Country music star Mickey Guyton’s song Heaven Down Here is the basis for the new Hallmark movie of the same name. The film, which will premiere on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, stars Krystal Joy Brown, Tina Lifford, Juan Riedinger, Richard Harmon, and Phylicia Rashad. New Hallmark movie In Heaven Down Here, four people get stranded […]
New Hallmark movie produced by Blake Shelton premieres this week
A new Hallmark movie produced by Blake Shelton will premiere as part of Hallmark Movies and Mysteries’ Miracles of Christmas lineup. Time For Her to Come Home for Christmas is the sixth installment in a series produced by the country superstar. Shenae Grimes-Beech and Chris Carmack will star in the movie. New Hallmark movie In […]
Alex Paxton-Beesley rediscovers her passion for art in new Hallmark movie Our Christmas Mural
Alex Paxton-Beesley and Dan Jeannotte will headline the new Hallmark movie Our Christmas Mural. The film, which takes place in New Hampshire, will premiere this weekend as part of Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas lineup. New Hallmark movie Alex Paxton-Beesley plays Olivia, a single mom who decides to return home for Christmas after she loses […]
Warren Christie leads ensemble cast in new Hallmark movie
Warren Christie and Sara Canning will star in a new Hallmark movie about nine strangers who band together to get home in time for the holidays. Holiday Road, which is inspired by true events, will premiere this weekend as part of Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas lineup. New Hallmark movie When bad weather leaves a […]
Brendan Penny and Stacey Farber connect in new Hallmark movie
Brendan Penny and Stacey Farber play single parents brought together by their adopted children in the new Hallmark movie A Season for Family. The film will premiere on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries as part of its Miracles of Christmas lineup. New Hallmark movie In A Season for Family, Stacey Farber stars as Maddy, a successful […]
Luke MacFarlane is a Santa-in-training in new Hallmark movie
Luke Macfarlane plays a first-time Santa who gets mistaken for a burglar in the new Hallmark movie Catch Me If You Claus. The film, which also stars Italia Ricci, will premiere on Thanksgiving Day as part of Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas lineup. New Hallmark movie In Catch Me If You Claus, Italia Ricci plays […]
Chesapeake Shores star Stephen Huszar headlines new Hallmark movie
Stephen Huszar will star in the new Hallmark movie Navigating Christmas. The film, which also stars Chelsea Hobbs and Everett Andres, will premiere as part of Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas lineup. New Hallmark movie In Navigating Christmas, Chelsea Hobbs plays Melanie, a woman facing her first Christmas alone following her divorce. But when her […]
New Hallmark movie based on true story about Canadian teen with autism who breaks a world record
The new Hallmark movie A World Record Christmas is based loosely on the story of Auldin Maxwell, a Canadian teen who has broken several world records for stacking Jenga blocks. The film, which will debut as part of Hallmark Movies and Mysteries’ Miracles of Christmas lineup, stars Nikki DeLoach, Lucas Bryant, and Aias Dalman as […]
Broadway star headlines new Hallmark movie set in Germany
Ginna Claire Mason, who played Glinda in the Broadway production of Wicked, will star in the new Hallmark movie A Heidelberg Holiday. The Hallmark movie, which also stars Frédéric Brossier, was filmed on location in Germany. New Christmas movie In A Heidelberg Holiday, Ginna Claire Mason stars as Heidi, an artist who makes intricate glass […]
Erica Cerra and Victor Webster solve a Christmas mystery in new Hallmark movie
Erica Cerra and Victor Webster will star in the new Hallmark movie Mystery On Mistletoe Lane. In the film, they discover a Christmas-themed treasure hunt that brings them closer together. Christmas mystery In Mystery on Mistletoe Lane, Erica Cerra plays a divorced mother of two who takes a job as the director of the historical […]
Virgin River star Benjamin Hollingsworth headlines new Hallmark Christmas movie
Virgin River star Benjamin Hollingsworth plays the object of Hunter King’s affection in the new Hallmark Christmas movie The Santa Summit. “See if a chase around town in a Santa suit leads to happily ever after in Sunday’s all-new ‘The Santa Summit,’” reads a post promoting the movie on Hallmark Channel’s Facebook page. New Hallmark […]
21 new Hallmark movies coming to TV in November
21 new Hallmark movies will premiere throughout the month of November. The films will air during Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas and Hallmark Movies and Mysteries’ Miracles of Christmas lineups. Tyler Hynes, Cindy Busby, Corey Sevier, Kat Barrell, Nikki DeLoach, Lucas Bryant, Lacey Chabert and Wes Brown are among the stars who will make appearances […]
Marcus Rosner and Ashley Newbrough are ‘Flipping for Christmas’ in new Hallmark movie
Marcus Rosner and Ashley Newbrough will headline the new Hallmark Christmas movie Flipping For Christmas. The romantic comedy will premiere this weekend as part of Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas lineup. Hallmark Christmas movie In Flipping For Christmas, Ashley Newbrough stars as Abigail, a hardworking real estate designer with no time for holiday spirit. She […]
Heartland star Amber Marshall stars in new Hallmark Christmas movie
Amber Marshall will star in the new Hallmark Christmas movie My Christmas Guide. The film, which will premiere as part of Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Miracles of Christmas lineup, also stars Ben Mehl and Ava Weiss. New Hallmark Christmas movie In the movie, Ben Mehl plays Trevor, a college professor and single dad who has […]
Good Witch star Rebecca Dalton headlines new Hallmark Christmas movie
Good Witch star Rebecca Dalton will headline the new Hallmark Christmas movie Christmas By Design. In the movie, she plays a designer who gets the career opportunity of a lifetime and ends up falling in love. “Charlotte (Rebecca Dalton) heads back to her hometown and finds her work, and her heart, inspired by Spencer’s (Jonathan […]
Twelve new Christmas movies coming to TV in ‘It’s a Wonderful Lifetime’ lineup
Lifetime will premiere twelve new Christmas movies during its annual ‘It’s a Wonderful Lifetime’ lineup. Jana Kramer, Tatyana Ali, Teri Hatcher, Tia Mowry, Corey Sevier, Jake Epstein, Luke Humphrey, Morgan Fairchild, Nicolette Sheridan, and Sarah Drew will all be making appearances in the movies, which will air every weekend between November 18 and Christmas. New […]
Great American Family releases schedule for Christmas lineup
Christmas starts this weekend on Great American Family. The network has released its schedule for Great American Christmas 2023 and the first of the new movies will air this weekend. Great American Christmas Great American Family, which was founded by former Hallmark CEO Bill Abbott in 2021, announced earlier this year that 20 new holiday […]
20 new Christmas movies coming to Great American Family
Twenty new Christmas movies will air during Great American Christmas, the holiday programming event at the Great American Family network. Jill Wagner, Danica McKellar, Paul Greene, Trevor Donovan, Candace Cameron Bure, Natasha Bure, Chad Michael Murray, and Jen Lilley are among the stars who will headline films for the network, which was founded by former […]
Candace Cameron Bure, Trevor Donovan, and Merritt Patterson to lead the Christmas movie lineup at Great American Family
Candace Cameron Bure, Trevor Donovan, and Merritt Patterson are among the stars who will headline new movies for Great American Family this Christmas. The network, which was started by former Hallmark CEO Bill Abbott, is producing 21 original movies for the 2023 holiday season. Bure announced the news about her latest project with the network […]
Kat Barrell just finished directing a Christmas movie starring her Good Witch castmates
In a recent appearance on Instagram, Good Witch star Kat Barrell said she just finished directing a Christmas movie starring some of her castmates from Good Witch. “It was amazing,” Barrell said. “It was all-consuming between the directing and the trying to be present with my family. It was a mad dash for the past […]
Christmas on Hallmark
Christmas on Hallmark will be a ‘round-the-clock holiday movie fest. Hallmark Channel will air many of the new movies it premiered during Countdown to Christmas 2022, including Three Wise Men and a Baby, A Fabled Holiday, A Magical Christmas Village, Noel Next Door, and Christmas Class Reunion. On Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, all of the […]
Hallmark fans keep giving Wes Brown the same hilarious gift
Hallmark star Wes Brown recently attended Christmas Con in New Jersey, where he kept getting the same hilarious gift from fans: nutcrackers. In an Instagram post, the actor said many fans brought him nutcrackers as a reference to his Christmas-loving, detail-oriented character Jared Farnsworth, in the Countdown to Christmas movie Haul Out the Holly. “…I […]
Exes reunite in new Christmas movie on Great American Family
Great American Family will premiere the new Christmas movie Aisle Be Home For Christmas this weekend. The romantic comedy, which stars Jennifer Freeman, Garrett Watson, Jessica Ruth Bell, and Erica Duke, tells the story of two exes who get trapped by winter storms and must spend Christmas together in a big box retail store. “This […]
A Heartland Christmas movie? The show’s producer drops an exciting hint
A producer of the hit series Heartland said she would love to do another Heartland Christmas movie. “…We did the Christmas movie after Season 3,” said Heather Conkie, the show’s frontrunner and one of its executive producers in an interview on Keep Heartland Strong. “I would love to do another Christmas movie. You know there’s […]
The new Hallmark movie The Gift of Peace explores grief at the holidays
Though Hallmark is known for its Christmas romantic comedies, a new Hallmark movie explores grief at the holidays. The Gift of Peace stars Nikki DeLoach as Traci, a grieving widow who joins an emotional support group right before Christmas. Brennan Elliott plays the group director, who convinces Traci to stay with the program even though […]
Ten Hallmark Christmas movies based on books
Countdown to Christmas is on, which means Hallmark Christmas movies are playing around the clock. Though many of the stories in these films are original, some are adapted from bestsellers by authors such as Debbie Macomber, Nancy Thayer, David Baldacci, and Nancy Naigle. Since we love reading almost as much as we love watching cheesy […]
John Travolta congratulates his sister on her Hallmark Christmas movie debut. ‘She always wanted to be in a Hallmark Christmas movie!’
