The Best Hallmark Christmas Movies Of All Time, Ranked
At Christmastime, the last thing you want to watch is a dark, ripped-from-the-headlines thriller that'll punch you in the gut. You want something warm, predictable, and guaranteed to leave you with a smile. Enter the Hallmark Christmas movie! But there are literally hundreds of these holiday treats to choose from. How do you know which are the best? Don't worry: we've got you covered. This is a list of the highest-rated Hallmark Christmas Movies on IMDb. The only criterion was that these were holiday-themed TV films originally aired on the Hallmark Channel — no Netflix or Lifetime movies were allowed!
40. An Unexpected Christmas (2021)
Director: Michael Robison
Stars: Tyler Hynes, Bethany Joy Lenz, Alison Wandzura
IMDb rating: 6.9
"Hallmark's a great family to be a part of," Bethany Joy Lenz told Woman's Day. "They really welcome you in and make sure you're taken care of."
"I hope it just gives them relief for a little while, and I hope that families, as they watch this, are reminded of the goodness in each other and that most people are just doing the best that they can and the choices they make," she also told Glitter. She has since become one of the channel's most beloved stars.
39. Crown for Christmas (2015)
Director: Alex Zamm
Stars: Danica McKellar, Rupert Penry-Jones, Ellie Botterill
IMDb rating: 6.9
Danica McKellar takes the job of a governess to a rebellious young princess in Crown for Christmas — and the scene is set for a holiday romance. Can McKellar's character win over both the princess and her handsome, single father?
We won't give you any prizes for figuring out the ending of this whole flick, but that's not really the point of Hallmark movies, right? The point is enjoying the royally wholesome journey along the way.
38. Christmas Waltz (2020)
Director: Michael Damian
Stars: Lacey Chabert, Will Kemp, Katrina Reynolds
IMDb rating: 6.9
Lacey Chabert is one of the signature stars of Hallmark movies — at Christmas and throughout the year. “I see myself being a lifer as long as I’m inspired by the stories and as long as they’ll have me,” she told Vulture in 2022.
Chabert has starred in more than 35 movies for the channel and shows no sign of stopping. “I found a real home in Hallmark,” she said. “I’m able to be more of who I am here than possibly anywhere else I’ve worked.”
37. Checkin' It Twice (2023)
Director: Kevin Fair
Stars: Kim Matula, Kevin McGarry, Brittany Mitchell
IMDb rating: 6.9
Checkin' It Twice premiered in 2023, so its position in this ranking could be down to recency bias... or just because audiences really enjoyed it. Only time will tell.
The story certainly has the bones of a Hallmark classic. Kevin McGarry's hockey player thinks his career is coming to an end when he's transferred to a small town. But it happens to be the hometown of Kim Matula's real estate agent — and that's when things start to look up.
36. Jingle All the Way (2011)
Director: Chel White
Stars: Thomas Stroppel, Ryan Bley, Chad Darrow
IMDb rating: 7
This short and sweet children's animation could be just the thing for a family movie night. The New York Times said Jingle All the Way had "charming art and pleasantly low-key storytelling" and "stands apart from the other holiday programs by not focusing on the manufacturing or delivery of toys."
The paper said it was perfect for anyone looking for "some honest emotion and a combination of retro holiday spirit with adventurous animation." It seems that audiences agree, too, with this film ranking higher than Hallmark's more traditional offerings.
35. Christmas with Holly (2012)
Director: Allan Arkush
Stars: Sean Faris, Eloise Mumford, Daniel Eric Gold, Dana Watkins
IMDb rating: 7
Variety called Christmas with Holly a "particularly listless holiday movie" when it was released in 2012 — but it seems that Hallmark Channel devotees disagree. The audience score for the film on Rotten Tomatoes is an impressive 79 percent, and its IMDb score is similarly high at 7.
"I must have cried three times with this movie," one fan commented. The movie is about a little girl who's raised by her uncles after tragedy strikes... So keep the tissues handy!
