Christmas in Review: Best New Christmas Movies of 2019
From the day Christmas movies start airing right around Halloween, I am in the full-blown Christmas spirit! To say I am obsessed with Christmas movies is in understatement. My DVR is full of them during the Christmas season. And yes, I do watch every single one.
This is not always an easy feat especially with Hallmark’s impressive lineup and Lifetime following close behind. Between the two networks, they had a combined 70 new holiday movies that came out this year. I also watched 9 other new Christmas movies from UP TV and ABC.
My favorites have and always will be Hallmark! They’re the top in Christmas movies for a reason. However, Lifetime and even UP TV can hang right there with them in quality and good stories. For those not as lucky as me to be able to catch all the new Christmas movies, I have come up with my top favorites for your reading pleasure. Trust me, you don’t want to miss these wonderful holiday stories.
Top 10 New Hallmark Christmas Movies
Without further ado, here are what I like to call “The Best of the Best” or better known as “Hallmark’s Top 10” listed from 10th best to 1st best. In my opinion, when it comes to Hallmark there are no ‘worst’, they’re all the best.
10. Our Christmas Love Song
“Our Christmas Love Song” is a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries original movie starring Alicia Witt and Brendan Hines. It follows country star Melody (Witt) who is accused of plagiarizing her new hit Christmas song. She returns home to find the original sheet music of the song she wrote in high school. Her paths cross with old flame Chase (Hines), and she learns what is most important to her in life.
Alicia Witt is a staple in Hallmark Christmas movies. She often plays fun and quirky type characters. And this new Christmas movie does not disappoint. She also sings in this movie which was cool, I didn’t know she was a singer. The movie was fun and creative. I loved how her main reason for going home (to find her original song sheet music) didn’t take away from her time with her family and they were all so accepting of it.
9. Christmas in Rome
“Christmas in Rome” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Lacey Chabert and Sam Page. It is about an American tour guide, Angela (Chabert), living in Rome. She gives Oliver (Page) a unique one-on-one tour of Rome to help him conduct his business in the city on Roman terms.
Lacey Chabert is my personal favorite actress out of Hallmark’s regulars, but I was super excited for this movie for more than just that reason. This charming Christmas movie is set and filmed in Rome, Italy. I love films that are shot on location — it gives you an inside look into the city. It was so fun getting to see some of the famous Roman sights and getting more behind the scenes info on how things are different there than in the US.
8. Christmas at Dollywood
“Christmas at Dollywood” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Danica McKellar, Niall Matter, and Dolly Parton. It follows Rachel (McKeller), a New York City event planner who goes home to Tennessee for the holidays. While there she works side by side with Luke (Matter), the Director of Operations, on the 13th Christmas celebration at Dollywood.
I was so excited for this movie! I love all things Dolly Parton and Dollywood. This was exactly the type of movie I would love to be in. It was so fun to watch. I loved how Danica McKeller’s character was a bit of a fangirl of Dolly Parton. It was exciting to watch both of the main characters as they worked together to reach for their dreams and follow their hearts.
7. A Christmas Miracle
“A Christmas Miracle” is a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries original movie starring: Tamera Mowry-Housley and Brooks Darnell. When Emma’s (Mowry-Housley) boss steals her cover story idea for their magazine, she decides to write her own with the help of her new co-worker Marcus (Darnell).
I am a huge Tamera Mowry fan so I was super excited when I heard she had her own Hallmark Christmas movie this year! I loved how she moved to a big city (the opposite of most Christmas movies). The fun rivalry between her and her new co-worker actually turns to teamwork and romance. I love how it was all about bringing a family together and doing the right thing even when others steal your ideas. And I love how the “bad guy” in the movie realizes what they did was wrong and actually changes too. Such a good message!
6. A Christmas Love Story
“A Christmas Love Story” is a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation that premiered on Hallmark Channel starring: Kristen Chenoweth, Scott Wolf, and Eric Close. The movie follows Katherine (Chenoweth), a youth choir director needing to write a big song for the Christmas Eve show. When a talented teen wants to join the choir, Katherine sets out to show his reluctant father (Wolf) why he should join the show.
This was the only Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation movie during this Christmas season and with a cast of all-stars, I had high expectations for it. It definitely lived up to the hype. It captivated my attention the whole way through and even threw me for one final plot twist at the end that I never saw coming. Loved it!
5. Merry & Bright
“Merry & Bright” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring: Jodie Sweetin and Andrew W. Walker. It follows CEO Cate Merriweather (Sweetin) who reluctantly has to work with corporate recovery consultant Gabe (Walker) to save her family’s candy cane business.