John Travolta gave a shout-out to his sister, Ellen, on Instagram, congratulating her for her Hallmark Christmas movie debut. “My sister Ellen always wanted to be in a Hallmark Christmas movie and had so much fun making it!” he wrote on his Instagram. “Watch Haul Out the Holly!” Ellen Travolta co-starred with Lacey Chabert and […]
The Hallmark Christmas comedy Three Wise Men and a Baby is the most-watched cable movie of the year, according to Nielsen ratings.
The movie, which starred Andrew Walker, Tyler Hynes, and Paul Campbell, premiered on November 19 during Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas lineup.
According to the ratings, it was ad-supported cable’s most-watched movie of the year to date among homes, viewers, women 18+, persons 18+, women 25-54, and women 18-34. It averaged 2.9 million homes, 411,000 women 25-54, and 3.6 million total viewers, according to Nielsen.
Three Wise Men and a Baby
In the movie, a self-absorbed firefighter Luke (Walker) discovers a baby left in his station with a note asking him to look after the child. He brings the baby home to his mother (played by Margaret Colin) who agrees to look after him. But when she gets called out of town unexpectedly, Luke must look after the infant with help from his brothers, played by Hynes and Campbell.
The premise was a departure from the typical single-woman-finds-love-at-the-holidays formula Hallmark Media has become so famous for. But it worked, according to fans.
“This is the BEST!” wrote one fan on Facebook. “Team those three up, again!”
“Hallmark, you got a winner with this movie!! If you haven’t seen it, watch it!! wrote another.
The trio movie
Hallmark found similar success when it paired up three of its other big names, Alison Sweeney, Lacey Chabert, and Autumn Reeser, in The Wedding Veil trilogy. In those romantic comedies, three best friends experienced the mystery of a lace veil rumored to bring true love to its owner.
The movie was inspired in part by fans. Chabert said that fans often asked her if they would see some sort of cross-over movie, with more than one Hallmark leading lady.
Those films did so well that Hallmark tried its hand with three leading men. The gamble paid off.
“Belly laughs,” wrote one fan. “Absolutely adorable movie!”
Walker, Hynes, and Campbell managed to raise a lot of hype for the movie from their on-set antics. In a TikTok video that went viral, the three stars emerged from their trailers wearing elf costumes. Assuming macho poses, they then strutted off together as the George Baker Selection’s hit “Little Green Bag” played in the background.
Three Wise Men and a Baby will air throughout the Christmas season. The next showtime is Saturday, November 26 at 4/3c.
The CEO of Great American Media believes his network will de-throne Hallmark and become the front-runner in family-friendly television programming.
“We believe we’ll be the leader in quality family entertainment in this space,” Abbott said in a recent interview with USA Today. “…That’s a lofty and challenging objective. But we think we have the team in place to do it and the experience to do it.”
Great American Media
Abbott made headlines in June 2021 when he announced he had partnered with Dallas-based Hicks Equity Partners to purchase two networks in a deal Bloomberg estimated at $90 million. Programming on the two channels began in September 2021. One network, which has been renamed Great American Family, ran romantic comedies and TV series including I Dream of Jeannie, Full House, Fuller House, Who’s the Boss, and Bewitched. The other, Great American Living, airs lifestyle programs including First Time Flippers, Aloha Builds, Growing Up Gator, and Kimberly’s Southern Kitchen.
In an interview shortly after the new networks were launched, Abbott said there was a lot of room in the market for family-friendly programming.
“There’s so much need for family content in the market and in this space,” he said. “You know, it’s pretty scary, quite frankly, the amount of content that’s out there…the vast majority of content that’s salacious and just is not appropriate for any member of the family.”
Hallmark History
Abbott spent about 20 years with Hallmark Media — called Crown Media Family Networks at the time — where he oversaw production of TV programs such as Good Witch, Cedar Cove, When Calls the Heart, and Chesapeake Shores. He also was instrumental in launching Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas and Hallmark Movies and Mysteries’ Miracles of Christmas.
The Long Island native left the network in early 2020 and was replaced later that year by current CEO Wonya Lucas.
Great American Media has produced more than 40 original movies, including 18 new Christmas films for the 2022 season. The company has also signed deals with Hallmark stars such as Danica McKellar, Trevor Donovan, and Jen Lilley to produce and star in content.
In April, Great American Media made headlines when it signed Candace Cameron Bure to a deal.
“I’m very excited to develop heartwarming family and faith-filled programming and make the kind of stories my family and I love to watch,” Bure said in a statement through the network.
In an interview with USA Today, Bure Bure said the network will “lean into the faith element.”
For a complete list of all the new Christmas movies premiering in 2022 on Great American Family, click here.
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A new Christmas movie featuring Grey’s Anatomy co-stars Sarah Drew and Justin Bruening will premiere on Lifetime. The actors — who play a once-married, now-divorced couple on the hit ABC series — will star in Reindeer Games Homecoming, a rom-com Drew wrote.
Though Drew didn’t write the script with Bruening in mind, she realized he was the perfect pick during the casting process.
“I was writing it with some other people in mind after having just worked with a group of people that I wanted to work with again,” Drew said in an interview with People. “And then all kinds of things wound up happening over the three years between when that all happened. And then when Justin’s name was brought up in our leadership meetings, I was like, ‘Yeah.’ I’m so glad he ended up doing it.”
New Christmas movie
Reindeer Games Homecoming is one of 26 new Christmas movies that will premiere on Lifetime this holiday season.
In the movie, Drew plays MacKenzie Graves, who left her career as a doctor in a Boston hospital to move back to her small Vermont hometown just before her father died. She ended up staying and is teaching science at the local high school when she decides to take over her father’s tradition of hosting The Reindeer Games, the town’s Christmas carnival.
According to a synopsis from Lifetime, “…Her world is rocked when fading Hollywood star, and Mac’s high school crush, Chase Weston (played by Bruening), comes home for Christmas to visit his pregnant sister and nephew and is begrudgingly roped into participating in the Games. When the opportunity to compete against her former crush arises, Mac is determined to show him up and win the Kris Kringle Cup at all costs. As the competition heats up, so does the spark between Mac and Chase, and Chase soon finds himself eager to not only win the games but also to win her heart as well.”
Reindeer Games Homecoming
Playing a couple came naturally to Drew and Bruening. The actors play April Kepner and Matthew Taylor on Grey’s Anatomy.
“We’ve been working together for 10 years,” Drew said. “It’s so easy to just leap back into that mode with him and we have this second-hand. There’s no kind of trying to figure out the chemistry. It’s just there.”
Bruening said he loved the script but was surprised at how much kissing was in the story.
“…I was like, ‘I kissed her halfway through. That’s not normal,’ he said. “There’s a lot of kissing in this movie! It’s only supposed to be one.”
Drew said she got the inspiration for her script from her husband, academic Peter Lanfer, who attended Dartmouth College in New Hampshire and took part in the school’s Winter Carnival.
“They do the polar bear plunge, except in at Dartmouth they cut a hole in the frozen-over pond and leap into the hole,” she said. “They have a human dog sled derby, but it’s on snow and it’s people dressed as clowns pulling someone in a sled. I just thought it’s such a fun, community bonding sort of experience, and I was like, man, this would be a perfect setting for a holiday movie if it’s a small town who always really gets into it.”
Reindeer Games Homecoming will premiere on Saturday, November 12 on Lifetime at 8/7c.
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Great American Family, the new network started by former Hallmark CEO Bill Abbott, broke records during the first weekend of its Christmas programming.
“Not all Christmas movies are created equal,” wrote Abbott in a post on Twitter. “We understand better than anybody how to produce quality Christmas movies and that, great content wins. Viewers have found that in our #GreatAmericanChristmas programming event on #GreatAmericanFamily!#DestinedAtChristmas.”
Not all Christmas movies are created equal. We understand better than anybody how to produce quality Christmas movies and that, great content wins. Viewers have found that in our #GreatAmericanChristmas programming event on #GreatAmericanFamily! 🎄🎬#DestinedAtChristmas pic.twitter.com/ieL6wPR1Nq
— Bill Abbott (@billabbottHC) October 27, 2022
Great American Family
The new network, which was launched in September 2021, started its Great American Christmas lineup with the original movie Destined at Christmas. The movie had .54M total viewers in its premiere and just shy of 1 million total viewers over the weekend, according to Nielsen ratings. It was the highest-rated premiere for the network. The movie also beat out Hallmark Movies and Mysteries programming on Saturday among women ages 25 to 54.