34. Journey Back to Christmas (2016)
Director: Mel Damski
Stars: Candace Cameron Bure, Oliver Hudson, Brooke Nevin
IMDb rating: 7
Candace Cameron Bure may have left Hallmark for Great American Media, but the actor is still very much part of Hallmark's holiday offerings. Journey Back to Christmas is one of her best.
Starring alongside Oliver Hudson and Tom Skerritt, Bure plays a WWII nurse who travels forward in time to 2016 to learn the real meaning of Christmas. It's sentimental, heartfelt, and basically everything you want from a Hallmark movie.
33. One Royal Holiday (2020)
Director: Dustin Rikert
Stars: Laura Osnes, Krystal Joy Brown, Tom McGowan, Bradley Rose
IMDb rating: 7
On the surface, One Royal Holiday might sound like it came right off the Hallmark Holiday Movie assembly line. Royalty? Check. Small-town living? Check. Happy ending? Check!
But part of the movie's charm is that it was filmed in a real-life Connecticut town. That's right: you can actually go and visit the delicious-looking Baker's Dozen bakery. Plus, its cast of Broadway veterans brings the script to sparkling life.
32. A Timeless Christmas (2020)
Director: Ron Oliver
Stars: Erin Cahill, Ryan Paevey, Brandi Alexander, Zahf Paroo
IMDb rating: 7
A Timeless Christmas covers a couple of classic Hallmark movie tropes with a plot that includes magic (well, time travel) and a small-town Christmas. This one is even based on a book by Alexis Stanton.
Fans left wanting more of leading man Ryan Paevey have been well catered for by the Hallmark Channel. His movies Under the Christmas Sky and Fourth Down and Love both aired on the channel in 2023.
31. Christmas Getaway (2017)
Director: Mel Damski
Stars: Bridget Regan, Travis Van Winkle, Raven Stewart
IMDb rating: 7
In Christmas Getaway, a writer gets double-booked with an unusual family for her Christmas vacation... and sparks eventually fly. One reviewer on IMDb called this "one of the best [movies] of the season!"
The audience seemed particularly taken with co-stars Bridget Regan and Travis Van Winkle, who'd previously appeared together in The Last Ship. Fans declared that the pair had chemistry that was "off the charts."
30. Next Stop, Christmas (2021)
Director: Dustin Rikert
Stars: Lyndsy Fonseca, Chandler Massey, Erika Slezak, Eric Freeman
IMDb rating: 7
Picture a movie involving time travel and a steam train... You're picturing Back to the Future Part III, right? Well, it seems that the makers of Next Stop, Christmas were thinking the same thing.
Why else would this charming Hallmark movie mark something of a reunion between Back to the Future stars Lea Thompson and Christopher Lloyd? Next Stop, Christmas also features time travel and a steam train.
29. Time for Us to Come Home for Christmas (2020)
Director: David Winning
Stars: Lacey Chabert, Stephen Huszar, Lini Evans, Leon
IMDb rating: 7
Lacey Chabert is one of the most popular faces on the Hallmark Channel. Her past hits have included fan-favorite titles such as Winter in Vail, Love, Romance & Chocolate, and, of course, Time for Us to Come Home for Christmas.
This is a Hallmark mystery and a Christmas movie all rolled into one. The Mean Girls star is so beloved by Hallmark fans that they crowned her the "queen of Christmas" — right before she released her 2022 holiday movie, Haul Out the Holly.
28. The Good Witch's Gift (2010)
Director: Craig Pryce
Stars: Catherine Bell, Chris Potter, Catherine Disher, Peter MacNeill
IMDb rating: 7.1
The Good Witch franchise was an incredible success for Hallmark. The first film in the series arrived in 2008, and its popularity spawned another ten installments as well as a seven-season TV show! The Good Witch's Gift is the third movie in that run.
The film takes place in the run-up to Christmas — and the wedding of our magical protagonist Cassie and her sheriff boyfriend, Jake. Given the long-running nature of the series, it's perhaps not surprising that fans loved this holiday movie.
