30 of the Best Hallmark Christmas Movies That Are Sure to Make Spirits Bright

Boyfriends of Christmas Past is somewhat reminiscent of A Christmas Carol in that Lauren (Catherine Haena Kim) is visited by four of her ex-boyfriends ahead of Christmas. Each one shows her some of the errors of her ways when it comes to relationships, and gradually point her toward her best friend Nate Sagar (Raymond Ablack) who has been by her side through relationships, breakups, holidays, and everything in between. Lauren starts to get the full picture of where her future could be headed, and soon realizes that spending this Christmas with Nate could ultimately lead her to a future she's always wanted, but never realized she could have.

Historian Jessica Cooper (Elizabeth Henstridge) is one of the top researchers in her field. This Christmas, she's hired by the famed Plaza Hotel to decorate for the holidays. She can't do it all on her own, so she has to team up with decorator Nick Perrelli (Ryan Paevey). Together they delve into the iconic location's past, while creating the most epic holiday display the city has ever seen. Not only do they discover many unknown details about the Plaza, but they learn an incredible amount about each other along the way. The end result is so much more than Christmas decorations.

Lucy (Tatyana Ali) is on top of the world with her high-profile job and her big fancy life. She's on track for a promotion at her law firm when her older sister Alice (Brittany Guess) suddenly dies. Lucy heads back to her small hometown in Wisconsin to settle Alice's estate with her lawyer Peter (Dondré T. Whitfield). Peter also happens to be Lucy's high school boyfriend. He shares the terms of Alice's estate with Lucy, letting her know that in order to claim her things, Lucy has to obey Alice's one last wish: spend at least 30 days in her hometown for the holidays.

Averie (Chaley Rose) and Jesse (Rome Collins) were a star musical duo once upon a time. The two were at the top of their game before it all came crashing down, causing them to go their separate ways. Averie moved on to a new life as a small town innkeeper and leaves music firmly in her past. When Christmas rolls around, she decides to revisit music, and as fate would have it, Jesse enters her life again too. Through a bit of holiday magic, the two not only find a bit of themselves in each other, but they find their music again.

Bill (Treat Williams) and Phylis (Sharon Lawrence) are turning their home into a Christmas House for the season this year. They invite their adult sons Mike (Robert Buckley) and Brandon (Jonathan Bennett). What Bill and Phylis haven't yet shared with their kids, though, is that they plan to sell the house, and this big tradition from when the sons were little is their last hurrah. But what Mike and Brandon haven't yet shared is that they're both also going through some tough times. Together they reminisce about easier times while celebrating the joy of the holidays in the home they spent so many years in together.

Erin Chambers (Rochelle Aytes) is in charge of decorating the town for the holidays, which means it's up to her to source all of the festive decorations. Included in this is the tree that will be the focal point for the entire festivities. The spruce she wants just happens to be on the property belonging to firefighter Kevin Snyder (Mark Taylor), and he's not ready to let the tree go. She does her best to sweet talk him into giving in, knowing that the whole celebration is riding on this tree. But of course, Erin ends up getting so much more than just a Christmas tree.

Ryan Bellamy (Teddy Sears) and his daughter find themselves in sleepy Evergreen, VT, while making their way to the airport for a Christmas getaway. During this pitstop, they meet veterinarian Allie Shaw (Ashley Williams). Allie is getting ready to leave Vermont for Washington DC to reunite with her long-distance boyfriend, in hopes of rekindling their stale relationship. However, both parties' plans start to fall apart when they're unable to exit Evergreen due to a bit of Christmas magic and some unsuspecting Christmas wishes. There's a chance neither Allie nor Ryan will make it to their final destinations, and they might just be OK with that.

