32 Best Hallmark Christmas Movies, Ranked by Holiday Cheer
I have watched a lot of the best Hallmark Christmas movies in my life. Like, a lot. And apparently, so have many of you: 68 million, to be exact. That’s how many viewers tuned in for the Hallmark Channel’s ninth annual Countdown to Christmas programming last year.
As Glamour once explained, “Watching these movies is no longer a guilty pleasure—it's appointment television. From unofficial drinking games to a user-friendly app, it's become cool to stay home and watch two people in sweaters fall in love in a town named like a Bath & Body Works lotion.”
That is especially true this year, when I think we all need a little Christmas cheer more than ever before. I mean, what's a better distraction than escapist entertainment about a woman who finds love during the holiday season?
To that end, the Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries will air 40 new holiday movies this year. The network has also been making more strides in recent years toward increased diversity in its storytelling and casting. While it's certainly not perfect, and progress came far too late, it is encouraging to see.
I'm sure many of these new films will become holiday classics, but in the meantime let's rank the best Hallmark Christmas movies of all time. See my picks, below. All air times are in Eastern time, but you can also stream them at Hallmark Movies Now.
It's been a stressful year, but at least you can count on Hollywood to come through with the holiday cheer. After all, what's more relaxing than watching an overworked woman fall in love with a Christmas-tree farmer? So decompress with All the Jingle Ladies, our guide to the best holiday movies.
32. Miss Christmas (2017)
O Christmas tree. The official “tree finder” for the city of Chicago, aptly nicknamed Miss Christmas, spends the entire year searching for the perfect fir. Of course, in the final stretch—with just 10 days until the lighting ceremony—she learns they’ll have to source a replacement. A perfectly timed letter from a young boy with both a single dad and what he describes as the “perfect tree” leads Miss Christmas to Wisconsin and, perhaps, to romance.
Airs December 11 at 6 a.m. and December 24 at 10 a.m.
31. A Very Merry Mix-Up (2013)
Alice heads to meet her future in-laws at Christmas ahead of her fiancé Will, a work-obsessed city guy (obviously), and ends up stranded at the airport with lost luggage and a nonworkable phone. She fortuitously meets who she thinks is Will’s brother Matt at the baggage counter—spoiler alert: nope!—and the two set off for home. One car accident, two concussions, and countless instances of mistaken identity later, Alice has to decide between the charming hometown hero and the boring corporate exec.
Airs December 3 at 6 a.m., December 9 at 8 a.m., December 20 at 2 a.m., and December 24 at 4 a.m.
30. Christmas Next Door (2017)
Jesse Metcalfe fittingly stars as a successful author of lifestyle books for bachelors who, when left in charge of his niece and nephew for Christmas, turns to a Christmas-loving neighbor for help changing his ways.
Airs December 7 at 6 p.m., December 21 at 2 a.m., December 23 at 8 p.m., and January 1 at 5 a.m.
29. Christmas in Love (2018)
Ellie is a talented crafter who also makes a mean Kringle pastry—what their small Missouri town is known for—and thus has to manage the “exec” Nick flying all the way from San Francisco to check on the business. He wears a suit and nice shoes on his first day and is relentlessly ridiculed for how much he stands out, which says a lot about Hallmark's vision of Missouri.
Despite the teasing, Nick and Ellie start to fall for each other, as he grows to love the Kringle industry and helps Ellie develop a professional crafting business. He’s deceived her, though—he’s actually the heir to the Kringle fortune and wanted to automate the baking process. But now that he’s made one single Kringle himself, he changes his tune, and they all live happily ever after.
Airs December 8 at 12 p.m. and December 27 at 2 a.m.
28. Fir Crazy (2013)
Fir Crazy capitalizes on one of my favorite holiday tropes: Busy career woman has no time for Christmas until she suddenly ends up—gasp!—unemployed, single, and running her family’s city tree lot. There she contends with a nasty landlord who threatens to shut down their business. Will a cute customer help save the day? Bet you can guess!
No upcoming air times.
