendencies. As Tad, Young is absolutely hilarious, spewing out absurd lines with the utmost sincerity, which couple nicely with the broad comedy his self-obsessed character demands. If only the film had kept this zany style throughout, it could have transcended its trappings to become a new classic. 

The film clearly knows Christmas movies past, with homages to films like “Christmas In Connecticut” and “It’s A Wonderful Life” peppered throughout. However, unlike those classics, “Falling For Christmas”’s romance plot is woefully uninteresting. Jake’s a widower, whose overly precocious daughter Avy ( Olivia Perez ) has made a wish that Jake find love. A mischievous-looking Santa selling roasted chestnuts appear to magically bring Sierra—in her amnesiac state called Sarah—into Jake’s life. As he teaches her that there is “something special about simple things,” she helps him open up to love again. Cue the syrupy music. 

This would all be fine if “Glee” alum Overstreet’s Jake had any kind of pizzazz. Lohan is game, clearly having a blast surrounded by all the holly and ivy and whimsical Christmas magic. Yet, Overstreet is stuck as a bland “nice” guy with all his edges neatly sanded off. His supposed long-standing grief over his deceased wife barely registers beyond a shallow glint in his eyes. Even Chase Ramsey in a few brief scenes as Sierra’s new assistant Terry has more chemistry with Lohan than her leading man. 

Still, Overstreet’s drabness aside, there is a warmth to this film that’s hard to resist. While veritable Christmas classics are like antique glass ornaments passed down from generation to generation and placed every year with care on the family tree, the television Christmas movie complex tends to pump out movies that are more like disposable tissue paper, good for one use only. “Falling For Christmas” lands somewhere in the middle of this scale. It’s more like a reusable ribbon bow. It’s not great. It’s nothing special. But you can keep it year after year and place it on presents as long as you have scotch tape—or Lohan’s irrepressible charm—to hold it together.  

And as far as those kinds of semi-disposable holiday films go, Netflix has been producing some of the better ones. Films like Mary Lambert’s Scotland-set “A Castle For Christmas” starring Brooke Shields and Cary Elwes , which, per the Netflix Christmas Universe rule that states a movie from the previous year is featured on a TV screen in the latest installment, is shown briefly when Sierra first wakes up in Jake’s resort. Both films are elevated by the star power of their leads and their directors’ clear love of Christmas traditions and aesthetics.

Fans of Lohan or/and breezy holiday films will surely find something to love here, but those whose tolerance for this kind of treacle is low at best should probably sit this one out. 

On Netflix today.

Marya E. Gates

Marya E. Gates is a freelance film and culture writer based in Los Angeles and Chicago. She studied Comparative Literature at U.C. Berkeley, and also has an overpriced and underused MFA in Film Production. Other bylines include Moviefone, The Playlist, Crooked Marquee, Nerdist, and Vulture. 

• Lindsay Lohan as Sierra Belmont
• Chord Overstreet as Jake
• George Young as Tad
• Jack Wagner as Beauregard Belmont
• Olivia Perez as Avy
• Chase Ramsey as Terry Carver
• Sean J. Dillingham as Ralph

Cinematographer

• Graham Robbins
• Janeen Damian

Writer (story by)

• Jeff Bonnett
• Kristi Shimek
• Nathan Lanier

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40 New Hallmark Christmas Movies Are Coming—Here Is the Full 2022 Countdown to Christmas Schedule

As soon as Starbucks starts selling pumpkin spice lattes again, the holiday season is not upon us: It’s here. Hallmark Christmas movies are tradition and, as such, it is important to revolve your entire life around its schedule. We kid, but also—why go out when you can watch yet another woman who works too hard and hates Christmas fall in love at Christmas while also discovering the true meaning of Christmas, which is very vague?

Thankfully Hallmark knows that there are Christmas movie addicts who are, at the same time, incredibly busy, so it released its holiday schedule before Halloween. In 2022, Hallmark will release 40 new and original holiday films. Starting October 21, a new Christmas film will premiere on the Hallmark Channel every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday well into December.

See the full schedule below with premiere dates and descriptions, so you can plan accordingly.

Hallmark Channel

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This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.

Each film airs at 8 p.m. ET/PT unless otherwise specified. 

Noel Next Door

Synopsis: A hard-working single mom gets into a war of words with a neighbor who she feels is ruining Christmas, only to find that this misunderstood grouch just may steal her heart.

Stars: Natalie Hall, Corey Sevier

We Wish You a Married Christmas

Synopsis: Becca and Robby are a married couple having a hard time connecting with each other as the holidays approach. Just before Christmas they head to a cozy Vermont inn at the advice of their marriage coach so they can recharge. Their weekend away gets unexpectedly extended when a mishap puts their car out of commission and just may put them on the road to a very happily married Christmas.

Stars: Marisol Nichols, Kristoffer Polaha

We Need a Little Christmas

Synopsis: Julie is adjusting to being a single mother to a grieving child while facing her first Christmas without her husband when she develops an unexpected friendship with her older neighbor Irene.

Stars: Erica Durance, Patrick Sabongui, Lynn Whitfield

A Kismet Christmas

Synopsis: Sarah is a children’s book author who returns to her hometown, where she reconnects with her family and Travis, her teenage crush. She soon discovers that a long-held family legend might actually be true.

Stars: Sarah Ramos, Carlo Marks, Marilu Henner

A Cozy Christmas Inn

Synopsis: Real estate exec Erika, travels to Alaska during Christmastime to acquire a bed-and-breakfast, only to discover that it’s owned by her ex. While there, she finds herself falling in love with the town and quite possibly him.

Stars: Jodie Sweetin , David O’Donnell

Jolly Good Christmas

Synopsis: David is an American architect who recently moved to London for a prime opportunity with a prestigious firm. With just three days before Christmas, he crosses paths with Anji, a professional shopper, who raises an eyebrow over his choice of a gift card for his girlfriend. David ultimately decides to hire Anji and, thanks to a series of unexpected events, finds himself on a wild adventure across Jolly Old London as Anji helps him search for the perfect present.

Stars: Reshma Shetty, Will Kemp

Christmas Bedtime Stories

Synopsis: When Danielle’s husband goes missing in action during his deployment, she is left to raise her daughter on her own. Three years later, as she acclimates to life without him, she begins to tell her daughter bedtime stories of her father.

Stars: Erin Cahill, Steve Lund, Charlie Weber

Ghosts of Christmas Always

Synopsis: Katherine is a Ghost of Christmas Present, and she must help one soul, Peter, rediscover his Christmas spirit. But this year has something unusual in store.

Stars: Kim Matula, Ian Harding, Beth Leavel, Lori Tan Chinn, Reginald VelJohnson

A Magical Christmas Village

Synopsis: When Summer’s mother, Vivian, moves in with her and her young daughter, Chloe, her orderly existence is upended. Upon arrival, Vivian sets up an heirloom miniature Christmas village resembling their town and tells Chloe it grants Christmas wishes. As Chloe begins setting up the figurines, real-life events seem to mimic the scenes she creates. With a little help from the magic of the Christmas village, the family will be brought closer together, and just maybe, Summer will learn to open her heart to love again.

Stars: Alison Sweeney, Luke Macfarlane, Marlo Thomas

Lights, Camera, Christmas!

Synopsis: When a holiday rom-com movie shooting in her town needs a costume designer, Kerry, a local shop owner, steps into the role. While working on the movie, she rediscovers her passion for costume design and finds herself falling for Brad, the film’s famous leading man.

Stars: Kimberley Sustad, John Brotherton

All Saints Christmas  

Synopsis: Lisette is a popular R&B singer who’s getting ready to travel home to New Orleans for Christmas. When the media mistakes a photo of her with her music-producer ex as an engagement announcement, her family insists that he join her on the trip.

Stars: Ledisi, Roger Cross

In Merry Measure  

Synopsis: When pop star Darcy returns home to spend Christmas with her sister and niece, she unexpectedly finds herself coaching the high school choir with her onetime rival, Adam.

Stars: Patti Murin, Brendan Penny, Jennifer Robertson

The Royal Nanny

Synopsis: Claire is an MI5 agent who goes undercover as the royal nanny. She must overcome the challenges of her assignment, like resisting the charms of Prince Colin, while keeping the family safe at Christmas.

Stars: Rachel Skarsten, Dan Jeannotte, Greta Scacchi 

Christmas at the Golden Dragon

Synopsis: When Romy and Rick’s parents surprise them with the news that they will be closing the Chinese restaurant they have owned and operated for decades, the siblings each find themselves reevaluating their futures. Also impacted by the news are the landmark restaurant’s loyal patrons and staff, who have all come to depend on the restaurant over the holidays.

Stars: Kara Wang, Osric Chau, Sara Canning, Antonio Cupo, Barbara Niven 

Inventing the Christmas Prince

Synopsis: Shelby is about to quit her job as a rocket engineer when her daughter becomes convinced that her Scrooge-like boss, Evan, is the Christmas Prince from a story Shelby invented years ago.

Stars: Tamera Mowry-Housley, Ronnie Rowe Jr. 

Three Wise Men and a Baby

Synopsis: Three brothers get the surprise of their lives when they are forced to work together to care for a baby over the holidays. As they slowly get the hang of things, they find themselves on unexpected journeys of self-discovery and begin to rebuild their relationships as brothers, as well as the damaged and professional relationships in their respective lives…all while rediscovering their love of Christmas.

Stars: Paul Campbell, Tyler Hynes, Andrew Walker, Margaret Colin 

When I Think of Christmas  

Synopsis: Sara Thompson returns to her hometown to help her mother move and is surprised to find her ex-boyfriend Josh Hartman is back home. The two had once planned a life in music together, but Sara left to study law. The former flames slowly reconnect and try to heal wounds both old and new. When Sara makes a surprising discovery, she and Josh forge a bold plan for the upcoming Christmas concert that will lead them all back to their musical roots and make this a holiday to remember.

Stars: Shenae Grimes-Beech, Niall Matter, Beth Broderick 

My Southern Family Christmas

Synopsis: Under the guise of a journalist, Campbell has a chance to get to know her biological father for the first time—without him ever knowing who she really is. As she spends time with him and his family, as well as with the town’s record keeper, she realizes that families are messy, wonderful things. In the end, Campbell must decide if she’s going to keep her identity a secret or reveal the truth to her father—a decision that will change their family Christmas forever.

Stars: Jaicy Elliot, Bruce Campbell, Ryan Rottman, Moira Kelly, Brian McNamara

Synopsis: When Jen gets the chance to enter a brand’s design contest, she poses as a family influencer, enlisting the help of her best friend, Max, and her baby nephew. When her video is selected as a finalist, Jen is torn on whether to go on with her perfect “family” or reveal the truth.

Stars: Clare Bowen, Brant Daugherty

A Royal Corgi Christmas

Synopsis: Reluctant Crown Prince Edmond returns home just before Christmas in anticipation of being named successor to the throne. To ingratiate himself to his mother the queen, he gifts her with Mistletoe, a rambunctious corgi in need of some serious training. After several doggy disasters, Edmond turns to Cecily, a canine behavior expert from America, for help—but to his great surprise, Cecily demands that he take an active part in the daily dog-training sessions. Sparks fly between them as the pair work together to get Mistletoe ready to present at the annual Christmas Ball. Just as the precious pup captures their hearts, they discover that love can grow in the most unexpected places, leading them to question what they really want.

Stars: Hunter King, Jordan Renzo 

A Tale of Two Christmases

Synopsis: Thanks to some Christmas magic, Emma gets to experience two different Christmases: one where she stays in the city and celebrates with a new crush and his friends, and one where she returns home for all the traditions with her family…and Drew, a longtime friend who may have feelings for her. Emma’s double holiday ultimately helps her discover what will truly make her happy in life as well as in love.

Stars: Kat Barrell, Chandler Massey, Evan Roderick

A Holiday Spectacular

Synopsis: In 1958, Maggie is an heiress from Philadelphia who puts her high-society wedding plans on hold in order to sneak up to New York City and make her secret dream come true: dancing live on stage in the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall.

Stars: Ginna Claire Mason, Derek Klena, Eve Plumb, Ann-Margret, and the Radio City Rockettes

A Big Fat Family Christmas

Synopsis: Liv is a photojournalist eager to make it on her own. To get a dream assignment–shooting the Chang family’s annual holiday party for a cover story–she doesn’t reveal that they are in fact, her family. When she finds herself growing close to Henry, the coworker covering the story with her, she wants to confide in him but doesn’t want to jeopardize her big break.

Stars: Shannon Chan-Kent, Shannon Kook, Tia Carrere, Jack Wagner 

A Fabled Holiday

Synopsis: Talia and her childhood best friend Anderson unexpectedly reunite in a curiously familiar-looking town full of Christmas spirit that restores its visitors when they need it most.

Stars: Brooke D’Orsay, Ryan Paevey 

Undercover Holiday

Synopsis: When returning home for the holidays, newly minted pop star Jaylen tells her protective family that Matt is her new beau when, in reality, he’s her overzealous security guard.

Stars: Noemi Gonzalez, Stephen Huszar

The Most Colorful Time of the Year

Synopsis: Ryan is an elementary school teacher who learns that he is colorblind. Michelle, an optometrist—and mother of one of his students—helps bring color into his life in time for the holidays.

Stars: Katrina Bowden, Christopher Russell 

Christmas Class Reunion

Synopsis: High school classmates who once dubbed themselves the Cursed Class reconnect at Christmas for their 15-year reunion. Over the course of their time reconnecting, the classmates challenge each other to remember who they were, who they are, and who they want to be.

Stars: Aimee Teegarden, Tanner Novlan 

The Holiday Sitter

Synopsis: Sam is a workaholic bachelor who babysits his niece and nephew before the holidays when his sister and her husband have to go out of town. Completely out of his element, he recruits help from their handsome neighbor Jason and finds himself in an unexpected romance.

Stars: Jonathan Bennett, George Krissa, Chelsea Hobbs 

Holiday Heritage

Synopsis: Ella returns to her hometown to mend fences with her fractured family. With the help of Griffin, her ex-boyfriend, she encourages her family to celebrate Christmas and Kwanzaa and to heal their past wounds before it’s too late.

Stars: Lyndie Greenwood, Brooks Darnell, Holly Robinson Peete

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Synopsis: A former actress trying to break into directing tests her skills with a town’s annual Christmas Eve courtroom production in which the true authorship of the famous poem “A Visit From Saint Nicholas” is debated.

Stars: Torrey DeVitto, Zane Holtz

Hanukkah on Rye

Synopsis: A matchmaker connects Molly and Jacob, but their new romance is put to the test when they realize that they are competing deli owners. Will a Hanukkah miracle keep them together?