“Great movie,” wrote a fan on Great American Family’s Facebook page, “not the same story line as most Hallmark movies.”
“This was an amazing and romantic movie!!!” another wrote. “Thank you!!”
Destined at Christmas
The first new movie to premiere in the Great American Christmas lineup starred Shae Robbins and Casey Elliott as two strangers who meet during a power outage while doing their Black Friday shopping. They can’t stop thinking about each other. With the help of a little Christmas magic, they are reunited.
Destined at Christmas is one of 18 new Christmas movies to air on Great American Family. Others include A Merry Christmas Wish, starring Jill Wagner and Cameron Mathison; Christmas at the Drive-In, starring Danica McKellar and Neal Bledsoe; and I’m Glad It’s Christmas, Jessica Lowndes, Paul Greene, and Gladys Knight.
Candace Cameron Bure made headlines when she announced she had partnered with the network to produce and star in content. Her Christmas movie, Candace Cameron Bure Presents: A Christmas…Present, will premiere in November.
During a March 2022 interview, Abbott talked about his two new networks, Great American Family and Great American Living, and his attempt to expand the realm of family-friendly programming on television.
“Not all rom-coms are created equal,” Abbott said. “Just because someone makes a rom-com doesn’t mean that it has a lot of heart and emotion.”
For a full schedule of the new movies premiering during Great American Christmas, click here.
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We made a list of all the new Christmas movies premiering this year. It includes the movies on Hallmark, Great American Family, and Lifetime to Netflix, BET+, and Discovery+. We will update it as more information becomes available.
Enjoy!
All the new Christmas movies:
Saturday, Oct. 22
“Destined at Christmas”
Stars: Shae Robins and Casey Elliott
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c
“We Wish You a Married Christmas”
Stars: Marisol Nichols, Kristoffer Polaha
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
“We Need a Little Christmas”
Stars: Erica Durance, Patrick Sabongui, Lynn Whitfield
Premieres on: Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, 10/9c
Sunday, Oct. 23
“A Kismet Christmas”
Stars: Sarah Ramos, Carlo Marks, Marilu Henner
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
Friday, Oct. 28
“A Cozy Christmas Inn”
Stars: Jodie Sweetin, David O’Donnell
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
Saturday, Oct. 29
“Catering Christmas”
Stars: Merritt Patterson and Daniel Lissing
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c
“Jolly Good Christmas”
Stars: Reshma Shetty, Will Kemp
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
“Christmas Bedtime Stories”
Stars: Erin Cahill, Steve Lund, Charlie Weber
Premieres on: Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, 10/9c
Sunday, Oct. 30
“Ghosts of Christmas Always”
Stars: Kim Matula, Ian Harding, Beth Leavel, Lori Tan Chinn, Reginald VelJohnson
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
Tuesday, Nov. 1
“Another Christmas”
Stars: Sheena Faust, Ryan Toby, Malik Brazil
Premieres: The Roku Channel (streaming platform)
Thursday, Nov. 3
“A Wesley Christmas”
Stars: Dorien Wilson, Jasmine Guy, Terrence Carson, Loren Lott, Terayle Hill, Mike Merrill
Premieres on: BET+ (streaming platform)
Friday, Nov. 4
“Unperfect Christmas Wish”
Stars: Alys Crocker, David Pinard
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c
“A Magical Christmas Village”
Stars: Alison Sweeney, Luke Macfarlane, Marlo Thomas
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
Saturday, Nov. 5
“Christmas in the Pines”
Stars: Jillian Murray, Dean Geyer
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c
“A Royal Christmas on Ice”
Stars: Anna Marie Dobbins and Jonathan Stoddard
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c
“Lights, Camera, Christmas!”
Stars: Kimberley Sustad, John Brotherton
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
“Merry Swissmas”
Stars: Jodie Sweetin, Tim Rozon, Mikaela Lily Davies, David Pinard, Jane Wheeler
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
“A Maple Valley Christmas”
Stars: Peyton List, Andrew Walker
Premieres on: Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, 10/9c
Sunday, Nov. 6
“Christmas Masquerade”
Stars: Erin Agostino, David Lafontaine
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c
“Love At the Christmas Contest” (working title)
Stars: Samantha Cope and Ross Jirgl
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c
“All Saints Christmas”
Stars: Ledisi, Roger Cross
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
“Well Suited for Christmas”
Stars: Mercedes de la Zerda, Franco Lo Presti
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
Thursday, Nov. 10
“The First Noelle”
Stars: Novi Brown, LaLa Milan, Todd Anthony
Premieres on: BET+
“Falling for Christmas”
Stars: Lindsay Lohan, Chord Overstreet, George Young, Jack Wagner
Premieres on: Netflix
“Christmas on Mistletoe Lake”
Stars: Genelle Williams, Corey Sevier
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
Friday, Nov. 11
“A Christmas Open House”
Stars: Katie Stevens, Victor Rasuk, Ben and Erin Napier
Premieres on: Discovery+
“Designing Christmas”
Stars: Marco Grazzini, Jessica Szohr, Mykee Selkin, Hilary Farr
Premieres on: Discovery+
“A Gingerbread Christmas”
Stars: Tiya Sircar, Sugith Varughese, Ktana Teresa, Duff Goldman, Marc Bendavid
Premieres on: Discovery+
“One Delicious Christmas”
Stars: Vanessa Marano, Kathy Maloney, Bobby Flay, Alex Mallari, Jr.
Premieres on: Discovery+
“The Christmas Retreat”
Stars: Rhiannon Fish, Clayton James
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c
“In Merry Measure”
Stars: Patti Murin, Brendan Penny, Jennifer Robertson
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
“The Dog Days of Christmas”
Stars: Georgia Flood, Ezekiel Simat
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
Saturday, Nov. 12
“A Tiny Home Christmas”
Stars: Rebecca Dalton, Christopher Seivright
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c
“A Merry Christmas Wish”
Cast: Jill Wagner and Cameron Mathison
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c
“The Royal Nanny”
Stars: Rachel Skarsten, Dan Jeannotte, Greta Scacchi
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
“Reindeer Games Homecoming”
Stars: Sarah Drew, Justin Bruening
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
“Our Italian Christmas Memories”
Stars: Sarah Power, Beau Bridges
Premieres on: Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, 10/9c
Sunday, Nov. 13
“The Picture of Christmas”
Stars: Chelsea Hobbs, Giles Panton
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c
“My Best Friend’s Christmas”
Stars: Breanne Hill and Colton Little
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c
“Christmas at the Golden Dragon”
Stars: Kara Wang, Osric Chau, Sara Canning, Antonio Cupo, Barbara Niven
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
“Six Degrees of Santa”
Stars: Kathryn Davis, Steve Lund
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
Thursday, Nov. 17
“Christmas Party Crashers”
Stars: Skye Townsend, Jaime Callica, Cocoa Brown
Premieres on: BET+
“Christmas With You”
Stars: Aimee Garcia and Freddie Prinze Jr.
Premieres on: Netflix
“A Christmas Story Christmas”
Stars: Peter Billingsley, Erinn Hayes, Julianna Layne, River Drosche
Premieres on: HBO Max
“Sweet Navidad”
Stars: Camila Banus, Mark Hapka
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
Friday, Nov. 18
“Spirited”
Stars: Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, Octavia Spencer, Patrick Page
Premieres on: Apple TV+
“Inventing the Christmas Prince”
Stars: Tamera Mowry-Housley, Ronnie Rowe Jr.