27. On the Twelfth Day of Christmas (2015)
Mitch, a holiday Scrooge, rediscovers the magic of the season after his longtime admirer Maggie takes it upon herself to deliver 12 gifts of Christmas that help reignite a spark in him for both the holiday and Maggie.
Airs December 2 at 8 a.m., December 14 at 2 a.m., December 22 at 6 p.m., and January 1 at 12 a.m.
26. Naughty or Nice (2012)
There is so much Christmas in this movie that it's hard to believe Hallmark had any magic leftover after production. Krissy Kringle, played by Hilarie Burton, accidentally receives Santa’s “Naughty or Nice” book to her home on Candy Cane Lane and sets out to expose those who have been naughty. She soon, however, learns an important lesson: Most people lean more nice than naughty.
No upcoming air times.
25. Hats Off to Christmas! (2013)
In a classic case of nepotism, the owner of a charming Christmas hat shop asks his manager of 10 years Mia (Haylie Duff) to train his son Nick for the open management position she had been eyeing. The two butt heads until Nick takes an interest in Mia’s son and starts to see the appeal of small-town life.
Airs December 18 at 4 a.m.
24. Picture a Perfect Christmas (2019)
A successful photographer has an unexpected break from work and returns home for the holidays to spend time with her grandmother. In a wild turn of events, she essentially ends up nannying the boy next door and falling for his uncle in the process.
Airs December 19 at 8 a.m., December 23 at 2 p.m., and December 31 at 10 p.m.
23. Road to Christmas (2018)
One Tree Hill's Chad Michael Murray plays Danny, a rugged and worldly movie producer who returns to Los Angeles solely to help his mother produce her live Christmas special. There he’s paired with the show’s everyday producer, Maggie, who is no longer good enough and is rightly pissed.
She puts her grievances aside for the good of the show, and they embark on a cross-country Christmas tour to find places where cool Christmas things are happening. Maggie reunites Danny with his estranged siblings, and they make it to Vermont for the live show, where it immediately becomes clear Maggie and Danny are in love and will be together forever. I cried.
Airs December 23 at 6 a.m.
22. Marry Me at Christmas (2017)
A small-town bridal boutique owner named Madeline has to plan a last-minute wedding for a surprisingly chill bride somehow not at all stressed by the tight timeline. Dubious, for sure. Of course, the bride’s movie-star brother Jonny Blaze arrives to assist and does what movie stars do best: wooing everyone he meets, including Madeline.
Airs December 3 at 12 p.m., December 10 at 4 a.m., December 15 at 12 a.m., and December 22 at 10 p.m.
21. Mingle All the Way (2018)
Hallmark is family-friendly, but I am here for Brant Dougherty, the eye candy you know and love as Noel Kahn from Pretty Little Liars. As for the plot, it's classic Hallmark: More or less to get her mom off her back, sad single gal Molly cocreates an app, Mingle All the Way, that connects users with fake dates for holiday parties. Genius, actually, or at least it was in 2018, when holiday parties were still a thing. Anyway, Molly connects with Jeff (Dougherty), an ad guy who is also secretly using Molly to score a promotion. Does it sound like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days? The two eventually have to come clean, but it doesn’t matter to anyone because now they really do love each other.
Airs December 20 at 4 a.m. and December 21 at 8 p.m.
20. Snow Bride (2013)
There was a time in my not-so-distant past when I watched this movie at least once a week. Thanks, DVR! Tabloid reporter Greta crashes her car on the way to score a scoop on the pending engagement of a senator’s son and then somehow becomes part of the story as a guest of their family for the holidays. Along the way she has to decide how far she’ll go for a story—and for love.
No upcoming air times.
19. Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade (2012)
Don’t be fooled by Thanksgiving in the title: This is classic Hallmark Christmas. Midwesterner Emily (The O.C.’s Autumn Reeser) has a full-time job coordinating the Windy City’s Thanksgiving Day parade. (As an aside, I’m not sure why Hallmark thinks Chicago employs so many holiday celebrants—see Miss Christmas, above—but as a Chicagoan myself, I fully support it.)
This year Emily has to tolerate the help of a wealthy consultant Henry, who wants to increase profits. Ugh! Turns out, they find there is more to Christmas than money and parades. Who knew?