Directed by Mariah Carey, A Christmas Melody finds single mom Kristin Parson (Lacey Chabert) and her daughter, Emily (Fina Strazza), moving back to Kristin's small Ohio hometown after her big dreams in Los Angeles fell through. Coming back to her hometown, though, means coming face to face with people from her past, including her high school rival Melissa (Carey). With Sarah (Kathy Najimy) for moral support, Kristin learns to set differences aside for the holidays and tap into the true spirit of Christmas. It's Emily, though, who truly finds the spirit of Christmas when she asks her music teacher Danny (Brennan Elliott) to help her write a song for the holiday variety show.

Melody (Janel Parrish) moves to a small Wisconsin town to try to find a job as a librarian, and move into a fixer-upper home that has immense potential. Upon arriving, she befriends her neighbor Nina (Marisol Nichols) who has daughters named Holly (Sadie Coleman) and Ivy (Piper Rubio). But while Melody has high hopes for life in her new town, she hits a few bumps in the road, as do Nina and the handsome contractor Melody also meets, Adam (Jeremy Jordan). Though a bit less cheerful than some of Hallmark's other Christmas movies, this one certainly has heart and will tug on every single one of your emotions.

Tom Langdon (Dermot Mulroney) is a journalist on the hunt for inspiration when he boards a train from Washington DC to Los Angeles during Christmastime. He's looking for a story idea to honor his late father, and hopes the trip will spark something within him. As the world passes by outside the windows, Tom gets to know the other passengers on board the train, despite his cynicism telling him to keep to himself. Among the people on the train is Eleanor Carter (Kimberly Williams-Paisley), who is not only a writer as well, but who also happens to be an old flame from Tom's past. The two spend time dancing around other people before finally finding their way to each other.

Dr. Lauren Brunell (Candace Cameron Bure) has big dreams for herself and they include big cities, too. But when she loses out on a highly coveted position at a Boston hospital, she ends up settling for a spot practicing in small town Alaska. While she initially arrives thinking this is just another position to add to her resume before moving on to bigger and better things, she soon starts to feel like this town is home. With the magic of Christmas surrounding her, Lauren not only falls in love with Alaska, but a handsome handyman named Andy (David O'Donnell) as well.

Sgt. Cody Cullen (John Newton) ends his tour in Afghanistan on a low note after one of his friends and fellow soldiers is killed. Upon taking his leave, Cody takes a trip to return his friend's belongings to his newly widowed partner. Along the way he meets Faith Spelman (Alice Evans), an engaged woman who has been writing letters to soldiers for years. It just so happens that Cody was once on the receiving end of them! In a harrowing turn of events, Cody saves Faith's father from a car accident, and is invited home for dinner and the holidays. Though everyone hits it off, Faith keeps her distance and loyalty to her fiancé. How long it lasts, though, remains to be seen.

Laura Trudeau (Alexa PenaVega) hasn't had it easy. Years ago, she was left by her love Ricardo Archuleta (Carlos PenaVega) when he chose his dance career over her. She moved on, though, and found love again. But when her husband passed away, Laura left behind her home in Utah, her family, and her love of dance for a new life. She eventually returns to her roots to help renovate a hotel for a Christmas dance benefit. She's surprised to find Ricardo is the star of the show, and a lot of memories and feelings come rushing back to her while putting the event together.

Harmony (Ashleigh Murray) doesn't actually want to try out for the Christmas chorus, but she's tricked into it anyway. She especially doesn't want to have to be around her ex Kyle Noah (Luke James) who just happens to be directing the production. But as rehearsals wear on and the holiday cheer surrounds them, feelings change and the Christmas spirit wedges its way into both of their hearts. Come Christmas Eve when it's time for the performance, these two will have more than just one Christmas concert as a result of their time together. They may just get a Christmas miracle — in the form of love!

Lucy Ralston (Bethany Joy Lenz) and her siblings help her dad, Walter Ralston (Jay Brazeau) run his new bed and breakfast that was once their home. To drum up business and make the B&B seem more successful than it really is, Walter's kids pretend to be customers who are simply in love with the property. This is also a ruse to convince a famed travel writer (who's conveniently incognito) to grant the travel spot a glowing review. Lucy's tactics are slightly derailed, though, when handsome stranger Jake Finlay (Victor Webster) walks through the front door with some secrets of his own.

