Over *52 Million Clicks* and Counting! Thank *YOU* for visiting It's a Wonderful Movie today!

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights...”
~ James 1:17

Friday, May 29, 2026

πŸŽ„✨ Hallmark Channel's Christmas in July 2026 New Movie Schedule -- See Here:




Christmas in July 2026 is Coming to the Hallmark Channel - from June 26th to July 31st!

The network will premiere a new holiday movie every Saturday, beginning on July 4th!

Note: Two of the movies below, CHRISTMAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION and LOVE UNDER THE MISTLETOE, have previously aired via streaming under different titles, but the other two are new premieres.

See details below...



πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„





CHRISTMAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

(previously known as: Renovation Romance)

Saturday, July 4, 8 pm ET/PT

Stars: Jessica Lowndes and Daniel Lissing

Chelsea (Lowndes) and Jake (Adam Hurtig, A Suite Holiday Romance) are America’s sweethearts and the stars of a hit reality show, Renovation Romance, where they help couples transform their homes and relationships. For a live Christmas special, they’re tasked with renovating a cozy New Hampshire cabin alongside a new duo, Cooper (Lissing) and Janice (Samantha Kendrick, The Snow Must Go On). But behind the festive cheer, Chelsea and Jake’s relationship is fading. As their latest project progresses, it becomes clear to Chelsea that she and Jake have different priorities in life and must decide if their relationship can be salvaged or if it’s time for a fresh start.

Movie Reviews for CHRISTMAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION (Renovation Romance):

πŸŽ„ Renovation Romance - Just wanted to let y’all know that a new Christmas movie with Jessica Lowndes and Daniel Lissing called Renovation Romance is now on Hulu. It was really cute!

A heads up that both of them have significant others when they start the movie because I know that can bother some people with storylines like that. But I do feel that the breakups are very interesting and the communication is rather profound during those scenes so I feel like it was surprisingly handled pretty well. Even though I don’t mind those storylines usually I was a bit nervous at how they were going to handle it considering it was going to be two relationships ending. It was so good to see Jessica Lowndes and Daniel Lissing together again! I loved them together in A December Bride and watch it a couple times each Christmas season because it makes me smile so it made me really happy to see them together again in a new movie. They really have great chemistry together!

While it was clean, they are working with couples who aren’t necessarily married yet that are renovating homes (at least in the opening scene and in the relationship between Daniel Lissing and his significant other) it is never implied that they live together. Really enjoyed the movie! ~Sara S.

πŸŽ„ Renovation Romance – (watched this through Hulu) This movie was nice, but not very Christmassy. I mean, they didn’t even put anything Christmas related in the title. Minus the Christmas decor, it felt like it could’ve taken place almost any time of the year.

We first meet Chelsea (Jessica Lowdnes) & Jake (Adam Hurtig) who host their own TV show where they renovate homes and they are a real-life couple. Basically, they are like Chip and Joana Gaines, except Chelsea and Jake aren’t married.

Chelsea is feeling the need for a break from work, but her boyfriend, Jake, persuades her to take on one last project during the Christmas season that could elevate their careers to new levels. The house they choose to renovate is owned by Daniel Lissing’s character, Cooper. It’s already stunning in its structure and beautifully decorated for the holidays, making the idea of renovating and redecorating seem unnecessary. Honestly, I didn’t notice any significant alterations, perhaps just an additional Christmas tree or some garland, but nothing too drastic.

As Sara S. pointed out (in her review above), the opening scene subtly indicates that the couple, for whom Chelsea and Jake are decorating and renovating a home, is living together, so there are both pros and cons with this movie.

The cons... Daniel Lissing and Jessica Lowdes’ characters are both involved in long-term relationships with other people when they meet; however, it's clear that both couples are facing challenges. Honestly, watching the two couples struggle with their relationships felt a bit exhausting throughout the film. Aside from the Christmas decorations, the story didn't really capture the essence of the holiday season for me.