27. Crashing Through the Snow (2021)
Director: Rich Newey
Stars: Amy Acker, Warren Christie, Brooke Nevin, Kristian Bruun
IMDb rating: 7.1
Star Amy Acker is all-in on Hallmark movies. The actor told Culturess in 2021 that she loves starring in these films because "you’re surrounded by people and snow and everyone’s nice. Making them is so much fun." She added, "I also love watching them."
Her latest, Crashing Through the Snow, certainly seemed to strike a chord with audiences. They seemed to love the film's relatable themes surrounding big, chaotic blended families who use humor to get through challenging situations.
26. Holly & Ivy (2020)
Director: Erica Dunton
Stars: Janel Parrish, Jeremy Jordan, Marisol Nichols, Sadie Coleman
IMDb rating: 7.1
Decider flipped out over Holly & Ivy. "This isn’t just a great Hallmark holiday movie," the website wrote. "It’s a great movie movie." The review was particularly pleased that this holiday film was so different from everything that had come before.
"When a movie so thoroughly ignores the formula and ventures into new territory, it can leave bold footprints in the snow," Decider said. This movie, which follows a woman who adopts her neighbor's two kids, certainly was a bold move for Hallmark.
25. Christmas with the Darlings (2020)
Director: Catherine Cyran
Stars: Katrina Law, Carlo Marks, Steve Bacic, Islie Hirvonen
IMDb rating: 7.1
Katrina Law knows why she keeps returning to Hallmark's movies. "It’s just really lovely to be a part of something that makes people feel good," the actor told StarryMag.com. "And because the holidays are coming around, the Hallmark movies are some of my favorites."
She added, "I just love watching them because they make me feel warm and fuzzy." And the plot of Christmas with the Darlings — a couple of orphans are cared for by their uncle and his friend, played by Law — is as warm and fuzzy as it gets.
24. A Bramble House Christmas (2017)
Director: Steven R. Monroe
Stars: Autumn Reeser, David Haydn-Jones, Liam Hughes, Teryl Rothery
IMDb rating: 7.1
Hallmark movies have become staples at Christmas time, but the films are actually often shot in the summer. In fact, even though A Bramble House Christmas takes place in winter in Oregon, it was filmed in July... in Canada. Yet that didn't stop the filmmakers from recreating that on-screen Christmas magic.
Most people would never know the cast is only pretending to be freezing cold in the snow! What they do know is that the two main characters — a man who goes undercover to learn more about his deceased father's beloved nurse — will undoubtedly end up together.
23. My Southern Family Christmas (2022)
Director: Emily Moss Wilson
Stars: Jaicy Elliot, Ryan Rottman, Bruce Campbell, Moira Kelly
IMDb rating: 7.1
Bruce Campbell, Moira Kelly, and Jaicy Elliot bring star power to this tale of family secrets and holiday cheer. And even though the movie is basically brand new, it has fast become one of Hallmark's highest-rated Christmas flicks. Elliot told Channel Guide that the movie's appeal is that it's not like other Hallmark movies.
“It’s about a different kind of love,” she said. “It’s about family and self-identity, and the discovery of that.” As a journalist determined to meet her biological father at Christmas, Elliot's performance definitely gets the love of the season across to the audience.
22. A Kiss Before Christmas (2021)
Director: Jeff Beesley
Stars: James Denton, Marilu Henner, Rod Wilson, John B. Lowe
IMDb rating: 7.1
A Kiss Before Christmas was always going to make a big splash because it was the first on-screen reunion of Desperate Housewives stars James Denton and Teri Hatcher. It was even more perfect in light of the ending for Denton's Housewives character in that series. (No spoilers here!)
So now fans of this pair can enjoy more time with a favorite on-screen pairing — safe in the knowledge that nothing too bad will happen to them. This is a Hallmark movie, after all!
21. Take Me Back for Christmas (2023)
Director: Corey Sevier
Stars: Vanessa Lengies, Corey Sevier, Paula Boudreau
IMDb rating: 7.1
Take Me Back for Christmas is obviously a very personal project for Corey Sevier. Not only does he star in the movie, but he also directs it from a script written by his wife, Kate Pragnell.
