I love Hallmark movies.
No, I don't think you understand. I love Hallmark movies.
Madeline here. In case you weren't aware, I'm that person who's listening to Christmas music before Halloween. I watch the Christmas in July marathon. I'm planning what assortment of holiday cookies to bake well before the department stores have even decked a single hall. I am unapologetically festive, because Christmas truly is the most wonderful time of the year. So, in honor of my favorite season, as well as the Commuter Committee's upcoming Hallmark Movie & Game Night (check the D2L calendar for details ;)), I present to you the top 15 Christmas Hallmark movies that I highly recommend you delight in watching this winter break.
I will note, however, that there are two main reasons I love Hallmark movies: A) I legitimately enjoy them and all their lighthearted merriment, and B) they are ridiculously cringey and fun to make fun of. Perhaps it's a paradox that I simultaneously love them and tease them mercilessly, but draw your own conclusions. For the purposes of this blog post, I'll try to just comment on my reasoning for placing these movies in my top 15 (but if some mild roasting sneaks in, so be it).
15. Ice Sculpture Christmas
Why I Love This Movie: As a local Chambersburgian who looks forward to the Ice Fest every year, I'm just partial to the craft of carving ice sculptures. The fact that Hallmark has only made a single movie about ice sculptures baffles me. "Yes, this is the only ice sculpture movie we need," says the Hallmark moviemaking executives. No. I request more ice sculptures.
14. A Cookie Cutter Christmas
Why I Love This Movie: I honestly can't think of anything clever to say about this one. It's just an iconic Hallmark movie. I guess its claim to fame is that Alan Thicke is in it, but then again they made the poor man be the judge of an elementary teacher cookie baking contest. I guess there are worse roles, but a gig is a gig in Hollywood.
13. Christmas at Holly Lodge
Why I Love This Movie: While all Hallmark movies are essentially rom-coms, this one doesn't solely revolve around the romantic part of the plot. At its heart, this movie is about a holiday B&B owner who helps others constantly, but slowly has to learn how to let others help her. Am I giving this movie too much credit? Probably. But it warms the heart like a nice cup of cocoa.
12. The Nine Lives of Christmas
Why I Love This Movie: One aspect of a Hallmark movie that instantly puts it in my list of favorites is unusual or relatable characters. Oftentimes the female leads of Hallmark movies are too "classically perfect," which makes the movie seem more farfetched than it could have been. This movie, on the other hand, features a female lead who is quirky, self-effacing, and at times a little bit awkward. I relate to that, and I appreciate it.
11. A Bramble House Christmas
Why I Love This Movie: To be honest this one is a little creepy. For the majority of the movie, the male lead is out to reveal the female lead is a fraud who stole his inheritance or something. If you haven't seen it, it sounds like a mobster film. But it's actually rather heartwarming. There's a precious kiddo, a quaint B&B, and a whole lot of *Christmas magic.* All the reasons we love a good Hallmark movie.
10. Christmas Under Wraps
Why I Love This Movie: Candace Cameron Bure, best known as D.J. Tanner from Full House, has an impressive knack for playing initially unlikable characters in Hallmark movies. Character development is certainly a main theme throughout her roles, especially in this adorable movie where she evolves from pretentious big-city doctor to down-to-earth small-town caregiver.
9. Holiday Date
Why I Love This Movie: This is just a legitimately entertaining film. The female lead has a unique personality, the male lead is entertainingly comedic, and as a couple they're just really adorable and Christmassy. Seriously, this is a good one.
8. A Christmas Wish
Why I Love This Movie: I'm pretty sure this is the first Hallmark Christmas movie I ever watched. It is admittedly an "oldie but a goodie," with its dramatic storyline, endearing characters, and uplifting meaning. With minimal romance, the plot revolves almost entirely around the struggles and triumphs of real life, showing how Christmas is the best time for miracles. (@Hallmark, please hire me to write your synopses.)
7. Holiday Engagement
Why I Love This Movie: This is just a really funny and enjoyable movie. Maybe because it's another one from the older era of better plots, or because the actors work super well together, or because the characters are well-written and relatable. . . it's just very well-crafted and different. Call me old-fashioned--they just don't make 'em like this anymore.