The pros... Renovation Romance is lighthearted and family-friendly, and it was enjoyable to see Jessica and Daniel share the screen again, especially after their previous film, A December Bride, which coincidentally also revolves around Christmas home dΓ©cor. ~Net

πŸŽ„ Christmas Under Construction is cute. -Maria

πŸŽ„ Christmas Under Construction was just ok for me. One time watch. ~Joyce in Carolina

πŸŽ„ Review: Christmas Under Construction -
Family-friendly? Yes -
Recommend? Another one-time watch, maybe -

It is good to see Jessica and Daniel together again in a movie, since they were a great pairing in A December Bride. Unfortunately, this one misses the mark. Problems with the two stars' relationships with their partners have already been pointed out, but for me the main problem is Daniel and Jessica's chemistry. Not a lack of it, but the intensity of it! (It is obvious that these two really enjoy working with each other and playing off each other.) So when the producer is filming the two of them for the TV show, their attraction is soooo obvious, there is no way a producer would allow that to be shown, since it would defeat the purpose of the show (helping Daniel and his partner's relationship). Instead, this producer goes, "Good chemistry, you guys!" Anyway, it is worth watching Jessica and Daniel together again, but the storyline is problematic. –Mark 25



πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„





O LITTLE CHRISTMAS MARKET

Saturday, July 11, 8 pm ET/PT

Stars: Katherine Barrell and Stephen Huszar

Olivia (Barrell) is a gifted miniature artist who has devoted her heart to the town’s Christmas market, a tradition started by her late father. When a corporate developer plans to tear it down, she risks losing the legacy she holds dear. A chance meeting at a train station with Grayson (Huszar), a talented yet unfulfilled architect, sparks an unexpected connection. Their bond is tested when Olivia learns his firm is behind the buyout. As Christmas draws near Olivia rallies the community to save the market after securing a delay to the final decision. Amid the holiday magic, Grayson and Olivia’s romance blossoms despite being on seemingly opposite sides of the deal. Together, they must find a way to merge their dreams and save the market, discovering that in order to endure love – like art – requires taking a leap of faith.

Movie Reviews:

πŸŽ„ O Little Christmas Market is family friendly, and meh. -Maria

πŸŽ„ Review: O Little Christmas Market -
Family-friendly? Yes -
Recommend? Well, it's not THAT bad -

Okay, if you read the synopsis above, yes, how many times have we seen a storyline similar to this? (Too many!) And indeed this movie has the usual "Hallmark Christmas tropes" (chance meetings, hands accidentally touching, and so forth). And yet...this movie drew me in because of the acting of Katherine and Stephen, and the chemistry between the two. So I am on the fence with this one. Would I watch it again? Maybe, maybe not. Do I recommend it? If you are looking for something really original, no. If you don't mind watching a rehashed plot with good acting, then yes. Is it as bad as some reviewers have said? No. Your call. –Mark 25

πŸŽ„ I actually liked O Little Christmas Market but was starting to think I must have missed something based on some reviews here! I thought it was sweet and the acting was good, really liked the leads and I appreciated their relationships with their parents. I guess I was also a bit impressed by the cute little miniatures! The storyline was rather predictable of course, but not as much as some! ~Lizzy

πŸŽ„ Last weeks Oh Christmas Market, was pretty dumb. While I loved the 2 leads and thought they were great together and apart, the rest of the movie was so overdone and made no sense. How a man has all of his money tied up in a lot that was given to him for free I will never know. And of course he had to sell, and how on earth do they save this place for 4 vendors that supposedly make their yearly money in December, selling things like honey and fudge???????????? And everything rode on shipping the shipping containers, I mean those things need to be transformed and its more than the free paint people would donate. Plain dumb and overdone.