"I knew I wanted to direct it very early on," Sevier told Pop Culturalist. "[My wife] and I brainstormed the idea together. From the beginning, I knew this was a story that I wanted to tell. It was very close to both of our hearts."
20. On the 12th Date of Christmas (2020)
Director: Gary Yates
Stars: Mallory Jansen, Tyler Hynes, Cherissa Richards, Clare Filipow
IMDb rating: 7.2
The idea of combining scavenger hunts and Christmas may not be immediately obvious — but this Hallmark movie will convince you it works. It probably helped that star Tyler Hynes has been in plenty of Hallmark hits before.
Newbie Mallory Jansen brings fresh energy to the plot, too. "What I liked about the story was the movie is essentially about a woman who finds her creative voice," Hynes told ET.
19. The Nine Lives of Christmas (2014)
Director: Mark Jean
Stars: Brandon Routh, Kimberley Sustad, Stephanie Bennett, Chelsea Hobbs
IMDb rating: 7.2
Brandon Routh is best known for his superhero roles as Superman in Superman Returns and The Atom on the CW. But when the actor is not running around saving the world, he's sometimes plying his trade on the Hallmark Channel.
The Nine Lives of Christmas proved to be such a hit with fans that, seven years after its release, the star returned for 2021's The Nine Kittens of Christmas. Audiences couldn't get enough of the playful romance between two cat owners — and their mischievous felines.
18. Christmas by Starlight (2020)
Director: Gary Yates
Stars: Kimberley Sustad, Paul Campbell, Darren Martens, Bruce Dawson
IMDb rating: 7.2
Kimberley Sustad got her first Hallmark movie with The Nine Lives of Christmas, and she hasn't looked back since. The network has cast her in at least one holiday movie every year since 2014, and she shows no sign of slowing down.
"I started to really believe in what [Hallmark] were doing, in terms of people being able to sit back, with whomever, and enjoy these films," the actor told WNY in 2022. In this flick, she plays a lawyer who tries to save her family's diner at Christmas.
17. Time for Them to Come Home for Christmas (2021)
Director: Peter Benson
Stars: Jessy Schram, Brendan Penny, Lochlyn Munro, Brendon Zub
IMDb rating: 7.2
Blake Shelton fans, rejoice: Time for Them to Come Home for Christmas marked the fourth time Shelton had collaborated with the Hallmark Channel. And while Shelton may not be the star of these films, he is the executive producer.
The whole series was partly inspired by his song Time for Me to Come Home. The franchise is still going strong today, too: Time for Her to Come Home for Christmas premieres in 2023.
16. Jingle & Bell's Christmas Star (2012)
Director: Chel White
Stars: Thomas Stroppel, Julie Reiter, Ryan Bley, Ami Shalabh
IMDb rating: 7.3
Jingle & Bell's Christmas Star may not immediately jump to mind when you imagine a Hallmark Christmas movie — but it definitely makes the cut... Even though this animated tale is only 30 minutes long and obviously aimed at kids.
Yet it's still a movie about Christmas that aired on the Hallmark Channel. And if your little ones like Jingle & Bell's Christmas Star, there's another movie featuring the husky called Jingle All the Way — featured elsewhere on this list.
15. A Mrs. Miracle Christmas (2021)
Director: Ruby J. Munro
Stars: Caroline Rhea, Kaitlin Doubleday, Steve Lund, Paula Shaw
IMDb rating: 7.3
Christmas movie fans will know the Mary Poppins-like Mrs. Miracle character from her previous incarnation played by Doris Roberts. But in 2021 Caroline Rhea took over the part for A Mrs. Miracle Christmas.
She made it her own, too, as the fan reaction proved. "It's such a beautiful Christmas movie," the actor told Live with Kelly and Ryan. "And it's a Hallmark movie, so I'm very excited."
