By: Kat Harlton
All Media Courtesy of Crown Media United States LLC
**This post will continue to be updated as we get closer to the start of “Countdown To Christmas”.
Hallmark Channel, along with its sister network Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, are set to air a record 36 new original Christmas movies in 2018 starting October 26th. Schedule so far (titles/dates/times could still change)
Christmas Joy–November 3 on Hallmark Channel
Christmas Joy stars Joy Holbrook (Panabaker), a keenly intelligent market researcher with an eye on her company’s top account and garnering a sweet promotion just in time for the holidays. Just as Joy is capturing the attention of the account’s CEO, she receives a call from her Aunt Ruby’s best friend back home in Crystal Falls, NC. Ruby has broken her ankle and needs surgery. Though the timing couldn’t be worse, Joy immediately comes to her Aunt’s bedside only to be reunited with former crush, now hospital administrator, Ben Andrews (Long), son of Ruby’s best friend Shirley. Joy also must navigate Ruby’s stubborn determination to be in control of everything, including the town’s legendary annual Cookie Crawl, a walking home tour where owners display holiday decorations and treat each other to Christmas cookies all while vying to win the prized Golden Wreath Award. To keep Ruby focused on healing, Joy volunteers to take her aunt’s place as chair of the Cookie Crawl much to the amusement of Ben who knows Joy has no idea of the Herculean task before her. Though Joy initially refuses Ben’s attempts to “co-captain,” she begins to soften and let him in, all the while remembering that there truly is no place like home for the holidays.
Christmas At Pemberley Manor–Oct. 27 on Hallmark Channel
Christmas At Pemberley Manor stars Jessica Lowndes in her third holiday movie. The actress plays an event planner who heads to a small town to coordinate a holiday festival. There, she crosses paths with a Scrooge-y billionaire (Michael Rady) who is selling the estate that she wanted to use as a venue for her festival, and unlikely sparks fly between the two.
Marrying Father Christmas–Sunday, November 4th 9/8c
Marrying Father Christmas is an all-new movie for the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries holiday event, “Miracles of Christmas.” Starring Erin Krakow, Niall Matter and Wendie Malick. When Miranda Chester (Erin Krakow) set off to find information on her biological father two Christmases ago, she never imagined that her investigation would lead her to both the family she had always longed for and Ian McAndrick (Niall Matter), the love of her life. After her romantic engagement last Christmas, Miranda prepares to marry Ian this Christmas surrounded by his family and her new family, the Whitcombs.
It’s Christmas, Eve-Saturday, November 10th 8/7c on Hallmark Channel
It’s Christmas Eve is a brand new Countdown to Christmas premiere starring LeeAnn Rimes. “As interim school superintendent, Eve (Rimes) trims budgets and now she’s in her hometown where it’s personal. Her handsome neighbor Liam (Hines) is a music teacher and Eve feels his program must be cut. But luckily her friend is married to an IT guy, who’s created a website for donations directly to save the arts program. Launched during the tree-lighting ceremony where Liam’s students will perform, the website could provide the Christmas miracle the town needs. Already the universe is cooperating. Eve is back home and she, Liam, and his daughter look like they might be celebrating many a future Christmas.”
Christmas In Love–Sunday, November 11th 8/7c on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
Christmas In Love stars stars Brooke D’Orsay and Daniel Lissing. “Ellie Hartman (D’Orsay) is an aspiring crafter working in her small town’s bakery making famous Christmas Kringles. When the new, big-city CEO Nick Carlingson (Lissing) visits the bakery, he arrives filled with modernization ideas destined to lay off many employees. During his visit, Ellie is to teach Nick how to make a Kringle, and determined to show him it’s the people who make the business a success, not machines. Nick meets more of the employees and townspeople, visits the food bank and begins to see all the kindness that is shared, and he begins to soften — though not convinced automation isn’t better. Struggling with chasing her own entrepreneurial dreams, Ellie begins to fall for Nick but not before feeling betrayed when she inadvertently sees Nick’s laptop filled with automation plans. When Nick finally tells the employees his future ideas for the company, Ellie must decide if she should trust him, but more importantly, whether to take a leap of faith in making her own dreams come true.”
