Welcome, Friends...
to the 2026
Christmas Movie Review Page!
Here we go, Christmas Movie Watchers!!! 🎄🎬✨ It’s time to kick off our 7th year of Christmas movie reviews here at It’s a Wonderful Movie, and I couldn’t be more excited to celebrate another wonderful holiday season with all of you!
If you’ve been joining us for Christmas movie reviews since the beginning, thank you from the bottom of my heart for being part of this special tradition! 💖 And if you’re new here, I’m so happy you’ve found us! Consider this your warm and merry welcome to join in! ❤️
Once again, we’ll be sharing our thoughts on nearly every new Christmas movie premiering throughout the season on Great American Family, Hallmark Channel, UPtv, Lifetime, and more! And the best part? These reviews come from YOU, the wonderful It’s a Wonderful Movie followers! Whether you love a heartwarming romance, a faith-filled Christmas story, or a little holiday mystery, I can’t wait to hear what you think of this year’s new movies!
Be sure to bookmark this page and check back often as we add more reviews throughout the Christmas season!🎄
Want to join in the fun and share your own review? It’s easy! Simply scroll to the end of this post for details.
I’m so grateful we get to enjoy another Christmas movie season together, and I hope these reviews help you discover some new favorites along the way. So grab your favorite Christmas snack, settle in, and let’s get this holiday movie celebration started!
Merry Christmas Movie Watching, everyone! 🎄❤️✨
* 2026 CHRISTMAS *
MOVIE REVIEWS
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*Christmas movies are listed below in order of their premiere date, underneath each individual network.
🌟GREAT AMERICAN FAMILY:
A Second Chance Christmas - October 10, 2026
🎄 I also watched Second Chance Christmas. It went so fast! I really do hope there's a second movie with the family next Christmas and see how they have grown. ~Misty
🎄 I watched A Second Chance Christmas last night on Pure Flix with Candance and Jonathan. They were great together and I had my reservations about this pairing. As the title says, it's about second chances in love and more importunely the chances God gives us by just simply asking and truly meaning it. He's always just a prayer away! There's lots of praying in this movie and that's all I will give away! It's good! It's a keeper! ~Joyce in Carolina
🎄 We enjoyed A Second Chance Christmas. The faith in this movie is truly inspiring. I was surprised that they both found faith after their divorce. I liked that sometimes life doesn't always turn out the way we expected. ~Allie B
🎄 A Second Chance Christmas- Anyone who has ever experienced struggles (ongoing or recent) with imperfections really should watch this beautiful movie! –Maria
🎄 Second Chance Christmas is a really great start to the Christmas season for Great American Family. I love how it focuses on belief, reflection and growth, and forgiveness. And even better, it's a movie where the actors actually play roles that fit them according to their ages and life experience. Yay! Sometimes the faith element in these movies can feel a bit awkward, but I appreciated how this was delivered with what felt like genuine sincerity, including reminiscing about the birth of the Savior Jesus Christ. Well done! ~Marianne
🎄 Marianne, I totally agree, it was well done! And I, too, appreciate when actors fit the age and experience level for their roles, it makes it much easier for me to enjoy the whole movie. ~~Jane
🎄 A Second Chance Christmas – What a heartwarming and inspiring way to kick off Great American Family’s 2026 Christmas movie season! The story centers on Anna (Candace Cameron Bure) and James (Jonathan Scarfe), exes who find themselves alone together in a beautifully decorated cabin at Christmastime. Even with a smaller setting and just the two of them for much of the story, the movie keeps things interesting and entertaining from beginning to end!
Right from the start, Candace and Jonathan do a wonderful job drawing us into their characters’ lives, heartaches, and hopes for the future. Reconnecting as a divorced couple doesn’t come without a few disagreements, but I really loved watching them slowly open their hearts again. One of the most meaningful moments was later in the movie when Rubin, their new friend, talked with James about the time and dedication it takes to restore a piece of furniture. I thought that was such a beautiful connection to Anna and James’s relationship! Just as a broken piece of furniture can be carefully restored, a relationship that seems damaged can also be renewed with patience, love, and faith.