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
“A Country Christmas Harmony”
Stars: Brooke Elliott, Brandon Quinn
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
Saturday, Nov. 19
“The Holiday Switch” (working title)
Stars: Alex Paxton-Beesley, Morgan David Jones
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c
“Christmas At Pine Valley”
Stars: Kristina Cole and Andrew Biernat
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c
“Three Wise Men and a Baby”
Stars: Paul Campbell, Tyler Hynes, Andrew Walker, Margaret Colin
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
“Santa Bootcamp”
Stars: Emily Kinney, Patrick Cassidy Rita Moreno
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
“Long Lost Christmas”
Stars: Taylor Cole, Benjamin Ayres
Premieres on: Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, 10/9c
Sunday, Nov. 20
“Christmas Lucky Charm”
Stars: Sugenja Sri, Adrian Spencer
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c
“My Favorite Christmas Tree”
Stars: Emma Johnson and Giles Panton
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c
“When I Think of Christmas”
Stars: Shenae Grimes-Beech, Niall Matter, Beth Broderick
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
“A Show-Stopping Christmas”
Stars: Jamie Perez, Thomas McDonnell
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
“The Case of the Christmas Diamond”
Stars: Kelly Daly, Billy Baldwin
Premieres on: ION, 8/7c
Thursday, Nov. 24
“The Christmas Clapback”
Stars: Nadine Ellis, Porscha Coleman, Candace Maxwell, Kara Royster, Eltony Williams, Brandon Sutton, Lisa Arrindell
Premieres on: BET+
“Holiday Hideaway”
Stars: Camille Winbush, Vivica A Fox, Leonard Earl Howze, Rodney Van Johnson
Premieres on: BET+
“The Sound of Christmas”
Stars: Ne-Yo, Serayah, Draya Michele, Michael Bless, Alijah Kai
Premieres on: BET+
“Christmas at The Greenbrier”
Stars: Alicia Leigh Willis and Josh Murray
Premieres on: Fox Nation
“A Christmas Mystery”
Stars: Violet McGraw, Eddie Cibrian, Christoph Sanders, Drew Powell
Premieres on: HBO Max
“Holiday Harmony”
Stars: Annelise Cepero, Jeremy Sumpter, Carla Jimenez, Sisanie
Premieres on: HBO Max
“The Noel Diary”
Stars: Justin Hartley, Barrett Doss, Essence Atkins, Bonnie Bedelia, James Remar
Premieres on: Netflix
“My Southern Family Christmas”
Stars: Jaicy Elliot, Bruce Campbell, Ryan Rottman, Moira Kelly, Brian McNamara
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
“Baking All the Way”
Stars: Cory Lee, Yannick Bisson
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
Friday, Nov. 25
“The Hip Hop Nutcracker”
Stars: Allison Holker Boss, Stephen “tWitch” Boss, Rev Run, Caché Melvin
Premieres on: Disney+
“#Xmas”
Stars: Clare Bowen, Brant Daugherty
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 6/5c
“Christmas at the Drive-In”
Stars: Danica McKellar and Neal Bledsoe
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8 /7c
“A Royal Corgi Christmas”
Stars: Hunter King, Jordan Renzo
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
“Steppin’ Into the Holiday”
Stars: Mario Lopez, Jana Kramer, Courtney Lopez
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
Saturday, Nov. 26
“A Tale of Two Christmases”
Stars: Kat Barrell, Chandler Massey, Evan Roderick
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 6/5c
“I’m Glad It’s Christmas”
Stars: Jessica Lowndes, Paul Greene and Gladys Knight
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c
“Haul Out the Holly”
Stars: Lacey Chabert, Wes Brown, Ellen Travolta, Peter Jacobson, Melissa Peterman
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
“The 12 Days of Christmas Eve”
Stars: Kelsey Grammer, Spencer Grammer
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
“Faith Heist: A Christmas Caper”
Stars: Jonathan Langdon
Premieres on: Bounce, 8/7c
“Time for Him to Come Home for Christmas”
Stars: Holland Roden, Tyler Hynes, Tenille Townes (Executive Producer: Blake Shelton)
Premieres on: Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, 10/9c
Sunday, Nov. 27
“A Christmas Cookie Catastrophe”
Stars: Rachel Boston, Victor Webster
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 6/5c
“Candace Cameron Bure Presents: A Christmas…Present”
Stars: Candace Cameron Bure and Marc Blucas
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c
“A Holiday Spectacular”
Stars: Ginna Claire Mason, Derek Klena, Eve Plumb, Ann-Margret; featuring the Radio City Rockettes
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
“A Christmas Spark”
Stars: Jane Seymour, Joe Lando (Executive producer Toni Braxton)
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
“Dognapped: Hound for the Holidays”
Stars: Sara Ball, Noah Fearnley, Vivica A. Fox
Premieres on: ION, 8/7c
Thursday, Dec. 1
“Rolling Into Christmas”
Stars: Rhyon Nicole Brown, Donny Carrington, Brandee Evans, Gary Dourdan
Premieres on: BET+
“A Hollywood Christmas”
Stars: Jessika Van, Anissa Borrego, Josh Swickard, Riley Dandy
Premieres on: HBO Max
“Serving Up the Holidays”
Stars: Britt Irvin, Zach Roerig
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
Friday, Dec. 2
“Scrooge: A Christmas Carol”
Stars: Jessie Buckley, Luke Evans, Olivia Colman, Johnny Flynn
Premieres on: Netflix
“Christmas in the Wilds”
Stars: Kaitlyn Leeb, Victor Zinck Jr.
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c
“A Big Fat Family Christmas”
Stars: Shannon Chan-Kent, Shannon Kook, Tia Carrere, Jack Wagner
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
“Cloudy with a Chance of Christmas”
Stars: Valery Ortiz, Brandon Quinn, Nicole Bilderback
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
Saturday, Dec. 3
“Christmas on the Slopes”
Stars: Olivier Renaud, Soma Chhaya
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c
“Christmas on Candy Cane Lane”
Stars: Andrea Barber and Dan Payne
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c
“A Fabled Holiday”
Stars: Brooke D’Orsay, Ryan Paevey
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
“A New Orleans Noel”
Stars: Keshia Knight Pullman, Brad James, Patti LaBelle
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
“The Holiday Stocking”
Stars: Nadine Ellis, B.J. Britt, Karon Riley, Tamala Jones, Mykelti Williamson
Premieres on: Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, 10/9c
“The Great Holiday Bake War”
Stars: LeToya Luckett, Finesse Mitchell
Premieres on: OWN, 9/8c
Sunday, Dec. 4
“Christmas on the Rocks”
Stars: Lyla Porter-Follows, Jon McLaren
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c
“B&B Merry”
Stars: Jen Lilley and Jesse Hutch
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c
“Undercover Holiday”
Stars: Noemi Gonzalez, Stephen Huszar
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
“Merry Textmas”
Stars: Ariana Ron Pedrique, Rodrigo Massa
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
“The Search for Secret Santa”
Stars: Skye Coyne, Alex Trumble
Premieres on: ION, 8/7c
“Fit for Christmas”
Stars: Amanda Kloots, Paul Greene
Premieres on: CBS, 8:30 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. PT
Thursday, Dec. 8
“A Miracle Before Christmas”
Stars: LeToya Luckett, Romeo Miller, Keith David, Demetrius Shipp Jr, Paula Jai Parker and Porscha Coleman
Premieres on: BET+
“Scentsational Christmas”
Stars: Nanzeen Contractor, Mykee Selkin
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
Friday, Dec. 9
“Something From Tiffany’s”
Stars: Zoey Deutch, Kendrick Smith Sampson, Ray Nicholson, Shay Mitchell
Premieres on: Amazon Prime Video
“It’s a Wonderful Binge”
Stars: Eduardo Franco, Dexter Darden, Zainne Saleh, Marta Piekarz, Kaitlin Olson, Danny Trejo
Premieres on: Hulu
“Big Box Christmas” (working title)
Stars: Jennifer Freeman and Garrett Watson
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c
“The Most Colorful Time of the Year”
Stars: Katrina Bowden, Christopher Russell
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
“A Recipe for Joy”
Stars: Erin Agostino, Dillon Casey
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
Saturday, Dec. 10
“A Royal Christmas Match”
Stars: Jordana Largy, Matthew MacCaull
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c
“A Prince for the Holidays” (wt)
Stars: Cindy Busby and Jilon VanOver
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c
“Christmas Class Reunion”
Stars: Aimee Teegarden, Tanner Novlan
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
“Kirk Franklin’s The Night Before Christmas”
Stars: Naturi Naughton, Lorea Turner, Luke James, Kirk Franklin
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
“A Christmas Fumble”
Stars: Eva Marcille, Devale Ellis
Premieres on: OWN, 9/8c
“The Gift of Peace”
Stars: Nikki Deloach, Brennan Elliott
Premieres on: Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, 10/9c
Sunday, Dec. 11
“Santa’s Got Style”
Stars: Franco Lo Presti, Kathryn Davis
Premieres on: Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c
“A Belgian Chocolate Christmas”
Stars: Jaclyn Hales and Zane Stephens
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c
“The Holiday Sitter”
Stars: Jonathan Bennett, George Krissa, Chelsea Hobbs
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
“Single and Ready to Jingle”
Stars: Natasha Wilson
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
“A Prince and Pauper Christmas”
Stars: Brittany Underwood
Premieres on: ION, 8/7c
“Must Love Christmas”
Stars: Liza Lapira, Neal Bledsoe
Premieres on: CBS, 9/8c
Thursday, Dec. 15
“A Blackjack Christmas”
Stars: Dawnn Lewis, Charmin Lee, Adam Lazarre-White
Premieres on: BET+
“Record Breaking Christmas”
Stars: Michelle Argyis, Andrew Bushell
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
Friday, Dec. 16
“Holiday Heritage”
Stars: Lyndie Greenwood, Brooks Darnell, Holly Robinson Peete
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
“A Christmas to Treasure”
Stars: Taylor Frey, Kyle Dean Massey
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
Saturday, Dec. 17
“Sappy Holiday”
Stars: Vanessa Sears, Jon McLaren
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c
“A Brush with Christmas Romance” (wt)
Stars: Jillian Murray and Joseph Cannata
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c
“’Twas the Night Before Christmas”
Stars: Torrey DeVitto, Zane Holtz
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
“The Holiday Dating Guide”
Stars: Maria Menounos, Brent Bailey
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
“Five More Minutes: Moments Like These”
Stars: Ashley Williams, Lucas Bryant
Premieres on: Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, 10/9c
Sunday, Dec. 18
“A Vintage Christmas”
Stars: Hannah Gallway, Jeremy Walmsley
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c
“The Art of Christmas”
Stars: Brigitte Kingsley and Joe Towne
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c
“Hanukkah on Rye”
Stars: Jeremy Jordan, Yael Grobglas, Lisa Loeb
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c
“Wrapped Up in Love”
Stars: Brittany Bristow, Olivier Renaud
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c
“When Christmas Was Young”
Stars: Karen David, Tyler Hilton
Premieres on: CBS, 8:30 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. PT
Thursday, Dec. 22
“A Christmas Gift”
Stars: Blue Kimble, Noree Victoria, Javon Johnson, Victoria Rowell, Aaron D. Spears, Nadia Simms, Tiffany Snow, Marc Jones, Cayen Martin
Premieres on: BET+
Saturday, Dec. 24
“The Snowball Effect”
Stars: Anjali Khurana, Landon Moss
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c
Sunday, Dec. 25
“Christmas in Wolf Creek”
Stars: Nola Martin, Tim Rozon
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c
December, date TBD
“Dolly Parton’s Magic Mountain Christmas”
Stars: Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus
Premieres on: NBC
“Hotel for the Holidays”
Stars: Madelaine Petsch, Mena Massoud
Premieres on: Amazon Freevee
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Lifetime has released a list of 26 new Christmas movies that will premiere during the upcoming holiday season. The films will feature Rita Moreno, Patti LaBelle, Kelsey Grammer, Jane Seymour, Mario Lopez, Melissa Joan Hart, Jana Kramer, Jodie Sweetin, Kirk Franklin, Sarah Drew, Justin Bruening, Naturi Naughton, Luke James, Brooke Elliott, Brandon Quinn, Mario Cantone, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Tim Reid, Brad James, Georgia Flood, Spencer Grammer, Ariana Ron Pedrique, and Rodrigo Massa.
