Best Hallmark Christmas Movies (That Are Absolutely Worth Watching)

As a long-time enthusiast of Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas, I must say that this list is a delightful journey through the heartwarming and sometimes formulaic world of holiday movies. Each film on this list carries its unique charm, from the iconic “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” to the self-aware satire of “Sugarplummed.

Ah, the joyous season is upon us! For me, it’s all about snuggling up on those comfy evenings, sharing the magic of Christmas with my dear ones while we indulge in some heartwarming festive flicks. The classics like “Home Alone,” “Elf,” and “It’s a Wonderful Life” never fail to bring a smile to our faces, but there’s an often-overlooked treasure trove of holiday movies out there – the delightful Hallmark Christmas movies.

Over the last few decades, Hallmark has gained a reputation for producing repetitive and uninspiring TV movies. However, those who regularly watch their annual Countdown to Christmas have noticed a positive change in the network’s programming. Amidst the ordinary, there are many hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

If you haven’t seen Hallmark movies before, they might seem predictable, but the network has been venturing outside its usual boundaries during holidays lately. This experimentation has led to some delightful films that are definitely worth watching this Christmas season.

Three Wise Men and a Baby

Approximately two years ago, Hallmark debuted a movie that deviated significantly from its usual pattern. The extraordinary success of “Three Wise Men and a Baby” not only led to a follow-up film (equally captivating as the original), but it also influenced how Hallmark produces Countdown to Christmas films, allowing for a wider variety of stories that don’t adhere to their traditional narrative structure.

As a dedicated cinephile, let me share my take on this festive spinoff of the beloved classic “Three Men and a Baby.” Unlike most Hallmark Christmas films, this one primarily revolves around three handsome gentlemen – an almost unheard-of occurrence in their holiday history! While there are romantic threads interwoven, the core narrative unfolds as three brothers who find themselves unexpectedly in charge of a Christmas miracle: a mysterious infant.

The sequel, Three Wiser Men and a Boy, was released this year and is also worth seeking out.

The Christmas Train

As a devoted holiday movie enthusiast, I can confidently say that there’s no contest when it comes to the exceptional ensemble of actors in “The Christmas Train.” Truly, it’s hard to imagine a cast more perfectly suited for a Hallmark Christmas film.

The film stars Dermot Mulroney as a journalist who takes the train from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles at Christmastime, hoping for some inspiration on a story about his late father. He ends up befriending several other passengers and rekindling an old flame in the process.

Apart from Mulroney, The Christmas Train features the star-studded cast of Danny Glover, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, and Joan Cusack. This quartet of talented actors would undoubtedly lead any theatrical romantic comedy, let alone a festive production for Hallmark.

The Santa Summit

If you’re hesitant about diving into a typical Hallmark Christmas movie, give “The Santa Summit” a try. Unlike what you might expect, this film deviates from traditional holiday themes, concentrating on the growth of friendships and the challenges that come with maturity.

The event known as the Santa Gathering follows the journey of a threesome of educators and long-time companions. Each for their own reasons, they decide to participate together in a citywide pub crawl where participants dress up as Santa Claus. One is still mending from a recent heartbreak, another is eagerly seeking her bookish crush, while the third reluctantly joins in on the plan. After an unexpected encounter fails to go as planned (due to everyone being dressed as Santa), the trio spends the night searching for the elusive charming stranger, leading to numerous amusing incidents along the way.

This humor-filled movie is incredibly easy for anyone to enjoy, whether you’re a seasoned Hallmark fan or someone new to their programming. In fact, it might just be their funniest holiday movie yet!

Round and Round

It’s not only Christmas-themed films that Hallmark produces; for instance, the recently released movie “Round and Round” offers a comedic (and rather geeky) twist on romance, drawing inspiration from the time-loop storyline of “Groundhog Day“.

Indeed, this movie presents a captivating time-loop narrative, offering enjoyment throughout its entire duration. Featuring the hilarious Vic Michaelis, Round and Round follows the story of a writer struggling with creative block who returns to her family home for the seventh night of Hanukkah. A spin on an antique dreidel, though, leads her into an endless loop where she relives that exact day repeatedly.

For the captivating time-loop romantic comedy, stick around to experience one of the rare instances where Hallmark delivers an unexpected twist in a festive movie.

A Biltmore Christmas

2023 was nothing short of remarkable for me as a Hallmark enthusiast during their Countdown to Christmas. The Santa Summit and Round and Round had me laughing out loud with their hilarious comedies, while A Biltmore Christmas offered a heartwarming romance that felt incredibly authentic on the small screen.

A story titled “A Biltmore Christmas” revolves around a screenwriter tasked with recreating a timeless Christmas film from Hollywood’s golden era. To spark creativity, her studio arranges for her to visit the grand Biltmore estate, which served as the original filming location. Events unfold and she is transported back in time to the real set of this Christmas masterpiece. Here, she finds herself smitten with the leading actor of the movie, who tragically passed away shortly after its completion.

This is an enchanting tale of love reminiscent of Old Hollywood, serving as a heartfelt ode to the era. Could anything be more delightful?

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

As a die-hard movie enthusiast with a soft spot for holiday films, there’s no denying that “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” holds a special place in my heart. This timeless Hallmark Christmas movie continues to captivate audiences year after year, and it’s not hard to see why. It truly embodies the essence of what makes a Hallmark movie exceptional, establishing an unparalleled benchmark for all other productions that followed suit.

Originally premiered in 2008, “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” tells a story revolving around a business-savvy single mother whose festive routine takes an unexpected turn when her quirky uncle introduces a captivating stranger to their small town. Despite its predictable Hallmark vibe, this movie set the template for many subsequent films that have attempted to deviate from it (though only a handful have managed to do so successfully).

To top it all off, the eccentric uncle is played by none other than Henry Winkler.

Sugarplummed

Among the movies listed here, “Sugarplummed” stands out as one that seems destined to become a classic in the annals of Hallmark holiday films from its very premiere.

While it’s not to say that “Sugarplummed” is the greatest movie Hallmark has ever released, it undeniably holds significant importance for the network. The film begins with an advertisement mocking a less authentic channel imitating Hallmark, directly targeting the formulaic films that have come to define the network over time. This sharp satire goes beyond mere parody by transporting the main character from those movies into reality, where not every problem can be neatly solved with a Christmas Eve bow.

Sugarplummed serves not just as a rebuttal to the criticism directed towards Hallmark over time, but also as an admission of the less-than-stellar films that were common on the network for quite some duration. However, the past couple of years have shown that Hallmark has transitioned into a new phase, one where innovative concepts such as Sugarplummed are given a chance to thrive and grow.

2024-12-24 21:11