This peppermint sweet Christmas movie stars a couple of Hallmark regulars. It premiered early in the season and I loved it right away. It was so fun. I loved the banter between the characters and how their introduction to each other initially starts as a huge misunderstanding. The Christmas theme following a candy cane company was a fun aspect. When I think of Christmas movies I definitely think of ones like this.
4. Check Inn to Christmas
“Check Inn to Christmas” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring: Rachel Boston and Wes Brown. The movie follows Julia (Boston) a big city lawyer who comes home to celebrate Christmas with her family. Once home she gets caught up in the middle of a long-standing feud between her family and the Mason’s. Julia joins forces with the handsome Ryan Mason (Brown) in an effort to save both of their family’s businesses.
I absolutely loved this movie! It is a fun unique movie with different twists than the typical predictable Christmas movies. I liked the aspect of the two family rivalries and the two oldest kids working together to get it resolved once and for all. It was also a fun reason to keep the couple apart because of their family’s dislike of each other. Overall it was fun to watch the relationships all develop throughout the movie and how the families came together to save their businesses.
3. Christmas on My Mind
“Christmas on My Mind” is a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries original movie starring: Ashley Greene and Andrew W. Walker. In the movie, when Lucy (Greene) hits her head, she wakes up and hurries to meet her ex-boyfriend, Zac (Walker). She doesn’t remember the last two years, including why she and Zac broke up, and who her current fiance is.
This was the last of all the new Hallmark Christmas movies to premiere this year and it was worth the wait! It was one of my top favorites. I loved everything about it. The story, the acting, everything. The story of the main girl having amnesia was fun because it takes you along on a mystery with her to try and figure out what is going on in her life. It also had the same type of feel as the older awesome chick flick classics like “While You Were Sleeping” and “Sleepless in Seattle”. It was so fun from start to finish.
2. Sense, Sensibility & Snowmen
“Sense, Sensibility & Snowmen” is a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries original movie starring: Erin Krakow, Luke Macfarlane, and Kimberley Sustad. It follows Ella Dashwood (Krakow) and her sister Marianne (Sustad) who both love Christmas and have an event planning business together. Wanting to show her sister her devotion to growing their business, Ella takes on a new client a toy company CEO Edward (Macfarlane) but they don’t always see eye to eye.
This movie is a modern-day adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Sense & Sensibility” set at Christmastime. So fun! Sense & Sensibility is my favorite Jane Austen book and to be honest, I was a bit worried this movie wouldn’t live up to my expectations…but it did! Luke Macfarlane is one of my favorite Hallmark regular actors and his pairing with another regular Erin Krakow was a great match. I loved their characters and the whole movie was fun.
1. Christmas Wishes & Mistletoe Kisses
“Christmas Wishes & Mistletoe Kisses” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring: Jill Wagner and Matt Davis. The story follows Abbey (Wagner) who is a single mom trying to get her foot back into the interior design world after taking time off to raise her son. Her first job is decorating a big mansion for the holiday season for a handsome businessman, Nick (Davis).
This movie was Hallmark’s very first Christmas movie premiere to kick off their Countdown to Christmas season and in my personal opinion, they outdid themselves! They kicked off the season strong and this movie stayed my absolute favorite throughout all the new Christmas movie premieres. It stars one of my new Hallmark favorites, Jill Wagner and her character is spunky and fun. She is a single mom trying to restart her designing business.
I love how the main guy is business focused and less enthused with Christmas but isn’t a typical scrouge. Their relationship and how it develops is so fun to watch. There is a little love triangle in this movie but both guys are good guys that you could see the girl ending up with which was a little different. I just loved everything about this movie and if you haven’t seen it, you need to!
Close Seconds – Hallmark
This year was Hallmark’s 10th Anniversary for Countdown to Christmas. They had a total of 40 new holiday movies this year between Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. With so many new Hallmark movies to choose from it’s so hard to pick just 10. So here are my Close Seconds (in no particular order).
Christmas Town
“Christmas Town” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring: Candace Cameron Bure and Tim Rozon. It follows teacher Lauren (Bure) who leaves everything behind to start a new life in Boston. Along the way, a detour takes her to small-town Grandon Falls and instantly falls for its charm and the people, including the gruff Travis (Rozon) and his young foster son.
It wouldn’t be Hallmark Christmas season without a new movie starring Candace Cameron Bure. This move was so close to hitting my top 10 but didn’t quite make it. It’s so hard to pick only 10 favorites cuz there are so many good movies! This movie had all the classic Christmas good time feels, small-town charm, and a sweet makeshift family. The main character finds somewhere she belongs and the town accepts her with open arms.
