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Hello, my dear Christmas movie friends!
Happy first weekend of November... the official kick off to the holiday season, plus it's time to fall back and change our clocks!
This weekend’s new Christmas lineup offers sweet stories of faith, love, and the beauty of community.
Great American Family welcomes us into a peaceful small town with "Christmas in Midnight Clear," a heartwarming story where miracles unfold in God’s perfect timing.
Over on the Hallmark Channel, it's the Season One finale of "Mistletoe Murders." And the new movie premieres, "Christmas on Duty" and "A Newport Christmas," bring heartfelt tales of service, giving back, and love found in unexpected places, even across different eras of time.
And UPtv brings us their first Christmas movie premiere for the season Sunday night with the premiere of "The Great Christmas Snow-In"!
See all of the details below...
Friday, October 31, 2025 - Sunday, November 2, 2025:
Christmas Movie Classics
Let's journey back with some of this weekend's *Best Christmas Movie Classics*...
Friday, October 31, 2025:
Mistletoe Connection ... UPtv ... 9am
Snowed In for Christmas ... UPtv ... 11am
Checkin' it Twice ... Hallmark Channel ... 12pm
Hearts of Christmas ... Hallmark Mystery ... 12pm
Destined 2: Christmas Once More ... Great American Family ... 2pm
Christmas Under the Stars ... Hallmark Channel ... 4pm
Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper ... Hallmark Channel ... 6pm
A Blue Ridge Mountain Christmas ... Hallmark Mystery ... 6pm
Twas the Text Before Christmas ... Great American Family ... 8pm
Saturday, November 1, 2025:
Christmas at the Plaza ... Hallmark Channel ... 12am
A Timeless Christmas... Hallmark Mystery ... 2am
Christmas Cookies ... Hallmark Mystery ... 4am
My Christmas Family Tree ... Hallmark Channel ... 6am
A Merry Christmas Wish ... Great American Family ... 8am
A Kindhearted Christmas ... Great American Family ... 10am
Time for Him to Come Home for Christmas ... Hallmark Channel ... 10am
Making Spirits Bright ... Hallmark Mystery ... 12pm
A Glenbrooke Christmas ... Hallmark Channel ... 12pm
Once Upon a Christmas Wish ... Great American Family ... 12pm
Long Lost Christmas ... Hallmark Channel ... 2pm
Catering Christmas ... Great American Family ... 4pm
The Christmas Secret ... Hallmark Channel ... 4pm
A Veteran's Christmas ... Hallmark Channel ... 6pm
Northern Lights of Christmas ... Hallmark Mystery ... 6pm
The Picture of Christmas ... UPtv ... 9pm
The Sweetest Christmas ... Hallmark Channel ... 10pm
Journey Back to Christmas ... Hallmark Mystery ... 10pm
Sunday, November 2, 2025:
My Christmas Hero ... Great American Family ... 12am
Christmas Wishes & Mistletoe Kisses ... Hallmark Channel ... 12am
In Merry Measure ... Hallmark Mystery ... 2am
Christmas Connection ... Hallmark Mystery ... 4am
Window Wonderland ... Hallmark Channel ... 7am
Tails of Christmas ... Great American Family ... 8am
Bringing Christmas Home ... Great American Family ... 10am
Debbie Macomber's Trading Christmas ... Hallmark Mystery ... 10am
Debbie Macomber's Dashing Through The Snow ... Hallmark Mystery ... 12pm
Haul Out the Holly ... Hallmark Channel ... 2pm
Debbie Macomber's Joyful Mrs. Miracle ... Hallmark Mystery ... 4pm
Mistletoe Connection ... UPtv ... 5pm
Time for You to Come Home for Christmas... Hallmark Mystery ... 8pm
Following Yonder Star ... Hallmark Channel ... 10pm
A Christmas Less Traveled ... Great American Family ... 10pm
A Reason for the Season ... Hallmark Mystery ... 10pm
Friday, October 31, 2025:
Season 1, Episodes 5&6:
Death of a Humbug - Part 1
The murder of the town Scrooge leads Emily and other shopkeepers to A Christmas Carol themed scavenger hunt orchestrated by the victim. Emily tries to keep Sam at arm's length.
Death of a Humbug - Part 2
As Christmas draws closer, Emily continues to solve the scavenger hunt while also tracking a killer. Violet plans a surprise for Sam. Emily's mysterious past complicates her future.