Stars: Jeremy Jordan, Yael Grobglas, Lisa Loeb

Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel

Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ “Miracles of Christmas” films premiere at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Synopsis: When Danielle’s husband goes missing in action during his deployment, she is left to raise her daughter on her own. Three years later, as she acclimates to life without him, she begins to tell her daughter bedtime stories about her father.

Stars: Erin Cahill, Steve Lund, Charlie Weber 

A Maple Valley Christmas

Synopsis: Erica is a rancher who has spent her whole life working the family farm with her mother and sister. When Aaron arrives and disrupts her plans, she starts to question what it is she actually wants.

Stars: Peyton List, Andrew Walker 

Our Italian Christmas Memories

Synopsis: The Colucci siblings, in an effort to jog the memory of their grandfather who is struggling with dementia, set out to recreate their late grandmother’s legendary pasta sauce.

Stars: Sarah Power, Beau Bridges 

Long Lost Christmas

Synopsis: Hayley is an interior designer who plans to surprise her recently widowed mother Patricia with the perfect holiday present: the extended family she knows her mom yearns for.

Stars: Taylor Cole, Benjamin Ayres

Time for Him to Come Home for Christmas

Synopsis: The fifth installment of the popular movie franchise Time for Me to Come Home, based on the song by executive producer Blake Shelton . Four days before Christmas, Elizabeth Athens receives a voicemail from a number she doesn’t recognize. On the message, a man she doesn’t know makes one final plea to the love of his life for a second chance.

Stars: Holland Roden, Tyler Hynes, Tenille Townes

The Holiday Stocking

Synopsis: In this Hallmark Mahogany presentation, RJ is a new angel who is given the chance to address his one regret, that he didn’t help his sisters reconcile while he was still alive. Returning to earth as a stranger, he gets each of them to revive the Holiday Stocking, their parent’s old tradition to encourage charity at Christmas.

Stars: Nadine Ellis, B.J. Britt, Karon Riley, Tamala Jones, Mykelti Williamson

The Gift of Peace

Synopsis: Artist Traci is a once devout Christian who has stopped believing in God after her husband tragically died despite her prayers. As her second Christmas without him approaches, she tries going to a support group for inspiration and comfort.

Stars: Nikki Deloach, Brennan Elliott

Five More Minutes: Moments Like These

Synopsis: The second holiday story inspired by Scotty McCreery’s song “Five More Minutes,” a young widow’s Christmas wish for her son is answered in unexpected ways when she returns to their old home for the holidays.

Stars: Ashley Williams, Lucas Bryant 

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Tyler Hynes, Lacey Chabert, Andrew Walker Among the Stars of Hallmark's 40 Christmas Movies in 2022

Get your hot chocolate ready: The full Hallmark holiday movie schedule is here

Consider Hallmark's halls officially decked.

The network has released its full lineup of 40 movies celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah and more, all filled with fan-favorite stars like Lacey Chabert (in her record-breaking 12th Hallmark Christmas movie!), Tyler Hynes , Jodie Sweetin and Luke Macfarlane , as well as familiar faces like Beau Bridges , Marlo Thomas , Moira Kelly , Tia Carrere and Marilu Henner .

Viewers can also expect quite a few exciting firsts this season. Holly Robinson Peete will star in Holiday Heritage , the network's first-ever movie celebrating Kwanzaa, while Jonathan Bennett and George Krissa play the first lead LGBTQ+ couple in a holiday movie in The Holiday Sitter .

Additionally, Hynes, Paul Campbell and Andrew Walker will be teaming up for a Three Men and a Baby -inspired comedy called Three Wise Men and a Baby .

Carols will be sung, cookies will be baked, and snowball fights will be plentiful, all starting Oct. 21.

Below, read the full, 40-movie lineup airing across Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, along with the networks' descriptions.

HALLMARK CHANNEL'S 'COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS' Premiere times are 8 p.m. ET/PT unless otherwise stated

Friday, October 21: Noel Next Door , starring Natalie Hall and Corey Sevier — A hard-working, single mom gets into a war of words with a neighbor who she feels is ruining Christmas, only to find that this misunderstood grouch just may steal her heart.

Saturday, October 22: We Wish You a Married Christmas , starring Marisol Nichols and Kristoffer Polaha — Becca and Robby are a married couple having a hard time connecting with each other as the holidays approach. Just before Christmas, they head to a cozy Vermont inn at the advice of theirmarriage coach so they can recharge. Their weekend away gets unexpectedly extended when a mishap puts their car out of commission and just may put them on the road to a very happily married Christmas.

Sunday, October 23: A Kismet Christmas , starring Sarah Ramos, Carlo Marks and Marilu Henner — Sarah is a children's book author who returns to her hometown, where she reconnects with her family and Travis, her teenage crush. She soon discovers that a long-held family legend might actually be true.

Friday, October 28: A Cozy Christmas Inn , starring Jodie Sweetin and David O'Donnell — Real estate exec Erika travels to Alaska during Christmastime to acquire a bed and breakfast, only to discover that it's owned by her ex. While there, she finds herself falling in love with the town and, quite possibly, him.

Saturday, October 29: Jolly Good Christmas , starring Reshma Shetty and Will Kemp — David is an American architect who recently moved to London for a prime opportunity in a prestigious firm. With just three days before Christmas, he crosses paths with Anji, a professional shopper, who raises an eyebrow over his choice of a gift card for his girlfriend. David ultimatelydecides to hire Anji and, thanks to a series of unexpected events, finds himself on a wild adventure across Jolly Old London as Anji helps him search for the perfect present.

Sunday, October 30: Ghosts of Christmas Always , starring Kim Matula, Ian Harding, Beth Leavel, Lori Tan Chinn and Reginald VelJohnson — Katherine is a Ghost of Christmas Present and she must help one soul, Peter, rediscover his Christmas spirit. But this year has something unusual in store.

Friday, November 4: A Magical Christmas Village , starring Alison Sweeney, Luke Macfarlane and Marlo Thomas — When Summer's mother Vivian moves in with her and her young daughter Chloe, her orderly existence is upended. Upon arrival, Vivian sets up an heirloom miniature Christmas village resembling their town and tells Chloe it grants Christmas wishes. As Chloe begins setting up the figurines, real-life events seem to mimic the scenes she creates. With a little help from the magic of the Christmas village, the family will be brought closer together and, just maybe, Summer will learn to open her heart to love again.

Saturday, November 5: Lights, Camera, Christmas! , starring Kimberley Sustad and John Brotherton — When a holiday rom-com movie shooting in her town needs a costume designer, Kerry, a local shop owner, steps into the role. While working on the movie, she rediscovers her passion for costume design and finds herself falling for Brad, the film's famous leading man.

Sunday, November 6: All Saints Christmas , starring Ledisi and Roger Cross — Lisette is a popular R&B singer who's getting ready to travel home to New Orleans for Christmas. When the media mistakes a photo of her with her music producer ex as an engagement announcement, her family insists that he join her on the trip.

Friday, November 11: In Merry Measure , starring Patti Murin, Brendan Penny and Jennifer Robertson — When pop star Darcy returns home to spend Christmas with her sister and niece, she unexpectedly finds herself coaching the high school choir with her onetime rival, Adam.

Saturday, November 12: The Royal Nanny , starring Rachel Skarsten, Dan Jeannotte and Greta Scacchi — Claire is an MI5 agent who goes undercover as the royal nanny. She must overcome challenges of her assignment, like resisting the charms of Prince Colin, while keeping the family safe at Christmas.

Sunday, November 13: Christmas at the Golden Dragon , starring Kara Wang, Osric Chau, Sara Canning, Antonio Cupo and Barbara Niven — When Romy and Rick's parents surprise them with the news that they will be closing the Chinese restaurant they have owned and operated for decades, the siblings each find themselves reevaluating their futures. Also impacted by the news are the landmark restaurant's loyal patrons and staff, who have all come to depend on the restaurant over the holidays.

Friday, November 18: Inventing the Christmas Prince , starring Tamera Mowry-Housley and Ronnie Rowe Jr. — Shelby is about to quit her job as a rocket engineer when her daughter becomes convinced that her Scrooge-like boss, Evan, is the Christmas Prince from a story Shelby invented years ago.

Saturday, November 19: Three Wise Men and a Baby , starring Paul Campbell, Tyler Hynes, Andrew Walker and Margaret Colin — Three brothers get the surprise of their lives when they are forced to work together to care for a baby over the holidays. As they slowly get the hang of things, they find themselves on unexpected journeys of self-discovery and begin to rebuild their relationships as brothers, as well as the damaged and professional relationships in their respective lives…all while rediscovering their love of Christmas.

Sunday, November 20: When I Think of Christmas , starring Shenae Grimes-Beech, Niall Matter and Beth Broderick — Sara Thompson returns to her hometown to help her mother move and is surprised to find her ex-boyfriend Josh Hartman is back home. The two had once planned a life in music together but Sara left to study law. The former flames slowly reconnect and try to heal wounds, both old and new. When Sara makes a surprising discovery, she and Josh forge a bold plan for the upcoming Christmas concert that will lead them all back to their musical roots and make this a holiday to remember.

Thursday, November 24: My Southern Family Christmas , starring Jaicy Elliot, Bruce Campbell, Ryan Rottman, Moira Kelly and Brian McNamara — Under the guise of a journalist, Campbell has a chance to get to know her biological father for the first time – without him ever knowing who she really is. As she spends time with him and his family, as well as with the town's record keeper, she realizes that families are messy, wonderful things. In the end, Campbell must decide if she's going to keep her identity a secret or revealthe truth to her father – a decision that will change their family Christmas forever.

Friday, November 25 at 6 p.m. ET/PT: #Xmas , starring Clare Bowen and Brant Daugherty — When Jen gets the chance to enter a brand's design contest, she poses as a family influencer, enlisting the help of her best friend, Max, and her baby nephew. When her video is selected as a finalist, Jen is torn on whether to go on with her perfect "family" or reveal the truth.

Friday, November 25: A Royal Corgi Christmas , starring Hunter King and Jordan Renzo — Reluctant Crown Prince Edmond returns home just before Christmas in anticipation of being named successor to the throne. To ingratiate himself to his mother the Queen, he gifts her with "Mistletoe", a rambunctious Corgi in need of some serious training. After several doggy disasters, Edmond turns to Cecily, a canine behavior expert from America for help — but to his great surprise, Cecily demands that he take an active part in the daily dog training sessions. Sparks fly between them as the pair work together to get Mistletoe ready to present at the annual Christmas Ball. Just as the precious pup captures their hearts, they discover that love can grown in the most unexpected places, leading them to question what they really want.

Saturday, November 26 at 6 p.m. ET/PT: A Tale of Two Christmases , starring Kat Barrell, Chandler Massey and Evan Roderick — Thanks to some Christmas magic, Emma gets to experience two different Christmases: one where she stays in the city and celebrates with a new crush and his friends, and one where she returns home for all the traditions with her family… and Drew, a longtime friend who may have feelings for her. Emma's double holiday ultimately helps her discover what will truly make her happy in life as well as in love.

Saturday, November 26: Haul Out the Holly , starring Lacey Chabert, Wes Brown, Ellen Travolta, Peter Jacobson, Melissa Peterman and Stephen Tobolowsky — Emily arrives home hoping to visit her parents, only to discover that they are leaving on a trip of their own. As she stays at their house for the holidays, their HOA is determined to get Emily to participate in the neighborhood's many Christmas festivities.

Sunday, November 27 at 6 p.m. ET/PT: A Christmas Cookie Catastrophe , starring Rachel Boston and Victor Webster — Annie Cooper has big shoes to fill when she takes over as CEO of her late grandmother's small-town cookie company and is doing her best to help their struggling business get back on track. That task gets more daunting when her grandmother's secret recipe is stolen during the Christmas party. As Annie tries to crack the case and uncover the culprit she works with Sam, the owner of a local bakery, to recreate the recipe in the hope of saving the company and her job. As Annie and Sam bake batch after batch in pursuit of the perfect one, they begin to learn that their lives go together like milk and cookies.

Sunday, November 27: A Holiday Spectacular , starring Ginna Claire Mason, Derek Klena, Eve Plumb, Ann-Margret and the Radio City Rockettes — In 1958, Maggie is an heiress from Philadelphia who puts her high-society wedding plans on hold in order to sneak up to New York City and make her secret dream come true: dancing live on stage in the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall.

Friday, December 2: A Big Fat Family Christmas , starring Shannon Chan-Kent, Shannon Kook, Tia Carrere and Jack Wagner — Liv is a photojournalist eager to make it on her own. To get a dream assignment – shooting the Chang family's annual holiday party for a cover story – she doesn't reveal that they are in fact, her family. When she finds herself growing close to Henry, the coworker covering the story with her, she wants to confide in him but doesn't want to jeopardize her big break.

Saturday, December 3: A Fabled Holiday , starring Brooke D'Orsay and Ryan Paevey — Talia and her childhood best friend Anderson unexpectedly reunite in a curiously familiar looking town full of Christmas spirit that restores its visitors when they need it most.

Sunday, December 4: Undercover Holiday , starring Noemi Gonzalez and Stephen Huszar — When returning home for the holidays, newly minted pop star Jaylen tells her protective family that Matt is her new beau, when in reality, he's her overzealous security guard.

Friday, December 9: The Most Colorful Time of the Year , starring Katrina Bowden and Christopher Russell — Ryan is a elementary school teacher who learns that he is colorblind. Michelle, an optometrist and mother of one of his students, helps bring color into his life in time for the holidays.

Saturday, December 10: Christmas Class Reunion , starring Aimee Teegarden and Tanner Novlan — High school classmates who once dubbed themselves the "cursed class" reconnect at Christmas for their 15-year reunion. Over the course of their time reconnecting, the classmates challenge each other to remember who they were, who they are, and who they want to be.

Sunday, December 11: The Holiday Sitter , starring Jonathan Bennett, George Krissa and Chelsea Hobbs — Sam is a workaholic bachelor who babysits his niece and nephew before the holidays when his sister and her husband have to go out of town. Completely out of his element, he recruits help from their handsome neighbor Jason and finds himself in an unexpected romance.

Friday, December 16: Holiday Heritage , starring Lyndie Greenwood, Brooks Darnell and Holly Robinson Peete — Ella returns to her hometown to mend fences with her fractured family. With the help of Griffin, her ex-boyfriend, she encourages her family to celebrate Christmas and Kwanzaa and to heal their past wounds before it's too late.

