*EDITED 11/2022 This was written in 2019 and I don’t think Hallmark movies, especially Christmas movies are as good anymore. But these are all great oldie but goodies ;)* I get asked often, what my favorite Hallmark movies are. So I thought I’d share some of my favorite Christmas movies from the last few years, for you to keep your eye out for them on your TV this Christmas season.
There are several things I look for in a Hallmark movie for it to be on this list. Most importantly is, “Would I watch this again?” and every movie on this list I would and have watched several times. In fact, a few of them I have probably watched at least 10 times. Yes, haha seriously!
I not only look for a movie that is cute and romantic, but a fun story line. I love when the story takes a different twist. Also, humorous. I love to laugh, so when a movie has me laughing that is even better! But, of course there are times you just want a more heart felt movie and I have a few of those on this list too.
All of the movies I picked for this list are ones I watch year after year (with the exception of Christmas under the Stars, which is from this year 2019.) Several of them are on my DVR all year long and I watch them when I’m longing for the Holidays. I broke the movies down into two categories but no category outweighs the other. They are all cute and funny and heartfelt movies.
Top 5 in no particular order:
Window Wonderland. –Super cute and funny! Paul Campbell is in this one and he is one of my favorites! He is such an authentic character. You really find yourself feeling like he genuinely cares about the people he is acting with. He and Chyler Leigh are store employees, both going after the window dressing job at a big department store during Christmastime. You are taken along with them during the holidays and family time all while watching them both create their window displays leading up to the big Christmas window display. I highly recommend this movie.
A Very Merry Mix-Up. –I don’t want to spoil this for you. Even though if you look up this movie, it will tell you what happens. Haha. :) But if you don’t know, don’t spoil it by reading what happens. Just watch it. You won’t be disappointed. It is different from other Christmas movies because of the “mix-up” and that mix up reminds you that, timing is everything! It is a super sweet story and I watch this every year. I actually just watched this the other day.
Christmas Getaway. –The actors are both from the show, The Last Ship which my husband and I used to watch. Travis Van Winkle and Bridget Regan. They are both great actors which helps make this a great movie. A travel writer and a widower and his daughter end up at the same Christmas lodge due to being double booked and the travel writer finds herself living out a good old fashioned Christmas for the first time since she was a child, thanks to a Christmas check-list the widower’s daughter is working on. Super cute movie.
Debbie Macomber’s Trading Christmas. –This one is an oldie, but a goodie. It’s from 2011 and the actors are a little older, but they are all really funny and great established actors outside of Hallmark. I watch this movie like clockwork at the start of every Christmas season. The story line is super cute with a widowed mom (Faith Ford) who tries to surprise her daughter in college by flying across the country to visit her for Christmas but when she gets there her daughter is out of town with her friends. She does a house swap and she meets a new love interest (her house swap guy’s brother.) Simultaneously Faith Ford’s friend travels across the country to visit her, but finds out she is doing a house swap and meets the house swap tenant and love unfolds…..Super cute!
The Christmas Ornament. This is a heartfelt and sweet movie. It stars Kellie Martin which I love and Cameron Mathison. Kathy (Kellie Martin) plans to avoid any holiday traditions that bring back memories of her late husband until she receives an ornament from a handsome shop owner. She keeps looking for signs from her late husband on what to do, as its her first Christmas without him and through a very sweet friend and a new budding romance, she finds that you can open your heart to love after loss. It has cookie baking and Christmas trees and ice skating and love. Everything you could ask for in a Christmas movie. Just watched this one. So sweet!
CUTE. These movies are all plain old sweet. Classically cute, and funny Hallmark Christmas movies.
Crown for Christmas. -Danica McKeller is one of my favorites so naturally this is on my list. A maid (Danica) in a fancy hotel gets fired right before Christmas. One of the King’s servants who was staying there at the time, overheard what happened and offers her a job as a governess to the King’s daughter. The girl is opposed to her being her governess at first, but then starts warming up to her and decides that she would be a better match for her father than the Countess who he is supposed to marry.
Christmas Getaway.
Coming Home for Christmas. -Danica McKeller stars in this sweet movie as well and is about a family coming together for Christmas, thanks to Danica’s character who reminds them of some of their favorite Christmas memories and traditions. There is also a little love triangle going on. Two brothers fighting for her affection.
Help for the Holidays – This is one we all watch together as a family every year. It is about one of Santa’s elves that goes to a family disguised as a nanny at Christmastime and helps them remember the meaning of Christmas and the importance of family. Grab a cup of hot chocolate and your family and cozy up to watch this one!
One Starry Christmas -An older one, but a favorite for sure. Reminding you to take a chance and not be afraid. And my favorite story line of all, timing is everything!
A Very Merry Mix-Up.
A Christmas Melody. -Lacy Chabert is a single mother who moves back to her hometown and reconnects with her past. Mariah Carey is one of the (not so friendly) mom’s at the new school her daughter goes to. There is music, love, Christmas magic and Santa. Really cute!
Love you like Christmas. – Timing is everything! Let’s just leave it at that. Love this one!
Holiday Engagement. -Another oldie but goodie! 2011, Bonnie Somerville gets dumped just before Christmas and she is going home for the holidays so she hires an actor to stand in as her boyfriend….little does she know, he is actually falling in love with her.
Debbie Macomber’s Dashing through the Snow. -Totally different story line. Really cute with two great actors. My favorite, Andrew Walker and Meghan Ory. She gets stranded at the airport at Christmastime and accepts a ride from Andrew Walker who isn’t honest about who he is…..
Debbie Macomber’s Trading Christmas.
Christmas Next Door.
A Christmas Detour. -Candace Cameron Bure and Paul Greene are traveling during the holidays and become stranded. They don’t like each other much because she is stressed about getting to her fiance’s home for Christmas in time to meet his family before their upcoming wedding and Paul Greene is trying to do anything but get home for Christmas because he is hurt about something in the past….
Window Wonderland.
HEARTFELT. These are all a little more sentimental and tug at your heart strings.
Christmas in Evergreen (there is also a Christmas in Evergreen, Letters to Santa. Both are cute.)
Christmas in Angel Falls.
Miss Christmas.
A Christmas to Remember
A Bramble House Christmas.
Christmas under the Stars.
The Christmas Ornament.
I hope this list helps you get your Christmas movie watching off too a great start. There are more movies I could probably add to this list, but these are my all time favorites, that never disappoint! If you watch any of these, I’d love to hear what you think.
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Happy Hallmark Watching! Elizabeth