If the guy wanted to sell the property cause he was older and wanted money to retire on, then say that. Not all his money was tied up in a vacant lot with people selling their yearly salary in december. And please explain to me how Kat Barrell is going to seriously, make a living selling miniature Christmas villages?????? But, I loved SH and KB each and together. Her friend, literally wore a turtle neck half of the movie, then suddenly wore something else. Found that weird.

And really, they spent years trying to untangle that reindeer???????????????????? Seriously. It wasn't even lights, it was like 2 parts. Just dumb. ~Sabrina

πŸŽ„ O Little Christmas Market - This is one of those movies that was pleasant enough, but that’s basically it. The opening actually reminded me a little of We Met in December. In both films, two people meet, share an instant connection, but never exchange full names - and then there's a phone number that's left behind in a note that never makes it to the intended person.

Thankfully, this story doesn't keep us waiting nearly two hours for the couple to find each other again! Katherine and Stephen have a sweet, natural chemistry, and the movie is lighthearted, wholesome, and cozy.

That said, I wasn't completely sold on the storage unit storyline, and the "save the Christmas market" plot felt like it lingered a bit too long. Even so, it's an enjoyable enough one-time Christmas in July watch with a few charming moments along the way. ~Net


πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„





SNOWBOUND FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Saturday, July 18, 8 pm ET/PT

Stars: Vanessa Lengies and Marcus Rosner

Cassidy Evergreen (Lengies) is an ambitious guest services manager at her family’s boutique hotel company who is determined to prove she’s ready for the next step in her career. Her mother – and boss – Joanne (Kathryn Greenwood, Ghosts), sends her to Ridgeford Valley to evaluate the future of the charming but struggling Linden Lodge. Upon arriving, she meets Trey Sanderson (Rosner), the lodge’s devoted co-owner who is doing everything he can to preserve it. Alongside his spirited daughter, Lilly (Skywalker Hughes, Joe Pickett), Trey is working tirelessly to keep the lodge’s beloved holiday traditions alive, including the town’s annual Christmas Festival. As Cassidy becomes part of the festivities – from untangling Christmas lights and snow tubing adventures to helping Lilly sell holiday wish lanterns for charity – she begins to discover the magic that makes Linden Lodge so special. Along the way, Cassidy finds herself drawn to Trey, Lilly and the close-knit community that gathers there each Christmas season. But when outside pressures threaten the future of the lodge, Cassidy must decide what truly matters most.

Movie Reviews:

πŸŽ„ Snowbound for the Holidays is family friendly and charming. -Maria

πŸŽ„ I did enjoy Snowbound for the Holidays. It was real snow and very good. ~Sabrina

πŸŽ„ Review: Snowbound for the Holidays -
Family-friendly? Yes -
Recommend? Another "One-time Watch" -

I dunno...maybe it's me...maybe because I've seen soooo many Hallmark, etc. Christmas movies over the years, I'm at a point where it is going to take something really good...really special...really original...to get me to recommend a movie. Because for me, all of the movies that have premiered so far (Christmas Under Construction, The Trouble with Christmas Mistletoe, O Little Christmas Market, and this one, Snowbound for the Holidays) have been, well, okay. Not bad, but not great, not even very good. Maybe worth a one-time watch, but nothing more.

Here, we have good acting by Venessa and Marcus, although I didn't get a sense of strong chemistry between the two (and they could have played out a connection between his dad and her mother much more than they did). But once again we have a very standardized or cookie-cutter plot, with all of the scenes being very formulaic. You pretty much know what's going to happen, and more than once I rolled my eyes thinking, "of course this was going to take place". (SPOILER: The ending with her on the slopes was predictable, but so over-the-top and ridiculous!)