Christmas At Graceland–Saturday, November 17th 8/7c
Christmas At Graceland is a brand new Countdown to Christmas premiere, starring Kellie Pickler . “Laurel (Pickler), a Chicago-based business executive travels to Memphis to secure one of the city’s oldest family-owned banks. While in Memphis, Laurel reunites with old flame Clay (Brown), a local music promoter with loftier aspirations. Though Laurel tries to keep her eye on the prize of the business acquisition, Clay is very persuasive reminding her of the days when they were a performing duo on the brink of stardom. Now Laurel’s focus turns to the home of the Blues and dreams of making music again.”
A Godwink Christmas-November 17th on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
A Godwink Christmas stars Kimberley Sustand, Paul Campbell and Kathie Lee Gifford. “As Christmas approaches, Paula (Sustad), a St. Louis antique appraiser, reluctantly accepts a marriage proposal from her boyfriend, Daniel (Giles Panton, Chesapeake Shores), a career-focused attorney. When her Aunt Jane (Gifford) senses she has mixed emotions over the engagement, she invites Paula to her Nantucket home. Upon her arrival, Paula plans a trip to the nearby island of Martha’s Vineyard where she meets Gery (Campbell), a charming inn owner. When bad weather prevents her from departing, Paula winds up staying at Gery’s inn and enjoying local holiday festivities alongside him. They begin to have feelings for each other but when the weather clears up, they part ways and Paula returns to Nantucket. Sensing she’s fallen for Gery, Aunt Jane shares with Paula her belief that their meeting was God’s way of “winking” at her to help determine which direction her life should take. When Daniel surprises her by spontaneously arriving in Nantucket, Paula decides to move forward with their marriage plans. But back in St. Louis, Daniel soon returns to his all-business ways and a fed-up Paula finally realizes they’re not compatible. When Jane invites her back to Nantucket for Christmas, Paula accepts, unaware that Jane has devised a plan to bring her and Gery together. From author, SQuire Rushnell of the God Winks book series.”
Memories Of Christmas–December 8 on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
Memories Of Christmas is an all-new movie for the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries holiday event, “Miracles of Christmas.” In the tentatively titled “Memories of Christmas,”Christina Milian will play Noelle, who was raised by the queen of Christmas. When she inherits her late mother’s house, she finds out that her mother had been hiring someone to decorate it, Dave (Mark Taylor). The deal is off, but Dave convinces Noelle to let him carry on the tradition. As the display goes up, Noelle’s defenses start to come down. She embraces the town’s Christmas Gala that was her mother’s legacy, finds unexpected love, and develops a joy for the holidays that she never thought possible.
Hope At Christmas–November 20th on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
Hope At Christmas is an all-new movie for the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries holiday event, “Miracles of Christmas.” In “Hope At Christmas” Ryan Paevey stars alongside Scottie Thompson. Recently divorced, Sydney (Thompson) decides to spend Christmas in a house she inherited with her daughter. As Sydney begins to spend more time at the local bookstore, she meets a teacher, Mac (Paevey), who also fills in for the town Santa. Mac tries to make Christmas wishes come true, and this year Sydney is at the top of his ‘nice’ list. As a new opportunity with the bookstore unfolds, Mac helps Sydney open herself up to life, love and believing in the spirit of Christmas again.
A Majestic Christmas–December 2 on Hallmark Channel
A Majestic Christmas is an all-new movie for the Hallmark Channel. Jerrika Hinton will star opposite dancer-choreographer Christian Vincent. She will be playing Nell, an architect who goes back to her hometown after being tasked with turning her hometown’s historic playhouse, which has been home to the annual Christmas tableaux, into a modern multiplex, much to the resident’s objections. When she meets the new owner of the theater, Connor (Vincent), his vision and ideas clash with Nell’s. Since Connor hasn’t had much experience celebrating Christmas, Nell hopes that if she can give him a crash course in Christmas during the town’s Twelve Day Festival, that he might just change his mind about modernizing the Majestic.
