We wish you a Wilmington Christmas: Six locally shot films to get you in the holiday mood

Santa Claus will be here before you know it, and there's no better way to get in the mood than by cueing up one, two or a half-dozen Christmas movies.

And if they happen to be Christmas movies made in Wilmington? All the better.

Here's a look at six such movies.

'The Angel Doll'

Heartwarming 2002 indie directed by the late Alexander "Sandy" Johnston is based on the novel by Jerry Bledsoe. It's about two small-town boys, one poor, one middle-class, who team up to obtain the title doll for the poor boy's ailing sister for Christmas. Stars Keith Carradine and Pat Hingle, among others.

You can buy or rent "The Angel Doll" on Amazon Prime.

'A Christmas Proposal'

Wilmington filmmaker Nakia Hamilton directed this comedic drama/romance about a man with a job opportunity that will allow him to travel the world.

There's just one catch: He can bring his girlfriend, but only if they're married before Christmas.

You can watch it on TubiTV.com.

'Christmas in Conway'

Featuring a big-name cast — Andy Garcia, Mary-Louise Parker, Mandy Moore, SNL's Cheri Oteri — this 2013 Hallmark Hall of Fame movie is probably best known for the plot point in which grumpy Duncan (Garcia) proves his love for his wife (Parker) by building a Ferris wheel in their back yard.

The Ferris wheel in question was built in Wilmington's Forest Hills neighborhood.

You can watch "Christmas in Conway" on Peacock or one of several other services.

'A Different Kind of Christmas'

Shelley Long, a couple of years past her "Cheers" prime, stars in this 1996 TV movie (originally for Lifetime) about a woman running for mayor of her town.

There's just one problem: Her dad thinks he's The Real Santa Claus, and if the town finds out about his lunacy, her candidacy is surely sunk. Also with Barry Bostwick.

You can watch it on Amazon Prime video. 

'One Christmas'

Trivia question: What was acting great Katharine Hepburn's final film?

The answer is "One Christmas," a 1994 made-for-TV movie shot in Wilmington, whose generic, forgettable title is probably a little bit unworthy of Hepburn's unforgettable career.

It's based on a story by Truman Capote about a boy who goes on Christmastime adventures with the father he barely knows.

"One Christmas" also starts Henry Winkler, Swoosie Kurtz and Pat Hingle, who had moved to Wilmington after shooting the Stephen King horror film "Maximum Overdrive" here in the 1980s.

You can buy or rent on Google Play or Amazon Prime, or on YouTube. 

'USS Christmas'

This Hallmark movie was shot in Wilmington in September 2020 and is about a young woman (Jen Lilley) who falls for a Navy pilot (Trevor Donovan). It also features scenes on the Battleship North Carolina.

Other Port City locations include the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center and the Wilmington Railroad Museum.

Watch on Amazon Prime or other streaming services.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Christmas movies to watch that were made in Wilmington NC