Well, maybe they're saving the really good ones for Countdown to Christmas later in the year. But so far, we're not off to the greatest of starts. Or again, maybe it's just me... Mark 25



πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„





LOVE UNDER THE MISTLETOE

(Previously known as: Operation Mistletoe)

Saturday, July 25, 8 pm ET/PT

Stars: Jen Lilley and Nick Bateman

Interior designer Grace (Lilley) runs a business with her best friend and her brother in the quaint town of Ivy Glen but is too busy for a real relationship. Ryan (Bateman), a successful New York City financial advisor and Grace’s former high school crush, returns home planning to sell his grandmother’s historic St. Nicholas House. The mayor convinces him to revive the beloved Ribbons & Bows charity fundraiser and brings Grace on board to help. Working side by side to pull the event together, the former couple reminisces and feelings they once shared slowly resurface. But will this yuletide reunion lead to love under the mistletoe?

Movie Reviews for LOVE UNDER THE MISTLETOE (Operation Mistletoe):

πŸŽ„ Operation Mistletoe (2024) is family friendly about when Grace’s former classmate & (crush) Ryan St. Nicholas arrives home for Christmas, Grace’s best friend initiates “Operation Mistletoe” to search for mistletoe. Ryan isn’t selling St. Nicholas’ House to keep his family legacy that belong to his Grandma’s. Ribbons & Bows Christmas Fundraiser with help from Jack & Olivia. Mayor Sami Hoffman & her Husband. Olivia gives Grace a mistletoe. Grace has a mistletoe while Ryan holds mistletoe from Grace as they kissed under the mistletoe. Jack & Olivia go outside. It’s available on Hulu via Disney+ ~Anonymous

πŸŽ„ Thank you for sharing about this movie! I just watched it and it was so cute! It stars Jen Lilley and Nick Bateman. They had great chemistry together and the supporting cast was great especially her best friend and brother who are married. Very cute and fun! It’s available on Hulu. ~Sara S.

πŸŽ„ “Operation Mistletoe” – This movie disappointed us. We normally enjoy anything Jen is in but not this one. We did not finish the movie. ~Joan

πŸŽ„ Operation Mistletoe - Did anyone find that the audio was poor? At times, the speech seemed jumbled. Jen’s speech also seemed to be sped up. Despite using CC, this really affected how I could listen. It is a shame too because it was cute. ~Anonymous

πŸŽ„ Operation Mistletoe. This one didn’t make my Bells on Bob-tail ring. If you’re going to make an unoriginal, cookie-cutter Christmas movie, it needs something to stand out and make it special – some sort of spark or warmth or humor or meat on it’s bones. But this one felt lame and rather B-list low-budget, with uninspired writing/directing/producing, along with annoying background music and sound issues. Other than Jen Lilley, the actors were either flat or over-the-top annoying. There was no chemistry between Jen and Nick (all that plethora of ridiculous mistletoe just wasn’t working for these two!!); and, for me, Nick is just too stiff and awkward (and he seriously needs a new hair stylist!!). I love Jen Lilley but even she couldn’t save this one. I quit at the two-thirds point but it was family friendly up until then. ~~Jane (aka Much Mistletoeing)

πŸŽ„ Operation Mistletoe - Finally got around to watching this, and it was so sweet! -Maria

πŸŽ„ Operation Mistletoe - This is such a sweet, lighthearted movie. I really enjoyed the brother and his wife... they are super cute. Jen and Nick are fun, too, but I didn't feel much chemistry with their characters. Overall, though, it's still a delightful watch. ~Net

πŸŽ„ Review: Love Under the Mistletoe -
Family-friendly? Yes -
Recommend? Unfortunately no -

In an earlier review, I said that the first four premiers this July were just okay and maybe worth a one-time watch. I was hoping that this movie would change that and that I could highly recommend it. Unfortunately, it goes in the other direction. It's not even worth a one-time watch.

The problems? Well...

* As much as I adore Jen Lilley as a very caring person, she still talks way too fast, and imho is not one of the better Hallmark actresses.
* In fact, I found the acting by all four of the main characters to be sub-par.
* Another unoriginal plot of someone coming home to save (fill-in-the-blank).
* And really, an adult trying to get a couple together by...planting mistletoe all over town? A very childish move!
* I found the sister-in-law annoying (the mistletoe thing didn't help) and her husband, well, let's just go with weak.
* And did anyone else find NIck's hairstyle, um, weird?