6. A Gift to Remember (A Gift for Christmas)
Why I Love This Movie: This one is super cute. Between the intriguing mystery plot, the relatably bookish female lead, and the cute doggo. . . . Are you sensing a trend in my Hallmark movie preferences? Let's run down the checklist: unique characters who are relatable (check), a plot that's pretty different from other movies (check), cute animals (check). I'm merrily predictable, just like a Hallmark movie.
5. A Very Merry Mix-Up
Why I Love This Movie: I could watch this movie a million times. In fact, I probably have. It's one of the cringiest and cutest movies on the Hallmarket (seriously, hire me for Hallmarketing, @Hallmark). Sure, there are a million things to make fun of in this one, but it's tremendously entertaining. Is it far-fetched? Yes. Does it contain all the usual Hallmark juxtapositions of calculating businessmen versus genuine mom-and-pop-shop owners? Yes. Do I watch it at least thrice every Christmas season? Triple yes.
4. A Royal Christmas
Why I Love This Movie: Guaranteed, the Hallmark executives met Lacey Chabert and collectively sighed in relief that their jobs were saved. She has truly benefitted many a Hallmark movie, contributing charisma and personality to any role she's cast in. This one is no exception. She's relatable, caring, and true to herself: everything you could ask for, and hence why she's the Hallmark Queen of Christmas (and why we're watching this classic film at our movie night).
3. The Mistletoe Promise
Why I Love This Movie: When anyone asks me what my favorite Hallmark movies are, this one is always one of the first to come to mind. I seriously relate to the female lead, who throws herself into her work and charitable acts despite the setbacks she faces. While the beginning of the movie is shockingly un-festive, with the main characters finding solace as fellow grinches, they soon find holiday merriment, personal growth, career success, and romance. #Goals
2. Snow Bride
Why I Love This Movie: Another mainstay in my Christmas watchlist, this movie is one of the absolute best. The characters are different, interesting, and mold-breaking. The plot is funny, entertaining, and heartwarming. There are clear antagonists, clear protagonists, and some in-between. It's not one of the "big name" movies, but that just makes me appreciate it more. Have I convinced you to watch it? If so, two things are true: 1) you should come to our movie night, and 2) Hallmark really should hire me.
1. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Why I Love This Movie: Here we are, at the top of my list. I understand this is probably not what you were expecting to see here, but it's my favorite movie for so many reasons. This movie boasts an unrivalled level of uniqueness in its plot; Henry Winkler plays a zany uncle who says some of the best lines ever written by the Hallmark corporation; the female lead is a struggling single mom who demonstrates the workaholic stress that wrecks Christmas for so many American households; the male lead is clever and carefree, but a little rough around the edges; and despite everyone's faults, they celebrate Christmas the way we all should: with loved ones, appreciating the true meaning of the season rather than the human stress we connotate it with, taking the time to remember who we really are and who we want to be in our daily lives. If that's not the meaning you associate with Christmas, take a page out of Aunty Madeline's book: make some hot cocoa, watch some Hallmark movies, and have yourself a merry little Christmas.
Do you agree with my definitive ranking of the top 15 Hallmark Christmas movies? Do you have any favorite films I didn't mention? Tell your Top 10s writer, Madeline, in the comments!
TL;DR - here are my top fifteen Hallmark Christmas movies, named in the style of Friends episodes (because guaranteed if you didn't watch the previews above, you'll have no chance of identifying these movies by their actual names).
- The One with Henry Winkler
- The One Where She's A Tabloid Writer
- The One with the Workaholics that Make a Christmas Contract
- The One Where Gretchen from Mean Girls Becomes Royal
- The One Where She Goes to the Wrong House
- The One with the Book Girl and Amnesia Guy
- The One with the Hired Fiancé
- The One with a Good Plotline
- The One with the Hired Boyfriend
- The One in Garland, Alaska
- The One Where She Was a Nurse and Her Old Patient's Son Thinks She's a Fraud
- The One with the Cat and the Fireman
- The One at Holly Lodge
- The One with the Cookie Baking Contest at the Elementary School
- The One with the Ice Sculptures
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