It’s that time of year again: Time to deck the halls, wrap the presents and plan your life around themassive slate of Hallmark Christmas movies. Don’t laugh — nothing will get you in the holiday spirit more than settling in for a snowy, schmaltzy two-hour movie that feels like a big hug. And the bonus is that some of them are actually pretty good.
This list doesn’t include any movies that are new for 2018 because we haven’t seen them yet, but we wanted to alert you to a couple that sound promising:Pride, Prejudice and MistletoestarringLacey Chabert(premiering Friday, Nov. 23 at 8 p.m.), Hallmark Hall of Fame entryChristmas EverlastingstarringPatti LaBelle,Dennis HaysbertandTatyana Ali(premiering Saturday, Nov. 24 at 8 p.m.) andA Gingerbread RomancestarringTia Mowry-Hardrict(premiering Sunday, Dec. 16 at 8 p.m.).
But for now, Collider has combed the archives for our 10 favorite Hallmark holiday offerings, complete with 2018 broadcast information where applicable. Did we miss one of your favorites? Let us know in the comments!
10. A Royal Christmas
There are a handful actresses who appear in a lot of Hallmark movies andLacey Chabertis one of them. In this little Christmas gem, she plays the daughter of a seamstress who finds out that her boyfriend is the prince of a small (fake) European country. The prince’s disapproving mother is played by the legendaryJane Seymourand there is also a scheming ex-girlfriend named Duchess Natasha! This one is silly in the best way.
Broadcast times:Dec. 1 at 8 a.m., Dec. 5 at 12 a.m., Dec. 12 at 4 p.m., Dec. 23 at 2 p.m. and Dec. 31 at 12 a.m.
9. Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle
Does it get any better than a holiday movie starringDoris Robertsand Dawson Leery (James Van Der Beek) himself? That’s hard to top. But add in that Van Der Beek plays a widow with six-year-old twins who can’t find music in his heart since the death of his wife and needs the help of a no-nonsense nanny (Roberts) to whip him into shape when he meets a woman and you have a highly enjoyable Christmas romp.
Broadcast times:Nov. 29 at 3 a.m., Dec. 5 at 9 a.m. and Dec. 17 at 11 a.m.
8. A Crown for Christmas
Danica McKellaris another Hallmark staple and this is one of her best. McKellar stars as an unemployed maid who finds a job as a governess for a princess. Obviously, sparks fly between the nanny and the widowed, handsome King Maxmillian (whose amazingly British real name isRupert Penry-Jones), but — oh no! — there is a woman waiting in the wings, Countess Celia (Alexandra Evans), whom everyone expects to marry the king. Will Max be able to admit to himself and everyone else that he has fallen in love with a commoner? Spoiler alert: Yes.
Broadcast times:Nov. 24 at 6 a.m., Nov. 27 at 6 p.m., Dec. 6 at 4 a.m., Dec. 12 at 12 a.m., Dec. 24 at 4 a.m. and Dec. 31 at 2 p.m.
7. Northpole
Real-life husband and wifeRobert WagnerandJill St. Johnstar as Santa and Mrs. Claus inNorthpole, a town powered by the magic of holiday cheer from around the world. Yes, really. But wait! There’s more!Tiffani Thiessenplays a single mom who moves to town and becomes concerned about her 10-year-old son, Ryan (Max Charles) when he starts talking about real elves, sleigh rides, reindeer and such.Josh Hopkinsstars as Ryan’s teacher,Bailee Madisonplays a local girl named Clementine andAmerican IdolwinnerCandice Gloverplays a local gospel singer.
Bonus:There is a sequel that carries over Madison’s character and brings in Hallmark stapleLori Loughlinand silver foxDermot Mulroney.
Broadcast times:Unfortunately, this one is not being broadcast this year, but the sequel is airing Nov. 29 at 9 a.m., Dec. 8 at 3 a.m., Dec. 13 at 7 a.m. and Dec. 27 at 5 a.m.