14. A Dickens of a Holiday! (2021)
Director: Paul Ziller
Stars: Brooke D'Orsay, Kristoffer Polaha, Chad Willett, Max Archibald
IMDb rating: 7.3
If you read the plot summary of A Dickens of a Holiday!, you'll find plenty of Hallmark movies, well, hallmarks. You've got big-city folk returning to a small town, popular Hallmark lead actors, a playful title, and a happy ending guaranteed.
But there is actually more depth to this movie than meets the eye. The romance here is slow and believable, and the small town isn't the be-all-and-end-all of everything like it so often is with Hallmark.
13. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (2008)
Director: Michael M. Scott
Stars: Brooke Burns, Henry Winkler, Warren Christie, Connor Christopher Levins
IMDb rating: 7.3
We all know and love Henry Winkler as the Fonz from Happy Days — but the actor has some Christmas pedigree, too. In 1979 he took the starring role in An American Christmas Carol, which was based on the Dickens classic.
Eight years later, Winkler directed the TV movie A Smokey Mountain Christmas, starring none other than Dolly Parton! So it was no surprise when he appeared in Hallmark's heartwarming 2008 film called The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.
12. A Holiday Spectacular (2022)
Director: John Putch
Stars: Ginna Claire Mason, Derek Klena, Sara Gallo, Tiffany Denise Hobbs
IMDb rating: 7.3
A Holiday Spectacular breaks many of the so-called "rules" of traditional Hallmark movies — and is all the stronger for it. So while a lot of Hallmark holiday films thrust their heroines into small towns, here she dreams of making it big in New York City.
Even though the movie does have a traditional romance plot, it seems more interested in spotlighting female friendships and platonic love. Plus, there's the added twist that it all takes place in the 1950s!
11. The Christmas Secret (2014)
Director: Norma Bailey
Stars: Bethany Joy Lenz, John Reardon, Susan Hogan, Michael Hogan
IMDb rating: 7.3
The Christmas Secret was a hit the moment it found its way onto the Hallmark Channel. Its premiere in 2014 saw it become Hallmark's most-watched original movie ever, at that time, with 1.3 million households tuning in.
The film is about a down-on-her-luck single mom who finds a magic necklace, and it definitely touched people's hearts. Perhaps it helped that the film was based on a best-selling novel by Donna VanLiere. Inevitably, another installment — The Christmas Note — arrived in 2015.
10. Once Upon a Christmas Miracle (2018)
Director: Gary Yates
Stars: Aimee Teegarden, Brett Dalton, Lolita Davidovich, Cassandra Potenza
IMDb rating: 7.3
This touching Hallmark movie isn't based on a book or a made-up fantasy — it was inspired by real-life events. Chicago-based Chris Dempsey really did fall in love with the woman he donated half of his liver to.
Audiences couldn't get enough of the story. “I never would have thought in a million years after doing this that it would turn into any of this,” Dempsey told Global News in 2018.
9. Hanukkah on Rye (2022)
Director: Peter DeLuise
Stars: Yael Grobglas, Jeremy Jordan, Linda Darlow
IMDb rating: 7.4
Hallmark has underserved Jewish communities with its traditional holiday movies, but Hanukkah on Rye is an attempt to put that right. Kveller called it "Hallmark's first truly great Hanukkah movie."
"The network was so supportive, I felt the opposite of pressure — I was free to make this movie as Jewish as possible and was never given limits as to what was or wasn’t 'kosher,' if you will," the movie's writer, Julie Sherman Wolfe, told Kveller.
8. A Dog Named Christmas (2009)
Director: Peter Werner
Stars: Bruce Greenwood, Linda Emond, Noel Fisher, Ken Pogue
IMDb rating: 7.4
A Dog Named Christmas is based on a best-selling novel, but before that, it was a simple bedtime story. Author Greg Kincaid used to tell the tale to his kids before they went to sleep — and then he expanded it into a book.
It seems it was only a matter of time before the story became this highly-rated movie. The writer also appeared at the end of the film after it first aired to implore viewers to consider adopting dogs in the future.