Saturday, December 17: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas , starring Torrey DeVitto and Zane Holtz — A former actress trying to break into directing tests her skills with a town's annual Christmas Eve courtroom production in which the true authorship of the famous poem "A Visit from St. Nick" isdebated.

Sunday, December 18: Hanukkah on Rye , starring Jeremy Jordan, Yael Grobglas and Lisa Loeb — A matchmaker connects Molly and Jacob, but their new romance is put to the test when they realize that they are competing deli owners. Will a Hanukkah miracle keep them together?

HALLMARK MOVIES & MYSTERIES' 'MIRACLES OF CHRISTMAS' Premiere times are 10:00 p.m. ET/PT

Saturday, October 22: We Need a Little Christmas , starring Erica Durance, Patrick Sabongui and Lynn Whitfield — Julie is adjusting to being a single mother to a grieving child while facing her first Christmas without her husband when she develops an unexpected friendship with her older neighbor Irene.

Saturday, October 29: Christmas Bedtime Stories , starring Erin Cahill, Steve Lund and Charlie Weber — When Danielle's husband goes missing in action during his deployment, she is left to raise her daughter on her own. Three years later, as she acclimates to life without him, she begins to tellher daughter bedtime stories of her father.

Saturday, November 5: A Maple Valley Christmas , starring Peyton List and Andrew Walker — Erica is a rancher who has spent her whole life working the family farm with her mother and sister. When Aaron arrives and disrupts her plans, she starts to question what it is she actually wants.

Saturday, November 12: Our Italian Christmas Memories , starring Sarah Power and Beau Bridges — The Colucci siblings, in an effort to jog the memory of their grandfather who is struggling with dementia, set out to recreate their late grandmother's legendary pasta sauce.

Saturday, November 19: Long Lost Christmas , starring Taylor Cole and Benjamin Ayres — Hayley is an interior designer who plans to surprise her recently widowed mother Patricia with the perfect holiday present: the extended family she knows her mom yearns for.

Saturday, November 26: Time for Him to Come Home for Christmas , starring Holland Roden, Tyler Hynes and Tenille Townes and from executive producer Blake Shelton — Four days before Christmas, Elizabeth Athens receives a voicemail from a number she doesn't recognize. On the message, a man she doesn't know makes one final plea to the love of his life for a second chance. The fifth installment of the popular movie franchise, based on Blake Shelton 's song "Time for Me to Come Home."

Saturday, December 3: The Holiday Stocking , starring Nadine Ellis, B.J. Britt, Karon Riley, Tamala Jones and Mykelti Williamson — In this Hallmark Mahogany presentation, RJ is a new angel, who is given the chance to addresshis one regret, that he didn't help his sisters reconcile while he was still alive. Returning to earth as a stranger, he gets each of them to revive The Holiday Stocking, their parent's old tradition to encourage charity at Christmas.

Saturday, December 10: The Gift of Peace , starring Nikki Deloach and Brennan Elliott — Artist Traci is a once-devout Christian who has stopped believing in God after her husband tragically died despite her prayers. As her second Christmas without him approaches, she tries going to a support group for inspiration and comfort.

Saturday, December 17: Five More Minutes: Moments Like These , starring Ashley Williams and Lucas Bryant — The second holiday story inspired by Scotty McCreery's song "Five More Minutes," a young widow's Christmas wish for her son is answered in unexpected ways when she returns to theirold home for the holidays.

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All 43 New Hallmark Christmas Movies of 2022, Ranked Worst to Best (Photos)

Hallmark Christmas movies remain as cozy as ever, with tree-lighting, cookie-decorating and magical snowfall still the currency of the realm. But since the arrival of Wonya Lucas as the new CEO of Hallmark Media (formerly Crown Media) in 2020, the network’s offerings have branched out in many ways: Lots more diversity, of course — including, this year, Hallmark’s first holiday romance centered on a same-sex relationship and the network’s first film focused on Kwanzaa — but also new and different plots.

The memes (about stressed big-city women finding love with a small-town hunk, not to mention Hallmark’s design clichés ) show no sign of dying, but the movies themselves don’t always match the traditional roadmap. Two of this year’s new movies didn’t end with a kiss, a change previously unthinkable in Hallmark-land.

How do I know all this? Because I watched all 43 new 2022 Hallmark holiday movies (including the three that premiered in July on Hallmark Channel and the nine that premiered on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries during the holiday season.) Your aunt’s mileage may vary, but here’s my ranking of this new crop of cozy classics:

43. “Christmas Bedtime Stories”

What starts out as a decent romance between a widow (Erin Cahill) and an old friend (Steve Lund) — Disney animation has nothing on Hallmark when it comes to dead parents and spouses — takes a hard turn into Crazytown in the last five minutes with a happy ending that’s shameless even by Hallmark standards.

42. “My Grown-Up Christmas List”

This love story between a soldier (Kevin McGarry, “When Calls the Heart”) and his girl (Kayla Wallace, McGarry’s real-life partner) suffers from terrible writing and a lack of chemistry. (A common occurrence among actual couples who act together.) Our leads fall for each other after having known each other a few days, there’s a whole lost-in-combat plotline that makes zero sense, and it culminates (spoiler!) in an outdoor wedding in the middle of winter, at which all the attendees look utterly miserable.

41. “The Most Colorful Time of the Year”

Why is a schoolteacher (Christopher Russell) so grumpy at Christmastime? Because he’s color-blind. But not the regular kind — he has an exceedingly rare condition in which he sees everything only in black and white. Along comes optometrist Katrina Bowden to the rescue, whether he wants her to or not.

40. “Long Lost Christmas”

Taylor Cole and Benjamin Ayres make a great on-screen couple, but they’re saddled with a ridiculous plot about Cole’s character searching for her lost uncle. It’s the kind of movie that would be over in two minutes if everyone just came out and said what was on their minds.

39. “A Royal Corgi Christmas”

Hallmark has scored in the past with movies about cute animals and movies set in English-speaking Ruritanian kingdoms, but the two flavors don’t mix in this cheap-looking, nonsensical love story.

38. “A Magical Christmas Village”

Now that “Bros” has given Luke Macfarlane the opportunity to show his range, this movie (co-starring Alison Sweeney and Marlo Thomas) looks to be his last Hallmark effort for a while, so it’s too bad “Village” is such a depressing compendium of clichés and nonsensical characters.

37. “Inventing the Christmas Prince”

Or, “Inventing an HR Nightmare”: Grumpy boss Ronnie Rowe must pretend to be a mythical Christmas prince to charm the daughter of an aerospace engineer (Tamera Mowry-Housley) he wants to retain. It’s the kind of weird tonal mishmash that has a NASA-type agency being run out of what looks like a mini-mall.

36. “A Christmas Cookie Catastrophe”

Hard-boiled CEO Rachel Boston tries to recreate her grandmother’s legendary cookie recipe with the help of widowed baker Victor Webster, and it works only because of the heavy lifting by a charming ensemble.

35. “Time for Him to Come Home for Christmas”

The latest in one of two Hallmark franchises based on sappy country songs features another committed performance by Tyler Hynes but gets bogged down in some of the most contrived “misunderstood overheard conversation” tropes Hallmark can muster.

34. “When I Think of Christmas”

aka “The One I Don’t Think Of from This Year’s Christmas Movies” — there’s nothing wrong per se with this tale of ex-lovers and ex–singing partners (Shenae Grimes-Beech and Niall Matter) reconnecting after years apart, but boy does it smack of pre-2020 Hallmark.

33. “Christmas Class Reunion”

There’s a valiant attempt at a different kind of storytelling, and an appealing cast (led by Aimee Teegarden and Tanner Novlan), but the whole thing gets subsumed by contrivances and character choices that defy logic.

32. “Undercover Holiday”

What if a Hallmark fake-boyfriend movie were also “The Bodyguard”? Pop star Noemi Gonzalez returns home and passes off security professional Stephen Huszar as her fella, and the results are middling.

31. “A Maple Valley Christmas”

Some mature themes sneak in — a wealthy character recalls his dysfunctional family Christmases as including “Bailey’s on cornflakes” — but this is otherwise a by-the-numbers romance between a rancher (Peyton List) and the city guy (Andrew Walker) who wants to buy her land.

30. “Christmas in Toyland”

One of those movies that asks you to forget everything you know about how toy-store chains operate, but if you can shove reality aside, there’s a not-bad romance between numbers-cruncher Vanessa Lengies and starry-eyed retailer Jesse Hutch.

29. “A Fabled Holiday”

A handful of adults who find their lives at an impasse make their way to a Christmas village they all recognize from a storybook; another big swing, by Hallmark standards, but leads Brooke D’Orsay and Ryan Paevey are miscast as, respectively, a motor-mouthed neurotic and a tortured MD.

28. “Our Italian Christmas Memories”

The grandchildren of a man (Beau Bridges) slowly losing his battle with dementia encourage him to find their grandmother’s legendary sauce recipe. Some of the sentimentality on display works, but the big-hand-gesture Italianisms start to feel insincere.

27. “My Southern Family Christmas”

A strong cast — including Jaicy Elliot, Ryan Rottman, Moira Kelly and Bruce Campbell — run headlong into a gumbo-pot of contrivances and head-scratching decisions in yet another searching-for-my-lost-relative plot, this one set in Louisiana.

26. “A Cozy Christmas Inn”

For all the delight of seeing a Candace Cameron Bure movie without the former Hallmark queen — Jodie Sweetin joins most of the rest of the cast of 2014’s “Christmas Under Wraps” — this one’s a fairly hokey retread.

25. “The Royal Nanny”

You can’t say this one’s not trying to break the Hallmark mold — it’s about a spy with MI5 going undercover as a nanny for the royal family — but it’s rarely as fun as its high concept would suggest.

24. “We Need a Little Christmas”

Definitely gets points for 1) not ending with a kiss, since the lead character is a recently widowed mom who’s just opening herself up to the idea of dating again and 2) giving Lynn Whitfield a juicy role as a supportive neighbor who’s also an accomplished stage magician. Otherwise, it’s just fine.

23. “Holiday Heritage”

Hallmark’s first Kwanzaa movie is a step in the right direction, particularly in how it explains the holiday without dragging the proceedings to an expositional halt, but neither the family dynamics nor the love story leap off the page.

22. “A Tale of Two Christmases”

A “Sliding Doors” variation, in which Katherine Barrell gets a peek at spending the holidays with hometown pal Chandler Massey and with office crush Evan Roderick, offers up some ski-lodge grandeur but doesn’t quite stick the complicated landing.

21. “The Gift of Peace”

Hallmark’s first movie branded to their DaySpring line treads further into faith-based storytelling than usual, and it lands without too much sermonizing, thanks to engaging romantic leads Nikki DeLoach (who, despite her comedic talents, seems to be the network’s Queen of Grief) and Brennan Elliott, backed by several Hallmark-fave character actors, including Cardi Wong and Beverley Elliott.

20. “All Saints Christmas”

Another pop star with a fake boyfriend, but this time it’s Ledisi and Roger Cross — between the jazz music and farcical shenanigans, the results are fairly fun.

19. “We Wish You a Married Christmas”

Strained married couple Marisol Nichols and Kristoffer Polaha rediscover each other when they get stuck at a cozy B&B in an idyllic town; it’s a mix of bold choices, honest character moments and wild contrivances, but it mostly works, particularly thanks to a scene-stealing supporting turn by Brian Sills as a hotelier.

18. “Noel Next Door”

Natalie Hall and Corey Sevier do the “we hate each other” / “we love each other” deal in this story of a grump and his charming neighbor, and they’re charismatic enough to make it work.

17. “The Holiday Stocking”

A recently-deceased man returns to Earth as an angel (B.J. Britt) to mend fences between his long-estranged sisters (Tamala Jones, Nadine Ellis), and while most of the sentimentality lands, there are some plot turns that would have benefited greatly from another draft of the script.

16. “Campfire Christmas”

This rare summertime Christmas movie, about a camp reunion, frequently felt new and different, not the least for featuring a queer subplot involving rivals-turned-boyfriends Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman and Alec Santos.

15. “#Xmas”

Hallmark has never had the best luck when trying to tackle contemporary technology (case in point, this movie has a title that’s next to impossible to Google), but this social-media spin on “Christmas in Connecticut” felt shockingly up-to-date.

14. “Five More Minutes: Moments Like These”

Another country-song-inspired series, another grieving widow, but this one benefits from Ashley Williams, usually one of Hallmark’s most reliable comic performers, injecting wit and life into a story that could have been a sappy bummer. (Her palpable chemistry with Lucas Bryant helps, too.)

13. “Christmas at the Golden Dragon”

The only thing wrong with this story about a family closing down their venerable Chinese restaurant was an excess of ambition; “Golden Dragon” tries to weave together several overlapping stories, “Love Actually”–style, and it’s more than it can handle. The central family story is an absolute winner, though.

12. “In Merry Measure”

Former high-school rivals Patti Murin and Brendan Penny come together as choir directors who decide to work together rather than in competition, and as much as that sounds like an old-Hallmark premise, the writing and performances elevate this to a whole other level.

11. “A Kismet Christmas”

There’s a temptation to eye-roll a lot of this story — about a magical cookie recipe that lets people dream of their true love — but the granular moments of the relationship between Sarah Ramos and Carlo Marks prompts a great deal of forgiveness for some of the sillier script choices.

10. “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”

This is a Hallmark movie that tries to throw its arms around a lot of ideas — it’s about two people falling in love while staging a play that debates the authorship of “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” and the ghost of Clement Clark Moore shows up — but it all somehow comes together, thanks mainly to the chemistry between leads Torrey DeVitto and Zane Holtz.

9. “A Holiday Spectacular”

If you’re willing to accept some historical inaccuracies — this period piece integrates the Radio City Rockettes several decades before it really happened — this ambitious movie mixes epic scale for Hallmark (shooting inside and onstage at the real Radio City) with lovely, old-fashioned romance.

8. “A Big Fat Family Christmas”

Along with “Christmas at the Golden Dragon,” this was Hallmark’s other Asian-American–centric holiday movie, and this ensemble piece mixed San Francisco detail with some charming performances (let the Tia Carrere-assaince begin) and typically assured direction from Jennifer Liao.

7. “Lights, Camera, Christmas!”

Hallmark goes meta with a Christmas movie that takes place on the set of a Christmas movie — at last, an excuse for those fake-looking snowballs — providing an opportunity for John Brotherton and the ebullient Kimberley Sustad to demonstrate their rom-com chops.

6. “Jolly Good Christmas”

The decision to make British actor Will Kemp do an American accent notwithstanding, this London-set Hallmark movie (which paired Kemp with Reshma Shetty) was a real delight, making some of the best use of location settings ever seen on the network.