Holiday for Heroes
“Holiday for Heroes” is a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries original movie starring: Melissa Claire Egan and Marc Blucas. It follows coffee shop owner Audrey (Egan) and a solider Matt (Blucas) who start writing each other letters for a year before finally meeting in person and seeing where their potential relationship could go.
This is a feel-good military Christmas movie. The military is near and dear to my heart so I love a holiday movie that incorporates it. This is a sweet love story with a bit of old fashioned flare as they start off as long-handed letter pen-pals.
Picture a Perfect Christmas
“Picture a Perfect Christmas” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring: Merritt Patterson and Jon Cor. It follows photographer Sophie (Patterson) who comes home to take care of her grandmother and end up getting involved with caring for a neighbor (Cor) and his nephew.
Merritt Patterson is one of my favorite Hallmark regulars and this is a cute Christmas movie. I love how fate throws her into helping the neighbor and that he has an unconventional family as he is the guardian of his nephew. She is a very caring character with a big heart and I love how she discovers her true passion again.
Write Before Christmas
“Write Before Christmas” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring: Torrey DeVitto and Chad Michael Murray. It follows Jessica (DeVitto) who decides to write 5 Christmas cards to people who helped her get through her toughest days, her BFF, aunt, brother, favorite pop star, and her old cello teacher. In the process, her paths cross with her old cello teacher’s handsome son (Murray).
This was a fun little One Tree Hill cast member reunion. I always love it when movies bring together some of my favorite castmates from TV shows. It didn’t quite live up to what I was expecting (hence why it didn’t make my top 10 list) but it was still one of my secondary favorites. The storyline was cute and I liked how their lives intersected based on the Christmas letters the main character wrote.
Holiday Hearts
“Holiday Hearts” is a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries original movie starring: Ashley Williams and Paul Campbell. It follows Peyton (Williams) who is focused on planning a career-defining Christmas party. Her plans get thrown for a loop when she’s pulled into helping care for a friend’s daughter with her ex, Ben (Campbell).
This was a fun story with a slightly different than the normal plotline. I liked how the two main characters were exes but weren’t on horrible terms. It kept a little mystery to you wondering what happened and why they weren’t together. I also liked how caring for a family friend’s daughter was what brought them back together.
Christmas in Evergreen: Tidings of Joy
“Christmas in Evergreen: Tidings of Joy” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring: Maggie Lawson, Paul Greene, and Rukiya Bernard. And featuring: Holly Robinson Peete, Jill Wagner, and Ashley Williams. It follows Katie (Lawson), a skeptical writer who travels to Evergreen to get the scoop on the town’s love of Christmas. While the town searches for a long-lost time capsule she forms a friendship with one of the town residents, Ben (Greene).
This is the third movie in the “Christmas in Evergreen” series and to be honest, I had low expectations for it. Although it is Hallmark, sequels usually don’t live up to all the hype especially when they switch out the main characters. I should have known better than to put Hallmark into this box. I loved this movie! The storyline was great and kept me interested. I also liked how the main character writing a story on the town wasn’t a big tight-lipped secret that tore characters apart (like is typical). Another thing this movie had going for it were the cameos of the stars from the first and second movies.
A Homecoming for the Holidays
“A Homecoming for the Holidays” is a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries original movie starring: Laura Osnes and Stephen Huszer. In the movie, country singer Charlotte (Osnes) is in town for the holidays to celebrate with her brother who is a solider. While writing her new album she works to build a house for a friend alongside her brother’s friend, Matt (Huszer).
This was another good Christmas movie that had a military aspect to it. I loved the storyline of two soldiers, one was the main character’s brother, and the other love interest. It added another layer to the story and you saw both sides of the guys wanting to reenlist and those who want to get out of the military.
Double Holiday
“Double Holiday” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring: Carly Pope and Kristoffer Polaha. It follows Rebecca (Pope) who has to work with her co-worker and rival Chris (Polaha) to plan the office Christmas party as they both compete to get a promotion.
This year Hallmark (and some other networks) had some Christmas movies that included Hannukah. This was one of them. It was so interesting learning some more about Hannukah and I loved the characters’ acceptance of their different beliefs and their willingness to learn about each other’s traditions. I also loved how the character’s relationship develops from rivals to complete supporters of each other. Plus Kristoffer Polaha is one of my favorites!