A Soldier’s Christmas–November 11 on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
Eloise Mumford returns for her third Hallmark Christmas film, “A Soldier’s Christmas,” co-starring with Sean Faris, with whom she appeared in “Christmas With Holly.” “Captain Grace Garland (Mumford), a decorated U.S. veteran, returns home after two tours of Search and Rescue in Afghanistan. After being separated from her beloved K9 partner, Grace must rediscover the magic of Christmas. When she finds herself stranded in the town of River’s Crossing a couple weeks before Christmas, the local judge, Joe Peterson (Faris), offers her a place to stay on his property and takes it upon himself to show Grace everything she has been missing; Christmas, family, community, and love.”
Reunited At Christmas–December 16 on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
Reunited At Christmas is an all-new movie for the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries holiday event, “Miracles of Christmas.” Nikki DeLoach will be featured in her third original holiday movie with co-star Mike Faiola. In the movie DeLoach plays novelist Samantha, who, frazzled and struggling with writer’s block, heads home to her late grandmother’s home — alongside her boyfriend — to spend Christmas there. While at home with family, her grandmother’s wise words reveal the true meaning of Christmas to Samantha at a time when she most needs encouragement.
Mingle All The Way–November 18th on Hallmark Channel
Mingle All The Way stars Jen Lilley, Brant Daugherty and Lindsay Wagner. “Mingle All the Way is a new networking app designed to pair busy professionals together for upcoming events, without long-term romance. Molly (Lilley), founder of the app, is determined to prove to her family that it is a success. Therefore, she joins the app, and meets another busy professional, Jeff (Daugherty). When Molly and Jeff are matched, they are both horrified to realize they’ve already had not one, but two disastrous previous encounters. Nevertheless, they agree to stay matched for all their respective upcoming holiday engagements. As the pair gets closer, perhaps their business arrangement might turn into something more this holiday season.”
Christmas In Evergreen: Letters To Santa–December 1 on Hallmark Channel
Christmas In Evergreen: Letters To Santa is a follow-up to the 2017 movie as a part of the Hallmark Channel event, Countdown to Christmas. The movie will feature several original cast members including actresses Ashley Williams, Holly Robinson Peete, and Barbara Niven, plus new characters played by Jill Wagner and Mark Deklin.
Fans will be drawn back to the picturesque, fictional small town where Lisa (Jill Wagner) is busy repairing the community’s abandoned General Store ahead of the holidays. With a little help from the rest of the townspeople, she’ll deliver a special, lost letter to the North Pole while trying to restore the Christmas spirit in her Vermont village.
The movie again takes place in Evergreen, a fictional small town based on Hallmark artist Geoff Greenleaf’s Christmas illustrations, which will be featured throughout the sequel, too.
Christmas On Honeysuckle Lane–November 19th on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
Christmas On Honeysuckle Lane stars Alicia Witt in a new holiday movie based on the book by Mary Elizabeth McDonough. In the movie, Emma (Witt) returns home to celebrate Christmas for the last time with her siblings in their childhood home. After their parents’ recent passing, the siblings reluctantly agree to sell the family home on Honeysuckle Lane, leaving Emma in charge of their belongings. While Emma’s mother’s collection is being appraised, they find a hidden surprise that takes them on a journey to discover the power of love and family during the holidays.
Return To Christmas Creek–November 18th on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
Return To Christmas Creek stars Tori Anderson, Steven Weber, Kari Matchett and Stephen Huszar. After being rejected and told that the new idea for her holiday app lacked the spirit of Christmas, young dot com CEO Amelia (Anderson) decides to return home to her Family Inn she grew up at in Christmas Creek. She is just in time for the anniversary of the Fly By Santa event that her family arranges. Her uncle (Weber) is a charter pilot who flies over the town dressed as Santa each Christmas Eve to deliver presents to under-served children in neighboring communities. Amelia was his co-pilot until her family moved away after her father and uncle had a quarrel that split the family apart. Years later, Amelia agrees to revisit the Family Inn where she heals old wounds and reconnects with the family, life and love she left behind in this festive holiday town.