Episodes 5 & 6
Airs Friday, October 31, 2025
at 8pm/7c and 9pm/8c on the Hallmark Channel
Reviews:
🎄 Mistletoe Murders – I finished this entire series running on Hallmark+ (December, 2024). There are 6 episodes in all. For me, it was just okay. I’ve reviewed the previous 4 episodes before, so I’ll focus this review on the last two.
The murder mystery in the last two episodes revolves around a book store owner. He has left a mystery behind to his nephews and various people in the community. That part of the story is intriguing, at first, but it feels drawn out by the end.
The local detective, Sam (a divorced single father), shares a special Christmas celebration with his teen-aged daughter, who will be leaving to spend Christmas with her mother. I usually find the daughter to be bubbly and fun, but she calls their early Christmas gift exchange, Dad-mas. This was mentioned several times, and I couldn’t help from cringing every time I heard it. I don’t like when anyone replaces Christ in Christmas.
Also, I didn’t notice any language in the previous episodes, but the d-word was used at least three times in this last episode. It’s like they asked what word are we allowed to use and they settled on that one and used it several times. Whatever. It really wasn’t needed.
There is a kiss by a man and woman (I won’t say who) at the end that is rather steamy. It’s not your standard, simple Hallmark kiss and the credits roll. Without going into detail, I’ll just say it was more than the typical kiss. Honestly, I was watching with other family members and it felt a little uncomfortable. Needless to say, I was glad when it ended.
I won’t give away any of the mystery portion, but I’ll simply say this episode leaves you with more mystery around Sarah Drew’s character. So, it’s likely that they are planning to bring it back next year.
If you really enjoy murder mysteries, you might like this series, but if you want a warm and cozy, lighthearted, stress-free Christmas movie/show, you’ll probably want to skip this. ~Net
🎄 Hey everyone, just wanted to report back on the Mistletoe Murders from Hallmark +. They were great! The narrating was distracting at first but I got used to it, but I would rather do without if I had a choice. The mysteries were very interesting and I liked the characters of the detective and his daughter, I just wish she had a friend in the show to be her partner in crime. The final and 3rd movie left on a major cliffhanger so hopefully they continue in 2025. I couldn’t find any info online. Aside from her year round Christmas store and the charming downtown area, the movies didn’t have that cozy vibe a la Murder She Baked that I love. Her own background being intertwined (similar to Jeff in Martha’s Vineyard Mysteries) made it slightly creepy for me. But if they made more I would definitely watch them, just not alone at night Lol ~Paula
🎄 I wanted to post about the last 2 installments of Mistletoe Murders! I loved this series until now. I'm like you Net, the use of the D--- word shocked me. I even ran it back to listen again to make sure I heard it correctly. And the kissing scene was definitely more than we are use to seeing. The acting and and the mystery itself was great. But this is not suited for smaller children. There's a little more violence in the last one too. Didn't like the Dad-Mas either. ~Joyce in Carolina
🎄 Mistletoe Murders - I just rewatched the first season and I would advise skipping that kiss scene. I thinking it was way too sensual. I often skip any kiss Erin Krakow does as well. As much as I love her and WCTH, often her kisses are quite heavy.~Abigail
Saturday, November 1, 2025:
Storyline: "A high-powered real estate developer (Josipovic), burdened by a costly setback, arrives in the struggling town of Midnight Clear just before Christmas, where she meets a local pastor (McLaren) and learns saving the community may require opening her heart as much as her checkbook."
Saturday, November 1, 2025
at 8pm/7c on Great American Family
Saturday, November 1, 2025:
Storyline: "Blair (Parrish) and Josh (Young) have been bitter rivals ever since they trained together at The Basic School in Quantico, where they were both at the top of the class, competing to be number one. After graduation, Blair got Josh's dream job, and they haven't spoken since. Three years later, their paths cross unexpectedly at the base holiday party, where the two get into an argument and cause a scene. As punishment, Blair and Josh are both assigned to Christmas Duty, where they'll work through the Yuletide together… for 24 hours straight. They plan to stay away from each other, but when a snowstorm prevents all the Christmas presents from being delivered to base, they are forced to team up for a special mission… to save Christmas."
Premieres Saturday, November 1, 2025
at 8pm/7c on the Hallmark Channel
Sunday, November 2, 2025:
Storyline: After his engagement is called off, Justin retreats to a secluded cabin meant for his honeymoon, only to be snowed in with Jane, his ex-fiancée’s cousin. As tension builds, a spark forms between them, but when Justin’s ex shows up with her new boyfriend, things get even more complicated. In the close quarters of the cabin, secrets unravel, leading to unexpected discoveries about love and second chances.
