From Hallmark’s Legendary Cheese to Mainstream Holiday Magic
As November rolls in, the national argument begins: Is it too early for Christmas movies?
Of course it isn’t.
The moment the Halloween decorations vanish, the Hallmark Channel transforms into its glorious natural state: a 24/7 conveyor belt of festive romance, small-town magic, questionable CGI snow, and heartwarming clichés.
Whether you’re sipping a hot chocolate, folding laundry, or simply seeking the cinematic equivalent of a warm, over-decorated hug, these top 10 choices are worth your time. And yes — most of them are unapologetically Hallmark, because nobody does yuletide cheese quite like they do.
10. The Knight Before Christmas (2019 – Netflix, Hallmark vibes)
Why it’s worth watching:
This isn’t technically Hallmark, but spiritually? Absolutely. A time-traveling medieval knight falls for Vanessa Hudgens in small-town Ohio. The logic is nonexistent, the chemistry is adorable, and the whole thing feels like someone asked, “What if we weaponised Christmas fluff?”
Perfect as a gentle November warm-up.
9. Believe in Christmas (2024 – Hallmark)
Why it’s worth watching:
Because it’s peak Hallmark — terrible stock footage, wonky back-projection driving scenes, and enough tinsel to set off an allergy alert. This is the kind of film where the plot is predictable, the romance inevitable, and the cheese thick enough to spread on crackers.
And that’s exactly what we tune in for.
8. A Christmas Prince (2017 – Netflix, Honourary Hallmark)
Why it’s worth watching:
The film that launched the modern streaming holiday-cheese renaissance. Royal romance? Check. Magical European kingdom? Check. A plot thinner than wrapping paper? Double check. Rewatch for the comfort, stay for the accidental comedy.
7. The Christmas Train (2017 – Hallmark)
Why it’s worth watching:
A journalist boards a cross-country train full of quirky characters, staged coincidences, and love interests that appear with suspicious convenience. It’s cosy, charming, and exactly the kind of story that feels tailor-made for a December afternoon.
6. Christmas at the Plaza (2019 – Hallmark)
Why it’s worth watching:
One of Hallmark’s prettier and more polished offerings. Gorgeous sets, a sweet romance, and enough twinkling lights to rival Times Square. If you want something that feels fancy but still soft and safe, this is your movie.
5. Jingle All the Way (1996 – Mainstream Classic)
Why it’s worth watching:
Before the sweetness becomes overwhelming, this 90s chaos-bomb is the perfect palette cleanser. Arnold Schwarzenegger battling shoppers for a Turbo Man doll is slapstick madness in its purest festive form. A must-watch for “I’m sick of snow-globey romance” moments.
4. A Royal Christmas (2014 – Hallmark)
Why it’s worth watching:
Because Hallmark royalty movies are their own genre — and this is one of the strongest. Dresses, palace intrigue (the safe Hallmark kind), holiday parties, and a mother-in-law who could curdle eggnog. Delightfully over-the-top.
3. Crown for Christmas (2015 – Hallmark)
Why it’s worth watching:
Danica McKellar and Rupert Penry-Jones have genuine chemistry in this “governess becomes royal love interest” fairy tale. It’s soft, sparkly, and hits the Hallmark sweet spot of predictable-but-perfect.
2. Home Alone (1990 – Mainstream Legend)
Why it’s worth watching:
Because some films become tradition. Kevin McCallister’s booby-trap ballet is still entertaining decades later, and the balance of slapstick and sentimentality means it never loses its shine. It’s the cinematic equivalent of your favourite Christmas jumper.
1. The Christmas Card (2006 – Hallmark Classic)
Why it’s worth watching:
Still one of Hallmark’s most beloved films. A soldier receives a heartfelt Christmas card from a stranger and seeks out the small town where she lives. It’s sweet, sincere, and pleasantly earnest — everything the Hallmark brand was built on.
This is comfort viewing at its absolute peak.
🎁 Final Thoughts: Why This Mix Works
Hallmark films are the kings of Christmas cheese — and proudly so.
Their stories are predictable, their sets are overdecorated, and their production values occasionally scream “shot in two weekends.” But they deliver something no prestige drama can: pure, uncomplicated festive comfort.
Mix in a couple of mainstream classics like Home Alone or Jingle All the Way, and you’ve got the perfect seasonal playlist for November nights and December marathons.