5. “The Holiday Sitter”

Hallmark made history by finally, in 2022, giving us a Christmas movie with a love story between two men (played by Jonathan Bennett and George Krissa); just about everything else about this rom-com plays it safe, but that was no doubt an intentional strategy so as not to overwhelm Hallmark viewers with too much shock-of-the-new.

4. “Hanukkah on Rye”

It’s a big bowl of “Shop Around the Corner” with a dollop of “Crossing Delancey,” but with lovely lead turns by Yael Grobglas and Jeremy Jordan, a sprightly screenplay by Hallmark vet Julie Sherman Wolfe and a brand new Hanukkah song by Lisa Loeb, what’s not to like?

3. “Haul Out the Holly”

The “com” half of Hallmark rom-coms very often dies on the vine, but this tale about a homeowners’ association and its emphatic rules about excess decoration delivered genuine laughs; it certainly helped to have comedy vets like Stephen Tobolowsky and Melissa Peterman backing up charismatic romantic leads Lacey Chabert (cementing her Hallmark Christmas Queen status) and Wes Brown.

2. “Ghosts of Christmas Always”

Like this year’s “Spirited,” “Ghosts” tackles the behind-the-scenes bureaucracy of all those Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet-to-Come who visit every Christmas in the hopes of redeeming humanity’s worst. It’s a great example of Hallmark switching things up and telling different types of stories, right up there with…

“Three Wise Men and a Baby”

Popular “hunks of Hallmark” Tyler Hynes, Andrew Walker and Paul Campbell unite in this comedy (scripted by Campbell and Kimberley Sustad) as estranged brothers forced to come together when they suddenly find themselves taking care of an infant over Christmas. Old Hallmark habits die hard (all three siblings have love interests before the final fade-out), but this charmer was as far as away from “overworked city lady plans a Christmas party with a hunky widow who owns a pick-up truck” as you could get.

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See first photos of 16 new Hallmark Christmas movies, including A Royal Corgi Christmas

Here's the schedule for all 40 new Hallmark Yuletide movies.

'Tis almost the season

The first day of fall has arrived — and it just so happens to be the first day of your Hallmark Christmas movie planning. Fear not, the elves have been working overtime again this year to offer up 40 new Yuletide flicks that will premiere on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. (Technically, there are 39 Christmas movies because the 40th is a Hanukkah journey focusing on.... rival deli owners who find themselves in a romantic pickle.) Along the way, Hallmark will: welcome back Christmas queens Lacey Chabert, Tamera Mowry-Housley, Alison Sweeney, and Holly Robinson Peete; welcome Ledisi, Kara Wang, Marlo Thomas, Reginald VelJohnson, Stephen Tobolowsky, and Tia Carrere into the fold; stage its first celebration of Kwanzaa; and feature the network's first holiday movie with a lead LGBTQ+ couple. In addition, several music stars will have a holiday homecoming and single moms will find love. There's also a — try not to get too excited here — royal corgi . Hop on the sled and we'll tour all 40 movies, complete with stars, descriptions, and premiere dates. And if you promise to be more nice than naughty, you'll get a first look at 36 of these festive films right now.

Noel Next Door

Premieres: Oct. 21, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Natalie Hall, Corey Sevier

Contains: Nasty neighbor, unlikely romance

Official description: "A hard-working single mom gets into a war of words with a neighbor who she feels is ruining Christmas, only to find that this misunderstood grouch just may steal her heart."

We Need a Little Christmas

Premieres: Oct. 22, 10 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Stars: Erica Durance, Patrick Sabongui, Lynn Whitfield

Contains: Multiple stars from the Arrowverse, widowed mother, older neighbor

Official description: "Julie is adjusting to being a single mother to a grieving child while facing her first Christmas without her husband when she develops an unexpected friendship with her older neighbor Irene."

We Wish You a Married Christmas

Premieres: Oct. 22, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Marisol Nichols , Kristoffer Polaha

Contains: Stranded couple, car trouble, Vermont, lots of alpacas

Official description: "Becca and Robby are a married couple having a hard time connecting with each other as the holidays approach. Just before Christmas, they head to a cozy Vermont inn at the advice of their marriage coach so they can recharge. Their weekend away gets unexpectedly extended when a mishap puts their car out of commission and just may put them on the road to a very happily married Christmas."

A Kismet Christmas

Premieres: Oct. 23, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Sarah Ramos, Carlo Marks, Marilu Henner

Contains: Holiday homecoming, reignition of old flames, supposedly magical cookies, children's books

Official description: "Sarah is a children's book author who returns to her hometown, where she reconnects with her family and Travis, her teenage crush. She soon discovers that a long-held family legend might actually be true."

A Cozy Christmas Inn

Premieres: Oct. 28, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Jodie Sweetin , David O'Donnell

Contains: Motivated real estate exec, B&B with an unfortunate owner, Alaska

Official description: "Real-estate exec Erika travels to Alaska during Christmastime to acquire a bed and breakfast, only to discover that it's owned by her ex. While there, she finds herself falling in love with the town and quite possibly him."

Jolly Good Christmas

Premieres: Oct. 29, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Reshma Shetty, Will Kemp

Contains: Gift hunting, professional shopper, American in London

Official description: "David is an American architect who recently moved to London for a prime opportunity in a prestigious firm. With just three days before Christmas, he crosses paths with Anji, a professional shopper, who raises an eyebrow over his choice of a gift card for his girlfriend. David ultimately decides to hire Anji and, thanks to a series of unexpected events, finds himself on a wild adventure across jolly old London as Anji helps him search for the perfect present."

Christmas Bedtime Stories

Premieres: Oct. 29, 10 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Stars: Erin Cahill, Steve Lund, Charlie Weber

Contains: Missing military man, missing military man's wife trying to raise their daughter

Official description: "When Danielle's husband goes missing in action during his deployment, she is left to raise her daughter on her own. Three years later, as she acclimates to life without him, she begins to tell her daughter bedtime stories of her father."

Ghosts of Christmas Always

Premieres: Oct. 30, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Kim Matula, Ian Harding, Beth Leavel, Lori Tan Chinn, Reginald VelJohnson

Contains: Family business owner in need of Yuletide joy, the Ghost of Christmas Present

Official description: "Katherine is a Ghost of Christmas Present and she must help one soul, Peter, rediscover his Christmas spirit. But this year has something unusual in store."

A Magical Christmas Village

Premieres: Nov. 4, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Alison Sweeney, Luke Macfarlane , Marlo Thomas

Contains: Three generations of women under one roof, magical figurines

Official description: "When Summer's mother, Vivian, moves in with her and her young daughter, Chloe, her orderly existence is upended. Upon arrival, Vivian sets up an heirloom miniature Christmas village resembling their town and tells Chloe it grants Christmas wishes. As Chloe begins setting up the figurines, real-life events seem to mimic the scenes she creates. With a little help from the magic of the Christmas village, the family will be brought closer together and, just maybe, Summer will learn to open her heart to love again."

Lights, Camera, Christmas!

Premieres: Nov. 5, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Kimberley Sustad, John Brotherton

Contains: Christmas movie within a Christmas movie, above-the-line/below-the-line romance

Official description: "When a holiday rom-com movie shooting in her town needs a costume designer, Kerry, a local shop owner, steps into the role. While working on the movie, she rediscovers her passion for costume design and finds herself falling for Brad, the film's famous leading man."

A Maple Valley Christmas

Premieres: Nov. 5, 10 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Stars: Peyton List, Andrew Walker

Contains: Property for sale, arrival of handsome stranger, romance on the ranch

Official description: "Erica is a rancher who has spent her whole life working the family farm with her mother and sister. When Aaron arrives and disrupts her plans, she starts to question what it is she actually wants."

All Saints Christmas

Premieres: Nov. 6, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Ledisi, Roger Cross

Contains: Holiday homecoming for music star, New Orleans, reignition of old flames, fake dating

Official description: "Lisette is a popular R&B singer who's getting ready to travel home to New Orleans for Christmas. When the media mistake a photo of her with her music producer ex as an engagement announcement, her family insists that he join her on the trip."

In Merry Measure

Premieres: Nov. 11, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Patti Murin, Brendan Penny, Jennifer Robertson

Contains: Holiday homecoming for music star, choir rivals

Official description: "When pop star Darcy returns home to spend Christmas with her sister and niece, she unexpectedly finds herself coaching the high school choir with her onetime rival, Adam."

The Royal Nanny

Premieres: Nov. 12, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Rachel Skarsten, Dan Jeannotte, Greta Scacchi

Contains: Undercover spy, royal romance

Official description: "Claire is an MI5 agent who goes undercover as the royal nanny. She must overcome the challenges of her assignment, like resisting the charms of Prince Colin, while keeping the family safe at Christmas."

Our Italian Christmas Memories

Premieres: Nov. 12, 10 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Stars: Sarah Power, Beau Bridges

Contains: Dementia, grandma's beloved pasta sauce

Official description: "The Colucci siblings, in an effort to jog the memory of their grandfather who is struggling with dementia, set out to recreate their late grandmother's legendary pasta sauce."

Christmas at the Golden Dragon

Premieres: Nov. 13, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Kara Wang, Osric Chau, Sara Canning, Antonio Cupo, Barbara Niven

Contains: Family restaurant in jeopardy, another Arrowverse star

Official description: When Romy and Rick's parents surprise them with the news that they will be closing the Chinese restaurant they have owned and operated for decades, the siblings each find themselves re-evaluating their futures. Also impacted by the news are the landmark restaurant's loyal patrons and staff, who have all come to depend on the restaurant over the holidays."

Inventing the Christmas Prince

Premieres: Nov. 18, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Tamera Mowry-Housley , Ronnie Rowe Jr.

Contains: Rocket science, child's imagination

Official description: "Shelby is about to quit her job as a rocket engineer when her daughter becomes convinced that her Scrooge-like boss, Evan, is the Christmas Prince from a story Shelby invented years ago."

Three Wise Men and a Baby

Premieres: Nov. 19, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Paul Campbell, Tyler Hynes, Andrew Walker, Margaret Colin

Contains: Trio of overwhelmed brothers, no sign of Steve Guttenberg

Official description: "Three brothers get the surprise of their lives when they are forced to work together to care for a baby over the holidays. As they slowly get the hang of things, they find themselves on unexpected journeys of self-discovery and begin to rebuild their relationships as brothers, as well as the damaged romantic and professional relationships in their respective lives… all while rediscovering their love of Christmas."

Long Lost Christmas

Premieres: Nov. 19, 10 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Stars: Taylor Cole, Benjamin Ayres

Contains: Interior designer, surprise family members

Official description: "Hayley is an interior designer who plans to surprise her recently widowed mother, Patricia, with the perfect holiday present: the extended family she knows her mom yearns for."

When I Think of Christmas

Premieres: Nov. 20, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Shenae Grimes-Beech , Niall Matter, Beth Broderick

Contains: Holiday homecoming, reignition of old flames, Christmas concert

Official description: "Sara Thompson returns to her hometown to help her mother move and is surprised to find her ex-boyfriend Josh Hartman is back home. The two had once planned a life in music together, but Sara left to study law. The former flames slowly reconnect and try to heal wounds, both old and new. When Sara makes a surprising discovery, she and Josh forge a bold plan for the upcoming Christmas concert that will lead them all back to their musical roots and make this a holiday to remember."

My Southern Family Christmas

Premieres: Nov. 24, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Jaicy Elliot, Bruce Campbell , Ryan Rottman, Moira Kelly, Brian McNamara

Contains: Bruce Campbell, a character named Campbell not played by Bruce Campbell, journalist learning about her roots

Official description: "Under the guise of a journalist, Campbell has a chance to get to know her biological father for the first time — without him ever knowing who she really is. As she spends time with him and his family, as well as with the town's record keeper, she realizes that families are messy, wonderful things. In the end, Campbell must decide if she's going to keep her identity a secret or reveal the truth to her father — a decision that will change their family Christmas forever."

Premieres: Nov. 25, 6 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Clare Bowen, Brant Daugherty

Contains: Design contest, fake family

Official description: "When Jen gets the chance to enter a brand's design contest, she poses as a family influencer, enlisting the help of her best friend, Max, and her baby nephew. When her video is selected as a finalist, Jen is torn on whether to go on with her perfect 'family' or reveal the truth."

A Royal Corgi Christmas

Premieres: Nov. 25, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Hunter King, Jordan Renzo

Contains: A corgi named Mistletoe, royal romance with commoner (dog trainer), Christmas Ball

Official description: "Reluctant Crown Prince Edmond returns home just before Christmas in anticipation of being named successor to the throne. To ingratiate himself to his mother the Queen, he gifts her with 'Mistletoe,' a rambunctious Corgi in need of some serious training. After several doggy disasters, Edmond turns to Cecily, a canine behavior expert from America for help — but to his great surprise, Cecily demands that he take an active part in the daily dog training sessions. Sparks fly between them as the pair work together to get Mistletoe ready to present at the annual Christmas Ball. Just as the precious pup captures their hearts, they discover that love can grow in the most unexpected places, leading them to question what they really want."

A Tale of Two Christmases

Premieres: Nov. 26, 6 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Kat Barrell, Chandler Massey, Evan Roderick

Contains: Another Arrowverse star, Sliding Doors -style Christmas

Official description: "Thanks to some Christmas magic, Emma gets to experience two different Christmases — one where she stays in the city and celebrates with a new crush and his friends, and one where she returns home for all the traditions with her family... and Drew, a longtime friend who may have feelings for her. Emma's double holiday ultimately helps her discover what will truly make her happy in life as well as in love."

Haul Out the Holly

Premieres: Nov. 26, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Lacey Chabert , Wes Brown, Ellen Travolta, Peter Jacobson , Melissa Peterman, Stephen Tobolowsky

Contains: Lacey Chabert, holiday homecoming with a twist, HOA intervention

Official description: "Emily arrives home, hoping to visit her parents, only to discover that they are leaving on a trip of their own. As she stays at their house for the holidays, their HOA is determined to get Emily to participate in the neighborhood's many Christmas festivities.

Time for Him to Come Home for Christmas

Premieres: Nov. 26, 10 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Stars: Holland Roden , Tyler Hynes, Tenille Townes

Contains: A Mayans M.C. star, mysterious voicemail, second chance

Official description: "Four days before Christmas, Elizabeth Athens receives a voicemail from a number she doesn't recognize. On the message, a man she doesn't know makes one final plea to the love of his life for a second chance. The fifth installment of the popular movie franchise, based on Blake Shelton's song 'Time for Me to Come Home.'"