Programming will begin on Saturday, November 5 with new movies airing every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Actress Sarah Drew will host a special preview program on Thursday, October 27, which will show clips and behind-the-scenes moments from the new films.
26 new Christmas movies
“Merry Swissmas”
Premieres: Saturday, November 5 at 8/7c
Alex (Jodie Sweetin) has wonderful memories of Christmas with her best friend Beth (Mikaela Lily Davies) until Beth starts dating Alex’s ex, Jesse (David Pinard). Because she has missed the last few Christmases with family due to her demanding job as an architect, Alex is excited to spend the holidays with her mother, Caroline (Jane Wheeler), who is opening an inn in Switzerland. Much to her dismay, she learns that Jesse and Beth are also visiting for the inn’s opening. When Alex meets Liam (Tim Rozon), a single father and the manager of her mother’s inn, Liam attempts to show her all the Christmas traditions and culture of Switzerland and helps Alex open herself up to love and forgiveness this holiday season.
“Well Suited for Christmas”
Premieres: Sunday, November 6 at 8/7c
Fashion designer Rachel Rocca (Mercedes de la Zerda) lands a spot in a design competition to create a tuxedo for one of the city’s most eligible bachelors, Brett Stone (Franco Lo Presti), for a Christmas charity gala. As Rachel begins to unthread his well-spun public image, she discovers the true reason behind his Christmas charity, and the two find themselves falling in love.
“Christmas on Mistletoe Lake”
Premieres: Thursday, November 10 at 8/7c
Every Christmas, Reilly Shore (Genelle Williams) picks a random spot on the map to take an adventurous trip. This year, that destination is the quaint hamlet of Mistletoe Lake. As she arrives, Reilly discovers that the town’s lone bed & breakfast is full due to the town’s annual Christmas Harbor Festival. When twelve-year-old Emma (Hattie Kragten) invites Reilly to stay on her dad’s boat, she learns that Emma’s dad Raymond Mitchell (Corey Sevier) is selling his boat and can’t participate in the festival. Saddened, Emma enlists Reilly’s help to convince Raymond to enter the festival so they can have one last perfect Christmas on Mistletoe Lake.
“The Dog Days of Christmas”
Premieres: Thursday, November 11 at 8/7c
While visiting her family during Christmastime, Annie Blake (Georgia Flood) decides to help three stray dogs get adopted before heading back into her career working for a global non-profit. But when she runs into veterinarian Dylan Hawkes (Ezekiel Simat), her old high school debate partner, they team up to save an animal rescue. Ultimately, Annie discovers that finding love, and making a difference in the world, can happen right at home.
“Reindeer Games Homecoming”
Premieres: Saturday, November 12 at 8/7c
MacKenzie Graves (Sarah Drew, Grey’s Anatomy, Amber Brown) is a brilliant, competitive, crossword-puzzle-loving biology teacher in Vermont who recently lost her father, beloved fire chief and the heart of the town’s holiday fundraising tradition “The Reindeer Games.” Every year since his death, she competes with her dad’s former team, a group of colorful retired firefighters, to win the Games and keep his tradition alive. This holiday, however, her world is rocked when fading Hollywood star, and Mac’s high school crush, Chase Weston (Justin Bruening, Grey’s Anatomy, Sweet Magnolias), comes home for Christmas to visit his pregnant sister and nephew and is begrudgingly roped into participating in the Games. When the opportunity to compete against her former crush arises, Mac is determined to show him up and win the Kris Kringle Cup at all costs. As the competition heats up, so does the spark between Mac and Chase, and Chase soon finds himself eager to not only win the games but also to win her heart as well. Brian Sills also stars.
“Six Degrees of Santa”
Premieres: Sunday, November 13 at 8/7c
Christmas enthusiast and single mom Harper (Kathryn Davis) has created a program, Six Degrees of Santa, in which anonymous “Santas” give a gift and set of instructions to be passed along, temporarily enjoyed, and re-gifted, indefinitely. Her goal is to create a Christmas experience that’s real-life, magical, and unexpected. When Harper’s own gift lands in the hands of a leading internet entrepreneur, Jason (Steve Lund), he’s convinced that the original Santa might be his soulmate. He seeks out Harper to help him track down this mystery woman.
“Sweet Navidad”
Premieres: Thursday, November 17 at 8/7c
Lovable pastry chef Carmen (Camila Banus) dreams of opening her own Puerto Rican-influenced bakery—like the one her family owned on the island. In the meantime, she showcases her treats at a local coffee shop. When hotel owner Victor Flores (David Fumero) discovers Carmen’s talents, he invites her to apply for a position as the pastry chef for his hotel’s holiday gala. Knowing other applicants will have culinary-school backgrounds, as opposed to her homegrown skills, Carmen reluctantly applies. When she is accepted, she’s paired with chef Jax (Mark Hapka) to curate the perfect holiday menu. But the two do not mix well. Carmen is messy and cooks from the heart; Jax is a perfectionist fixated on technique. As they race against the clock to assemble their intricate holiday menu, sparks fly, and they realize they might have more to learn from one another than they initially thought.
“Santa Bootcamp”
Premieres: Saturday, November 19 at 8/7c
When event planner Emily Strauss (Emily Kinney, The Walking Dead) is hired by mall magnate Ed Mancini (Patrick Cassidy, Castle) to stage the ultimate Christmas Gala for his most important investors, Emily finds herself being sent to boot camp – Santa Bootcamp – to find the perfect Santa and the inspiration she will need to make the evening a success. While there, Emily meets Belle (Rita Moreno, West Side Story), the boot camp’s drill sergeant with a heart of gold, who helps Emily rediscover the magic of Christmas and find romance along the way. Additional stars include Tony® award winner Marissa Jaret Winokur, Justin Gaston, John Schuck, and deaf actors Deanne Bray and Zyra Singleton.
“A Show-Stopping Christmas”
Premieres: Sunday, November 20 at 8/7c
Riley Burdett (Jamie Perez) is the artistic director of the Onota Theatre in Western Massachusetts. When Regina, the Scrooge-like owner of the theater, breaks the news that she’s preparing to sell the property before the holiday performance, Riley must call upon the ghosts of Regina’s past, present, and future to change her mind. Meanwhile, a big TV star, Sam Palmer (Thomas McDonnell), has moved to the area to escape the craziness of Hollywood. Riley casts him as Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol and his star power, his cleverness, and his budding love for Riley help her save the theater.
“Baking All the Way”
Premieres: Thursday, November 24 at 8/7c
Julia Wilson (Cory Lee), an accomplished pastry chef from Chicago, heads to a small-town bakery famous for its gingerbread to complete her Christmas cookbook. There she finds herself at odds with Kris Thompson (Yannick Bisson), the bakery’s charming but private owner, who is ambivalent about sharing his secret recipe.
“Steppin’ Into the Holiday”
Premieres: Friday, November 25 at 8/7c
Former Broadway star Billy Holiday (Mario Lopez) returns to his hometown for Christmas after being abruptly fired as the host-producer-judge of the hit TV series “Celebrity Dance Off.” While there, he encounters Rae (Jana Kramer), the charismatic owner of the local dance studio, where Billy’s 12-year-old nephew is her standout student. Rae is planning a dance recital to raise money so she can take her students to see a Broadway show in New York City. Billy volunteers to help Rae with the recital by reviving the town’s traditional Christmas Eve show, which was once a showcase for local talent. With Billy’s knack for producing and Rae’s knowledge of all things local, their collaboration clicks, and romantic sparks start flying.