This movie was so slow-moving, I kept looking at the clock going, how much longer? I couldn't wait for it to end! (And maybe part of the problem was I watched the fast-moving, fun-loving movie The Santa Summit as my "25th" movie, and that one I never want to end!) Anyway, I agree with Net that it is a sweet movie, but I still recommend skipping it. ~Mark 25

πŸŽ„ Under the Mistletoe-I love Jen Lilley as a person and think she's beautiful inside and out, but, I got a little tired of this one. I did not sense chemistry between the 2 leads at all, and I felt like Jen's character was just too happy all the time. I would love to see her play a role with more depth of emotions.

Also, the mistletoe popping up everywhere kind of got old for me. Not a bad movie, don't mean to sound too negative--I always appreciate a clean and sweet one, just not one I'd watch again. ~Lizzy R.



πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„



Stay tuned for more details on Christmas in July, and I'll have more updates coming to the Christmas Schedule!

If you've seen CHRISTMAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION and LOVE UNDER THE MISTLETOE, please share your reviews in comments below.


Have a Merry Day,
Net πŸŽ„

13 comments:

  1. Seeing Brad Krevoy's company back at Hallmark is definitely a very hopeful sign for it's future, as his company made some of Hallmark's absolute BEST movies in the past! -Maria

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. His movies whether on Great American Family, Netflix or whereever. All have the same problem the music is so loud that close captioning is needed.

      Delete
  2. Wow, I am getting super excited for Christmas in July! Okay first of all, Jane aka Much Mistletoeing, your review of the Jen Lilley movie made me laugh out loud πŸ˜‚ I totally forgot my Christmas name, I’ll need to remember when it comes time to leave Christmas reviews πŸ€”
    So I’m happy I will finally get to be able to watch Christmas Under Construction. I really do enjoy Jessica and Daniel together. For some reason, it’s been on my Disney Plus since last Christmas but everytime I tried to click it to watch, it gave me some strange message that it couldn’t play it due to rating restrictions. We have parental controls for our children but I have no idea why it was saying that for that particular movie so I gave up and never got to watch it.
    Snowbound For The Holidays, I am so excited for that one. I loved Vanessa in A Date For Christmas Eve (the Mrs Clause was so enchanting) and Take Me Back For Christmas was amazing. The relationship with her mom and Corey as her husband, she was just so great in that movie. Poor Stephen I don’t feel he ever really has chemistry with anyone but I’ll give his movie a watch, it’s a Christmas one so bring it on πŸ˜‚
    ~Paula

    ReplyDelete
  3. It gives me such a cozy feeling to already know that Christmas in July on Hallmark is going to run from June 26th all the way to July 31st. Thank you for that Net.

    I haven't seen the two rename Christmas movies so that's four NEW ones on Hallmark and one NEW one on GAF for me. Love it! That makes me so happy!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very disappointed that Hallmark has copied GAF' and is promoting 2 of these as "new" when they aren't.

    As rumored we got 2 new Christmas In July movies although I'll wait for comments on Snowbound before deciding whether to watch or not.

    If Trey's wife has passed then Cassidy is only second best so I won't watch but if he is divorced then obviously the first wife wasn't the love of his life.

    Really looking forward to O Little Christmas Market.

    Remember throughly enjoying Renovation Romance but would agree it wasn't particularly Christmassy

    Operation Mistletoe while run-of-the-mill and a bit low key is fine for a one-off watch and is family friendly - Florence

    ReplyDelete
  5. These look like great movies for Christmas in July!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anyone feel like Hallmark is now making a real effort to return to it's REAL roots? This schedule certainly feels like it in a way. -Maria

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How is them acquiring two movies that premiered in 2024 on Hulu that are still on there to watch Hallmark returning to their real roots? Genuinely curious. I would say the exact opposite of what you said. That them acquiring movies that have been out for 2 years is against what they've done and doesn't get people excited because a lot of people have already seen them and they have never done that. They should have just had the 2 new vortex productions premieres for Christmas In July and Christmas At Sea Season 2 and called it a day.