A Christmas Cookie Catastrophe

Premieres: Nov. 27, 6 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Rachel Boston, Victor Webster

Contains: Cookie company in jeopardy, stolen secret recipe, handsome local baker

Official description: "Annie Cooper has big shoes to fill when she takes over as CEO of her late grandmother's small-town cookie company and is doing her best to help their struggling business get back on track. That task gets more daunting when her grandmother's secret recipe is stolen during the Christmas party. As Annie tries to crack the case and uncover the culprit she works with Sam, the owner of a local bakery, to recreate the recipe in the hope of saving the company and her job. As Annie and Sam bake batch after batch in pursuit of the perfect one, they begin to learn that their lives go together like milk and cookies."

A Holiday Spectacular

Premieres: Nov. 27, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Ginna Claire Mason, Derek Klena, Eve Plumb , Ann-Margret

Contains: Ann-Margret, the 1950s, the Radio City Rockettes

Official description: "In 1958, Maggie is an heiress from Philadelphia who puts her high-society wedding plans on hold in order to sneak up to New York City and make her secret dream come true: dancing live on stage in the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall."

A Big Fat Family Christmas

Premieres: Dec. 2, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Shannon Chan-Kent, Shannon Kook, Tia Carrere , Jack Wagner

Contains: Photojournalist with a secret, social media followers, massive family holiday party

Official description: "Liv is a photojournalist eager to make it on her own. To get a dream assignment — shooting the Chang family's annual holiday party for a cover story — she doesn't reveal that they are, in fact, her family. When she finds herself growing close to Henry, the co-worker covering the story with her, she wants to confide in him but doesn't want to jeopardize her big break."

A Fabled Holiday

Premieres: Dec. 3, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Brooke D'Orsay, Ryan Paevey

Contains: Reunion of childhood BFFs, magical town

Official description: "Talia and her childhood best friend, Anderson, unexpectedly reunite in a curiously familiar-looking town full of Christmas spirit that restores its visitors when they need it most."

The Holiday Stocking

Premieres: Dec. 3, 10 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Stars: Nadine Ellis, B.J. Britt, Karon Riley, Tamala Jones, Mykelti Williamson

Contains: Angel who just got his wings, estranged sisters

Official description: "RJ is a new angel, who is given the chance to address his one regret, that he didn't help his sisters reconcile while he was still alive. Returning to earth as a stranger, he gets each of them to revive the Holiday Stocking, their parent's old tradition to encourage charity at Christmas."

Undercover Holiday

Premieres: Dec. 4, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Noemi Gonzalez, Stephen Huszar

Contains: Pop star holiday homecoming, fake dating

Official description: "When returning home for the holidays, newly minted pop star Jaylen tells her protective family that Matt is her new beau, when in reality, he's her overzealous security guard."

The Most Colorful Time of the Year

Premieres: Dec. 9, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Katrina Bowden, Christopher Russell

Contains: Color blindness, school teacher-optometrist romance

Official description: "Ryan is an elementary school teacher who learns that he is colorblind. Michelle, an optometrist and mother of one of his students, helps bring color into his life in time for the holidays."

Christmas Class Reunion

Premieres: Dec. 10, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Aimeé Teegarden, Tanner Novlan

Contains: Holiday homecoming, high school reunion

Official description: "High school classmates, who once dubbed themselves the 'cursed class,' reconnect at Christmas for their 15-year reunion. Over the course of their time reconnecting, the classmates challenge each other to remember who they were, who they are, and who they want to be."

The Gift of Peace

Premieres: Dec. 10, 10 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Stars: Nikki Deloach, Brennan Elliott

Contains: Widow who has lost faith, Christian support group

Official description: "Artist Traci is a once-devout Christian who has stopped believing in God after her husband tragically died despite her prayers. As her second Christmas without him approaches, she tries going to a support group for inspiration and comfort."

The Holiday Sitter

Premieres: Dec. 11, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Jonathan Bennett , George Krissa, Chelsea Hobbs

Contains: Overwhelmed uncle turned babysitter, hot neighbor turned love interest

Official description: "Sam is a workaholic bachelor who babysits his niece and nephew before the holidays when his sister and her husband have to go out of town. Completely out of his element, he recruits help from their handsome neighbor Jason and finds himself in an unexpected romance."

Holiday Heritage

Premieres: Dec. 16, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Lyndie Greenwood, Brooks Darnell, Holly Robinson Peete

Contains: Family in need of repair, helpful ex, Hallmark's first celebration of Kwanzaa

Official description: "Ella returns to her hometown to mend fences with her fractured family. With the help of Griffin, her ex-boyfriend, she encourages her family to celebrate Christmas and Kwanzaa and to heal their past wounds before it's too late."

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Premieres: Dec. 17, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Torrey DeVitto, Zane Holtz

Contains: Actress turned director, analysis of the poem "A Visit from St. Nick," possible ghosts

Official description: "A former actress trying to break into directing tests her skills with a town's annual Christmas Eve courtroom production in which the true authorship of the famous poem 'A Visit from St. Nick' is debated."

Five More Minutes: Moments Like These

Premieres: Dec. 17, 10 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Stars: Ashley Williams, Lucas Bryant

Contains: A Williams sister, young widowed mother, holiday homecoming, music from American Idol alum Scotty McCreery

Official description: "The second holiday story inspired by Scotty McCreery's song 'Five More Minutes,' a young widow's Christmas wish for her son is answered in unexpected ways when she returns to their old home for the holidays."

Hanukkah on Rye

Premieres: Dec. 18, 8 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark Channel

Stars: Jeremy Jordan, Yael Grobglas, Lisa Loeb

Contains: Another Arrowverse star, Lisa Loeb, matchmaker, rival deli owners

Official description: "A matchmaker connects Molly and Jacob, but their new romance is put to the test when they realize that they are competing deli owners. Will a Hanukkah miracle keep them together?"

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Holiday movies are certainly a staple of Christmastime, and no network releases more holiday movies than The Hallmark Channel . Hallmark has more-or-less become associated with the Holidays, shelling out around forty new Christmas and other holiday movies every single year in their "Countdown to Christmas." Although often associated with being cheesy and predictable Hallmark movies are heartfelt, romantic films that have quite the excited fan base waiting in anticipation every year.

The Hallmark Channel has 41 new holiday movies on the roster for 2022. While many of them are what viewers have come to expect from a hallmark movie, wholesome, lighthearted, so-bad-its-good romance at Christmas , a few of Hallmark's upcoming movies will stray from their usual format. Hallmark's movies this year are breaking their usual boundaries by exploring Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and an LGBT+ romance. Hallmark started airing their new round of movies in late October. Here is every upcoming Holiday movie coming to The Hallmark Channel, including plot summaries and a breakdown of the cast.

RELATED: Every Upcoming Holiday 2022 Movie

When I Think of Christmas

When I Think of Christmas is a Holliday romance coming to the Hallmark Channel. The story follows Sara, played by Shanae Grimes-Beech, who returns home to help her mother and runs into an old flame, played by Niall Matter. The two, who always shared a love of music, reconnect and decide to put together a Christmas concert for the town. The Christmas musical movie premieres on November 20th at 8/7c.

My Southern Family Christmas

In My Southern Family Christmas follows a young woman attempting to connect with her estranged father. Campbell, played by Jaicy Elliot, known for playing Surgical Resident Taryn in Grey's Anatomy , poses as a journalist in order to meet her father (Bruce Campbell) without him knowing who she is. After spending the Holidays with the family and seeing them for who they truly are, Campbell must decide whether she will reveal her true identity to her father. The film premieres on the Hallmark Channel on Thanksgiving Day, November 24th.

Interior designer, Jen, played by Clare Bowen from Nashville , gets the chance to enter a brand competition in #Xmas . In order to appeal to the importance of social media presence in the competition, Jen gets her friend and nephew to pose as her "perfect family." However, soon Jen has to decide whether to come clean about her actual life or continue to lie. #Xmas, which also stars Brant Dougherty from Pretty Little Liars , airs November 25th.

A Royal Corgi Christmas

Hallmark's A Royal Corgi Christmas stars Jordan Renzo from the Doctor Who spinoff Class , and Hunter King from the long-running soap opera The Young and the Restless , and follows a royal family at the Holidays. The prince has returned home, and in hopes of inheriting the throne, he gifts his mother a poorly-behaved corgi, named Mistletoe. The prince hires a dog trainer, Cecily, with whom romance kindles The puppy-filled holiday movie can be seen on the Hallmark Channel on November 25th.

RELATED: Every Christmas Song In Will Ferrell & Ryan Reynolds' Christmas Movie, Spirited

A Tale of Two Christmases

A Tale of Two Christmases follows a woman at a crossroads during the holidays. Throughout the movie, the woman, played by Katherine Barrell, lives through two different possible Christmases. In one Christmas she stays home and spends Christmas with the man on which she has a blossoming crush, and in the other, she spends at home with her family. This Hallmark movie arrives on November 26th to the Hallmark Channel.

Haul Out the Holly

Haul Out the Holly stars Hallmark superstar Lacey Chabert, AKA Gretchen Wieners from the classic teen comedy Mean Girls , and premieres November 26th. It follows Emily, who arrives home for Christmas to find that her family has vacation plans of their own, leaving her stranded. When she decides to stay in town, the HOA tries to get her involved in the neighborhood holiday merriment.

Time For Him to Come Home for Christmas

Time for Him to Come Home for Christmas stars Tyler Hynes and Holland Roden and premieres November 26th. It follows a woman who receives a voicemail from a man she does not know, pleading for the love of his life to take him back. Following this, she sets out to get the voicemail delivered by Christmas. The movie is the fifth installment in a set of movies based on the song " Time for Me to Come Home" by Blake Shelton, who also executive produced the movie.

A Christmas Cookie Catastrophe

Starring Victor Webster from The Scorpion King movies and Rachel Boston from Witches of East End, A Christmas Cookie Catastrophe hits the Hallmark Channel on November 27th. After the passing of her grandmother, Annie must take on running her small-town cookie shop. When the secret recipe is stolen she works with a local baker, Sam, to replicate it, and love blooms between the two.

RELATED: The Hallmark Christmas Movie Drinking Game Has Returned

A Holiday Spectacular

A Holiday Spectacular follows a Philadelphia heiress, Maggie, in 1958 with big dreams. Engaged to a man she does not want to marry, Maggie runs away to New York City to pursue her dreams of being a Rockette. While adjusting to New York, she meets a Naval officer for whom she develops feelings she never felt for her fiancé. A Holiday Spectacular arrives on the Hallmark Channel on November 27th and stars Gina Claire Mason, known for playing Glinda on Broadway in the soon-to-be-movie Wicked .

A Big Fat Family Christmas

A photojournalist lies about who her family is in Hallmark's A Big Fat Family Christmas. When she recognizes that reporting on the Chang family reunion could be a big break for her, she neglects to explain that the Changs are actually her family, and accepts the job. However, when she develops feelings for her coworker covering the story with her, she grapples with whether she should tell the truth.

The Holiday Stocking

The Holiday Stocking follows RJ, an angel on a mission, and will premiere on December 3rd on the Hallmark Channel. RJ comes back to help his sisters reconcile, something he regretted never doing while on Earth. He returns as a stranger and convinces them to revive an old family tradition that brings them back together. The Holiday Stocking is not technically featured in Hallmark's countdown to Christmas lineup, but instead, it will be Hallmark Mahogany's first Christmas film.

A Fabled Holiday

Little information is available on the plot of A Fabled Holiday coming to the Hallmark Channel on December 3rd. It will star Brooke D’Orsay, known for Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory among others, and Ryan Paevey from General Hospital . It's seemingly kismet when two childhood friends reconnect in a magical town that restores its guests. A Fabled Holiday makes its way to The Hallmark Channel on December 3rd.

RELATED: Why Netflix Is Making Hallmark Christmas Movies

Undercover Holiday

Undercover Holiday will go live on the Hallmark Channel on December 4th. It follows Jaelyn, played by Noemí González, a newly successful pop star. When she returns home for the holidays, to save face, she introduces her bodyguard, Matt, played by Stephen Huszar, as her new boyfriend.

The Most Colorful Time of the Year

The Most Colorful Time of the Year is another romantic holiday movie from Hallmark debuting December 19th. The film follows a schoolteacher, Ryan, who discovers that he is colorblind. When an optometrist and mother to one of his students, Michelle, learns of this, she vows to help him for the holidays. Ryan is portrayed by Hallmark veteran, Christopher Russell, and Michelle is portrayed by Katrina Bowden, known for playing Cerie in the NBC hit 30 Rock .

The Gift of Peace

The Gift of Peace is another movie that is not airing as part of the Hallmark Countdown to Christmas. Airing on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, the movie follows a widow, Traci, coping with the death of her husband. Over time, the once-devoted Christian has stopped believing. However, on her second Christmas without her beloved husband, Traci seeks help in a support group. The Gift of Peace will air on December 10th.

Christmas Class Reunion

Christmas Class Reunion is a Holiday romance set at a 15-year high school reunion. The high school's valedictorian, Elle, is hosting the reunion, hoping to make it perfect, and looking forward to seeing the boy she crushed on in high school. However, things take an unexpected turn when she connects instead with rebellious Devin. The film stars Aimee Teagarden from the teen drama Friday Night Lights and Tanner Novlan and premieres December 10th.

RELATED: How Chris Columbus Almost Made Christmas Vacation Instead Of Home Alone

The Holiday Sitter

The Holiday Sitter will make history this year, as it marks Hallmark's first-ever lead LGBT+ couple. The romance follows Sam, a workaholic, who has been tasked with watching his niece and nephew over the holidays. Sparks fly when he enlists the help of Jason, their handsome neighbor. The film, starring Jonathan Bennet from Mean Girls and George Krissa, premieres on December 11th.

Holiday Heritage

The upcoming Hallmark movie Holiday Heritage celebrates both Kwanzaa and Christmas are celebrated. The film follows Elle, played by Lyndie Greenwood, as she returns home for the holidays in the hopes of reuniting her broken family. Throughout the movie, she is encouraged by her ex-boyfriend Griffin, played by Brooks Darnell, to celebrate both Kwanzaa and Christmas with her family before it is too late. The slightly non-traditional Holiday movie for Hallmark , Holiday Heritage, comes to The Hallmark Channel on December 16th.

Twas the Night Before Christmas

'Twas the Night Before Christmas stars Torrey DeVitto and Zane Holtz in its leading roles. It follows a former actress who decides to direct a local Christmas play. The play depicts a debate on the authorship of the famous poem "A Visit from St. Nick." 'Twas the Night Before Christmas comes to the Hallmark Channel on December 17th.