Homegrown Christmas–December 8 on Hallmark Channel
Homegrown Christmas stars Lori Loughlin. “After stepping down as CEO of her dream job, Maddie (Loughlin) heads home for the holidays to gain perspective. She finds herself running into her old high school sweetheart Carter (Webster), and tensions quickly arise. When forced to put together a Christmas dance for the local high school, Carter and Maddie find themselves putting their differences aside and rediscover what made them fall in love all those years ago.”
A Shoe Addict’s Christmas–November 25 on Hallmark Channel
A Shoe Addict’s Christmas stars Candace Cameron Bure, and the movie will center around a book adaptation of Beth Harbison’s A Shoe Addict’s Christmas. Bure plays Noelle, a holiday hater who toils in a department store in which she is accidentally locked on Christmas Eve. There, she meets a woman who identifies herself as Noelle’s guardian angel and introduces her to several “ghosts” of Christmases past, present, and future.
Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe–November 23 on Hallmark Channel
Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe stars Lacey Chabert in a book adaption: Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe, based on Melissa de la Cruz’s book. In the movie, Chabert plays Darcy Fitzwilliam, a successful woman who has a glamorous dating life but has yet to find true love. When her mother becomes sick, she returns home, setting in motion a turn of events that could lead to a very happy New Year.
Road To Christmas-November 4 on Hallmark Channel
Road To Christmas stars Jessy Schram, Chad Michael Murray, and Teryl Rothery. “Los Angeles television producer Maggie Baker (Schram) unwittingly falls for Danny Wise (Murray), the son and former producer of his mother’s (Rothery) popular annual Christmas special Julia Wise Lifestyle. When Maggie’s secret plan to reunite Danny and his two brothers with Julia during the live broadcast in Vermont goes awry, Maggie is reminded that above all, it is the love for family and friends that makes the merriest of Christmas.”
Christmas At The Palace-November 21 on Hallmark Channel
Christmas At The Palace stars Merritt Patterson and Brittany Bristow. “Katie, a former professional ice skater (Patterson), is hired by the king of San Senova, Alexander, to help his daughter in a Christmas ice skating performance. As Katie spends time in the castle and with the king, she and Alex begin to develop feelings for each other and ultimately fall in love. But will the tradition-loving people of San Senova allow their king to make a foreigner their queen?”
Christmas At Grand Valley-November 22 on Hallmark Channel
Christmas At Grand Valley stars Danica McKellar and Brennan Elliott. “Burned out from the hubbub of the Chicago gallery world, artist Kelly (McKellar) returns home to the picturesque Grand Valley just in time for Christmas. Maybe her favorite town’s shining season will reinvigorate her love of art and guide her down her next path. Leo (Elliott), businessman and all-star dad to his children, struggles to balance his time this holiday season. When he is assigned to review a hotel in Grand Valley for its value, he sees this as the perfect opportunity for a Christmas family vacation. It isn’t long until Kelly and Leo’s worlds collide. As Kelly re-experiences her favorite Grand Valley traditions with Leo and his children, she begins to find her way back to her passion for art.”
Christmas Everlasting-November 24 on Hallmark Channel (Hallmark Hall Of Fame)
Christmas Everlasting stars Tatyana Ali, Dondre T. Whitfield, Patti LaBelle, and Dennis Haysbert. “Christmas is fast approaching and years of long workdays employed at New York’s top corporate law firm are about to pay off now that Lucy Toomey (Ali) will be made partner after the New Year. However, when Alice, her older sister with special needs, unexpectedly passes away, Lucy returns back to Nilson’s Bay, Wis., to attend the funeral and handle her estate. While Lucy dreads returning to her childhood home, she also feels real sorrow that she was too busy to take her sister’s last call. Once back in Nilson’s Bay, Lucy meets Peter (Whitfield), her old high school sweetheart and Alice’s former attorney, who informs her of the terms of Alice’s eccentric will that states in order for Lucy to inherit the family home, she must live there for 30 days through the holidays.”