Nick Crosby (Tom Arnold) has a year-round Christmas village, known as Santaville, that he's been running since his daughter Holly (Candace Cameron Bure) was young. Each year to prepare for Christmas, Holly was hard at work like a good little Christmas elf until she grew up and got burnt out. She left home to become a real-life Christmas elf — working as an executive in a huge toy company. But when her dad needs her help back home, she returns to find Santaville seriously struggling. That's when financial adviser Ben Richards (Matt Walton) steps in to save the day...and Christmas.

Architect Taylor Scott (Tia Mowry-Hardrict) is taking part in a contest where she has to build a huge gingerbread house. When her firm — who is also considering her promoting her if the contest goes well — links her up with a problematic baking partner that falls through, Taylor ends up collaborating with local baker and single dad Adam Dale (Duane Henry). While working through their project, Taylor gets to know Adam and his daughter, and slowly but surely opens up to a life she never thought she wanted or needed. Of course, the holiday spirit will do that to a person!

Teenager Todd McCray (Noel Fisher) is over the moon when his small Midwestern town announced they're doing an Adopt a Dog For Christmas program. As a huge animal-lover, Todd takes it upon himself to ensure every single dog finds a home for the holidays. He spreads the word around his rural community to bring everyone in to find their new forever friend, but one dog in particular catches Todd's own eye. As Todd helps the other dogs find homes, this special Yellow Labrador nestles his way further and further into the young man's heart. Perhaps they'll both get their Christmas wish this year.

Krissy Kringle (Hilarie Burton) is not doing well. The ad executive gets fired from her job before the holidays and stumbles upon an odd package. She's somehow found the naughty or nice book that Santa Claus uses each year to decide who gets gifts and who gets lumps of coal. Feeling cynical, Krissy takes it upon herself to expose those who are on the naughty list, but the burst of power she originally felt quickly wanes and leaves her feeling empty. All is not lost, though, and Krissy course corrects before it's too late — discovering that there truly is joy in her life, even when things are seriously down.

Renee (Donna Benedicto) is just a bride who wants what she wants for her wedding day. But when she decides right before her Christmas wedding that what she wants is a rare Jingle Bell Flower, her wedding planner Jessice (Julie Gonzalo) has to go on a wild goose chase all the way to Alaska to source them. She arrives in a tiny town, and her helpful driver from the airport, Matt (Ronnie Rowe), offers her a place to stay and a bit more for the holidays. She's eager to get home for the wedding, though, even if it means leaving Matt behind. But will she actually leave him behind?

Anna Jordan (Laura Osnes) is simply trying to be a good samaritan when she offers her home up to a stranded mother, Gabriella (Victoria Clark) and her son, James (Aaron Tveit), during a holiday blizzard. What she doesn't realize is that they're part of the royal family of Galwick. As Victoria and James settle into their holiday getaway with Anna, she shows them what her small town holiday looks like. Along the way, she urges the quiet royal prince to open his eyes to the world and open his heart to love. With a sprinkle of holiday cheer, James may just let his heart be free.

Seth Webster (James Van Der Beek) has his hands full with his 6-year-old twin boys after his wife dies and needs a bit of a miracle. Upon searching for a housekeeper who can handle the boys, Seth finds Emily Merkle (Doris Roberts), whom the boys affectionately dub Mrs. Miracle. But beyond just caring for the boys, Mrs. Miracle also works her magic on Seth himself, helping him open up to new flame Reba Maxwell (Erin Karpluk). Both have experienced loss in their lives, and Mrs. Miracle just knows they can find a future in each other — so she gets to work.