7. Signed, Sealed, Delivered for Christmas (2014)
Director: Kevin Fair
Stars: Eric Mabius, Kristin Booth, Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe, Geoff Gustafson
IMDb rating: 7.5
There is such a strong fan base for the Signed, Sealed, Delivered franchise that devotees have given themselves a nickname: POstables. Cute, right? And POstables have been treated to plenty of Signed, Sealed, Delivered content over the years.
To date, the series has delivered an entire season of television as well as 12 movies. This one — Signed, Sealed, Delivered for Christmas — was the first movie after the show ended and is a real holiday treat.
6. Silent Night (2002)
Director: Rodney Gibbons
Stars: Linda Hamilton, Matthew Harbour, Romano Orzari, Alain Goulem
IMDb rating: 7.5
Not your average Christmas or Hallmark movie, Silent Night stands apart from the pack for many reasons. This story is inspired by real-life events, for one thing. And the lead actor, Linda Hamilton, is a genuine movie star, for another.
The movie was so successful that it walked away with four Gemini Award nominations. Side note: if you're interested in learning more about the true events of this story, seek out Fritz Winken's episode of Unsolved Mysteries.
5. November Christmas (2010)
Director: Robert Harmon
Stars: Sam Elliott, John Corbett, Sarah Paulson, Karen Allen
IMDb rating: 7.5
Check out that cast list. Sam Elliott! Sarah Paulson! Karen Allen! If that doesn't get you excited about this Christmas film, we don't know what will. This star-powered team brings their A-game to this heartwarming story.
It's about a community coming together for the benefit of a little girl. Apparently, Elliott was so taken with the emotional plot that he overcame his initial resistance to working on the project.
4. Time for Him to Come Home for Christmas (2022)
Director: David Winning
Stars: Holland Roden, Tyler Hynes, Steve Bacic, Dion Karas
IMDb rating: 7.5
Time for Him to Come Home for Christmas is the fifth movie in the Time For... series executive-produced by Blake Shelton. It's also the third movie from the series to appear on this list!
This time around, fellow country star Tenille Townes even gets a cameo and performs Shelton's Time for Me To Come Home hit on screen. Merry Christmas, indeed. Time will tell whether Time for Her to Come Home for Christmas will be as warmly received.
3. Ghosts of Christmas Always (2022)
Director: Rich Newey
Stars: Kim Matula, Ian Harding, Beth Leavel, Kathleen Garrett
IMDb rating: 7.6
Could this be a brand-new Christmas classic? Ghosts of Christmas Always only came out in 2022, and it's already one of the most highly-rated Hallmark movies on IMDb.
You can probably guess from the title that the movie is a neat twist on A Christmas Carol — and from the rating that it is better than your average Hallmark flick. Be warned, though: you'll need a pack of tissues ready for the final 30 minutes.
2. My Christmas Family Tree (2021)
Director: Jason Bourque
Stars: Aimee Teegarden, Andrew W. Walker, James Tupper
IMDb rating: 7.6
My Christmas Family Tree is not a story about a Douglas fir. Instead, it's about a woman who takes a DNA test and finds that she has a family she never even knew.
“It really is one of those quintessential big family Christmas movies like Christmas Vacation or Home Alone,” star Andrew Walker told TV Goodness. “You get that big family, festive-feeling movie, but then peppered in is the DNA [angle] and also foster care, which is also not something that’s typical of Hallmark to venture into.”
1. Three Wise Men and a Baby (2022)
Director: Terry Ingram
Stars: Paul Campbell, Tyler Hynes, Andrew W. Walker
IMDb rating: 7.7
Perhaps unusually for a Hallmark Christmas movie, Three Wise Men and a Baby doesn't center on a relationship between a man and a woman. The heart of this movie is the relationship between three brothers.
Stars Paul Campbell, Tyler Hynes, and Andrew Walker are all Hallmark stalwarts, but here they're allowed to explore areas not touched upon in most other movies on the channel. "This movie is unusual and a bit special," surmised one reviewer on IMDb.