Welcome To Christmas-November 25th on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
Welcome To Christmas stars Jennifer Finnigan and Eric Mabius. “Resort developer Madison Lane (Finnigan) is tasked with finding a location for a new ski resort. While she’s prepared to recommend the resort be placed in Mountain Park, her boss tells her to take a trip to Christmas, Colo., to consider the location and the incentive package they’re offering. On her way into town to meet with the mayor, Madison has a minor fender-bender with the town’s welcome sign. Town Sheriff Gage McBride (Mabius) gives Madison a ride into town so she can attend the meeting while the car is towed and repaired. Little does Madison know that the town is on a mission to convince Madison that Christmas is the best place for the new ski resort. While stranded, Madison grows to love the community and the spirit of Christmas that runs throughout. Is a resort really the right move for Christmas? Or would the town be better off keeping its charm and traditions intact?”
Northern Lights Of Christmas-December 2 On Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
Northern Lights Of Christmas stars Ashley Williams and Corey Sevier. “Zoey Hathaway (Williams) has been working towards her lifelong goal of being a pilot for years, but everything is thrown off-course when she unexpectedly inherits a reindeer farm, along with the dangerously handsome ranch hand Alec Wynn (Sevier). Now buried in taking care of reindeer and all the Christmas responsibilities, Zoey thinks life has delivered her a strange and cumbersome blow, and she isn’t sure about Alec, who has his own ideas how best to run things. Alec, who has never had many people have faith in him, opens up when Zoey invests trust in him, and the two find themselves falling for each other. Could they both find happiness in the most unlikely of circumstances right before Christmas?”
Once Upon A Christmas Miracle-December 9 on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
Once Upon A Christmas stars (to be announced soon). “Told she would have less than a few months to live without a liver transplant, Heather Krueger’s time was running out when a kind stranger, Chris Dempsey, heard of her plight and discovered he was a perfect match. The two met and before long a friendship developed into romance. The movie follows Heather and Chris’ journey over three Christmases as his selfless gesture leads to a Christmas miracle for everyone involved. Based on a true story.”
Christmas Wonderland-December 9 on Hallmark Channel
Christmas Wonderland stars Emily Osment. “Heidi (Osment), who initially left her small town of Pleasant Valley with the dream of one day becoming a successful painter, has put her own art on hold to excel as an art gallery curator. Now, a week before the gallery’s big Christmas party, she must return home to watch her niece and nephew. She comes face to face with her high school love, Chris, now a teacher, who is in over his head after he must find a new last-minute location for the Christmas dance. Heidi offers to help him and together they discover a beautiful place for the dance, perfectly capturing the Christmas spirit, called Wonderland Farms. The more time Heidi spends in Pleasant Valley decorating for the Christmas SnowBall, the more she finds herself inspired to start painting again. With Christmas fast approaching, Heidi soon becomes torn between the life she built in the city and the life she is surprisingly charmed by back in Pleasant Valley, embracing her true passion.”
A Gingerbread Romance-December 15 on Hallmark Channel
A Gingerbread Romance stars Tia Mowry-Hardrict, and Duane Henry. “With Christmas just weeks away, the architecture firm Taylor works for enters her in a contest in which the teams will design and build life-sized gingerbread houses. After the contest, Taylor will likely be getting a promotion to a position in another city. The firm teams her up with Isabelle, a renowned French pastry chef with whom Taylor instantly locks horns. When Isabelle backs out, Taylor stumbles into a local bakery and meets Adam, a baker and single dad. In an act of desperation, Taylor convinces Adam to partner with her for the contest, arguing that winning would give the bakery and his designs much-needed exposure. For years Taylor has been resistant to call anywhere ‘home’ for fear it will only be temporary. But the time she spends with Adam and his daughter in their cozy home, decorating for the holidays and exploring the town at Christmas, fills her with a longing for a place to call home.”
Time For Me To Come Home For Christmas-December 15 on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
Time For Me To Come Home For Christmas stars (to be announced soon). “Based on the song by Blake Shelton and the book by Dorothy Shakleford and Travis Thrasher. It’s the last Friday before Christmas in New York City and a massive storm is brewing. Small-town business woman Cara Hill is meeting with her banker while country music star Heath Sawyer is playing Madison Square Garden. When the flight to Tulsa they’re both booked on is canceled, this unlikely pair of strangers winds up traveling together. Each has a secret — Heath hasn’t written a song since his father died, and Cara’s mother recently passed and her family’s jam business is failing. Will Christmas provide a miracle — and a chance at love? Time for Me to Come Home for Christmas is a touching story about finding a way home after a loss — to your family and to your own true self.”