Overall, A Second Chance Christmas is a sweet reminder that broken things aren’t always beyond repair. This movie was a beautiful way to begin this Christmas movie season. ~Net
🎄 Agree, Net! Definitely a beautiful way to start the season, and a keeper, as Joyce said! ~~Jane
🎄 I agree Net. This was a great way to start the Christmas movie season. Giving a clear reason for the season in Jesus. At the center is Jesus, scripture, prayer, & renewal. Very powerful stuff.
Now, I HAVE to drag my mattress into the living room and place it in front of the fireplace with the couch nearby. That was one of my favorite parts of the movie. You talk about the warm and fuzzies and coziness and with the Christmas tree and decorations lit up in the background, this was a great scene. All within a beautiful cozy cabin. Oh, and a storm raging outside making it even more delightful. I love doing things like that. The world rages outside the cabin walls but inside is a mystical quality of the season.
I also loved that they lost connection to the outside world even with their phones allowing them to see heart to heart once again without the distractions of the world muddling things up. They were once again able to see their true love, through Christ, and through a wonderful believing couple who helped along the way and who became their only contact to the world. The path became clear when they were forced into simplification. Life today is too fast and too technologically driven and filled with endless distractions keeping us from seeing that clear path of love. –Jim
🎄 A Second Chance Christmas - Okay I have finished my first recorded Christmas movie of the season, I’m off to a good start lol So I really enjoyed this movie! The storyline already hooked me in with them being stranded in a cabin during a storm- those are always so cozy. This one had a lot of serious conversations that I feel many married couples have, and many wives/moms can relate to Candace’s character as we try to do it all and it’s impossible. Marriage is really hard work and I loved the introduction of the neighbor couple and their little mentorship. I really enjoy BJ Harrison and I feel she was a good fit as the neighbor. I love what her husband said when they forgot to pray “it’s never too late” That’s so true about so many things in our walk with Christ. It’s never too late to come to God, to repent, to forgive, to change, to love, and it’s a choice we make everyday to follow Christ. Definitely recommend! ~Paula
🎄 A Second Chance Christmas - Boy, do I feel like I am behind the 8-ball here! (That's an old expression for you young ones here!) Anyway, Joyce, Marianne, Jane, Maria, Allie, Jim and Net...I totally agree with everything you have said, and what you said you said beautifully, so there's not really much more for me to add. But let me just say, this is a wonderful movie all-around - a great story that kept me interested throughout, great acting, and most of all, the wonderful message that, as you said Net, relationships can work with patience, love and faith. And I love how prayer was emphasized so much in this movie!
And my prayer is that couples struggling in their lives with their partner will somehow find this movie and it will take its message to heart! To me, nothing is better than when a movie like this can have a healing effect! –Mark 25
🎄 A Second Chance Christmas - we enjoyed this movie too! Best part for me was the son’s reaction at the end and what he said. (I’m not going to give it away but it was very sweet!) Christie
🎄 A Second Chance Christmas was so incredibly good!! We’ve had extended family drama in recent years and we’ve had multiple conversations with our girls about how we often see others through a screen of our own pain and they had such a great example of this that we got to go more in depth about as a family. They did such a great job of showing the gravity and depth of a broken family (I grew up in one 🙋🏼♀️) while also showing how having a relationship with Jesus really changes people and how he can redeem us. We all loved it so much! ~Sarah S
Silver Bells at Christmas - October 17, 2026
🎄 Silver Bells at Christmas is a new favorite! Laura's singing is something special. Misty
🎄 Silver Bells at Christmas is a gorgeous movie! –Maria
🎄 Silver Bells at Christmas is really beautiful! Laura Osnes was amazing, along with the rest of the cast! Christie
🎄 I loved A Silver Bells Christmas. The music was so wonderful. I really enjoy movies that bring music into it. Great chemistry and loved how it ended. Great chemistry between the semi love triangle. Misty
🎄 Silver Bells at Christmas was a wonderful movie. I will be adding it to my must watch movies every year. –Ken
🎄 Review: Silver Bells at Christmas -
Family-friendly? Yes -
Recommend? Unfortunately, no -
I know, I am in the minority here, and I really wanted to like this movie (I mean, c'mon, Laura Osnes! Singing!!). And I thought I would, when I watched some behind-the-scenes footage where the actors were having a lot of fun!