“The 12 Days of Christmas Eve”
Premieres: Saturday, November 26 at 8/7c
The 12 Days of Christmas Eve is the story of Brian Conway (Kelsey Grammer), a successful businessman whose relationships with those around him have really suffered. While this Christmas season has been the most successful for his business, he’s divorced, his relationship with his daughter Michelle (Spencer Grammer) is strained and he doesn’t have a meaningful connection with his only granddaughter. After Brian gets into a car accident on Christmas Eve, Santa gives him twelve chances to re-do the day and repair the relationships in his life to find the true meaning of Christmas. For Brian, these twelve days are a journey of self-realization about life, love, and happiness as he attempts to right the wrongs of his life in pursuit of the Christmas spirit.
“A Christmas Spark”
Premieres: Sunday, November 27 at 8/7c
Recently widowed Molly (Jane Seymour) has lost her zest for life and has given up on ever finding love again. But when she decides to visit her daughter for Christmas, she has no idea what holiday magic is in store for her. A former drama teacher, Molly reluctantly takes on the job of directing the town’s Christmas pageant and soon finds herself falling for her leading man, Hank (Joe Lando), the town’s most eligible bachelor. As Molly and the irrepressible Hank fall in love, she rediscovers her inner free spirit and finds a new lease on life. And when the star of the pageant loses her voice moments before the show, it will be up to Molly to step into the spotlight and shine brightly for the first time in her life.
“Serving Up the Holidays”
Premieres: Thursday, December 1 at 8/7c
Scarlett (Britt Irvin) is an incredible chef and co-owner of an upscale restaurant. But every year, her too-sophisticated and unique holiday dishes never sell because they are not considered festive enough. To shake things up this year, her best friend and co-owner buys her a ticket to a holiday cooking getaway in a beautiful villa where Scarlett will re-learn festive cooking from the bottom up, maybe find love with a handsome rival chef from her past (Zach Roerig), and regain the Christmas spirit her food—and her life—truly needs.
“Cloudy with a Chance of Christmas”
Premieres: Friday, December 2 at 8/7c
Bridget Torres (Valery Ortiz) is a prominent national news weather forecaster who comes to the magical, wintry town of Leavenworth, Washington, where Christmas traditions prevail each holiday season. This year, Bridget has been asked by her network to announce a special “snow-cast” at the annual Christmas Eve festival and has brought her boss Lisa (Nicole Bilderback) along with her. Bridget’s plans to shine are foiled when a talk show host from her network arrives to join her for the broadcast. Drake Kincaid (Brandon Quinn), as it turns out, refused to hire Bridget as his co-host for their morning show a year earlier, making tensions high. The unlikely duo fall for each other, but when Bridget finally discovers why Drake didn’t hire her, their romance is put to the test.
“A New Orleans Noel”
Premieres: Saturday, December 3 at 8/7c
Grace Hill (Keshia Knight Pulliam) and Anthony Brown (Brad James) could not be more different. Despite having gone to college to study architecture together, their lives took them on completely separate paths. But when they’re both hired to work together on the home of Loretta Brown (Patti LaBelle)—a New Orleans praline icon—the two find themselves stuck working together at Christmas…and butting heads over more than just architecture. When Anthony and his family discover that Grace will be celebrating Christmas alone, they invite her to take part in their traditions and their celebrations. Soon, fiercely independent Grace begins to learn the importance of family and community, while modern Anthony learns to embrace tradition and the magic of Christmas. And when Grace is offered a new job far away from New Orleans, she’ll have to decide if she’ll leave or follow her heart.
“Merry Textmas”
Premieres: Sunday, December 4 at 8/7c
Gaby Diaz (Ariana Ron Pedrique) is an app developer from Austin, Texas, and the last unmarried sibling in her very close and very traditional family. Every year, the Diaz family gathers at Abuela’s house in Oaxaca, Mexico, a town renowned for its “12 Challenges of Christmas,” which playfully ignites the entire town’s Christmas spirit. When Gaby accidentally adds Alex Alvarado (Rodrigo Massa), a handsome graphic designer who’s lost touch with his own Mexican roots, to the family group chat, her well-meaning family decides to secretly invite him to join them in Oaxaca for Christmas. As they begin to play matchmaker for Gaby and Alex, can the Diaz family help Gaby and Alex recognize that each of them is actually the other’s perfect Christmas present?
“Scentsational Christmas”
Premieres: Thursday, December 8 at 8/7c
Bright-eyed beauty and perfumer Ellie Reddy (Nanzeen Contractor) is tasked by her boss to create a holiday scent that will impress, so she decides to return to her quaint and festive family home for Christmas to find inspiration. There she meets handsome yet bookish writer, Logan Osborne (Mykee Selkin), who is staying with her father at the family’s historic property, which includes her mother’s former candle-making cottage. After finding her father struggling to keep her late mother’s candle business afloat, Ellie and Logan decide to complete the orders and inadvertently bring Christmas cheer back to the town, all while falling in love.
“A Recipe for Joy”
Premieres: Friday, December 9 at 8/7c
When ambitious food correspondent, Carly Hayes (Erin Agostino), gets a shot at her own TV show, nothing goes as planned. She’s sent to Angel Heights to help Grant Quinn (Dillon Casey), a perfectionist, attention-shy chef, reopen his family’s beloved diner and film it as a holiday special pilot for her television show. Thanks to Carly, Grant will not only re-open his restaurant but most probably his heart too.
“Kirk Franklin’s The Night Before Christmas”
Premieres: Saturday, December 10 at 8/7c
Caught in a blizzard on Christmas Eve, estranged mother and daughter Journee (Naturi Naughton) and Nia (Lorea Turner) are forced to take refuge inside a church where a handful of also-trapped parishioners are reeling from the cancellation of their annual holiday concert. The spirit of the season takes hold as Journee and Nia weather the wintry storm together with the other churchgoers, including handsome youth pastor Adam (Luke James) and a heavenly music teacher (Kirk Franklin), who motivate the mother and daughter to reconcile their differences through music, faith, and love. With help from this spirited group of strangers, Journee and Nia band together to help the church salvage not only their holiday traditions but also their show-stopping Christmas day performance, despite the raging storm outside.
“Single and Ready to Jingle”
Premieres: Sunday, December 11 at 8/7c
Emma Warner (Natasha Wilson) feels like she lives Christmas year-round. As the SVP of a successful toy company in Chicago, she spends 12 months a year focusing on Christmas, leaving no time for dating…or much of anything else. By the time the actual holiday rolls around, she has had enough. She asks her assistant and friend Lucy to find a tropical singles resort – somewhere she can find a guy and not think of Christmas. But due to a booking mix-up, Emma ends up in her worst nightmare – a town devoted to everything Christmas. Will Emma be able to find her joy?
“Record Breaking Christmas”
Premieres: Thursday, December 15 at 8/7c
Leah Hoffman (Michelle Argyis), an adjudicator for The World Record Bureau, draws the short straw and is forced to travel to a small town just before Christmas to investigate its plans to break multiple holiday world records. As she falls for the town’s doctor, Devan Bancroft (Andrew Bushell), she discovers that the whole town is in cahoots, and she just may be the person who can help them reach their true Christmas goal.
“A Christmas to Treasure”
Premieres: Friday, December 16 at 8/7c
The passing of beloved Ms. Marley reunites six estranged friends for one final hometown holiday treasure hunt. As the search unfolds and fond childhood memories are relived, sparks fly between Austin Craig (Taylor Frey) and his former best friend Everett Matthews (Kyle Dean Massey). They find the hidden treasure before the city has the chance to turn the Marley house into a holiday resort but the blossoming holiday romance between Austin and Everett may turn out to be the greatest Christmastime treasure of all.
“The Holiday Dating Guide”
Premieres: Saturday, December 17 at 8/7c
Dating coach and aspiring book author Abigale Slater (Maria Menounos), is close to making her lifelong dream come true. She has completed her first book—a how-to guide for dating in today’s modern world—and is now more than ready to become a published author. However, after reading the book, her publisher Jack won’t proceed with the deal without knowing that her dating advice actually works. Before he has a chance to say no, Abigale proposes that she prove the rules work by using them herself and making a man fall for her by Christmas Eve in 12 days. Although Abigale’s never seen love as a priority for herself, she sets out to find someone who will fall quickly enough to get this book in print. Things change when Abigale meets Michael Ryan (Brent Bailey), and her single-minded mission takes an unexpected turn. While following her own advice, and learning to expect the unexpected in the process, Abigale discovers the romance of her dreams.
“Wrapped Up in Love”
Premieres: Sunday, December 18 at 8/7c
Ashley Mackenzie (Brittany Bristow) has always been the preeminent “Christmas Queen” in town. From making hand-crafted decorations for the office to hosting the town’s annual Christmas sweater competition, she loves everything about the holiday…that is, until she meets her match in Ben Williams (Olivier Renaud). Ben is the devilishly handsome new guy in town who loves Christmas just as much as she does—and unwittingly begins to steal her thunder. But as Ashley begins to feel like Ben is taking Christmas away from her, she is reminded of the true spirit of the holiday, and she joins forces with him to make this Christmas even more meaningful.