Entertaining Christmas-December 16 on Hallmark Channel
Entertaining Christmas stars Jodie Sweetin. “Claire is a cookbook author, crafting expert, and television personality whose name is synonymous with perfection. As she contemplates retirement, her daughter Kara (Sweetin) is poised to become the new face of the Livingston brand. The only trouble is, Kara can’t cook. Or sew. Or do any of the signature things her mother is known for. When a young girl posts a video online requesting Claire help welcome her deployed father home for Christmas, Kara is sent in her place in an effort to prove herself a worthy successor to the board of directors and win the job. As Kara does her best to make a good impression, she gets more than she bargained for when the young girl’s uncle Joe turns out to be a reporter for the local paper, looking for his next story.”
Christmas Copy-December 22 on Hallmark Channel
Christmas Copy stars (to be announced soon)
Small Town Christmas-December 22 on Hallmark Channel
Small Town Christmas stars (to be announced soon). “Author Nell Phillips’ first book has become a surprise best-seller of the Christmas season. Nell’s last stop on a nationwide book tour takes her to the town of Springdale, the hometown of Emmett Turner, a young man she met over five years ago while both were junior copy editors at a New York publishing company. Nell was hurt when Emmett stood her up for a dinner date and then disappeared from New York without any explanation. As Nell is quick to admit, Emmett’s colorful, nostalgic anecdotes about Springdale inspired her to write this book that is shaping her life and especially this holiday season.”
Christmas Made To Order-December 23 on Hallmark Channel
Christmas Made To Order stars Alexa PenaVega. “When architect and Christmas amateur Steven finds himself hosting his family for Christmas, he recruits holiday coordinator Gretchen (PenaVega) to bring holiday joy to his home. Gretchen’s expert Christmas spirit brings Steven’s family together, but neither expected it to bring them closer to each other. After a great opportunity presents itself to Gretchen, she and Steven must decide what’s really important in life.”
Christmas Bells Are Ringing-December 23 on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
Christmas Bells Are Ringing stars (to be announced soon). “Samantha, a freelance photographer, is returning to Cape Cod for the first time since the death of her mother years earlier. She’s going to celebrate her father’s Christmas Eve wedding to the lovely Helen but is anxious to revisit past memories. However, having never been to the Cape during winter, she finds that it is a whole new experience. On deadline for a big Christmas spread that could ignite her career, she enlists the help of her childhood friend, Mike, to show her around. In the time she spends in Cape Cod with her dad, Helen, and Mike, she finds meaning in her creative pursuits, falls in love, and realizes that Christmas is wherever your family is.”
When Calls The Heart Christmas-December 25 on Hallmark Channel
When Calls The Heart Christmas stars Erin Krakow, Lori Loughlin, Jack Wagner, Pascale Hutton, Kavan Smith, and Paul Greene. “When a group of orphans become stranded in Hope Valley for Christmas, their caretakers — sisters who have a mysterious backstory — lead Bill (Wagner) to investigate the circumstances of their arrival. He discovers the sisters and their orphanage are in jeopardy, so Abigail (Loughlin) and the other residents rally to make it a Christmas to remember for the orphans. Elizabeth (Krakow), who is preparing for the birth of her child, organizes her students to engage in selfless gift-giving. That, along with a Christmas miracle, help bring wonder, hope, joy, and love to all this Christmas season.”
Focus On Love-December 29 on Hallmark Channel
Focus On Love stars Carlos PenVega. “With only one week to prepare, Lisa Patterson and her family of party planners are given the biggest job in their company’s history: a New Year’s Eve party for tech entrepreneur Megan Clark. But when her brother breaks his leg and her parents head off on a planned vacation, Lisa must reluctantly enlist the help of her brother’s visiting college buddy, David Campos (PenaVega), to help her pull off the event which just so happens to fall on her favorite day of the year. But what Lisa didn’t plan on was falling in love in the process.”