Round five is here! This batch had a little bit of everything: one standout, a few solid watches, and a couple that just weren't for me.
25. Christmas North of Nashville ★☆☆☆☆
Christmas North of Nashville follows Jules, who returns home after losing her high-powered city job and discovers her family’s Christmas carnival is close to shutting down. Reconnecting with her childhood friend Nick, now a local business owner, she rediscovers community, love, and the courage to start over.
This one sounded intriguing with the Christmas carnival angle and the Nashville tie-in (I love country music), but it ultimately didn’t live up to that for me. Several things just felt off. There’s a lawsuit that didn’t make much sense, and a character who is supposedly in a coma but looks completely fine in the hospital bed with no machines or anything. The carnival’s finances and the cost of running it also felt exaggerated and hard to buy into.
Overall, the movie didn’t keep my attention, lacked charm, and didn’t feel realistic in a lot of ways. This one just didn’t work for me.
26. Melt My Heart This Christmas ★★☆☆☆
Melt My Heart This Christmas follows Holly, a talented glassblower who, after being rejected from the town’s Christmas fair, takes a job as the temporary assistant to a legendary artist while secretly displaying her own work under a pseudonym. As her anonymous pieces gain attention, Holly must navigate rising tension in the art tent, her complicated history with fair manager Jack, and the challenge of finally stepping into her own identity.
This was a unique Christmas movie with a storyline I haven’t really seen before, and I liked the lead actress (Laura Vandervoort) — she carried the role well. I also enjoyed the “mean” character’s redemption arc and watching her soften as the movie went on.
But some things didn’t quite connect for me. The two leads seemed to have some kind of history, though the movie never fully explained it. Jack had previously rejected her fair application, yet we never really learn why, and that made some parts of their dynamic feel unclear. The romance overall didn’t feel believable; there wasn’t much chemistry until the very end.
The glassblowing angle was interesting but not really my thing, and the movie focused so heavily on the fair that it lacked the Christmas charm I usually enjoy. There just was not much holiday warmth, family presence, or cozy atmosphere. The ending was touching, but the middle felt flat.
A creative idea, a decent cast, but ultimately not one that fully worked for me. It was worth the watch, though.
27. The Snow Must Go On ★★★☆☆
The Snow Must Go On follows Isaiah, a struggling Broadway actor who escapes to upstate New York to reassess his life. When his niece’s high school Christmas musical loses its director, Isaiah steps in, partly to help, partly to impress a visiting Broadway producer. As rehearsals unfold, he bonds with the students, finds unexpected romance with guidance counselor Lilly-Anne, and begins to rethink what success and fulfillment really mean.
Right off the bat, I had a feeling I’d like this one. I’m a big musical theatre fan and have seen hundreds of shows, so a movie centered on a Broadway actor seemed like an automatic win for me, and I was right. This was a good one.
It felt unique for a Hallmark movie, with the Broadway angle and a male lead driving the story. It also had a nice touch of humor that kept things light and fun. I’ve seen the lead actress before (Heather Hemmens) and think she’s really good, and the rest of the cast held up well too.
All in all, it was a sweet movie with a solid cast and a nice message at the end. I wouldn’t call it a favorite of the season, but it was pretty strong and I genuinely enjoyed watching it.
28. We Met in December ★★★☆☆
We Met in December follows Annie and Dave, two strangers who meet during an unexpected mid-December layover and share an instant connection at their hotel. After parting ways without exchanging contact information, they return home and rely on the clues they shared about their holiday plans to try to find each other again, leading both of them on separate searches during the Christmas season.
This was a fun missed-connection movie with a strong cast. While the insta-love wasn’t entirely believable, I still enjoyed the romance overall. It was fun watching all the near-misses and creative attempts to track each other down, with even their families and friends getting involved along the way.
I also enjoyed the Christmas activities they participated in while searching for each other, which gave the movie a festive feel. While it won’t be a favorite for me, it was solid, enjoyable, and a good holiday watch.
29. The More the Merrier ★★★★☆
The More the Merrier follows an ER doctor and a newly arrived cardiologist who get snowed in at a rural hospital on Christmas Eve. As a major storm hits, they work together to handle a string of unexpected baby deliveries, forming a connection amid the chaos, stress, and holiday spirit.
Grey’s Anatomy is my comfort show, so anything set in a hospital already has my attention, which is why this movie totally worked for me. It was sweet, fun, and had a solid cast. I especially liked the lead actress (Rachel Boston), who was very likeable and charming.
There was some pretty obvious product placement that felt a little pushy, but it didn’t take away too much from my enjoyment. Overall, this one really stood out to me. It was warm, engaging, and easy to root for, and I had a really good time watching it.
30. The Christmas Spark ★☆☆☆☆
The Christmas Spark follows a corporate lawyer living in a small town who, during the Christmas season, joins the local fire department. As he clashes with the son of a fallen firefighter, he unexpectedly forms a connection with the young man’s widowed mother.
This movie just didn’t work for me. I’ve realized I’m not a Mario Lopez fan, and he was distracting here — he looks like he’s wearing makeup and has had work done in a way that pulled me out of the story rather than drawing me in.
Beyond that, the movie barely felt like a Christmas movie at all. It played more like a weak romance that just happened to take place in December, with very little holiday atmosphere or warmth. There was no real humor, no believable chemistry, and nothing particularly touching or memorable about it. Overall, it felt flat and uninspired.
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