Premieres Sunday, November 2, 2025
at 7pm/6c. on UPtv
Sunday, November 2, 2025:
Storyline: "Ella (Mason) is a charitable and spirited Newport socialite in 1905 who dreams of using her wealth to start a foundation to help others in town. After learning her father intends for her to become engaged to a man she's never met at the upcoming Christmas Eve ball, Ella goes for a nighttime sail in her schooner to clear her head. Upon seeing a comet shoot across the sky, she wistfully wishes for a different life. Ella is shocked to suddenly find Nick (Brown), a sailor and local Newport historian, aboard her schooner and accuses him of being a stowaway. But Nick insists he owns the boat and a standoff ensues. Once on dry land, Ella realizes that somehow, she's traveled from 1905 to 2025. As she spends time there and gets a glimpse at what her future in 1905 appears to be, she becomes reluctant to return, especially since she and Nick have grown close and she now knows how true love feels. But the legacy Ella built in her time — and the course of Newport's history — risks being erased the longer she stays in the present, so the two plot a course for her trip back through time. But what awaits her at home is even more surprising that what she found in the future."
Premieres Sunday, November 2, 2025
at 8pm/7c on the Hallmark Channel
Sunday, November 2, 2025:
A Debbie Macomber Christmas
Hallmark Mystery's
Debbie Macomber Christmas Classics Marathon:
Trading Christmas - 10am
Dashing Through The Snow - 12pm
Joyful Mrs. Miracle - 4pm
I hope you all enjoy another round of new Christmas premieres this weekend!
Please note: I haven’t pre-screened the NEW movies mentioned above, so if you watch and would like to share your thoughts, please stop back by and leave a review in the comments. I always love hearing what you think.
Special Links:
Visit the *Christmas TV Schedule* for the dates and times of NEW Christmas movies.
You can find the 2025 Christmas Movie Review post *here*.
And you'll find the Christmas Movie List by network *here*.
Wishing you a warm, cozy weekend. Happy movie-watching!
"Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever."
Joyous Christmas Blessings,
Net🌟
SHINING THE LIGHT
OF CHRISTMAS
"Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever."
~Daniel 12:3
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A Newport Christmas is a time travel movie
ReplyDeleteThe charitable Ella (Ginna Claire Mason) heads out on the boat in 1905 & she ends up in 2025 when Nick (Wes Brown) has to figure it out to get her back in time & decide of their newfound love can stand the rest of it
This movie is more like Journey Back to Christmas, Timeless Christmas, & Biltmore Christmas
I mean love can stand the test of it
DeleteWhat a great weekend of premieres! Really looking forward to the two movies you featured Net, Christmas in Midnight Clear and A Newport Christmas. Both look like quality films.
ReplyDeleteHappy start to the holiday season this weekend to everyone!!!🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
Am I the only one that listened to Christmas music all day today?? 😊
ReplyDeletewonderful movie weekend!
ReplyDeleteHappy movie watching everyone! I absolutely love all of the Debbie Macomber movies. Parts of Trading Christmas breaks my heart as it is so hard for me to watch movies about widows (I just really feel for widows as I know a couple at our church) but on the flip side, the bickering between Charles & Faith cracks me up! And of course I love the older ones the best with Doris Roberts.
ReplyDelete~Paula
And on top of these Saturday night movies, we have Game 7 of the Series. Net, I assume like me you'll watch the game and record the new movies to watch later, right?
ReplyDeleteMark, Yes, you're right! We are currently watching the game right now. Hope to watch one of the Christmas movies on Sunday evening! :)
DeleteChristmas Roses is available for free on SparkTV on YouTube!
ReplyDeleteMisty
I'm pretty sure theres not a same sex couple in a mrs miracle Christmas so not sure why you left it out of the Debbie macombers marathon tomorrow on Sunday
ReplyDeleteActually. there is a same-sex relationship shown in "Debbie Macomber’s A Mrs. Miracle Christmas." Many viewers were surprised by it.
DeleteThis a review from my friend Joyce in Carolina, that she shared back in 2021 when the movie aired: ""Sad to say that A Mrs. Miracle Christmas has a same sex couple near the end. You do not see this coming! I was so into this movie, and wham...there it is!! It's subtle. A child watching would probably not even recognize what this was. The story is intense and funny. Paula Shaw stole the show! Rhea was good, but she's not Doris Roberts."
