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It’s officially the holidays over at the Hallmark Channel and it can be difficult to sort through the array of Christmas movies that usually involve a big-city career gal heading back to her hometown, then promptly stumbling upon romance. Add some bonus points if it involves a bakery, a bookstore, or a cozy inn — and that dreaded real estate mogul. The network is also delivering good news as it aims to add more diversity in its casting and the holidays it features — think Hanukkah and Kwanzaa this year!
Working for Hallmark is something that Jonathan Bennett is proud of, having starred and produced this year’s The Holiday Sitter, the network’s first LGBTQ+ holiday movie. “What I wanted to do at Hallmark Channel was tell a story with two men as the main characters falling in love at the holidays,” he told EW. “And I wanted to make it funny, and I wanted it to have a ton of heart.” Mission accomplished! Representation on television is important and holiday movies should always reflect what America looks like.
Holly Robinson Peele echoed Bennett’s sentiments as a part of Holiday Heritage, a movie that honors the culture of Kwanzaa. “When I hear people say they’re going to be more inclusive and diverse, you don’t always see it,” she explained to GMA3. “So now, we’re really seeing the content, it’s inclusive of everyone’s holidays and their traditions. I am so proud to be on this network.” They, along with Lifetime, are really making strides in honoring the idea that families and holidays aren’t all the same — yet still giving viewers that magical storyline formula we all love. These festive Hallmark movies all represent what celebrations look like with a touch of Hollywood drama.
Take a gander at this holly jolly list of movies we’ve gathered together and mark down your favorites because Hallmark Channel’s Christmas movie marathon begins on Saturday, Dec. 24 at 8 p.m. ET. You can also stream many of the movies directly on Peacock if you want to have a full-on binge night.
Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! And a joyous Kwanzaa!
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‘Holiday Heritage’
Image Credit: Albert Camicioli/Hallmark. A woman returns to her hometown to mend fences with her feuding family. She recruits her ex-boyfriend to help while she encourages her family to celebrate Christmas and Kwanzaa to unite them together. Holiday Heritage is Hallmark’s first movie featuring Kwanzaa.
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‘The Holiday Sitter’
Image Credit: Hallmark. A workaholic bachelor finds himself canceling his Hawaiian vacation to unexpectedy babysit his niece and nephew during the holidays. He’s out of his element and finds help from a handsome neighbor, who changes his life forever. The Holiday Sitter is the channel’s first movie where an LGBTQ+ couple are the main characters in a rom-com.
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‘A Holiday Spectacular’
Image Credit: Hallmark. Hallmark recruited real Rockettes for this 1950s-based film where an heiress puts her high-society wedding plans on hold to fulfill her lifelong dream of dancing in the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. Will she high kick her way onto the stage?
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‘Haul Out the Holly’
Image Credit: Hallmark. A woman’s family failed to tell her that they are going away for the holidays (oops!), but she stays at their house anyway. She then meets a very persistent HOA board that wants her to join in the neighborhood’s Christmas festivities.
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‘A Royal Corgi Christmas’
Image Credit: MARTIN MAGUIRE/Hallmark. Dogs! A prince! Christmas! How could you go wrong? A YouTube personality, who is also a dog trainer, is recruited by the palace to train a very naughty corgi. She unexpectedly finds romance with a royal family member during the most magical time of year.
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‘Three Wise Men and a Baby’
Image Credit: DAVID ASTORGA/Hallmark. This movie is Hallmark’s version of Three Men and a Baby at Christmas time. Three brothers strengthen their family ties after taking care of a baby during the holidays.
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‘Inventing the Christmas Prince’
Image Credit: Allister Foster/Hallmark. A woman is about to quit her job as a rocket engineer when her daughter becomes convinced that her Scrooge-like boss is a Christmas prince from a story. Let’s hope HR doesn’t squash this romance.
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‘When I Think of Christmas’
Image Credit: Hallmark. A woman reunites with her ex-boyfriend when she returns to her hometown to help her mother move. After making a surprising discovery, the couple make a bold plan for a Christmas concert that takes them back to their musical roots.
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‘Hanukkah on Rye’
Image Credit: Hallmark. After being connected by a matchmaker, two deli owners find themselves competing against each other during Hanukkah. Will their romance survive this test?
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‘A Big Fat Family Christmas’
Image Credit: Allister Foster/Hallmark. The dangers of an office romance comes into play when a photojournalist gets chummy with a co-worker while shooting her family’s annual holiday party for a cover story.
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‘A Tale of Two Christmases’
Image Credit: Craig Minielly/Hallmark. This movie is Hallmark’s version of Sliding Doors at Christmas. (Add the Gwyneth Paltrow film to your list.) A woman experiences two different holidays: one where she stays in the city with a new crush, and one where she returns to her hometown where an old flame awaits her.
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‘A Magical Christmas Village’
Image Credit: KAILEY SCHWERMAN/Hallmark. A woman moves in with her daughter and granddaughter and sets up a miniature Christmas village that can magically grant holiday wishes. As the granddaughter begins to move the figurines, real-life events start to mimic the scenes she creates.
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‘A Cozy Christmas Inn’
Image Credit: Hallmark. A real estate executive travels to Alaska during the holidays to acquire a bed-and-breakfast, which, of course, is owned by her ex. She’s soon falling in love with the town and might be open to rekindling that romance.
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‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’
Image Credit: Albert Camicioli A former actress returns to her hometown to direct its annual Christmas Eve courtroom drama about the true authorship of the poem “A Visit from St. Nick.” Who knew Santa was up for debate?
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‘Christmas Class Reunion’
Image Credit: Hallmark There’s nothing like a 15-year high school reunion at Christmas time. Two former classmates challenge each other to go back to their roots and rediscover themselves. Will they become high school sweethearts all over again?
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‘The Most Colorful Time of the Year’
Image Credit: petrmaur A colorblind teacher is helped by a student and her optometrist mom to bring color into his life in time for the holidays. Will this also spark a romance? It’s highly likely.
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‘A Fabled Holiday’
Image Credit: Hallmark A woman and her childhood best friend unexpectedly reunite in a town that’s full of Christmas spirit. Will they be able to find the meaning of the holidays again after going through some personal problems?
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‘Undercover Holiday’
Image Credit: Peter H Stranks A pop star returns home for the holidays and pretends to her family that her bodyguard is her boyfriend. It’s going to be a zany Christmas filled with mishaps.
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