Jennifer Holloway (Mallory Jansen) and Aidan Walsh (Tyler Hynes) are both game designers on the same track for success. In fact, it's the exact same track and they're up for the same promotion that only one of them can seemingly get. Together they have to create a scavenger hunt during the holidays for their community. It's a romantic little game themed to the 12 Days of Christmas, and the end goal is to get people to a newly renovated hotel in Chicago. Over the course of the scavenger hunt, Jennifer and Aidan send people on romantic dates at local businesses. During this whole game, the two learn maybe they're not so incompatible after all.

Department store manager Christina (Danica McKellar) wants to prove to the higher-ups that when the new branch opens in Paris, she should be moved overseas to lead the charge. To show her worth, she decides she's going to set up the most epic Christmas display at her home store, and she recruits former store employee and local artist Kurt (David Haydn-Jones) to help her create the magical display. What she doesn't anticipate is that in spending all this time with Kurt, she might just fall in love and have to choose between moving to Paris or staying put with Kurt.

When TV producer Maggie (Jessy Schram) falls for Danny (Chad Michael Murray), she's hoping for a bit of Hollywood magic. Danny, who is the former producer of his mother's annual Christmas special "Julia Wise Lifestyle," and his brothers have been living their own lives away from their mom, but Maggie wants to change that. She devises a plan for a reunion live on television, and to say it doesn't go well is an understatement. It's up to Maggie to make peace with Danny's family and show them what Christmas is all about — family, love, and most of all, forgiveness.

Gretchen Daniels (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) moves back to her hometown for the holidays with her son in tow. Her husband is away in the service, and both Gretchen and her son are trying to find their footing without him. Gretchen befriends her neighbor Melissa (Leah Gibson) and makes it her Christmas mission to reconnect her with a sibling she never knew she had. Though both women start their stories alone, they find friendship and comfort in each other during the holidays, all while keeping their loved ones who aren't with them their in spirit — until they can be there for real.

Detectives Tanya Morris (Tamera Mowry-Housley) and Ryan Anderson (Paul Campbell) are thrown together at work and absolutely do not get along. Each works with their own methods, something the other can't get on board with, leading to frustration, irritation, and distrust. But when Christmas falls, the two have to team up to track down the suspect in a string of art thefts. Their top suspect? Santa Claus, of course. Tanya and Ryan hole up in the house next to where the mall Santa lives for a stakeout. In trying to get to the bottom of the crimes, they not only learn more about each other, but about the man they're hoping to arrest.

Flight attendant Sydney is tasked with looking after an unaccompanied minor named Leah (Sophie Neudorf) on one of her flights. She and the child become fast friends while traveling, until Sydney delivers Leah to her dad, Jonathan (Tom Everett Scott). However, Sydney finds that Leah left something behind on the flight, and after bringing it back to her, she finds she's snowed in and can't actually fly home for the holidays. Naturally, she bumps into Jonathan and Leah in town, and they invite her into their home to celebrate the holidays and show her what life can be like when you're not constantly on the go.

Wall Street magnate Ben (Stephen Huszar) steps away from it all to purchase and run the Snowfall Inn, a quaint getaway he frequently visited as a child. As Christmas settles into this sleepy town, guests travel in from all over, seemingly after being invited by a mystery source. Among them is Sarah Thomas (Lacey Chabert), who is in the process of settling her deceased mom's estate. But as Ben starts to wonder how all his guests came to arrive at the inn, he notices they all had something in common with him, including Sarah. As the two try to get to the bottom of this holiday mystery, they end up sparking a connection brighter than Chistmas lights.

When 6-year-old Holly (Josie Galina) stops communicating after her parents' death and starts struggling in school, her uncle Mark Nagle (Sean Faris) drops everything and moves to a small island town to help care for her. He and his brothers do everything they can to be stand-in dads for the little girl, but they still need help. Enter Maggie Conway (Eloise Mumford). She's new in town and just bought a toy shop to overhaul. She wants to go in a new direction that will really appeal to kids, and the concept catches Holly's eye. The two form a friendship, and in turn, Maggie forms an even tighter bond with Mark.