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A new Christmas movie is in the works at Great American Family. The network, which was started by former Hallmark CEO Bill Abbott, announced that production has begun Someday at Christmas, which is set to premiere in November.
“Christmas just got even better!!!” Jessica Lowndes wrote in an Instagram post promoting the movie. “To say I’m excited to act and sing with the legendary @msgladysknight is a MAJOR understatement!!! This project is an absolute dream come true. Can’t wait for everybody to see this one!!!”
New Christmas movie for Great American Family
Lowndes stars in the movie as Holly, a sales clerk with dreams of appearing on Broadway. When she meets musician and single father Jason (played by Greene), sparks fly. Her landlady Cora (played by Knight) brings the two together for a Christmas concert and they fall in love.
“As anticipation builds for year two of Great American Christmas, we are delighted to be working with the incomparable Gladys Knight who has inspired generations of fans by pushing musical boundaries with her numerous hit songs,” president and CEO of Great American Media Bill Abbott said in a statement to Variety. “With high caliber performances from Knight and the talented Jessica Lowndes and Paul Greene, ‘Someday at Christmas’ is a truly magical Christmas movie steeped in original music that audiences will want to see again and again.”
Someday at Christmas is one of many new movies being produced for the upcoming holiday by Great American Family. Shooting has already wrapped on another film, Catering Christmas, which will star Merritt Patterson and Daniel Lissing.
The network released 12 Christmas movies last year and a special episode of When Hope Calls with appearances by Lissing and Lori Loughlin. Other films starred Hallmark favorites such as Cameron Mathison, Jen Lilley, Chad Michael Murray, and Trevor Donovan.
Paul Greene Christmas movies
Greene, who played Dr. Carson Shepherd on Hallmark’s When Calls the Heart, just finished shooting a Christmas movie for CBS. In Fit For Christmas, he plays a businessman who plans to buy a recreation center in Mistletoe, Mont., and turn it into a resort. He ends up falling for a Christmas-obsessed fitness instructor (played by Amanda Kloots of The Talk), who is desperately trying to keep the center from closing.
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Two Netflix Christmas movies — one starring Lindsay Lohan, another starring Freddie Prinze Jr. — are scheduled for release in November. The streaming platform has been releasing Christmas rom-coms (similar to the ones on Hallmark) for several years now.
Netflix Christmas movies
Netflix announced it was working on a Christmas film with Lohan over the summer. In a tweet released by the streaming platform, it revealed that Lohan will star in Falling For Christmas, playing a spoiled hotel heiress who has an accident while skiing and develops amnesia. She ends up in the care of a handsome ski lodge owner (played by Chord Overstreet) and his precocious daughter.
The movie will be directed by Janeen Damian, who directed the Hallmark Channel film The Christmas Waltz.
Falling For Christmas is one of two romantic comedies Lohan will make with Netflix. The other, Irish Wish, will be released in 2023.
“We’re so happy with our collaboration with Lindsay to date, and we’re thrilled to continue our partnership with her. We look forward to bringing more of her films to our members around the world,” said Christina Rogers, Netflix’s director of Independent Film.
Christmas With You
Another movie coming to Netflix in November is Christmas With You, starring Aimee Garcia and Freddie Prinze Jr. Garcia plays a burned-out pop star who goes to a small town to grant a young fan’s wish. She finds the inspiration she needs to revitalize her career and also gets a shot at true love.
Netflix has been making Christmas movies for several years now. In 2020, the company made headlines when it released Dolly Parton’s Christmas On the Square and Holidate, starring Emma Roberts, Luke Bracey, and Kristin Chenoweth
Other Netflix holiday titles include Operation Christmas Drop (2020), starring Kat Graham, Alexander Ludwig, and Virginia Madsen; California Christmas (2020); Castle for Christmas (2021); Love Hard (2021); and The Princess Switch (2018).
The company is one of many getting into the Christmas movie game. In December 2021, CBS released the original movies “Christmas Takes Flight” and “A Christmas Proposal.” This year, the network is making three holiday movies: Must Love Christmas, Fit For Christmas, and When Christmas Was Young.
Earlier this year, Discovery+ announced it would release four holiday movies for streaming in November. The films will feature HGTV stars Ben and Erin Napier and Hilary Farr, as well as Food Network stars Bobby Flay and Duff Goldman.
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Both HGTV and the Food Network are getting into the Christmas movie game. The cable channels announced they have produced four original scripted specials with Christmas themes for the upcoming holiday season. They join CBS, Lifetime, and the streaming platform Netflix, which have all started creating Christmas movies similar to those that air on Hallmark each year.
The Warner Bros. Discovery-owned networks have made four movies: One Delicious Christmas, A Gingerbread Christmas, A Christmas Open House, and Designing Christmas. The films will be available to stream on Discovery+ starting November 11, according to Variety.
HGTV and the Food Network
Though the network didn’t release many details about the movies, a spokesperson did say that stars Ben and Erin Napier (of HGTV’s Hometown) and Hilary Farr (of Love It or List It and Tough Love With Hilary Farr) will make cameos in the HGTV films. Celebrity chefs Bobby Flay and Duff Goldman will appear in the movies airing on the Food Network.
Networks have been trying to recreate the success Hallmark enjoys each year with its Countdown to Christmas and Miracles of Christmas programming lineups. According to Nielsen ratings, more than 2 million viewers tuned in to watch the new holiday movies premiering every weekend from late October to late December on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies and Mysteries. During the opening weekend of Countdown to Christmas, Hallmark beat out all four major networks for the 8-10 p.m. Saturday time slot among women ages 18-54.
In 2021, CBS aired two original holiday movies. Netflix created 12, including A Castle for Christmas, starring Brooke Shields and Cary Elwes. Both companies are producing more films this year.
Candy Coated Christmas
The Food Network tested the waters last year with the movie Candy Coated Christmas, which featured a cameo by celebrity chef Ree Drummond. In the film, Molly McCook played a Beverly Hills career woman who returns to her hometown of Peppermint Hollow to sell her mother’s childhood home.
In addition to appearing in the movie, Drummond shared Christmas-themed recipes for goodies such as mint brownie bites, gingerbread hot chocolate, and maple oat nut scones.
Discovery+ will begin streaming original Christmas movies on November 11.
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Catch a Christmas movie marathon on GAC Family this weekend. The network, which is being renamed Great American Family, will air films around the clock starting Saturday morning.
Christmas movie marathon
Saturday, July 23:
6/5c Christmas Time is Here
A small-town realtor is trying to help a client find a spot for his new resort. But the only place he likes is her childhood home and it’s not for sale. Stars Dewshane Williams and Rykiya Bernard.
8/7c The Christmas Swap
Two brothers magically switch bodies right before Christmas. Stars Christian Keyes and Dondre Whitfield.
10/9c Angel Falls Christmas
A hardworking doctor with little time for Christmas meets a handsome stranger who restores her holiday spirit. Stars Jessica Lowndes and Chad Michael Murray.
12/11c A Christmas Star
An astronomer predicts that a new meteor shower will appear over a tiny town.
Can she convince the locals to help with her discovery at the expense of a Christmas tradition? Stars Sara Canning and Daniel Lissing.
2/1c A Kindhearted Christmas
Jennie Garth and Cameron Mathison star in this movie about a small-town woman trying to navigate the holidays following the death of her husband. When she gives a large donation to a local non-profit, she sets off a chain reaction of kindness and giving. The story attracts the attention of a national newscaster (played by Mathison), who comes to town to figure out the identity of the secret Santa.
4/3c Joy For Christmas
A publicist introduces a famous athlete to the joys of Christmas with the hope that he will help her family’s charity. Stars Cindy Busby and Sam Page.
6/5c A Christmas Miracle for Daisy
An interior designer is excited to begin a new project in her adopted hometown.
Her enthusiasm is tested as she discovers that her clients are an ex-boyfriend and his daughter. Stars Jill Wagner and Nick Bateman.
8/7c Royally Wrapped For Christmas
Jen Lilley plays the head of a charity that aims to give every child in the world a gift on Christmas. When she travels to the country of Veronia, she meets and falls for a handsome prince (played by Brendan Fehr).
10/9c Mrs. Miracle
A widowed father is struggling to raise his 6-year-old twins when a magical woman comes into his life and fixes everything. Stars James Van Der Beek and Doris Roberts.
12/11c Call Me Mrs. Miracle
A family-owned department store is struggling to sell toys during the holidays when a mysterious employee shows up and begins to work miracles.
Sunday, July 24:
2/1c (in the a.m.) Christmas Crush
When holiday fanatic Addie (Cindy Sampson) makes a Christmas wish for her next door neighbor Sam (Robin Dunne) to fall in love with her, she’s not expecting anything to happen. She definitely isn’t expecting the wish to go awry and cause her other neighbor, Pete (Chris Violette) to fall in love instead.
4/3c Christmas is You
Emma must convince her first love Tyler, now a famous pop star, to sign with her record company, while also trying to save the town’s Christmas Caroling Celebration. Stars Becca Tobin and Matthew MacCaull.
6/5c A Christmas Miracle for Daisy
An interior designer is excited to begin a new project in her adopted hometown.