Five More Minutes: Moments Like These

Five More Minutes: Moments Like These is another Hallmark movie released under the Hallmark: Movies and Mysteries category and not as part of the Countdown to Christmas. The film stars Ashley Williams, Victoria from HIMYM , as a young widow who makes a Christmas wish for her son, when returning to her old home. This is the second Hallmark movie inspired by the song "Five More Minutes" by Scotty McCreery. The film arrives on the Hallmark Channel on December 17th.

RELATED: Is Uncle Buck A Christmas Movie?

Hanukkah on Rye

Another non-traditional Holiday movie for Hallmark's usual spread is Hanukkah on Rye, starring Broadway star Jeremy Jordan and Yael Grobglas from Jane the Virgin . The movie follows Molly and Jacob who were recently set up by a matchmaker. However, things become difficult when the pair realizes that they are the owners of two competing delis. Hanukkah on Rye is the final movie in Countdown to Christmas, airing on December 18th.

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Hallmark vs. Great American Family: Who’s Winning the Holiday Movie War?

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Christmas is a joyous time of peace and togetherness — but there’s a pop culture clash underway on the most unlikely battleground of all: holiday TV movies. They’re cozy, they’re formulaic, and they’re in a no-holds-barred death match for all of America’s attention!

Holiday hyperbole aside, the conversation around the 2022 Christmas movie season has been dominated by one almighty feud: Hallmark vs. Great American Family. In one corner we have Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas, a battalion of holiday movies that’s been delighting families and 20-somethings watching ironically since 2009. And in the other corner is the rookie network Great American Family, a.k.a. GAC (Great American Country), presumably a.k.a. GAF, part of Great American Media and home of the Great American Christmas lineup (yeah, a second GAC) since 2021. There can be only one Christmas victor — !

The history behind this beef is too complicated to get into in great detail here, but it essentially boils down to one man: Bill Abbott. Abbott was the head of Hallmark until a controversial decision in 2019 to ban a commercial featuring a same-sex couple led to a lot of bad publicity. Abbott parted ways with Hallmark shortly after the 2019 holiday movie season, and Hallmark began including same-sex couples in supporting and lead roles in their films in 2020. Abbott is now the head of Great American Family and he’s been poaching Hallmark stars since the network’s launch in 2021. Add all of this to ex-Hallmark mainstay Candace Cameron Bure’s comments about GAC only focusing on “traditional marriage” and a genre of TV movie that was once relegated to background noise while you decorate your tree is suddenly at the epicenter of a very serious culture war.

So, with all the talk about GAF posing a threat to Hallmark, we had to ask: which network is really winning the Christmas ratings war? Is it even close? Was it wise of Candace Cameron Bure to vacate her Hallmark throne? Here are the answers, at least according to the ratings .

Which network is winning the ratings war?

Hallmark. Period. I s this surprising ? It could be to some, considering that the coverage around Great American Family feels a bit both sides-y, always presenting the network as an actual rival of Hallmark’s and rarely ever reporting on the networks’ barely measurable ratings. Just look at the graph above, which charts all of the times that a Hallmark movie went head-to-head with a Great American Family movie this season. Of the 14 Christmas movies aired on GAF through December 8, four of them — Catering Christmas , A Royal Christmas on Ice , Christmas at Pine Valley , and I’m Glad it’s Christmas — didn’t even place in the top 150 cable programs of the night  when measuring viewers 18-49.

By comparison, on the nights that seemingly no one was watching Great American Family, Hallmark’s Jolly Good Christmas ranked at #8; Lights, Camera, Christmas ranked at #12; Three Wise Men and a Baby ranked at #6; and Haul Out the Holly ranked at #11. In every single instance, these Hallmark movies were the #1 scripted programs of the night.

And just to throw more numbers out there — of the holiday movies that aired between the season’s kickoff on October 21 through December 8, Hallmark’s holiday movies averaged 2M viewers each; Hallmark Movies & Mysteries movies averaged 877K viewers each; Lifetime’s movies averaged 428K viewers each; and Great American Family’s movies — the ones that charted — averaged 282K viewers each. Without factoring in the four films that didn’t chart, Great American Family is pulling in better ratings than the original holiday movies airing on some networks — networks like ION, UPtv, and BET. Like GAF, the majority of the holiday movies aired on those networks fail to make the daily ratings charts.

If Hallmark has any competition, it’s CBS. The two movies aired on CBS during the range in question (pre-December 8) averaged 3.34M viewers. But remember: CBS is a major network and Hallmark is a cable network, so CBS’ audience is naturally larger. And even if CBS beats Hallmark in ratings, they only offer a tenth of the original movies that Hallmark does.

Which network is generating more conversation?

Hallmark’s dominance extends beyond ratings and into the larger cultural conversation. This is where it seems like Great American Family is making major headway, but the stats don’t back it up. Looking at Google search trends for the duration of the holiday movie season, Hallmark is consistently on top. Hallmark’s made headlines this holiday season too, primarily for the record – breaking ratings of Three Wise Men and a Baby .

As for GAF, it’s very hard to track its imprint because the network was known as GAC (Great American Country) last year, Great American Family this year, is part of Great American Media, and has a lineup of movies called Great American Christmas. The branding is beyond confusing and that’s evidenced by the fact that more people google “GAC” than “Great American Family,” which is the actual name of the network. But even if you added all of the search volume for the different iterations, it barely touches Hallmark.

The truth is that people aren’t talking about Great American Family’s movies so much as they’re just talking about network star and CCO Candace Cameron Bure .

That spike in search for Bure correlates with the actor’s Wall Street Journal profile wherein she said that GAF’s holiday movies will focus on “traditional marriage” (which can be taken as coded, homophobic language ). This was a major news moment, one that received backlash from Hilarie Burton and JoJo Siwa , and led to frequent holiday movie actor Neal Bledsoe to cut ties with the network . This uproar definitely raised Bure’s profile, evidenced by related search interest settling down at a point higher than it was at prior to the WSJ piece, but has it helped out Great American Family’s ratings at all?

Defecting from Hallmark to Great American Family: Worth it?

No, it has not been worth it — and that is potentially a major problem for GAF. The Wall Street Journal profile that earned the network so much attention focused on Bure’s defection from Hallmark to Great American Media in April 2022 . Bure’s career change is part of an attention-grabbing holiday movie trend, one that started last holiday season with the departure of Danica McKellar from Hallmark . The conversation around Hallmark movies this year, at least for those who spend time seriously thinking about holiday movies, is centered around who is and who isn’t leaving which network.

Bure and McKellar are definitely the biggest names to leave Hallmark for Great American Family; McKellar starred in Hallmark holiday movies for seven consecutive seasons until her departure, and Bure starred in 10 Hallmark holiday movies since 2007. This is the first year since 2014 that Hallmark has not had both a Candace Cameron Bure movie and a Danica McKellar movie in their holiday lineup.

All that is to say, the move has not paid off for Bure, McKellar, or GAF.

Despite being the first major Hallmark star to pack up and move, McKellar’s Christmas at the Drive-In was watched by 482K people; by comparison, 1.98M people were watching Hallmark’s A Royal Corgi Christmas at that time. This is a major step down for McKellar, whose You, Me and the Christmas Trees was watched by 2.22M people on Hallmark last year. That’s a 361% decrease in McKellar’s audience, year over year.

The news is even worse for Bure, the undisputed former queen of Hallmark whose jump to GAF garnered the most attention that the network has ever seen. Her movie, Candace Cameron Bure Presents: A Christmas… Present , got a primo Thanksgiving weekend release in the wake of the kerfuffle around her big WSJ profile. A Christmas… Present was watched by 462K people. That’s 20,000 less than McKellar’s movie.

By comparison, 2.43M viewers tuned into A Holiday Spectacular on Hallmark during that time. This was a major step down for Bure, whose last Hallmark movie — 2021’s The Christmas Contest , which also aired the Sunday after Thanksgiving — was watched by 2.95M people. That’s a decrease in viewers of 539% year over year. Bure did not bring her Hallmark audience with her to GAF (and she only brought 8% of her 5.6M Instagram followers).

2023 and Beyond

Before we can look at what’s ahead, let’s look at where we stand right now. As already mentioned, Hallmark  holiday movies are still massively successful, generate tons of search interest, and are routinely the most-watched scripted program any and every night they air. All of that is true, even if total viewers are only nominally the same.

Comparing the first 32 Hallmark movies (including Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) of 2022 with the first 32 from 2021, ratings are — on average — down 130K. That’s not much considering cable’s natural attrition and whatever dent GAF has made (if any). This also doesn’t take into account that Hallmark struck an unprecedented deal with Peacock to make their films available on the streaming service for a limited time following their network debut and allows Peacock subscribers to watch a live stream of all three Hallmark networks — Hallmark, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, and Hallmark Drama — just as easily as if they were watching via cable or satellite. And don’t forget: Hallmark also scored its most-watched movie since 2019 in Three Wise Men and a Baby — which is also the most-watched TV movie of 2022 across all of cable.

Now let’s look at Great American Family.

Considering that no GAF movie charted when the network was known as GAC, this year is an improvement over 2021. However, Great American Family is far from overtaking or even tying Hallmark in the ratings. It’s also hard to think of what GAF could possibly do to boost their ratings. They already poached the competition’s biggest star and it didn’t make a sizable difference in Hallmark’s nor GAF’s ratings.

In order to surpass Hallmark, GAF first has to overtake Lifetime’s slate of holiday movies, which regularly feature Mario Lopez and Melissa Joan Hart. This is a far more attainable goal: Lifetime’s 2022 holiday movie viewer average is 428K, which is down from 603K in 2021. Still, GAF will have to work hard to compete with Lifetime, a network that has decades of name recognition and a reputation as a holiday movie destination, even if it’s drawing less viewers this year.

Hallmark’s lead in the ratings is so significant that it would probably take Hallmark fumbling in a major way for any other network to catch up with them. And considering how ambitious Hallmark’s 2022 slate is, with films that vary in genre and plot and tone and cast more than ever, the future looks merrier and brighter for the network. And as for GAF, they’re going to have to try a lot harder — and probably wait a while longer — to become a holiday tradition like Hallmark.

• Candace Cameron Bure
• Hallmark Channel
• Haul Out the Holly

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35 Best Hallmark Christmas Movies of All Time to Add to Your Movie List

Plus, how to watch and stream the new ones from 2023 and the older films you absolutely love.

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No one combines Christmastime and the romantic comedy genre quite like Hallmark does. Watching Hallmark Christmas movies has become a holiday tradition for families everywhere, and some even make the list of the best holiday films ever . Sure, sometimes the storylines are a little cheesy and can feel predictable, but they are always filled with fun, drama and, of course, an unexpected romance, to keep you wanting more. But with nearly 300 holiday films in its library, it's hard to decide which ones are worth watching each season. Here, we've decided on the best Hallmark Christmas movies of all time (of course, you might not agree with our list completely , so definitely let us know which ones we've missed!).

And if you've already seen them all more times than you can count, the good news is that the Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries announced its 2023 Hallmark Christmas movie schedule in September, which includes 40 new movies to enjoy.

If you're looking to watch older Christmas movies, Pluto TV also has a selection of them free on-demand, but we've included how to watch all the films on this list, whether that be on Pluto or Amazon. As for the newer films, if you don't catch them on the Hallmark Channel when they premiere, you can find them on Peacock three days later!

So, now all that’s left to do is to pour a cup of hot chocolate, snuggle up in a cozy blanket and grab the remote.

Tiffani Thiessen portrays a single mom living in Northpole, run by none other than Santa and Mrs. Claus. When she struggles to be noticed at her job while trying to help her son adjust to a new school, a teacher (played by Josh Hopkins) and a little elf (played by Bailee Madison) help her see that the little things in life can actually hold a lot of magic.

One Royal Holiday

It's the Christmas movie filled with theater greats! Laura Osnes stars as a woman whose family owns an inn. But when she offers a stranded mother (played by Victoria Clark) and son (played by Aaron Tveit) a place to stay, she learns they're actually members of the royal family of Galwick. While she's set out to create the best holiday season ever, she's also helping a prince learn the true meaning of happiness.

A Princess for Christmas

Jules (played by Katie McGrath) is a recently laid-off woman who suddenly becomes a guardian to her niece and nephew. But when she learns her young relatives are related to the Duke of Castlebury Hall, Jules decides to spend Christmas with those who want to reconnect with family. Throw in a prince (played by Sam Heughan) who happens to be interested in her, and it becomes quite the royal holiday.

Christmas Comes Twice

Tamera Mowry-Housley plays Cheryl, an astrophysicist whose longing to work on her own project rather than review grant applications. When she goes home for the holidays and hops on the town's carousel, she discovers she's time-traveled five years earlier. With this second chance at life, Cheryl reconnects with friends old and new ... including "frenemy" George (played by Michael Xavier), who may show her what life is truly about.

Chateau Christmas

Sometimes, we need a friendly nudge from our past to remind us that we're exactly where we're meant to be. In Chateau Christmas , Margot (played by Merritt Patterson) returns home to Chateau Neuhaus to rediscover her passion for music — and along the way, she revisits an old love (played by Luke Macfarlane).

Deliver by Christmas

Molly (played by Alvina August) finds herself in a love triangle — or so she thinks. While she's falling for Josh (played by Eion Bailey) IRL, she's also pouring her heart out to a mystery man via text. The best part: She doesn't realize they're the same guy.

Christmas Everlasting

More of a tear-jerker than Hallmark's other offerings, Christmas Everlasting offers a poignant reminder to face life head-on even if it means owning up to your secrets and insecurities along the way. Tatyana Ali steals the show as Lucy, a hotshot lawyer who is forced to confront her past after her sister dies.

A Christmas Melody

Lacey Chabert and Brennan Elliot's relationship is a gift to us all. Months after they warmed our hearts in the inaugural All of My Heart movie, the pair stunned in this Christmas favorite, directed by the one and only Mariah Carey. And if you can look beyond Lacey and Brennan's on-camera chemistry, you'll catch a special appearance by the Queen of Christmas herself.

The Christmas Secret

This is raw and real as it gets for Hallmark. A true rags to riches story, The Christmas Secret introduces us to Christine (played by Bethany Joy Lenz), a single mother who is facing one obstacle after the next — unemployment, eviction, legal disputes with her ex-husband and so on. But when she lands a new job at a local bakery, she gets a new lease on life ... and maybe just maybe, a new lover too.

It's Christmas, Eve

Clever name aside, this music-filled movie marks LeAnn Rimes' Hallmark debut. She plays an interim school superintendent, aptly named Eve, who plans to cut the school's music program until she meets the head of the music department, who is conveniently single.