Yes, this movie is sweet, and yes, it is faith-based, but...it is boring! No energy, no excitement, no enthusiasm. And it didn't feel like a Christmas movie, with fun and festivities. (Even the ending, where the girls are celebrating Christmas in matching pajamas - just so serious!) No, for me, it just kind of plodded along. The storyline was also weak - I couldn't get into the songwriting competition or the common save-the-shop plot. And except for Laura, the acting was sub-par (especially by the two guys) - too often it felt like lines were just being recited. Plus, the songs that were introduced...well, let's just say they wouldn't be on my playlist. So, I am sorry to say, this was definitely a one-time watch only for me.
The Laura Osnes in One Royal Holiday - a fun, energetic, sometimes silly person in a lively movie - that is what I want to see. Maybe next time. –Mark 25
🎄 Silver Bells at Christmas🔔 - This movie has such a warm, cozy Christmas feel to it! I absolutely fell in love with the sweet town of Comfort, Kentucky! One of my favorite things was getting to hear Laura Osnes sing in this Christmas movie - and with the handsome Chuck Wicks, no less!
The love triangle was a lot of fun, but I could totally tell where Laura’s heart was, so there was never really any doubt about who she should choose.
And Ryan McPartlin was ideal as the former childhood nerd turned successful handsome businessman who has a sweet little secret from the past!💕
I also LOVED all the It’s a Wonderful Life Easter eggs sprinkled throughout the movie, including seeing it play in the background of one scene! I have a feeling I’ll keep discovering more little references with every rewatch. So fun!!!
And all of the songs in the movie were so beautiful! I’m still singing and humming, “So as the snow keeps fallin’ - I keep fallin’ for you…” 🎶
I also really appreciated the adoption storyline and the reminder that sometimes making the right choice isn’t easy. But choosing love and doing what’s right, even when it’s hard, can be so worth it. Loved that!!!❤️
A few things, though, that I would change... I noticed the sister kept urging Laura to find love, but what about her? Didn't she deserve to find love too? And, I agree with Mark... loved the scenes when Laura was perky & happy - also would've loved more of them! And the store situation at the end - just wish that could've been different somehow.
Overall, though, Silver Bells at Christmas is heartwarming and lighthearted… perfect for a family movie night. Definitely one I’ll be “fallin for” over and over again!🎄✨ ~Net
Christmas Prayer Tradition - October 24, 2026
A Very Arctic Christmas - October 31, 2026
Karen Kingsbury’s The Christmas Ring - November 7, 2026
An Ozark Mountain Christmas - November 8, 2026
The Christmas Yes List - November 14, 2026
Christmas at Moose Lake - November 15, 2026
Three Generations, One Christmas - November 21, 2026
Letters This Christmas - November 22, 2026
Sweet Christmas Anniversary - November 27, 2026
A Rescue Dog For Christmas - November 28, 2026
The Greatest Christmas Gift - November 29, 2026
The Christmas Ornament Library - December 5, 2026
Christmas by the Spoonful - December 6, 2026
Making Christmas Bright - December 12, 2026
A Very Evergreen Christmas - December 13, 2026
Christmas Wrapped in Love - December 19, 2026
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🌟HALLMARK CHANNEL:
‘Tis the Season for Setups - October 16, 2026
🎄 Tis the Season for Setups is family friendly, and that's basically it. –Maria
🎄 Tis the Season for Setups - This movie was a cute one! First off, all of the Christmas decorations around the cabin and those aerial shots of the ski resort, beautiful! It was nice to see Barbara Niven as I only really see her in the Hannah Swenson movies and I kept thinking “hmmm she’s acting like Delores” 😂 especially when they went to the escape room. I also feel that Victor and Amanda were a good pairing, as well as their parents. ~Paula
🎄 ‘Tis The Season For Setups was an okay movie. It was family friendly so that’s nice. Most of the movie felt more like an old Hallmark Winter movie rather than a Christmas movie. I’m a huge fan of both Amanda Schull and Victor Webster and I feel like they were pretty good together. This wasn’t my favorite movie but close to the ending there was a very sweet, touching scene between the main character and her mother and I feel like that made up for some of the slower, less Christmas-y parts of the movie! ~Sarah S