Top 10 New Christmas Movies – Other Networks
You can’t forget Lifetime or UP TV. Lifetime has been trying to catch up to Hallmark’s Christmas status for a while and they usually have quite a few good ones, this year was no exception. And I was pleasantly surprised with UP TV’s Christmas movies this year too. I found myself actually liking some of UP TV’s over Lifetime which I was not expecting. Here are my Top 10 Christmas movie favorites from non-Hallmark networks, listed from least favorite to favorite.
10. Christmas in Lousiana (Lifetime)
“Christmas in Lousiana” is a Lifetime original movie starring: Jana Kramer, Percy Daggs III, and Moira Kelly. It follows Sarah (Kramer) who returns home to Lousiana to celebrate the town’s Sugarcane Christmas Festival. While there she has to work with Luke (Daggs) who broke her heart years ago.
I’m a huge Jana Kramer fan and was super excited that she had a Christmas movie this year! It didn’t quite live up to my expectations but I did still really enjoy it. It was a mini One Tree Hill reunion with both Jana Kramer and Moira Kelly so that was cool to have. It was fun watching how her character had to face the past head on to fully move on. In the process, history repeats itself but with roles reversed until she learns the future can be what she wants if she takes a chance on love again.
9. Christmas a la Mode (Lifetime)
“Christmas a la Mode” is a Lifetime original movie starring: Katie Leclerc and Ryan Cooper. It follows Emily (Leclerc) who needs a Christmas miracle to save her family’s dairy farm that is in financial trouble. She gets some unexpected help from a should-be rival (Copper).
I was very surprised by how much I liked this movie. It had some great not so typical Christmas storylines within the characters and their relationships. It was fun to watch the story unfold and root for the underdog trying for her Christmas miracle.
8. Christmas Wedding Runaway (UP TV)
“Christmas Wedding Runaway” is a UP TV original movie starring: Sarah Mitich, Candice Mausner, Mimi Kuzyk, and Harmon Walsh. It follows Maggie who runs away from her own wedding and escapes to her grandmother’s house. Along the way, she discovers feelings for an ex (Walsh).
This movie had some hilarious parts! Think Runaway Bride set at Christmastime. Throw in a handsome ex, supportive grandmother, controlling parents, and secret lover of her fiance and you’ve got yourself an awesome, hilarious family Christmas story.
7. Christmas Love Letter (Lifetime)
“Christmas Love Letter” is a Lifetime original movie starring: Ashley Newbrough and Tilky Jones. It follows relationship advice columnist Amalie (Newbrough) who returns home to solve the mystery of who wrote her an unsigned love letter in a Christmas card.
I absolutely loved the mystery aspect of this movie with the heroine on a mission to find who sent her an anonymous love letter. While it was pretty predictable it had lots of fun moments that kept me interested and having a blast watching along.
6. A Date by Christmas Eve (Lifetime)
“A Date by Christmas Eve” is a Lifetime original movie starring: Vanessa Lengies and Evan Williams. It follows Chelsea (Lengies) who discovers the app she works for, The Good List, has suddenly given her the magical ability to put people on her “naughty” list. She uses this to teach people in her life lessons she thinks they deserve.
This was an unexpected favorite of mine this year. I loved how it seemed different than typical Christmas movies. I loved the neighbors and close friend’s vibe as opposed to exes reunited. And the little Mrs. Claus magic was so fun!
5. A Christmas Wish (Lifetime)
“A Christmas Wish” is a Lifetime original movie starring: Hilarie Burton, Tyler Hilton, Megan Park, and Lee Norris. It follows art teacher Faith (Burton) who wants to find true love and save her art program. Her sister Maddie (Park) puts a wish in for her to find true love but it doesn’t go exactly as planned.
This was the ultimate One Tree Hill castmate reunion. The storyline was really fun too. A Christmas wish that actually comes true brought the unexplainable Christmas magic element. And I loved how the characters were best friends that found their way to each other in the end.
4. Same Time, Next Christmas (ABC)
“Same Time, Next Christmas” is an ABC original movie starring: Lea Michele and Charles Michael Davis. Olivia (Michele) and Jeff’s (Davis) families spend Christmas together in Hawaii every year but circumstances keep them apart.
This movie was so fun! First, I loved that it was set somewhere topically because most Christmas movies aren’t. And second, I thought it was such a cool concept to have the movie take place over the course of multiple years.
3. Grounded for Christmas (Lifetime)
“Grounded for Christmas” is a Lifetime original movie starring: Julianna Guill and Corey Sevier. A winter storm grounds flights in Cleveland, leaving opposite personality pilots Nina (Guill) and Brady (Sevier) stuck to spend the holidays together.