I remember the same sex couple. Two ladies had adopted. It was such a great tear drip movie until about the last 15 minutes when the woke agenda appeared.
DeleteChristmas Roses was a great Christmas movie about second chances. I liked how it was a movie that had a friendship form from between a young girl named Olive and an older woman named Hazel. The romance between Olive's Mother and the pastor was very light. Olive was adorable. The girl who plays Winnie was a tad weak. Olive was adorable. The rest of the cast was great. I would recommend giving it a watch.
ReplyDeleteMisty
A Christmas at Midnight Clear was fantastic! Focused on faith and I loved the main actress who played Hillary. She was wonderful. Jon is drop dead handsome and was wonderful as well. I think the actor who played his nephew should have been younger and was the only weak point.
ReplyDeleteThe ending was a bit predictable, but it still was good.
I want another movie at Midnight Clear.
Misty
Christmas on Duty is both clean and very wonderful!
ReplyDeleteChristmas on Midnight Clear is definitely 1 of the best movies of the Season! -Maria
ML Jr and Brian Bird's new show 'Home to Harmony' is now in production. -Maria
ReplyDeleteThey labelled wrong actors Jesse Hutch & Trevor Donovan in Christmas at the Inn & Have We Met This December GAFAM checklist & App
ReplyDeleteChristmas at the Inn
Jill Wagner & Jesse Hutch but it’s supposed to be Jill Wagner & Trevor Donovan
Have We Met This Christmas?
Danica McKellar & Trevor Donovan but it’s supposed to be Danica McKellar & Jesse Hutch
They changed the title from Cranberries & Carols to Christmas at the Inn
They finally fixed actors’ names Jesse Hutch & Trevor Donovan in Have We Met This Christmas? & Christmas at the Inn on GAFAM Checklist App & also Christmas Schedule 2025
DeleteHave We Met This Christmas?
Danica McKellar & Jesse Hutch
Christmas at the Inn
Jill Wagner & Trevor Donovan
I dislike Dashing Through the Snow - Meghan’s character has nothing to do with it - she’s attending at her friends’ place for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThey’re chasing the wrong person
Christmas in Midnight Clear is such a wonderful, heartwarming and uplifting movie with a strong message of hope, faith, community, forgiveness and new beginnings.
ReplyDeleteI was so impressed by the acting of Jon McLaren and Alicia Josipovic. You believe them 100%. They have such a great chemistry.
Everything about this movie was so beautiful. I'm so happy that GAF is so open in their faith in Jesus.
*Oksanka*
Christmas In Midnight Clear is a great faith-filled movie. I loved it! This is a movie I will watch again.
ReplyDeleteSorry, Net! I keep forgetting to put my name on my comments. I just went to Windows 11, so some things changed on my computer.~~kitkat
ReplyDeleteReview: Christmas in Midnight Clear -
ReplyDeleteFamily-friendly? Yes -
Recommend? Borderline yes -
Note: Spoilers included
In short, this is a good movie - not great, but good. What I loved was seeing how Alicia's character went from being a business person with little heart to a person who truly cared about others, and from a person with little-to-no faith to a person who put her trust in God. You can see these changes slowly develop within her, which in part is due to Alicia's acting. In fact, everyone does a really good acting job!
But I had problems with some of the storyline. First, it is a standard plot: successful big city girl goes to a small town which with her help overcomes an obstacle and wins her over. But moreover, I had a hard time believing that the entire town would turn against her and blame her for what was obviously (to everyone) her father's fault, not hers. And I simply cannot believe that her uncaring, totally business-minded father would have a very sudden change of heart at the end. And it never occurred to any of the townspeople to help the pastor work on the church, and especially the roof, until, what, right before Christmas Eve? So putting it all together, I am glad I watched it, although it is probably not a keeper for me.
My mom and I enjoyed “A Newport Christmas.” The characters are charming, and it is a fun time travel movie. It is family-friendly and a nice change of pace from your typical Christmas movie - Laurie
ReplyDeleteLoved loved loved A Newport Christmas! It's the only one I watched this weekend, but I caught the end of Midnight Clear & plan to watch it next. -Meg
ReplyDeleteGreat American Family needs to focus more on faith movies like Christmas in Midnight Clear. It’s truly inspiring. Robert
ReplyDeleteThe Great Christmas Snow In. Kept waiting for the Christmas part. Ok for a one time watch but events could have been anytime of the year. Just another “Christmas Movie” that really has no Christmas feel to it.
ReplyDeleteThere really was no thread to put this in so I've posted it here.