Christmas in Evergreen

Take a trip to one of the merriest towns in America in this series. Each movie takes place in Evergreen — makes sense — and highlights a new budding romance among stars like Jill Wagner, Mark Deklin, Paul Greene, Holly Robinson Peete, Barbara Niven and Ashley Williams.

Christmas at the Plaza

This one may not have big-time star appeal like other movies on this list, but it has an old-timey feel that seems especially appropriate around the holidays. Jessica (played by Elizabeth Henstridge) takes a job at The Plaza in New York City only to discover that she has to work with — and maybe, ya know, fall in love with — the hotel's longtime decorator, Nick.

Christmas at Graceland

There's just something about seeing Elvis Presley's beloved Graceland estate decked out in red and green that gets us in the holiday spirit. When Laurel (played by Kellie Pickler) returns to Memphis, she's met with two surprises: her ex-flame (played by Wes Brown) and a renewed love for this simpler way of life.

RELATED: Kellie Pickler Spills on Filming for Hallmark

Christmas at Dollywood

Two words: Dolly Parton! Even though the country music icon only appears on-screen for a minute tops, it's well worth it. The rest of the movie showcases the best of Dollywood as Rachel (played by Danica McKellar) finalizes the details for the theme park's 30th Smoky Mountain Christmas celebration.

A Grandpa for Christmas

Because love stories come in all shapes and sizes. This time, it's about the unconditional love between a grandfather (played by Ernest Borgnine) and his granddaughter (played by Juliette Goglia). At first, the two are mere strangers, but her school's Christmas pageant bonds them forever.

A Heavenly Christmas

Serving as a reminder to embrace life's most precious moments, this movie follows Eve Morgan (played by Kristin Davis), a chronic workaholic, as she navigates life after her sudden death. She's called on to be a Christmas angel in Heaven with the guidance of her guardian angel, played by none other than Shirley MacLaine.

The Christmas Card

One of Hallmark's oldest efforts remains one of their best: After Cody Cullen (played by John Newton) receives an anonymous Christmas card while serving overseas, he tracks down the sender (played by Alice Evans). Upon meeting her, he learns that she might just be the person he needs and vice versa.

A December Bride

Nothing tops a winter wedding! After Layla (played by Jessica Lowndes) begrudgingly agrees to attend her ex-fiancé's wedding with Seth (played by Daniel Lissing), he "accidentally" tells the other wedding guests that they're engaged ... and well, he's onto something.

A Gingerbread Romance

Some consider the kitchen to be the heart of the home — and this sugary-sweet movie is proof. Before architect Taylor Scott (played by Tia Mowry) ships off to Paris, her boss tasks her with creating a life-size gingerbread house. She leans on a local pastry chef (played by Duane Henry) for help, and learns the secret ingredient to a happy life along the way.

The Mistletoe Promise

Sometimes, just sometimes, revenge is the best gift of all — at least in Elise (played by Jamie King) and Nick's (played by Luke Macfarlane) case. The two share a mutual hatred for the holidays, but make a "mistletoe promise" to trick their exes into believing that they're a real couple. You can guess the rest.

Amanda Garrity is a lifestyle writer and editor with over seven years of experience, including five years on staff at Good Housekeeping , where she covered all things home and holiday, including the latest interior design trends, inspiring DIY ideas and gift guides for any (and every) occasion. She also has a soft spot for feel-good TV, so you can catch her writing about popular shows like Virgin River , Sweet Magnolias, Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart and more. 

As the entertainment and news editorial assistant for Good Housekeeping , Adrianna (she/her) writes about everything TV, movies, music and pop culture. She graduated from Yeshiva University with a B.A. in journalism and a minor in business management. She covers shows like The Rookie , 9-1-1 and Grey's Anatomy , though when she’s not watching the latest show on Netflix, she’s taking martial arts or drinking way too much coffee.

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Monday, October 10, 2022

Hallmark christmas movies 2022 reviewed.

  It's time! Hallmark Christmas 2022 Movies have arrived! Time to move aside the pumpkins and bring on the Christmas Hallmark movies.

Hallmark Christmas movie season includes the beloved Hallmark favorites from years past and begins October 21, 2022. Movies will air on both the Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel.

The 2022 Hallmark Christmas Movie Schedule has been released and here are a few to look forward to! There will be 31 new movies on Hallmark and 9 new for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel.

A Holiday Spectacular 

Jolly good christmas.

London background with a Hallmark favorite lead! Will Kemp and Reshma Shetty will provide the rom com chemistry as Hallmark fans experience London, shopping, and gift choices at Christmas. Fans will remember Will Kemp from his Hallmark movie Christmas Waltz with Lacey Chabert.

Haul Out The Holly

Lacey Chabert is back for her 12th Hallmark Christmas movie. It wouldn't be with Lacey! In this movie she teams with a Hallmark favorite Wes Brown and Lacey plays abit off type as she is the reluctant Christmas fan and the campaign ensues to bring her on board for Christmas fun.

A Cozy Christmas Inn

Jodie Sweetin (Full House) and David O'Donnell brave Alaska, Bed and Breakfast's and Christmas as exes thrown together ... its' a Hallmark movie, I think we know the rest of the storyline (yeah!)! O'Donnell might also be noticed as the lead in the top ten Hallmark Christmas movie Christmas Under Wraps with Candace Cameron Bure, also in Alaska! Full circle with Hallmark, Full House and Alaska!

Full Hallmark Schedule for Christmas 2022 is >>> Here 

There will be three all new movies each weekend night on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Released for Christmas In July 2022

My Grown Up Christmas List - Kevin McGarry and Kayla Wallace navigate the military and the holidays as their connection grows.

Campfire Christmas - Tori Anderson and Corbin Bleu rekindle a romance as their families reunite for fun, romance and campfires at the families' Christmas In July annual celebration.

Christmas In Toyland -Jesse Hutch and Vanessa Lengies star in this Christmas tale revolving around a toy store and its' importance for a town.

Jesse Hutch you may recall from his pairing with Candace Cameron Bure in the classic Let It Snow Hallmark movie.

More Hallmark Christmas Movies Reviewed

Hallmark Christmas Movies 2021 Reviewed by The Savvy Age

You, Me & The Christmas Trees by The Savvy Age

A New Year's Resolution by Cynthia 

Hallmark Christmas Movies 2020 Reviewed  by The Savvy Age

Finding Father Christmas  by Cynthia

Christmas Tree Lane  by The Savvy Age

Broadcasting Christmas  by Cynthia

Top Ten Hallmark Christmas Movies  by The Savvy Age

Debbie Macomber's Mr. Miracle Hallmark Movie Review  by Cynthia

Where To Find Hallmark Christmas Movies?

About This Contributor

The Savvy Age aka Tracey is insatiably curious and loves trying new projects, new products and new recipes! I enjoy writing about food, DIY, gadgets, books, pets and reviews. I also enjoy reading the same by other writers to enrich my knowledge. Writer. Reviewer. Foodie. Amateur Photographer. Animal lover. Chocolate Enthusiast. Visit the The Savvy Age on Pinterest , Twitter and Facebook and Instagram .

7 comments:

Really interested in seeing "A Holiday Spectacular", as it brings back memories of the one and only time I got to see The Radio City Rockettes in person (which is truly a spectacular show) way back in the 1960s. Love Hallmark movies at any time, but especially at Christmastime. Thanks so much for this comprehensive list of Hallmark Christmas movies, Tracey. I see many enjoyable hours of viewing in my near future.

I do love the Hallmark Christmas movies and it sounds like we are in for some good ones this year! I'm not quite ready to start watching Christmas movies myself, but I am thrilled they will be available when I am ready. I know I will enjoy revisiting some of my past favorites too (thank you for including my reviews above). It is already hot chocolate & Hallmark weather! Perhaps, I am ready for Christmas movies after all :)

The Holiday season is certainly on the way and the Hallmark Christmas movies are a joy to watch. It seems to start earlier every year but that's okay with me. Thanks for the Hallmark schedule for this year.

Thanks for another wonderful preview of Hallmark Christmas movies! The 2022 lineup looks great, as usual, with lots of new content for this festive season.

I have bookmarked this page as I love Hallmark Christmas movies and it's nice to see them listed all in one place. Thanks Tracey! I appreciate it!

Thanks for the list and recommendations - I enjoy these movies especially when I'm wanting to unwind with something clean, fun, and positive.

Thank you for your recommendations. There are so many of these I have not seen and I am sure I will enjoy them. Just right for cozying on an autumn or winter evening and enjoying a relaxing positive film.

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• Hallmark Christmas Movies

Grab a mug of hot chocolate—this year's Hallmark Christmas movies are upon us.

Every year, Hallmark warms up the season with feel-good flicks for those who can’t wait to start hearing jingle bells, and this year is no different.

We’ve highlighted the best new holiday movies to hit Hallmark this year for Christmas. Now, let’s help you figure out how to watch the Hallmark Channel from your favorite devices .

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Hallmark Christmas movies to watch

My Norwegian Holiday—Image courtesy of Hallmark Channel.

The Hallmark Channel has unveiled over 30 films for its Countdown to Christmas 2023 event, so there’s something interesting for everyone.

Grab your favorite holiday snuggie, pour out some eggnog, and check out these holly jolly films.

My Norwegian Holiday

This international Hallmark flick takes you to Norway as JJ, our writer's block-stricken protagonist, follows hunk Henrik across seas for the holidays. Here, she discovers lost family ties, inspiration for her dissertation, and (duh) romance.

A Not So Royal Christmas

With a bit of a Shakespearean twist, this film follows tabloid journalist Charlotte as she scores an exclusive interview with a mysterious Count. What Charlotte doesn't know is that the real Count fled years ago– begging the question, who the heck is she interviewing?

Christmas with a Kiss

Morgan's visit home for the holidays to help with the family's Christmas Carnival brings surprise romance as a cute photo journalist is tasked with curating Morgan's surprise reunion.

Magic in Mistletoe

When his book series only brings commercial success, Harrington becomes a bitter recluse. As he visits his hometown for his annual Christmas celebration of his books, Harrington meets April. Sent by a major publishing house that works with Harrington, April is tasked with improving Harrington's social media presence. Romantic tensions rise as they work closer together and (you guessed it) rediscover the spirit of the season. 

Jolly Good Christmas—Image courtesy of Hallmark Channel.

Jolly Good Christmas

Three couples in very different stages of life enjoy Christmas together. A young couple pregnant with their first child, engaged empty-nesters, and a couple with an unexpected family addition celebrate the holidays together as they navigate life's changes and each other's differences. 

Round and Round

Rachel is stuck in a time loop, and her only chance of getting out depends on the "nice boy" Grandma's trying to set her up with. Will she make it to tomorrow, let alone Christmas?

The Secret Gift of Christmas

When widow Patrick hires Bonnie as his personal shopper, the two could not be more different. But Bonnie is determined to get everything on his wish list, including reconnecting him with his daughter.

Sealed with a List

As the holiday season approaches, Carley is determined to knock out her list of unfulfilled resolutions. When coworker Wyatt joins her mission, Carley discovers romance as well as the self-confidence she needs to chase her dreams. 

Friends & Family Christmas

Artist Daniella decides to stay in New York for Christmas in order to spend the holidays with her art friends and avoid her helicopter parents. So when her parents set her up with entertainment lawyer (and ex-engaged) Amelia, the two pretend to date to appease Daniella's parents during the holidays. But Amelia and Daniella soon discover their fake connection is more real than they'd like to admit.

Checkin' It Twice

A hockey player falls for a real estate agent after he moves into her hometown and the real estate agent's hockey-loving family's backyard cottage.

Where Are You, Christmas?

Can Claire reverse her wish for a year without Christmas? Maybe the handsome town mechanic can help.

Where Are You, Christmas?—Image courtesy of Hallmark Channel.

Under the Christmas Sky

Kat is an astrophysicist, and when her lifelong dream to go to space falls through after an accident, she volunteers at the local planetarium. Paired with strict fellow volunteer David, the two must plan the planetarium's Christmas event. Follow Kat as she learns more about herself, her career, and love.

Christmas by Design

When a fashion designer's skills win her a chance to create a new Christmas collection, inspiration for a new line also introduces opportunities for redesign in other areas of her life.

Mystic Christmas

If you like Julia Roberts'  Mystic Pizza,  you're gonna love  Mystic Christmas.  Follow Juniper as she travels to Connecticut during the holidays for work, meeting a cute pizza shop owner along the way.

Joy Eux Noel

After a romantic Christmas painting catches the attention of copy editor Lea, she jets to Paris with reporter Mark to learn more about the artist. Will Lea find love while she's in Paris?

When do Hallmark Christmas movies start?

Hallmark starts its Countdown to Christmas early in 2023, with a premiere date of October 20. That’s right, even before we’ve thrown our Halloween parties, Hallmark wants us to start roasting chestnuts and chopping down Christmas trees.

Of course, you can always DVR your favorites and watch them later if the start of the Hallmark Christmas season is a bit too soon for you.

How many new Hallmark Christmas movies will be available?

Hallmark knows that some of its most fervent viewers tune in during the holidays, so the service has announced that it will be introducing 31 new Christmas films this year.

If you plan on watching all 31 films, be sure to stock up on eggnog and popcorn. And, of course, for those of age, a dash of the good-stuff can add to the seasonal warmth.

How can I watch Hallmark Christmas movies?

Image courtesy of Karolina Grabowska

If you pay for traditional cable or satellite television, or subscribe to a live tv streaming service , you can satisfy your holiday fix by tuning into the official Hallmark Channel.

As the channel number may change depending on your cable provider and region, we recommend using Hallmark’s Channel Locator tool to discover it.

If you don’t subscribe to a live television service, our top recommendation for watching the Hallmark Channel is Frndly TV. For $6.99/month, you gain access to the Hallmark Channel to watch all of your Holiday favorites.

Best of all, with Frndly TV, there is no contract, so you can always sign up just for the holiday season and then cancel your subscription once the new year reigns.

Amazon Video members can also add the Hallmark Movies Now channel to their subscription for an additional $5.99/month.

Download the Hallmark Checklist App

With so many movies hitting the Hallmark Channel for the holidays, you’ll need a bit of help scheduling your popcorn-munching, movie-snuggling time.

Luckily, Hallmark Channel has the Checklist app for iOS and Android.

You can download the app to your favorite mobile device and keep an eye on all upcoming holiday movies for the season.

Additionally, new widgets allow you to place the Hallmark holiday movie schedule right on your smartphone or tablet’s home screen with only a few clicks.

Learn how to watch the Hallmark Channel via your favorite services.

Check out other great places to stream great Christmas movies this season.