No upcoming air times.
18. Christmas Under Wraps (2014)
Finally, an appearance by Hallmark darling Candace Cameron Bure, who stars as Dr. Lauren Brunell. Dr. Brunell has her sights set on a dream fellowship in Boston but first has to endure a head doctor position in remote Alaska to pad her résumé. A charming local Andy teaches her that there might actually be more to Alaska—and to life—than she originally thought.
Airs December 2 at 4 p.m., December 18 at 12 a.m., and December 27 at 12 p.m.
17. A Bride for Christmas (2012)
A budding interior designer named Jessie bails on her third engagement—at the altar, no less—and swears off romance. That is, until she meets her match in the chronically single Aiden, who bets his friends he can convince a woman to marry him by Christmas. He enlists Jessie’s help in decorating his bachelor pad, and then all bets are off.
No upcoming air times.
16. The Christmas Cottage (2017)
Part of the maid of honor duties for unlucky-in-love Lacey include prepping the bride Ava’s family cottage for the couple’s honeymoon. You see, legend has it that if newlyweds spend their first night there, everlasting love will follow. Lacey calls B.S., but when she winds up snowed in at the cottage with Ava’s brother, the truth comes to light.
Airs December 3 at 4 p.m., December 16 at 10 p.m., and December 27 at 6 p.m.
15. Let It Snow (2013)
Candace Cameron Bure returns as a corporate exec Stephanie spending the days leading up to Christmas in Maine plotting to decimate the beloved traditions of a family-owned lodge. Of course, no one is immune to festive holiday fare, and Stephanie is no exception, especially when the lodge owners’ son Brady gets involved.
Airs December 2 at 2 a.m., December 7 at 12 p.m., and December 26 at 6 a.m.
14. A Royal Christmas (2014)
Another Hallmark leading lady Lacey Chabert stars as a dreaded commoner with a “blue-collar background,” who finds out her European boyfriend is actually a prince. Can she woo his disapproving family in time for Christmas?
Airs December 4 at 6 a.m., December 14 at 6 p.m., and December 26 at 8 a.m.
13. Christmas at Graceland (2018)
Kellie Pickler stars as Laurel Cooper, a single mom sent to her hometown of Memphis with her daughter to close a “big deal.” She spends most of her time there, though, hanging with her daughter, her oldest friend Sally, and her ex-boyfriend Clay. The deal doesn’t go through, obviously, but in the span of a week, Laurel and Clay end up back together, and Laurel quits her job and moves back to Memphis for her happily-ever-after.
Airs December 18 at 8 a.m. and December 28 at 4 a.m.
12. The Mistletoe Promise (2016)
A chance meeting between two Christmas-hating strangers played by Jaime King and Luke MacFarlane results in the mistletoe promise, a pact to help them navigate their holiday complications together. But they soon discover there may be more to their contract than business.
Airs December 17 at 4 a.m. and December 28 at 6 a.m.
11. A Gingerbread Romance (2018)
Architect Taylor is about to get a promotion and a clutch relocation to Paris. But first she has to create a larger-than-life gingerbread house and represent her firm against their rivals in a holiday competition judged by the mayor. Okay. She gets cute pastry chef Adam to help her, and they win both the competition and each other’s hearts. Taylor’s boss then says she earned the Paris promotion and needs to leave on Christmas Eve. What happens, you ask? Well, let’s just say Taylor will always be known as the girl who didn’t go to Paris.
Airs December 11 at 6 a.m., December 22 at 4 a.m., and December 30 at 8 a.m.
10. Christmas at Pemberley Manor (2018)
As Christmas approaches, a big-city event planner, Elizabeth, is asked to organize a holiday festival in a small Connecticut town, which will require the participation of billionaire recluse William. The movie is “loosely” based on Pride and Prejudice, but the main characters are named William Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett, so that should tell you all you need to know about the plot. That said, there is one shining star: The Parent Trap’s Meredith Blake makes her return as Elizabeth’s high-strung boss. She is, as you’d expect, pure perfection.