🎄 Review: 'Tis the Season for Setups -
Family-friendly? Yes -
Recommend? A Mild Yes -
This movie is more about family dynamics than the romance between Amanda and Victor, and that for me is a plus. I enjoyed watching the relationship between Amanda and her mother and daughter play out, along with the relationship between Victor and his dad. It kept my interest from start to finish. And the connection between her mom and his dad - great chemistry! In fact, I felt they had more chemistry than Amanda and Victor! A couple of other problems for me: Amanda seemed to fluctuate between no-fun and wildly-fun too much. And she sure seemed to ski like a pro after not being on skis for a long time! Still, I'd give this film a go. –Mark 25
🎄 'Tis the Season for Setups - this movie had its moments. I liked Amanda Schull & Barbara Niven as mother & daughter, but... the storyline of Amanda's character, Lexi, being boring and too serious kind of dragged on for me. And the times she finally breaks out of her shell - seemed kind of forced to me, like she was trying too hard to simply enjoy herself.
Totally agree with Sarah S. - that it felt more (at times) like a Winter movie than Christmas. Amanda & Victor were sweet together; I really enjoyed his carefree, cheerful spirit. Overall, family-friendly, and the surprise reveal at the end with June & Dan was cute! ~Net
Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story - October 17, 2026
🎄 Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story - I watched The Holiday Touchdown Bears movie online. The movie was really well done, but the product placement was so badly done. The only part that wasn't good was toward the end with Darlene almost not going to the 500th game part. Otherwise, it was a fun movie and great chemistry. Misty
🎄 Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story - Hi Misty, Tell me about the product placement. Towards the end, a lady bought what looked to be groceries to Darlene's 70 year old friend, and the made sure to stop and pause on the Always maxi pads in the bag. I mean who were they for?????????? And just weird product placement, I mean who wants to see those kids of products other than when you have to use them???? It was so weird.
But I did LOVE the movie. Lyndsey and Robert were amazing. I loved the relationship Avery built with her stepdad. That can be so hard when mom or dad remarries later in life, and you come home and feel things are different. He just loved her and was ready when she was and it was a nice relationship building part of the movie.
Loved seeing Deb from One Tree Hill as her mom.
It was a great movie and I felt so much chemistry in the movie with all the ladies, the fans, the bar patrons. I LOVE NFL football, I play in 2 fantasy leagues and several pick em pools, but I was not interested in the Chiefs game for many reasons, and tried the Bills movie, but this movie was the bomb. I do not even like the Bears. It was done well, minus the maxi pads for the 70 year old lady product placement. I just can't get it out of my head. If they were trying to draw in men with football, they may have lost them there. Sabrina
🎄 I just watched the Holiday Touchdown Bears movie and it was good. Lyndsy Fonseca makes every movie she is in good though so it’s not a surprise! I am very much NOT a fan of the Chiefs so i didn't watch the movie with them in 2024 and last years Holiday Touchdown movie with the Bills was meh but this years was much better. It was thankfully family friendly! ~Sarah S
🎄 Review: Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story -
Family-friendly? Yes -
Recommend? Yes, but as a sweet story, not for the romance -
I did not watch the two previous Holiday Touchdown movies. Not because I don't like football - I do - but because I thought too much emphasis would be on football and the team and not much on a good story. If I want football, I'll watch football. But I wanted to watch this one because 1) I live in a suburb of Chicago and wanted to see what they would do with the team and the sights and 2) I really enjoy Lyndsy Fonseca.