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Holiday Entertainment

All The Hallmark Christmas Movies We Can’t Wait To Watch In 2022

‘Tis the season to get sappy!

©2022 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Allister Foster

Of all holiday traditions, there’s nothing that gets us in the spirit quite like watching half-a-dozen Hallmark Christmas movies in a single weekend. This year, the network is releasing 40 new films ! Here’s what we’re most excited about.

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• Entertainment

The Absolute Best And Worst Hallmark Movies Of 2022

In an interview about the 2022 Hallmark movie "Perfect Harmony," Hallmark star James Denton said, "[Hallmark movies] are fun. You know what you're going to get, you know it's going to be happy. They're — I won't say predictable, that sounds negative or pejorative — safe."

"Safe" is certainly one way to put it; formulaic, predictable, and squeaky-clean are other ways that people describe Hallmark movies . However, only some of the beloved network's movies veer into the too-safe, predictably boring territory; others push the boundaries (well, Hallmark's boundaries, at least) and offer unique stories, impressive acting, and heartfelt messages. In 2022, Hallmark released movies representing plus-size and LGBTQ+ characters, featured stories about difficult topics like mental illness and loss — and, as always, put out plenty of feel-good vibes. However, the channel also released some duds in 2022. Below, we'll let you know which of this year's Hallmark movies are worth the watch — and which to avoid at all costs.

Best: The Wedding Veil

Starring three of Hallmark's most beloved actresses — Lacey Chabert, Autumn Reeser , and Alison Sweeney –  "The Wedding Veil" is about friendship, love, and a touch of magic. When three best friends get together for their annual girls' trip, they go shopping and find an antique bridal veil with a compelling history: The girls are told that whoever is in possession of the veil will find their true love. As you can probably guess, the veil ends up working its magic, and Avery (Lacey Chabert) ends up in the midst of a new romance.

"The Wedding Veil" is the pinnacle of what a Hallmark movie is supposed to be:  IMDb reviewers say it's witty, romantic, and the "perfect Hallmark movie." As a bonus, "The Wedding Veil" is just the first in this trilogy — you can also enjoy "The Wedding Veil Unveiled" and "The Wedding Veil Legacy" after watching the original.

Worst: Where Your Heart Belongs

"Where Your Heart Belongs" has a cool and unique premise: A big-city influencer, Mac, comes home to help with her best friend's wedding and reconnect with her family, but things don't go quite as planned. In fact, Mac reveals herself to be a shockingly unlikable character and a selfish friend ... which is precisely why many people disliked the movie. A character who goes through ups and downs can be relatable and enjoyable to watch, but in this case, it's difficult to enjoy a movie when the main character is as self-absorbed as Mac.

By the end of the movie, Mac has learned some lessons, and the viewers are supposed to find her redeemed, but the damage has been done. One IMDb review reads: "No redeeming features about this movie — no coherence in the story, nothing likable about the characters, nonsensical storyline, no chemistry, not fun — just plain awful." Unfortunately, many of the other reviews echo the same sentiments, and with a 5.4 rating, this one comes in as one of the worst Hallmark movies of 2022.

Best: Perfect Harmony

This is what a rom-com is supposed to be. "Perfect Harmony" is undoubtedly a feel-good Hallmark movie, but it's so much more than that. Unlike some Hallmark movies that feel rushed or formulaic, "Perfect Harmony" takes its time developing its characters and their stories. Starring James Denton and Sherri Saum, the movie shows how the two main characters, Jack and Barrett, learn to get along for the sake of their best friends' wedding. Despite their history of not quite meshing, the two learn they actually have quite a lot of chemistry, and their unfolding romance feels real, engaging, and believable. The movie also centers around music, which adds another layer to the story.

In an interview with TV Insider , Denton — who starred in and was a producer of the film — said that with "Perfect Harmony," the aim was to make a movie that was "really unique." He said the storyline was perfected over the course of three or four years, which explains the thoughtful plot and writing. As a bonus, Denton's son in the movie, Teddy, is also his son in real life, making the movie family-oriented in true Hallmark fashion.

Worst: Butlers in Love

A common problem in Hallmark movies is that they're too squeaky-clean — whether it's unrealistic dialogue, too much sappiness, or a plot that gets tied up without a single loose end. Unfortunately, this is one of the major issues with "Butlers in Love" — it's just not believable. The movie is about Emma (Stacey Farber) and Henry (Corey Cott), who are aspiring butlers at a prestigious, competitive academy where individuals go for training to become royal butlers. The characters, while charming at times, fall flat and come across as one-dimensional. The dialogue is hokey and the chemistry is hard to come by, even in the more romantic scenes.

We also have to address the elephant in the room and say that a movie that focuses on a girl who's dying to be a butler is just really absurd, if not one of Hallmark's most ridiculous storylines of all time. "Butlers in Love" also tries to be funny at times — it is a romantic comedy, after all — but fails pretty miserably. One IMDb reviewer described the movie as "two hours of my life I will never get back" — and, well, that pretty much says it all.

Best: Nikki & Nora, Sister Sleuths

"Nikki & Nora: Sister Sleuths" is a fun departure from the typical Hallmark romance movie, focusing on two estranged twin sisters who re-enter each other's lives in order to solve a mystery. Hunter King plays Nikki, a struggling actress who doesn't quite have it all together, while Rhiannon Fish plays Nora, a successful, high-profile lawyer. The two stumble upon a gruesome crime scene and must work together to solve a murder. In the process, they learn to appreciate their differences, as that is what helps them look at the case from all angles.

Among IMDb reviewers, this one was pretty well-received. Many agree that the two leads are convincing, relatable characters, and the mystery aspect is engaging and well done. One reviewer wrote, "The chemistry between the two main characters was a 10 — and the ending was an unexpected surprise — which makes this new Hallmark Mystery series a winner in my book. ... This is a breath of fresh air and I am looking forward to the next mystery in this series."

Worst: Road Trip Romance

The only thing worse than being on a dysfunctional road trip is having to watch a badly acted, badly written Hallmark movie about a dysfunctional road trip. "Road Trip Romance" focuses on two former high-school rivals, Margo (Natalie Hall) and Alden (Corey Sevier), who run into each other and end up taking a last-minute road trip back to their hometown when their flights get canceled.

This may sound like a cute premise, but the level of dysfunction in this movie is distractingly absurd. There's an airport shutdown, a lack of rental cars, theft, a lack of phone chargers, a car accident, and to top it all off ... a Renaissance fair in the middle of nowhere? It's almost impressive that, with so many different problems, so little happens in the plot and character development department. One IMDb reviewer said, "Honestly could go to sleep [during the movie], wake up and feel nothing of relevance was missed," while another said, "I have nothing positive to say about this movie. It was truly awful and should never air again. Ever." We'd recommend skipping this one.

Best: The Journey Ahead

This is a road trip movie we can get behind. "The Journey Ahead" is a fun, unexpected feel-good movie that reviewers appreciated for its interesting plot and engaging main characters. It centers around a demanding, older Hollywood actress (Holly Robinson Peete) and a young, free-spirited wilderness expert (Kaylee Bryant). When the two end up on the same road trip together, they end up learning a lot about each other — and themselves. And while the movie is funny and lighthearted, it also does a good job of dealing with more difficult themes, like infidelity and adoption.

"The Journey Ahead" really is a journey for the characters, who are a joy to watch evolve throughout the course of the movie. Ultimately, the movie's unique plot, relatable themes, and great acting make it stand out as one of the best Hallmark movies of 2022. An IMDb reviewer even drew parallels to HBO's hit series "Hacks," and mentioned that they "cried more than a few times throughout the movie, which is a good sign."

Worst: The Perfect Recipe

A movie about a romance between a restaurant owner and her chef seems like it has a lot of potential, but unfortunately, "The Perfect Recipe" was all over the place. The movie could have focused on the food element and how it brings the characters together, or there could have been more time spent on developing the chemistry between the leads — but instead, "The Perfect Recipe" just skirts around different themes, preventing any real engagement or character development.

Diehard Italian food fans may enjoy the movie since there's some tiramisu and Chianti involved, but for a movie about a restaurant, it's pretty sparse on the cooking scenes, and many reviewers found it to be dull overall. One IMDb review (aptly titled "Welcome to boring") says, "No chemistry ... It didn't have a clear storyline ... Fine to play in the background while doing other things, but not worth watching with your full attention." Ouch.

Best: Romance in Style

"Romance in Style" is a refreshing and inclusive romance that revolves around a fashion designer who convinces a high-profile publisher to include her plus-size designs in his magazine. Jaicy Elliot (of "Grey's Anatomy") plays Ella, a plus-size designer who is passionate about creating designs to not just fit all women, but to empower them, too. Her romance with Derek (played by Benjamin Hollingsworth) is a feature of the movie, but not the main point: As Elliot told TV Insider , "I love that ['Romance in Style'] opens up with her working on her craft rather than looking for love. Love comes as a cherry on top of the cake sort of situation, but the main focus is her and her own growth, which I think is very exciting to see on a Hallmark movie."

Not only does the movie feature a unique and uplifting storyline, but it's also well-acted and there is believable chemistry between the leads. Overall, this one "makes a statement without being preachy," according to an IMDb review .

Worst: Girlfriendship

"Girlfriendship" seems so promising from the outside — it's a chick flick about three friends who take a week-long trip together to rediscover their "passions, their purpose, and romance," per Hallmark. It stars Tamera Mowry-Housley, Krystal Joy Brown, and Lyndie Greenwood — a great, talented cast who have good chemistry. However, the chemistry between the characters is one of the only good things about "Girlfriendship."

It would be so refreshing to see a Hallmark movie about friendship (rather than romance) that's done well — one that allows the viewer to understand each character and their emotional connection to one another. But that's not the case with "Girlfriendship." While we commend the network for creating a movie focusing solely on the lives and experiences of Black women, the movie itself didn't live up to its potential and kept things too shallow instead of diving deep into the characters. One IMDb reviewer wrote, "The storylines weren't really all developed. I never got invested in any of the characters too much. I needed more in order to care."

Best: Presence of Love

Starring Eloise Mumford as Joss, a literature professor in the midst of grieving her mother's death, "Presence of Love" is about love, loss, sadness, anxiety — and how to navigate all of those feelings at once. When Joss takes a trip to England to visit her late mother's farm, she meets Daniel (played by Julian Morris), and the two begin to form a deep connection that helps Joss heal as she deals with her grief.

What really makes "Presence of Love" succeed is that it avoids the overly formulaic plot of many Hallmark romance movies and offers a new, refreshing storyline that viewers can really relate to. The fact that the movie was filmed on location in Cornwall means viewers get to see stunning scenery throughout, which really adds to the mood of the movie. IMDb reviewers note that this one "broke the mold" of predictable Hallmark movies and that it was a "wonderful change of pace."

Worst: Fly Away with Me

Just when aspiring writer Angie (Natalie Hall) finally finds a nice condo in Chicago to call her own, she's shocked to find that her home already has a resident: a parrot. But her new condo has a strict no-pets policy — at least, that's what Angie thinks, until she meets her cute neighbor, Ted (Peter Mooney), who secretly has a dog. As you've probably come to expect with Hallmark movies, romance blossoms between Angie and Ted as they bond over their secret pets.

While the plot may sound okay and even funny, "Fly Away with Me" is a stunningly bad movie. The acting is iffy at best, but the main problem is the poorly written script that makes the dialogue feel forced. IMDb reviewers also say that it's boring, the characters are impossible to connect with, and the story doesn't make sense. One IMDb reviewer wrote, "[Hallmark,] please hire writers with at least one original thought. ... I couldn't finish watching it. It made me cringe." Because of all that, "Fly Away with Me" may be one of the worst Hallmark movies of 2022.

Best: Mid-Love Crisis

"Mid-Love Crisis" is about a single mom named Mindy (Teri Hatcher) who is turning 50 and having a bit of a crisis about it. Despite the support from her therapist/best friend, Mindy's just not sure who she really is or what she really wants out of life. This uncertainty leads her down a fortuitous path of forging new connections — and rekindling old flames.

Admittedly, "Mid-Love Crisis" has mixed reviews, but we appreciate Hallmark's take on a midlife crisis. It's relatable, funny at times, and also features a lesbian storyline in the form of Mindy's daughter, Rita, who is bringing her girlfriend home to meet the family. The LGBTQ+-friendly plot gives some much-needed representation from Hallmark and ultimately creates a more inclusive story. One IMDb reviewer  wrote, "It's a fun and poignant fall rom-com with great actors and beautiful scenery. Some may call the premise cliché, but this movie captures the sense of loss when marriages end, kids leave the nest, and careers change. ... I'll add it to my list of favorite seasonal movies."

Worst: Campfire Christmas

It's always tragic when a Hallmark Christmas movie fails, but "Campfire Christmas" was especially disappointing. It's a Christmas-in-July movie that focuses on a group of friends who reunite at a Christmas-themed gathering at Camp Evergreen, a summer camp they had all previously attended. The friends spend time catching up, and the main character, Peyton (Tori Anderson), finds that sparks fly with Thomas (Corbin Bleu), who was her first love.

While the plot is a bit different than usual Hallmark movies, "Campfire Christmas" ultimately comes in with a 5.5 rating on IMDb, and it appears there are very few redeeming qualities about this movie. Many reviewers note that the movie is boring and that the lead characters lack chemistry. One reviewer on IMDb wrote, "This was a tough one to finish. The immaturity level was cringe-worthy; these are adults in their 30s still acting like teenagers. The storyline was boring, and the chemistry was just off. Plus, it was predictable — every aspect of it."

Recommended

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

A Fabled Holiday

Talia and her childhood best friend Anderson reunite in a curiously familiar-looking town full of Christmas spirit that restores its visitors when they need it most. Talia and her childhood best friend Anderson reunite in a curiously familiar-looking town full of Christmas spirit that restores its visitors when they need it most. Talia and her childhood best friend Anderson reunite in a curiously familiar-looking town full of Christmas spirit that restores its visitors when they need it most.

• Ruby J. Munro
• E.S. Dolan Dix
• Samantha Herman
• Brooke D'Orsay
• Ryan Paevey
• John Prowse
• 18 User reviews
• 5 Critic reviews

Top cast 17

• Young Talia

• Young Anderson

• Older Gentleman …

• Talia's Dad

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

• Trivia Lindsey Stirling plays violin and dances.
• Goofs At the end of "Chapter 5," the narrator's voiceover does not match the book's words written on the screen.

User reviews 18

• Dec 3, 2022
• December 3, 2022 (United States)
• United States
• Pravljični prazniki
• Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• AHF Productions
• BRB Pictures
• Hallmark Channel
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 24 minutes

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