One of my favorite things to do during the holiday season is curl up and watch some great Christmas movies. There is nothing like relaxing and getting lost in a clean holiday movie with a cup of coffee, cocoa, or tea beside you and a small plate of Christmas goodies.
If you are looking for some great movies to escape with, I’m sure you will find several on this list. We are big fans of both Great American Family and Hallmark in our house, and we watch from October through January. So, stay warm, and happy viewing.
1. A Christmas Less Traveled (GAF)-This movie is about a local business owner who finds a cassette tape in her recently deceased father’s red truck. The tape instructs her to go on a holiday road trip, which takes her down memory lane. On this trip, she meets a man who needs help and is willing to help her in return.
2. A Christmas Miracle for Daisy (GAF)-This film is about an interior designer named Whitney who is excited to take on a project in her adopted hometown. Whitney is offered a job to redesign a historical house by Christmas Eve after designing Santa's float. But the homeowner is Connor, her ex, who just moved here with his daughter, searching for a mother. She sees Whitney as a perfect candidate.
3. A Christmas Prayer (GAF)-This movie is about an illustrator who rediscovers her creativity and faith when she secretly fulfills the prayer list of a little girl. Unbeknownst to her, she also answers the prayer of the little girl's father for love, healing, and hope.
4. Christmas with Holly (Hallmark)-This movie is about three brothers who have to care for their niece after their sister passes away. Holly hasn’t spoken since her mom died, but with lots of love and Christmas magic, they all learn the importance of family.
5. A Season for Miracles (Hallmark Mystery)-This movie is about a woman whose sister is in jail, and her niece and nephews are at risk of being put into foster care. So, she takes them, and they go on the run, winding up in a small town where love and Christmas magic abound.
6. A Dog Named Christmas (Hallmark Mystery)-This movie is about a disabled man named Todd, who convinces his family and those in his community to adopt dogs from the shelter during the holiday season.
7. A Dream of Christmas (Hallmark)-This Christmas is about a woman named Penny who wishes she were never married and single again. When her wish comes true, she soon realizes that being single isn’t all that great, and she longs to be back with her husband and kids.
8. How the Grinch Stole Christmas-This Dr. Seuss classic TV cartoon show is always a must at Christmas time.
9. A Charlie Brown Christmas-Another classic that’s a must for every Christmas season.
10. Boyfriends of Christmas Past (Hallmark Mystery)-This movie is about Lauren, a marketing executive, who has to confront her romantic past through visits from her ex-boyfriends, helping her to correct a critical mistake she’s made and open her heart to love.
11. My Norwegian Holiday (Hallmark)-This movie is about JJ, a woman who is grieving the loss of her grandmother, and who goes on an unexpected destination holiday to Norway. I love the themes of love and family in this movie, and the scenery is gorgeous.
12. Three Wise Men and a Baby (Hallmark)-This movie tells the story of baby Thomas, whose mom leaves him at the firehouse with a note for firefighter Luke Brenner saying she will return before Christmas. He and his brothers, Stephen and Taylor, wind up caring for this baby while their mom is staying with their aunt for the holidays.
13. Three Wise Men and a Boy (Hallmark)-This is the second movie in the Wise Men franchise, and the Brenner boys have to help Thomas with his school Christmas recital.
14. Three Wisest Men (Hallmark)-The Brenner brothers find out their mom is selling their childhood home, which leads to lots of chaos while navigating personal challenges and family dynamics. This is the third movie in the Wise Men franchise.
15. Christmas with Tucker (Hallmark Mystery)-After the death of his father, a boy moves in with his grandparents and learns to become a man while forming a special bond with a dog.
16. Debbie Macomber’s Dashing Through the Snow (Hallmark)-This movie is based on the Debbie Macomber book by the same name. Ashley is stuck at the airport and accepts a ride from Dash, which leads to many adventures and a budding romance.
17. Trading Christmas (Hallmark)-This movie is about two brothers, Charles and Ray, and two best friends, Faith and Hope. Hope and Charles wind up swapping homes for the holidays. Charles wants some peace to finish writing his novel, and Hope is hoping to spend a quiet holiday with her daughter. However, things don’t go as planned, and both Hope and Charles wind up learning about themselves and falling in love. This movie is also based on the Debbie Macomber book of the same name.
18. Heaven Down Here (Hallmark)-This movie, inspired by the Mickey Guyton song of the same name, tells the stories of four strangers stranded in a diner during a snowstorm, including a widowed mother of two, a local pastor, the widow’s boss, and a hospice nurse. Throughout the night, they bond, bicker, and become the answer to each other’s respective prayers.
19. My Christmas Family Tree (Hallmark)-This movie is about a young woman who finds out who her biological father is through a DNA site. She winds up meeting him and spending the holidays with him and his family while also finding love.
20. On the Twelfth Day of Christmas (Hallmark)- This story follows Maggie, who is excited when her college crush, Mitch O’Grady, moves to Harrison, their small town. Much to Maggie’s disappointment, Mitch has lost his holiday spirit. So, she makes a list of twelve tasks to help him revive the Christmas spirit in his heart.
21. Window Wonderland (Hallmark)-This movie follows two department store window decorators as they compete for the chance to set up a Christmas display in the front window of a prominent department store. While their rivalry begins as friendly, it soon blossoms into a romance, leading them both to discover the true meaning of Christmas.
22. Five More Minutes (Hallmark)-Inspired by the song Five More Minutes by Scotty McCreery, this movie follows Claira as she goes home to help her mom manage her grandfather’s candy store. She hires a young man named Jay to help during the busy holiday season, and one day, while he’s organizing in the back, he finds an old journal that unlocks a family secret. I love the themes of love, loss, and redemption in this movie. Grab the tissues; you will need them.
How to Create the Perfect Movie-Watching Experience
● Gather friends and family, including furry friends as well.
● Make some delicious appetizers to eat, like buffalo chicken dip with chips, a vegetable tray, or mozzarella sticks with pizza sauce.
● Put out an array of beverages like bottled water, iced tea, or soda.
● Curl up with warm blankets.
● Halfway through the movie, brew some coffee or make cups of cocoa and have a delicious dessert like cheesecake, pumpkin bars, cookies, or tiramisu.
Planning a movie night for yourself or with friends and family is a great way to spend this holiday season, relaxing and bonding together.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Evgenyatamanenko