And, at least for this movie, my suspicions were right. I enjoyed this movie but not for the romance between the leads. In fact, I thought it confusing. They went back and forth between really liking each other, then not being sure, then back to liking each other, then back...and so on. Maybe because the romance was secondary, it was not well developed. It just didn't ring true.
Yet, I enjoyed this movie. The plot - the main plot - is about a "gram's" 500th game...how she became a fan, her life now, and the working's behind the big celebration. This story was so well-told! And the acting by everyone - top notch! Yeah, they overdid it with the Bears talk and the Bears highlights and the Bears cameos. But still, I recommend the movie - for the sweet story that it is.
A couple of things worth mentioning...
* At the beginning, on the marquee of the Chicago Theater, they show 2 movies playing: Next Stop, Christmas and The Christmas House. Get it? But what is also funny is that this theater does not ever show films, only live productions.
* Christkindlemarket, which they actually advertise and where some of the characters spend some time, is shown without a crowd. Trust me, that place is jam packed whenever you go.
* It was fun to see some of the buildings and scenery in downtown Chicago, although sometimes a name was changed. –Mark 25
🎄 Holiday Touchdown - So I have never watched any of these football movies that Hallmark does now- no particular reason, maybe I thought it would be all about football & im only a football fan because my husband is but I never know what’s going on…. But I really enjoyed Robert in the Ted Cooper movie last year so I gave this one a shot.
The budding relationship between Avery and Matt was cute to watch, I felt they had a natural connection. I did feel bad for her relationship with her mother, though. She just always looked a little sad and the mom didn’t seem to notice…
The movie didn’t really give me that Christmas feeling and I didn’t care for the family dynamic, felt like something was missing, the stepdad seemed to care more than the mother, so probably a one time watch for me. But I’m sure this would be a great family film for anyone who lives in Chicago and is a Bears fan because of the cameos. I’m from CA so if this was a movie about the SF 49ers my family would love it 😊 ~Paula
Mr. & Mrs. Christmas - October 17, 2026
🎄 Mr and Mrs Christmas is an adorable treat for both the Hearties and Chessies. -Maria
🎄 Review: Mr. & Mrs. Christmas -
Family-friendly? Yes -
Recommend? Yes -
Wow, 'tis the season for family relationships on Hallmark! We've got "Tis the Season for Setups, in which a mom attempts to improve her relationship with her mom and daughter and a dad tries the same with his dad; we've got Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story in which a gramma tries to get her grandson into a relationship, and this one, in which a dad struggles in his relationship with his daughter. In all three romance between the leads takes a back seat to the family relationships, and I enjoyed them all - with this one being my favorite.
Brendan is perfect as the loving dad who is having trouble connecting with his daughter. On the advice of Pascale, he unfortunately overcompensates and drives a greater wedge between them. But (of course) he finally figures out the right balance and all is well between them. But before that, you really feel for the guy. Top notch acting by Brendan!
I loved the sweet storyline, and both Brandan and Pascale came across as sincere when trying to deal with this problem. And yes, you could feel the attraction between the two - the romance (although secondary) was well-played - you could feel the chemistry develop over time. And the actress who played his daughter - perfect!