ReplyDeleteYou really should take the time to watch this sensational 4 minute movie from Hallmark and United Airlines:
Miles Apart starring Ginna Claire Mason:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K7shTvZShY
Brilliant! - Florence
Florence, Yes!!!! I thought that was so cute, too!!! Love Ginna Claire - she's always such a delight to watch! :)
DeleteI posted the video & details here:
https://itsawonderfulmovie.blogspot.com/2025/11/hallmark-mini-movie-miles-apart-starring-ginna-claire-mason-miles-apart.html
Hope they do more of these! Do you remember when Lifetime created several mini-movies like this? It's been a few years back or so.
Review: A Newport Christmas -
ReplyDeleteFamily-friendly? Yes -
Recommend? Yes, but with a caveat -
DEFINITE SPOILERS!
As I have mentioned before, I am not a big fan of some time travel movies. I don't mind those where someone travels from the past to the present (like Journey Back to Christmas and A Timeless Christmas) since history isn't altered, but I am not comfortable with those where someone travels from the present to the past and becomes part of the past (like A Biltmore Christmas) because history would be altered, as well as leaving open the question of what happens to the person between the past and the present. I know, I'm probably over-analyzing it, but that's me.
A Newport Christmas is indeed enjoyable, with excellent acting by Gina Claire Mason as Ella, Wes Brown as NIck, and David O'Donnell as Rex. (Gina must be the go-to person for movies set in the past, and indeed she has that "look".) But, the plot is complicated and leaves unanswered questions. The storyline in short: Ella travels from 1905 to the present (2025) where she meets Nick. And she also meets Rex, who is also from the past and traveled like her to the present. History shows they married in the past, but that would have been after he landed in the present. It turns out that when Ella goes back to the past, Nick follows her and becomes the Rex of history. Follow? But, major problem: how then did Nick-as-Rex in the past become the Nick of the present? Other things that bothered me: why did the real Rex, knowing that history shows him marrying Ella, not seemed bothered by this? I would have gone crazy trying to find the answer! And who wrote the infamous letter? I don't think we find out. And finally, why did Nick look like 1905 at the 2025 ball, when he did not know he was going to go after Ella and end up back in time?
Still, even with these questions, as Laurie above mentioned, this is a fun movie and atypical. So yes, I do recommend giving it a watch...but if you analyze it too closely, you may want to have some aspirin on hand!
Very sad news: Diane Ladd (Nell from Chesapeake Shores) has passed away. :((( -Maria
ReplyDeleteMaria, Yes, that was such sad news to hear. My heart really goes out to the Chesapeake Shores cast. I know they are still really missing Treat, as well.
DeleteI did a tribute post for Diane Ladd today...
https://itsawonderfulmovie.blogspot.com/2025/11/remembering-actress-diane-ladd.html
I really enjoyed Christmas in Midnight Clear. I love the use of themes of Faith, Family, and Community in this one. I particularly liked Hilary's journey both softening to the town and her journey back to her faith. I also like how Daniel was able to help her. It was very enjoyable to watch and I would definitely watch it again!
ReplyDeleteReview: Christmas on Duty -
ReplyDeleteFamily-friendly? Yes -
Recommend? Slight yes -
Instead of my usual dissertations, this review is going to be brief. (Is that a "thank goodness" I hear??) Overall I enjoyed this movie because of the development of the relationship between the two leads was well played out - it didn't seem rushed or phony. But like in other movies this year I find a storyline problem: these two have to rush to buy and deliver the presents, yet they find time to play with the toys in the toys store and have a snowball fight with their dads! Seriously? Anyway, the two leads are great together, and for that I recommend at least a one-time watch.
Is there ghosts in Christmas Above the Cloud? When I saw on FB?
ReplyDeleteYes, the movie "Christmas Above the Clouds" is based on the typical story of "A Christmas Carol," so there will likely be 4 ghosts, including a close friend, and the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future.
DeleteChristmas in Midnight Clear – What a beautiful, heartfelt story – with faith, family, friends, and a real feeling of a close tight-knit community… who deeply cares for one another.
ReplyDeleteI thought the chemistry between the leads, Jon McLaren and Alicia Josipovic, was wonderful. Their initial clash was full of sparks, but I loved how they were never truly angry at each other, even when they had conflict.
All of the cast was terrific; I really felt as if I was a visitor in the beautiful heartwarming town of Midnight Clear. Once again, I also loved seeing the true meaning of Christmas in a Great American Family movie! This is one I know I’ll watch on repeat! ~Net