It may only be October, but the annual Christmas-movie sweepstakes on cable and streaming has begun.
Some films are reruns from earlier years, but many are new. Can't guarantee that many, or any, of them deal with the real heart of Christmas, but there will be cocoa, ugly sweaters, sparkly decorations, some exotic locations (like Scotland and Kansas City!) and plenty of romance.
Quick Christmas Overview
Great American Christmas starts with new films on Oct. 12 on cablenet Great American Family, and then on Oct. 17 on streamer Great American Pure Flix; click here for the rest of its new lineup.
UPtv's Most Uplifting Christmas Ever begins Nov. 1, and also includes a sweepstakes that offers cash to the winner and cash to his or her favorite charity; click here for the full premiere lineup.
Countdown to Christmas launches on Hallmark and its new streamer, Hallmark+, with 'Twas the Date Before Christmas on Oct. 18; click here for the rest of its premiere lineup.
Among other networks, there's BET+, Lifetime and Netflix (also included in this and this comprehensive surveys).
Here's a quick look at some of what's on tap on individual channels and streamers (ALL DATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE, SO CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS).
Great American Family
This is the fourth year for Great American Christmas, and with 12 new movies, it's definitely going to make the season bright.
Candace Cameron Bure and Eric Johnson star in A Christmas Less Traveled. Desi (Cameron Bure) discovers an old audio cassette (remember those?) in her late father’s truck. On the cassette is a message instructing her to take a holiday road trip, which turns out to be more than just a trip down memory lane.
Desi meets a man who ends up being just what she needs, as they both offer each other help in their lives. This premieres Saturday November 16. Candace Cameron Bure also stars in Home Sweet Christmas on December 1.
Little Women is a beloved story and has been the favorite book for generations of readers ever since it was penned by Louisa May Alcott and published in 1868. A Little Women’s Christmas is a contemporary retelling of this classic story, starring Trevor Donovan (Reagan, newly added to Great American Family's When Hope Calls) Jen Linley, Jillian Murray, Laura Owen’s, Julia Reilly, Jesse Hutch and Gladys Knight.
Fans of the story will not want to miss this modern holiday version, premiering Saturday, November 23.
Christmas in Scotland takes viewers to the beauty of the British Isles as Jill Winternitz and Dominic Watters star in this uplifting story. Emma (Winternitz) is a New York installation designer who travels to a small Scottish town with her father to research their Scottish roots.
She gets talked into helping the villagers fashion a magnificent light display for the season with the intent on winning the title of “Best Christmas Village.”
She comes up against a Scrooge-like heir who does not like the holiday, but his son could help Emma change that. While creating a memorable Christmas village, sparks fly between them. This will premiere December 15.
Get Him Back for Christmas stars real-life couple Alexa and Carlos PenaVega. Bella (Alexa) goes home after a breakup with her singing partner. She requests her old friend Jack (Carlos) help her write a new song to win him back.
In reality, Carlos wrote the song “Get Him Back for Christmas” and performed it for the movie at the AT&T Stadium. Also appearing in the film are the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Mario Lopez, Victoria Jackson, and Natasha Bure.
Viewers will be wondering if she will end up with her ex or with Jack. Stay tuned.
This is indeed a family affair as Natasha Bure is the daughter of Candace Cameron Bure who stars in several GAF movies. The movie premieres December 21.
Great American Pure Flix
Although not new this year, the 2022 inspirational film, I Heard the Bells, is the story of American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his beloved Christmas carol. With the Civil War and his family and country torn apart, Longfellow takes a respite from writing until one Christmas morning brings him back to his pen and paper and hope and faith.
This led him to write “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” The movie airs November 28.
UPtv
UPtv and UP Faith & Family never disappoints when it comes to inspirational holiday films. They say this will be the “most uplifting Christmas ever.”
Country Roads Christmas combines family, the holiday, and love. Lanie McAuley, Bo Yokely and Bailey Chase star in this tale about a country singer who becomes her father’s manager after her record label fires her.
Reconnecting with her estranged dad is a healing experience, and, along the way, she finds love. This film premieres November 3.
A Very English Christmas brings Emma to the English countryside when her sister Amy decides to get married on Christmas Eve. Can she and Amy’s business partner pull together this almost last-minute wedding?
Kimberly Nixon, Poppy Gilbert and Lewis Griffiths star in this fun and fanciful tale. This movie premieres November 7.
Festival of Trees is a cute story about an interior designer who wants to make a name for herself, so she competes in the local Festival of Trees decorating competition. Jacqui is desperate to create the best tree the city has ever seen.
With the help of her assistant, a charming stranger, and a young girl, this heartwarming story is filled with fun and plenty of humor as they work to design a tree worthy of Santa and the season.
Kate Miner, Greg Perrow and Josie Davis star in this uplifting tale. The movie premieres November 24.
Lifetime
It's a Wonderful Lifetime welcomes fan favorite Jennifer Love Hewitt as star, director, and executive producer of The Holiday Junkie. She co-stars with husband Brian Hallisay in another story about a decorator ... however this one is a little different.
Andie (Hewitt) just lost her mother and business partner and now must face her first Christmas on her own. Can she carry on the family tradition alone?
This is a challenge for anyone but someone in grief has a double weight on her shoulders. Andie must dig deep to find the joy of the holiday and along the way maybe some love as well. (Dec. 14)
Hallmark Channels
Among Hallmark Channel, Hallmark +, Hallmark Mysteries, and Hallmark Family, there are some great films in store for viewers. With 47 all-new original holiday movies for the 15th anniversary of Countdown to Christmas, there is something for everyone.
Most of these network movies will also be available to stream on Hallmark+ as well as on Peacock. But, on Peacock, they'll only be available up to 30 days after airing on the Hallmark channels.
Hallmark’s all-new movies will premiere every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights; and the all-new movies on Hallmark Mystery will air every Thursday nights (except Thanksgiving week when the movie will air on Wednesday).
This Time Each Year pairs Hallmark veteran Alison Sweeney (Lauren) with Niall Matter (Kevin) who are separated but doing their best to co-parent their young son Charlie. To keep up the ruse of a happily married couple when Lauren’s mother comes to visit, they put on a show of being a united family.
As Christmas approaches Lauren begins to see what they had once and could have again, and the magic of the holiday brings this family together once again with the love they once shared and now rekindle. The movie premieres October 24. (Hallmark Mystery)
Premiering November 23, Three Wiser Men and a Boy reunites stars Tyler Hynes (Taylor), Paul Campbell (Stephan), and Andrew W. Walker (Luke) in another story, as the trio of brothers helps Luke’s son Thomas (Miles Marthaller) when the music director at his school quits.
This is not a good time of year for this with Christmas just around the corner. The brothers also face another situation when their mother gets a new boyfriend. Who said the holidays are a peaceful time? Not in this family, as once again, they join together to face the chaos. (Hallmark)
Football fans cannot miss Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story that centers around the Kansas City Chiefs NFL team. Alana Higman (Hunter King) is a big fan of the team. She wants to win the coveted “Fan of the Year” award for a Christmas gift for her family. In the process she falls for the Chiefs’ director of fan engagement (Tyler Hynes).
Among the guest stars are Donna Kelce, mother of Chiefs tight-end Travis Kelce, coach Andy Reid and a handful of Chiefs players. Mark your calendar for November 30 for this ‘fan’ciful film. (Hallmark)
Image: (L-R) Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story, Tyler Hynes, Hunter King Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Joshua Haines
Francine Brokaw is a longtime journalist, covering entertainment, product reviews and travel, and is the host of Beyond the Red Carpet on Village Television and YouTube.
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