Finally, that "uppie" at the end...oh, that got me!! This movie has a lot going for it, so I highly recommend giving it a watch, and for me it is a keeper that I will be revisiting again. –Mark 25
Winter Wonderlanes - October 23, 2026
Forgotten Holiday - October 24, 2026
What If Christmas - October 25, 2026
Who’s Coming for Christmas? - October 30, 2026
Adopting St. Nick - October 31, 2026
A Danish Christmas - November 1, 2026
Mistletoe Murders - Season 3 - begins November 5, 2026
Merry Memories - November 6, 2026
Holiday Unplugged - November 7, 2026
A Season of Promises - November 8, 2026
My Christmas Cowboy - November 13, 2026
The Nights Before Christmas - November 14, 2026
Mistletoe and Mimosas - November 15, 2026
Our Holiday Playbook - November 20, 2026
Christmas in Blue Dog Valley - November 21, 2026
Double Booked for the Holidays - November 22, 2026
Christmas Delivered - November 26, 2026
The Christmas Eve Feast - November 27, 2026 at 6 p.m. ET/PT
Return to Santa - November 27, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
The Most Wonderful Secret - November 28, 2026 at 6 p.m. ET/PT
Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True - November 28, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Eight Nights for Love - November 29, 2026 at 6 p.m. ET/PT
Miles to Christmas - November 29, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
The Snowflake Effect - December 4, 2026
A Grand Biltmore Christmas- December 5, 2026
An Angel in My Stocking - December 6, 2026
Christmas in Canterbury - December 11, 2026
Snow Globe Town - December 12, 2026
Noelle Nomads - December 13, 2026
Hearts All Aglow - December 18, 2026
Barking All the Way - December 19, 2026
Save the Date for Christmas - December 20, 2026
Note: This movie includes a same-sex couple.
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🌟UPtv:
Snowbody Like You – November 5, 2026
Chocolate For Christmas – November 6, 2026
A Royal Stables Christmas – November 12, 2026
Christmas En Pointe – November 19, 2026
The Christmas Gift Guide - December 3, 2026
Christmas in the Ballroom – December 4, 2026
Christmas Cookie Caper: A Puzzle Time Mystery – December 10, 2026
The Christmas Treehouse – December 17, 2026
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🌟LIFETIME:
Christmas Everyday: Married and Bright - November 28 at 8 p.m.
Checking Inn for Christmas - November 28 at 10 p.m.
A Firefighter's Christmas Calendar - November 29 at 8 p.m.
Note: This movie includes a same-sex couple.
Christmas from the Heart - December 5 at 8 p.m.
The Toymaker's Christmas Romance - December 5 at 10 p.m.
Mending Hearts for Christmas (Working Title) - December 6 at 8 p.m.
Mistletoe in Mexico - December 12 at 8 p.m.
An Inseparable Christmas (Working Title) - December 12 at 10 p.m.
A Second Chance Christmas Letter (Working Title) - December 13 at 8 p.m.
Love on the Christmas List - December 19 at 8 p.m.
Christmas at Mistletoe Hall - December 20 at 8 p.m.
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🌟STREAMING:
Any streaming movie reviews from Amazon Prime Video, Xumo, Tubi, Netflix, Disney+, etc... will be shared here.
🌟 Xumo -
A Proper Christmas -
🎄 A Proper Christmas is family friendly, and very sweet! -Maria
A Christmas Ornament to Remember -
🎄 Nicely's A Christmas Ornament to Remember is family friendly and quite cute (streaming on Xumo). -Maria
My Storybook Christmas With You -
🎄 Nicely's My Storybook Christmas With You is family friendly and quite charming. (streaming on Xumo Play) -Maria
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Stay tuned! 🎄✨
I’ll be updating this post throughout the Christmas season as more reviews come in from our It’s a Wonderful Movie family and friends!
A BIG thank-you to everyone who has contributed a review so far, and to all of you who will join in the fun as the season continues!
🎬 HOW TO SHARE A MOVIE REVIEW:
Where to post: Leave your movie review in the comments anywhere on this site, and I’ll add it to the list above for everyone to enjoy!
Your Movie Review: Start with the movie title, share your thoughts, and sign off with your name, initials, or a fun nickname. Whatever name you choose is up to you... it can even be a cute Christmas nickname like Sugar Cookie or Santa’s Elf! Try to use the same name throughout the season so we can get to know you through your reviews. 😊
Please avoid spoilers: If you need to reveal an important plot detail, add a Spoiler Warning first so others can decide whether to keep reading.
Please be kind: Whether you loved a movie or have some constructive criticism, please share your thoughts kindly and respectfully. Remember, someone involved in making the movie might read your review.
Thank you all so much! I can’t wait to read your reviews of the 2026 Christmas movie premieres!
God Bless Us, Everyone!
Net🎄
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Please comment and share your thoughts on movies and more! I always enjoy hearing from you! Blessings, Net