Her enthusiasm is tested as she discovers that her clients are an ex-boyfriend and his daughter. Stars Jill Wagner and Nick Bateman.
8/7c Snowmance
Each year Sarah builds her “Snow Beau” snowman with her best friend, Nick. After another breakup, she begins to wonder if she’ll ever find true love of her own. A little Christmas magic brings her Snow Beau to life.
10/9c The Great Christmas Switch
Twin sisters Sophia, a single woman who lives in the city, and Kaelynn, a single mom who lives in a small town, swap lives for Christmas. Stars Sarah Lind and Dillon Casey.
12/11c A Match Made at Christmas
Holly, a hopeless romantic, is matched with Chris, a career-focused man, by her great-aunt at Christmas. Stars Micah Lynn Hanson, Tim Llewellyn, and Aubrey Shimek Davis.
2/1c Christmas Crush
When holiday fanatic Addie (Cindy Sampson) makes a Christmas wish for her next door neighbor Sam (Robin Dunne) to fall in love with her, she’s not expecting anything to happen. She definitely isn’t expecting the wish to go awry and cause her other neighbor, Pete (Chris Violette) to fall in love instead.
4/3c Jingle Bell Princess
Merritt Patterson plays Princess Amelia, who is accidentally stranded in Maine at Christmastime. She meets a handsome widower and sparks fly.
6/5c The Christmas Calendar
When a small-town baker receives a Christmas calendar from a secret admirer, her customers band together to find out who sent it.
8/7c Merry Kissmas
A woman engaged to marry a self-centered film and stage director falls for a caterer she meets by chance.
10/9c A Lot Like Christmas
Jessica’s small Christmas tree farm is forced to compete for business like never before when a big corporation, and its handsome head of marketing, move into her town. Stars Maggie Lawson and Christopher Russell.
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A Hallmark Channel Christmas movie set in London has finished production. Jolly Good Christmas, which stars Reshma Shetty and Will Kemp, will premiere during Hallmark Channel’s 2022 Countdown to Christmas lineup.
“Officially joining @hallmarkchannel Countdown to Christmas,” Kemp wrote in a post on Instagram.
“So the script is so cute, and it was honestly such silly fun to shoot,” Shetty wrote. “And come on, it’s premiering during Hallmark’s Christmas movie countdown. And we are both cute.”
Hallmark Channel Christmas movie in London
According to a synopsis from the network, Kemp plays David, an American working for a prestigious architectural firm in London. Three days before Christmas, he is buying a gift card for his girlfriend when he meets Anji (played by Shetty). A professional shopper, Anji is unimpressed with David’s choice of a gift card. When they run into each other again, she agrees to help him find the perfect gift for his girlfriend.
A spokeswoman for Hallmark said the film will give viewers a chance to experience London at Christmastime.
“We can’t wait to transport our viewers ‘across the pond’ for this special, holiday adventure,” said Samantha DiPippo, senior vice president of development and programming for Crown Media Family Networks. “We’re thrilled to have been able to feature famous sites and set our story against the unique backdrop of London at Christmastime.”
Hallmark has set several Christmas movies in Europe, including Crown For Christmas, Christmas at the Palace, and A Royal Christmas. However, these films were all made primarily in Bucharest, Romania. Christmas in Rome, starring Lacey Chabert, was shot on location in Italy and Romania, as was Wedding Veil Unveiled, a rom-com that premiered last year.
About the stars
A native of Manchester, England, Reshma Shetty has appeared on the TV shows 30 Rock, Happyish, and CSI: Miami. From 2009 to 2016 she played Dr. Divya Katdare on Royal Pains. Christmas in London is her first Hallmark movie.
Will Kemp starred as Henry Stuart in the TV series Reign. He has appeared in a number of Hallmark productions, including Royal Matchmaker (2018), Love, Romance & Chocolate (2019), and The Christmas Waltz (2020).
No release date has yet been oven for Jolly Good Christmas.
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Production starts next week on the GAC Family 2022 Christmas movie Catering Christmas. It is the first of several movies that that will be produced by the network, which will started by former Crown Media CEO Bill Abbott.
Catering Christmas stars Merritt Patterson and Daniel Lissing. According to a synopsis from the GAC Family, Merritt plays Molly Frost, who is struggling to make a go of her new catering business when she unexpectedly lands New Hampshire’s biggest event of the year, the Harrison Foundation Christmas Fundraiser.
Though she is more than ready to take on the challenge, she runs into problems when it comes time to meet with the man who has been appointed to run the event. Carson Jacob Harrison (Lissing) is the reluctant heir to the Harrison Foundation. However, he has no interest in the foundation. Instead, he spends his time traveling the world taking photographs.
His aunt puts him in charge of the Christmas fundraiser, hoping he will start taking his duties as heir more seriously.
At first, Molly struggles to get Harrison interested in the event. But when she shows him all the good the foundation has done for the town — and for her, personally — he changes his mind, and the two begin working on a history of the foundation.
Merritt Patterson
A native of Whistler, Vancouver, Patterson landed her first TV role on the series Kyle XY at the age of 15. She went on to have parts in Supernatural, Ravenswood, and The Royals.
Patterson starred in several movies for Hallmark, including A Royal Winter, The Christmas Cottage, and Picture a Perfect Christmas.
In 2021, she starred in Jingle Bell Princess, one of 12 original movies produced for GAC Family.
Daniel Lissing
Daniel Lissing began his career in his native Australia on the TV series Pizza. He went on to have roles in Home and Away, Out of the Blue, and Packed to the Rafters.
His breakout role in the States was on Hallmark’s When Calls the Heart, on which he played Mountie Jack Thornton for five seasons. He has also had roles on Girlfirends Guide to Divorce, S.W.A.T., and The Rookie. He has starred in the Hallmark movies The December Bride and Christmas in Love.
In 2021, he starred the original movie The Christmas Star for GAC Family.
GAC Family 2022 Christmas movie
The executive producers of the movie include Brad Krevoy and Amanda Philips, who both worked on the Hallmark series When Calls the Heart. Other executive producers include Eric Jarboe, Amy Krell, Vince Balzano, Jimmy Townsend, Suzie Belzberg Krevoy, and TW Peacocke, all of whom have worked on series for Crown Media. Peacocke will direct from an original screenplay by Cara J. Russell.
No release date has been given yet for Catering Christmas.
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Brooke D’Orsay and Kristoffer Polaha serve up life laughs and life lessons in Hallmark Channel’s A Dickens of a Holiday
Brooke D’Orsay and Kristoffer Polaha serve up life laughs and life lessons in Hallmark Channel’s A Dickens of a Holiday
The stars of Hallmark’s latest Countdown to Christmas movie, A Dickens of a Holiday, know that technically, the film counts as a romantic comedy. It has all the necessary classic elements, including mistaken identity, unmet expectations, and the reunion of two single people who have had feelings for each other in the past.
But both Brooke D’Orsay and Kristoffer Polaha said the movie — which will premiere Friday, December 10 on Hallmark Channel at 8/7c — also reminded them of some important life lessons.
“Sometimes you only need one person to believe in you more than you believe in yourself,” D’Orsay said during a Facebook Live event to promote the movie.
“It’s a beautiful reminder…that when you put your attention on another person, you tend to grow yourself,” Polaha said
About the movie
In A Dickens of a Holiday, D’Orsay plays Cassie, a former high-school theater star who chased her dreams all the way to Broadway, only to return to her hometown following a divorce.
Filled with regret at having poured all of her time and energy into her husband’s career, Cassie accepts the first theater job she can find: directing a local production of A Christmas Carol. But this isn’t just any staging of the holiday classic. Cassie’s hometown is Dickens, Ohio, the site of an annual weeklong Dickens Days festival, which always ends with a performance of the Christmas play.
Determined to put on a good show, Cassie tracks down a high-school classmate, Jake (played by Polaha), who has made a successful career as an action movie star.
But while she is intimidated by his success, he still has something to prove.
“He is not considered a great actor,” Polaha said. “People don’t think he can do much more than jump off a car.”
Hoping to land more serious roles, Jake takes the job. As per the romcom formula, they butt heads at first, but they soon learn from each other.
Learning from Scrooge
Both D’Orsay and Polaha are Hallmark veterans. D’Orsay has starred in the Countdown to Christmas movies Miss Christmas (2017), Christmas in Love (2018), and Nostalgic Christmas (2019). Polaha starred in the 2016 Hallmark movie Dater’s Handbook, opposite Meghan Markle, as well as Rocky Mountain Christmas (2017) and Pearl in Paradise (2018.) He also plays detective Travis Burke in the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries series Mystery 101.
The actors said the most significant lesson they took away from A Dickens of a Holiday is the importance of looking outward and paying attention to what other people are going through. Like Scrooge, both characters in A Dickens of a Holiday have lived in their own little worlds for far too long, Polaha said. But like Scrooge, Cassie and Jake grasp they have a chance to learn from their past mistakes.
“They’re making each grow,” Polaha said. “It’s a mutually beneficial relationship.”
A Dickens of a Holiday will air Friday, December 10 on Hallmark Channel at 8/7c.
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