      Delete
    2. Hi Maria,

      It does feel like this to me as well. And it seems as though the ratings have been better. I read that some people are not happy there have been no same sex, or much diversity, but to be honest, those movies do not do well on this network, never have. So why would hallmark continue making? Instead, make those movies many of us long time fans came to watch. I remember when a Saturday night live tweet for a movie was so big, or the Chesapeake Shores live tweet was so amazing. Not much to be excited for the last 5 or 6 years. And this may not be nice to say, but I am over HM making a movie just cause their pet actors are in them, like the mysteries. They do not do well. That True Justice did not do well and yet they continue to make. I still want to see endings to the ones that were popular and had good ratings. But they are scrapped for pet actors of the networks movies that do not do well.

      I know some think HM is going backwards, but maybe they are finally going back to the movies and fans that made them who they are, if any of them are left and willing to come back. I will say I have watched more movies in the last year than I have most years in the past. I do not want 100 new movies with the same stories and then agenda movies simply just to have the agenda.

      I always stand by that HM back when Bill was there, knew its audience. Just as BET or MTV or AMC or Lifetime knows their audience. And HM loyal day in and day out live tweeting, making all the socials and ratings bonanza did not want agenda movies. Some like the wholesome love stories and some like when a big city person is so busy to enjoy life, comes home and is reminded that family and friends and love do matter, maybe more than that giant promotion that you never have any time to enjoy anyway. I hope the good days will be back for HM, and the ratings seem to show that.

      Sabrina

      Delete
    3. Anon, Hallmark is beginning to bring back people and companies that made their best movies, Brad Krevoy has made many, many fan favorites that are still loved today (like Crown for Christmas, Royal Matchmaker, Christmas Waltz, and many more!), and seeing them just buying 2 of his previous movies is a good signal that they want to work more with him in the future. I have yet to be really disappointed by anything he makes for Hallmark or GAF, and that's a good thing! They will be wise to try to work with him for more movies in the near future. -Maria

      Delete
    4. Sabrina, I really do agree with this. While some of those 'pet actors' have made a few good movies in the past, it would be better to see some care with those series that didn't have a real ending.

      Having a lot of Christmas movies year in and year out is just exhausting to me now, especially when plenty of those that turn out to be good either don't get on DVD within the next year or only get in DVD collections with an innaproppriate movie. Having less is good IMO.

      Hallmark needs to remember who it's real audience is, YES!! It's real audience isn't the one who wants more mature themes or for gay people to be in every movie, it's always been the one who just wants a clean, cozy movie. -Maria

      Delete
    5. To Anon, I remember HM back when I first watched it back in 2014 and then fully in 2015, but I rememeber them playing movies that were not theirs, mostly cause they didn't have the amount of movies they have now. Or maybe they thought those movies were good.

      HM used to play, and they even played this when they added HM Drama:

      Once and Twice Upon a Christmas with Kathy Ireland--that was not their movies

      I didn't realize til someone told me, the movie Angels Sing was not their movie, but they played during Christmas, and it was a christmas in july movie.

      I am sure there were a lot more. I called that the best time in HM. I didn't watch in 2012, or 13 but those CTC movies are some of the best they made.

      I think one year they even played a Whitney Houston movie. Maybe it wasn't christmas but I had a recording that had the preview for it. So maybe them going back to their roots is working smarter and not harder, and not spending so much money making movies just to have the most new movies ever.

      Sabrina

      Delete
  7. I was so disappointed with Christmas Under Construction. I haven't really watched Hallmark in quite some time.
    Misty

    ReplyDelete

Please comment and share your thoughts on movies and more! I always enjoy hearing from you! Blessings, Net