This movie was seriously so fun! A typical Christmas “pretend boyfriend” theme but still so good. Misunderstandings, lies, ex drama, and a deal between the pretend couple adds extra layers as they actually begin to fall in love for real.
2. Rock N’ Roll Christmas (UP TV)
“Rock N’ Roll Christmas” is a UP TV original movie starring: Beverley Mitchell and Catherine Mary Stewart. It follows an estranged mother/daughter singing duo of Ashlyn (Mitchell) and Bonnie (Stewart) Rose who reunite to create new music for Christmas after a 10-year break.
Beverley Mitchell is a favorite of mine. This movie had some more sad moments due to fighting related to the rivalry in it. Despite that, it still had funny and sweet moments too. I loved the message in it and the journey to bringing a family back together.
1. A Christmas Movie Christmas (UP TV)
“A Christmas Movie Christmas” is a UP TV original movie starring: Brant Daugherty, Lana McKissack, Kimberly Daugherty, Ryan Merriman, and Randy Wayne. It follows Eve (McKissack) who loves Christmas movies and her roommate/sister Lacy (Kimberly Daugherty) who is more cynical about the holiday. Eve makes a wish and they both end up inside of a Christmas movie.
This movie was so fun! It takes my dream of living in a Christmas movie and makes it a reality. Such a cool storyline and concept. The actors were so fun to watch as they learn and grow.
Honorable Mention – Other Networks
Again, it’s so hard to pick just 10. So here are some of my other favorite non-Hallmark network Christmas movies that I felt deserved an Honorable Mention. They are listed in no particular order.
Baby in a Manger (UP TV)
“Baby in a Manger” is a UP TV original movie starring: Monica Rodriguez Knox and Michael Morrone. It follows CPS Agent Alison (Knox) and police officer Brock (Morrone) who have to work together to help find the family of a lost baby who was found in a manger during a Christmas play.
UP TV really surprised me with how many good Christmas movies they had this year. This was their last Christmas movie of the season and it was so good. I loved the mystery aspect of it while the couple tried to find the baby’s missing family. The end result was as I predicted but there were a couple of twists that I didn’t expect getting there which was fun and kept me wondering.
Christmas in Paris (UP TV)
“Christmas in Paris” is a UP TV original movie starring: Rebecca Dalton and Karl E. Lander. It follows Robin (Dalton) who has to work on a business proposal with a wealthy French businessman (Lander). After initial misjudgments on both sides, they decide to cut each other some slack and a relationship blooms.
This title was slightly misleading in that I thought the whole thing would revolve around Paris but only a small part of it was actually in Paris. However, I still really enjoyed it. It was fun to see how the characters realized they both misjudged each other and learned from that.
Twinkle All the Way (Lifetime)
“Twinkle All the Way” is a Lifetime original movie starring: Sarah Drew and Ryan McPartlin. It follows singer parents Cadence (Drew) and Henry (McPartlin) who work together to help each other out with their own projects.
I am a Sarah Drew fan and thought this movie was so good. It was an all-around fun, lighthearted movie all about family and the magic of Christmas. I kept half-expecting there to be a twist with the guy’s family being Santa Claus’ family but surprisingly it didn’t happen.
Snowbound for Christmas (UP TV)
“Snowbound for Christmas” is a Lifetime original movie starring: Zarrin Darnell-Martin and Henderson Wade. It follows CEO Adrian (Wade) who gets trapped in a snowstorm with his executive assistant Rachel (Darnell-Martin). While there they can’t deny their budding feelings for each other.
This was a fun movie with a classic 3rd wheel and snowstorms that work in favor of true love. It isn’t all about the work in this movie but more about relationships.
You Light Up My Christmas (Lifetime)
“You Light Up My Christmas” is a Lifetime original movie starring: Kim Fields and Adrain Holmes. It follows Emma (Fields) who returns home after many years away to discover the once festive town isn’t celebrating Christmas like it used to. To help fix it she teams up with an old flame (Holmes).
This movie was definitely worth an honorable mention. It wasn’t a “The Facts of Life Reunion” but it did being all 4 of the Facts girls together in the same movie which was super cool! Seeing them all on screen together again and as such different characters then their sitcom was fun.
One of my favorite things about the Christmas season is Christmas movies. I absolutely love all the new Christmas movies that come out and I love rewatching my favorites from previous years. I live for my Christmas movie marathons every year! Did you have a favorite new Christmas movie from this past season? Let me know in the comments below.