6. The Mistletoe Promise
This adorable little rom-com starsJaime KingandLuke MacFarlaneas strangers who both hate the holidays for their own personal reasons. When they meet one random day, they decide to pretend to be a couple so that their families and colleagues will leave them alone about romance this year. They even draw up a contract for the arrangement, but of course, real feelings start to develop along the way. It’s just a super cute feel-good movie — this one is the frontrunner for mug-of-hot-chocolate-and-pair-of-fuzzy-socks entry on the list.
Broadcast times:Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. and Dec. 19 at 12 a.m.
5. Switched for Christmas
Candace Cameron Bureis the undisputed queen of Hallmark Christmas movies. She has three films on this list and there were a couple other ones that fell just short of the Top 10.
Switched for Christmasmay be No. 5 on the list, but it might be No. 1 in our hearts because Cameron Bure plays twins who switch lives at the holidays and there’s a super cute dog involved. Two Candace Cameron Bures?! What more do you want out of your frivolous Christmas fare?!
Broadcast times:Nov. 25 at 6 p.m., Nov. 27 at 8 p.m., Dec. 8 at 6 a.m., Dec. 13 at 10 p.m., Dec. 24 at 2 a.m. and Dec. 28 at 4 p.m.
4. Christmas Under Wraps
In this next Candace Cameron Bure offering, theFuller Housestar plays a doctor who unexpectedly loses out on a prestigious fellowship and ends up taking a job as the town doctor in a remote Alaskan village. There, she meets a handsome man, Andy (Robert Pine) who teaches her to love smalltown life. Sounds super cheesy, right? It is. But there is also the added mystery of Andy’s father (Brian Doyle-Murray) hiding something in his secret shipping warehouse. No, we’re not kidding. Is he a drug smuggler? Is he Santa Claus? Maybe both!
Broadcast times:Nov. 25 at 10 p.m., Nov. 30 at 6 p.m., Dec. 9 at 12 a.m., Dec. 12 at 6 p.m., Dec. 23 at 4 a.m. and Dec. 29 at 12 a.m.
3. The Christmas Ornament
If you like a good cry with your feel-good holiday fare, check outKellie Martinas a recently widowed woman trying to avoid Christmas because it’s just too hard without her husband. She meets a handsome Christmas tree lot owner (Cameron Mathison) and is instantly attracted to him, but then she must deal with the guilt and feeling that she’s betraying her husband’s memory. This one is actually a pretty solid look at loss and the holiday season, largely due to Martin’s acting prowess.
Broadcast times:Nov. 25 at 5 a.m., Nov. 30 at 1 a.m., Dec. 5 at 3 a.m., Dec. 18 at 7 a.m. and Dec. 24 at 3 a.m.
2. Journey Back to Christmas
Attention,Outlanderfans — this Hallmark Christmas film stars Candace Cameron Bure stars as World War II nurse Hanna, whose husband disappeared in the war. When she is magically transported to 2016 (it’s the “Christmas Comet,” don’t question it), Hanna enlists the help of local lawmen Jake (Oliver Hudson) and Tobias (the always-wonderfulTom Skerritt) to return to her own time. She also is determined to find her husband, so this is a rare Hallmark offering where the two young leads are not romantically involved, which is really refreshing.
Broadcast times:Nov. 28 at 5 p.m., Dec. 12 at 1 p.m., Dec. 15 at 9 a.m. and Dec. 26 at 7 p.m.
1. The Christmas Train
Hallmark Hall of Fame movies tend to be a step up from the normal Hallmark fare and this one is no exception. I mean, it starsKimberly Williams-Paisley,Dermot Mulroney,Danny GloverandJoan freakin' Cusack, so that right there should be enough to entice you. But if you need more, Mulroney and Williams-Paisley play old flames who reconnect on a cross-country train trip — but it features a twist ending that some viewers may not love. I personally like it when a channel known for formulaic films surprises me, so I thought it was great. Also, it’s based on a book by bestselling thriller authorDavid Baldacci, so there is also a side-plot mystery in addition to the romance.
Broadcast times:Nov. 24 at 5 a.m., Nov. 26 at 9 a.m., Dec. 17 at 3 a.m. and Dec. 19 at 5 a.m.