Airs December 4 at 4 p.m., December 9 at 6 a.m., December 19 at 2 p.m., and December 31 at 12 p.m.
9. Memories of Christmas (2018)
Christina Milian stars as Noelle, a money manager who returns to her hometown to sell the childhood home she inherited and to attend the annual Christmas gala in the meantime. There she rediscovers her love of Christmas and falls legitimately in love too.
Airs December 14 at 8 a.m.
8. A December Bride (2016)
Layla’s cousin is marrying her ex-fiancé at Christmas—ouch—and the man responsible for introducing the bride and groom, Seth, asks Layla to be his date. Without any other offers, she says yes and then he tells everyone at the reception they’re engaged, forcing Layla to keep up the pretense until eventually it’s not a pretense anymore.
Airs December 7 at 2 a.m., December 14 at 4 p.m., and December 27 at 8 a.m.
7. Jingle Bell Bride (2020)
New this year is Jingle Bell Bride, in which wedding planner Jessica has to head to Alaska to source a rare flower for a celebrity client. Alaska is apparently brimming with helpful and handsome locals (see Christmas Under Wraps, above), and Jessica is not immune to the charms of this one or of the small town.
Airs December 15 at 2 a.m. and December 24 at 8 p.m.
6. A Christmas Detour (2015)
A snowstorm forces two travelers, Paige and Dylan, to hunker down in a Buffalo airport hotel en route to NYC. Paige is trying to make it home to meet her fiancé’s parents before her wedding, and even though he’s recently heartbroken, Dylan summons the strength to help her try. The pair set off and end up on a completely unexpected (but better) path.
Airs December 12 at 12 a.m., December 15 at 8 p.m., December 26 at 12 p.m., and December 30 at 2 p.m.
5. The Sweetest Christmas (2017)
Say hello again to Lacey Chabert, who stars as ambitious pastry chef Kylie. Kylie makes it to the finals of the definitely real American Gingerbread Competition only to then have her oven break down. She calls her ex Nick, as one does, and he swoops in to save the day and steal her heart.
Airs December 10 at 12 p.m., December 13 at 6 a.m., and December 29 at 2 a.m.
4. A Cookie Cutter Christmas (2014)
Two longtime frenemies and now coworkers in education have to put aside their differences for their school’s annual fundraising festival and cookie bake-off. That’s hard to do when the real prize at stake is the affection of single sweet dad James. Ultimately, they all learn that you can’t stand in the way of true love.
Airs December 4 at 4 a.m., December 15 at 6 a.m., December 21 at 4 p.m., and December 31 at 2 a.m.
3. Christmas at Cartwright’s (2014)
Unemployed single mom Nicky applies for a seasonal job with Cartwright’s department store but is rejected by an exec hoping to keep the attractive store manager Bill to herself. At the encouragement of who is perhaps the real Santa, Nicky then dresses up as the store Santa instead and soon puts Bill at the top of her wish list. Will she get what she wants this year?
Airs December 3 at 2 p.m., December 11 at 8 a.m., December 23 at 4 a.m., and December 30 at 6 a.m.
2. Christmas Made to Order (2018)
Is it October 3? Because Jonathan Bennett (a.k.a. Aaron Samuels from Mean Girls) stars as workaholic architect Steven in this Hallmark film. He literally works so much that he hires a woman, Gretchen, to deck his halls (pun not intended) and serve as a Christmas ambassador to help his visiting family have fun while he works. But who can resist holiday cheer? Not Aaron Samuels!
Airs December 3 at 2 a.m., December 7 at 6 a.m., December 15 at 2 p.m ., and December 27 at 12 a.m.
1. It’s Christmas, Eve (2018)
LeAnn Rimes stars as an absolute angel who saves Franklin, Pennsylvania’s school district from losing its art and music programs with a spectacular town Christmas fundraising pageant. (She sings, of course.) Along the way, she falls in love with Franklin’s music teacher and his daughter. Duh.
Airs December 19 at 4 a.m. and December 31 at 2 p.m.
Allison Duncan is a writer based in Chicago.
Originally Appeared on Glamour
