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If you’re just tuning in, Christmas is already well underway over on the Hallmark Channel. It began a week before Halloween, which means you’ve got some catching up to do! After all, cable TV’s winter wonderland is dropping 41 new holiday movies in 2021 between three services (The Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, and the Hallmark Now streaming service). The holiday season’s gonna have a whole lot of awkward hellos, small town events, near-miss kisses, mistaken identities, and TGIF alumni—and we wouldn’t want it any other way.
But still, 41 movies is a lot—especially since there are just as many more holiday movies premiering on all the other cable channels and streamers. How in the Dickens are you gonna narrow Hallmark’s absolutely stacked schedule down to the ones you absolutely, positively cannot miss?
That’s where this list comes in! While Decider, of course, advocates for the enjoyment of as many Hallmark holiday movies as possible, we understand that schedules can be difficult and immovable. With that in mind, we’ve combed through the lineup and singled out 5 upcoming feature films that—if our hunches are correct—will be well worth your time. So, what are you waiting for? Keep on scrolling and get ready to set your DVRs to capture this holiday magic.
'Next Stop, Christmas' (11/6)
Starring: Lyndsy Fonseca, Chandler Massey, Lea Thompson, Christopher Lloyd
Hallmark Synopsis: Angie wonders what her life would be like if she had married a former boyfriend who became a famous sportscaster. She takes the train home to spend Christmas with her family and inexplicably finds herself 10 years in the past. With the advice of the train’s enigmatic conductor, Angie has the chance to revisit that Christmas and learn what—and who—is truly important to her.
Why You Can’t Miss It: Come on—a little It’s a Wonderful Life-style existential pondering on a Polar Express-esque train with Christopher Lloyd as the “enigmatic conductor”? How could you not tune in? Add in Lea Thompson and you’ve got a Hallmark movie that doubles as a mini Back to the Future reunion—on a time-traveling train! Which, come to think of it, is how Back to the Future III ended. Wait… is this conductor character really Doc Brown?? Well, now we gotta watch!
Premiere Date: Saturday, November 6 at 8 p.m. ET on the Hallmark Channel
'One December Night' (11/13)
Starring: Peter Gallagher, Bruce Campbell, Eloise Mumford, Brett Dalton
Hallmark Synopsis: Two music managers must put their history aside to oversee the televised reunion performance of their rock star fathers with a fractured past.
Why You Can’t Miss It: While this film is a real missed opportunity to not have Peter Gallagher and Bruce Campbell play a legit holiday romcom couple, it’s still wild that these two are paired together in a movie—let alone a Hallmark Christmas movie! Adding in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. alum Brett Dalton as well as Eloise Mumford (the Fifty Shades franchise) only makes this even more of a must-watch. Plus, you gotta check out at least one of Hallmark’s Movies & Mysteries holiday movies. Those are the ones that venture out of the romcom genre!
Premiere Date: Saturday, November 13 at 10 p.m. ET on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
'A Kiss Before Christmas' (11/21)
Starring: James Denton, Teri Hatcher, Marilu Henner
Hallmark Synopsis: Real estate development executive Ethan Holt is a married father with two teens. On Christmas Eve, Ethan is disappointed to learn he’s losing out on a promotion and laments that his “nice guy” way of doing business has held him back in his career. Thanks to some Christmas magic, Ethan’s casual wish that his life had taken a different course becomes reality. He wakes up the next morning and is shocked to find everything is different. He isn’t married to Joyce, he doesn’t have two teenaged kids, and he’s CEO of his company. Joyce is the key to Ethan being able to reclaim his original life and the family he loves. He must convince her that their happily-ever-after is waiting for them, and he only has until Christmas Day.
Why You Can’t Miss It: Yeah, the premise sounds fun even if it’s something we’ve seen a few times before (even just on this list). The real draw here is the reunion of Teri Hatcher and James Denton, two actors who previously heated up primetime in Desperate Housewives! Not only is Hallmark really pulling in some fantastic talent this year, they’re pairing them up with former costars for quasi-reunions. Oh—all that and the always fantastic Marilu Henner? We’re desperate to see this one.
Premiere Date: Sunday, November 21 at 8 p.m. ET on the Hallmark Channel
'The Christmas Contest' (11/28)
Starring: Candace Cameron Bure, John Brotherton, Barbara Niven
Hallmark Synopsis: Exes Lara and Ben compete in a Christmas contest to win money for the charity of their choosing. The city watches them battle and choose which is more important, victory or love?
Why You Can’t Miss It: And here’s another reunion movie—although Candace Cameron Bure and John Brotherton haven’t been separated for very long. These two co-starred as an on-again/off-again couple on Netflix’s Fuller House (which is where the above image comes from). We’re excited to see them back onscreen again, especially since this time around there are no old high school boyfriends to come between them. And if you know Hallmark movies, then you know that Bure’s movies are the ones to watch every single year. If Hallmark had a queen, Candace Cameron Bure would have the crown.
Premiere Date: Sunday, November 28 at 8 p.m. ET on the Hallmark Channel
'The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls' (12/18)
Starring: Robert Buckley, Ana Ayora, Jonathan Bennett, with Sharon Lawrence, Treat Williams, Brad Harder
Hallmark Synopsis: The Mitchell brothers compete to see who can create the best Christmas house.
Why You Can’t Miss It: Hallmark changed the game last year with The Christmas House, an incredibly well-done holiday film with a gay couple right in the spotlight. The film was a moment, and not just because of the long-awaited inclusivity. It was also a legitimately great Christmas movie! That is why this sequel is one to watch. The cast is top-notch (we’ll watch Treat Williams and Sharon Lawrence in anything) and this time around, those already lived-in performances will feel even warmer.
Premiere Date: Saturday, December 18 at 8 p.m. ET on the Hallmark Channel
