Our main takeaway from this early Countdown to Christmas outing: Put Sarah Ramos in all the things! The Parenthood alum is wry and whimsical and just winning as an author returning to a small town years after having her heart broken by the boy next door. Add in some magical cookies (not that kind) that help a person find true love and you have a recipe for a surprisingly sweet and quirky story.
Okay, okay, okay, hear us out. If you go into this abiding by the laws of The Greatest Showman (a.k.a. pretend it is entirely fictional and not based at all on history!), than this is one of the most impressive films to ever hit the Hallmark Channel. With showstopping dance numbers performed by The Radio City Rockettes, spectacular sets replicating the 1950s and a stellar performance from Broadway star Ginna Claire Mason, it was hard not to be razzle-dazzled by this period piece. Oh, and did we mention Ann-Margret is in it?!
With sizzling chemistry between Jonathan Bennett and George Krissa, holiday hijinks that don't feel hokey and a surprising amount of heart, we were so pleased to see the network's first-ever LGBQT+-led movie (think a gay version of Uncle Buck) was just a damn good rom-com, no cheap tricks needed. Oh, and Bennett's heartbreaking monologue at the end of the film about not allowing himself to believe marriage and children could be for him will live rent-free in out minds until next year when we get the sequel we all need and deserve!
Consider: The ultimate team up of three of the network's most beloved leading men—Tyler Hynes, Andrew Walker and Paul Campbell, who co-wrote the heartwarming and hilarious script with his frequent co-star Kimberly Sustadt—to star as a trio of bantering brothers tasked with taking care of a baby over the holidays. The hijinks are holly, the snark is sincere and the chemistry is contagious, you just want to hang out with this family. Sure, the romances were unnecessary, but we will gladly take a sequel next season, if only to see this trio once again have as much fun as they did in this one—choregraphed dance routine included.
Imagine You've Got Mail but it's about the bicoastal offspring of two Jewish deli owners writing each other anonymous letters through a matchmaking service. Add in effortless banter between leads Jeremy Jordan and Yael Groblas, an ecletically lovable supporting cast of bubbehs and and constant glamor shots of sandwiches and matzo ball soup and there is a latke to love about Hallmark's sole Hannukah offering of 2022.
Um, more like Haul In All of the Holly! You guys, this movie was absolutely unhinged in the best possible way, with Wes Brown leading the charge in the zaniest and best appearance in his 13-year career with Hallmark. Lacey Chabert is, of course, as adorable as ever, but is also at her funniest, utilizing her underserved comedic timing with the help of one of the best supporting casts we've ever seen, including Stephen Tobolowsky, Melissa Peterman and Peter Jacobson. We laughed a lot—and it was always intentional?! Plus, there were several unexpected cameos from other Hallmark stars that added to the cuckoo for cocoa puffs vibe of this all-time Hallmark Channel Christmas movie. Oh, we went there and we bought property on Evergreen Lane!
Don't mind us, we've just been sobbing over this one since it first aired on Oct. 30. (Dehydration, thy are not our friend!) Starring Kim Matula as Christmas Present and Pretty Little Liars' Ian Harding finally entering his Hallmark leading man era, this refreshing take on A Christmas Carol surprised us in all the right ways. From the twists and turns the story and relationships took to the delightful supporting cast to the devastating reveal at the end of the movie, Ghost of Christmas Always will happily haunt the top spots of our all-time ranking list. All is as it should be!