Adopting St. Nick | Christmas 2026

Adopting St. Nick is another movie that Hallmark tried to spoil me with commercials. But my fast forward finger beat them!

Maren (Amy Groening) is the owner of her late father’s hardware store and a single mother to her adopted daughter, Leah (Taylor Blake). Leah misses having a grandfather of her own so Maren signs them up for the Christmas Companions program at Jolly Acres, the new retirement community in town. There she meets Reid (Michael Rady), whose job it is to travel around the country opening new branches of Jolly Acres. And Leah meets Kris (Randy Apostle), a new resident of the retirement community who looks a bit like Santa Claus.

With the name of the movie, I was hoping that it would spend more time with Leah and Kris. But, no, we follow Maren and Reid as she helps him fix up the grand room in Jolly Acres and showing him around town, of course. The movie is called Adopting St. Nick but they do very little with him. They go to the same events at Jolly Acres but they aren’t actually doing the things. For example, there’s a cookie exchange - Kris has baked cookies but he did that by himself, not with Leah. The writers wanted to make him into this grandfatherly character without the actual grandfatherly stuff. Just because he’s older doesn’t mean he’s grandfatherly. As proven by resident curmudgeon Stanley (Robert Nahum). This really would have been better if it centered around Leah and Kris. Disappointing.

Rating: Do you think Kris is Santa Claus?

Who's Coming For Christmas? | Christmas 2026

Hallmark doesn’t generally do a lot of religious Christmas movies. Who’s Coming For Christmas? isn’t really religious but it is heavy on faith. Thankfully, it is more like the “pretend you have what you want” than the “God will provide” type of faith. I can be on board with that.

Julie (Rhiannon Fish) has just moved into the house she inherited from her grandmother. Her biggest wish for Christmas is to have Christmas Eve dinner with a table full of people. However, everyone she invites can’t commit to coming to dinner. Still, she listens to the advice from her grandmother - Prepare for what you want and have faith that it will come.

I was expecting this movie to be a mushy mess. Instead, it was rather sweet. Julie, as the head librarian for the town, is able to make friends easily so it wasn’t difficult for her to invite random people to Christmas Eve dinner. And, as a result, people showed up for her. It’s a beautiful message about how community works if you actually put yourself out there. Maybe I should take Julie’s grandmother’s advice.

Rating: Julie is lucky there are no murderers in Hallmark movies

What If Christmas | Christmas 2026

I’m not sure if this has always been a thing but, over the past few years, Hallmark has had at least one movie featuring “older” actors. People in their 60s either remembering their past or regretting their life choices. This year we have What If Christmas with Lori Loughlin and Tom Cavanagh.

Erin (Loughlin) has always supported her husband, Adam’s (Cavanagh), career as a heart surgeon. Her biggest contribution is organizing the hospital’s annual charity gala. However, now that they have moved to a new city for his job, Erin is feeling left behind. The new hospital doesn’t need her help and Adam is too busy to spend time with her. At a Christmas market, she finds a heart-shaped ornament, which grants her wish of making her a famous fashion designer. Only the rest of her life didn’t come with it.

What If Christmas was an interesting movie. Not only did Erin not have all of her loved ones with her in the wish world, she also became something of a Grinch. She wouldn’t let the design studio workers decorate for Christmas, she wasn’t friends with her best friend, she was even a little mean to her personal assistant. Sure, Erin probably wouldn’t have married Adam if she was so focused on her career but I don’t think she would have changed her entire personality for it. Some pieces of her original self should have shown through.

Despite those issues, I enjoyed the movie. I thought it was funny that their dog still recognized her even if no one else did. Dogs always know the right people.

Rating: The red dress was still kinda ugly though

Forgotten Holiday | Christmas 2026

Generally, I try to keep away from commercials for Hallmark movies so I’m not spoiled when I actually watch it. Forgotten Holiday has run so many commercials that it was impossible to not see a few. I hope the movie is better than the ads.

Kathryn (Janel Parrish) and Rob (Daniel Lissing) met a few weeks before Christmas and started a whirlwind romance. A year later, Rob goes to propose to Kathryn but she runs away before he could even ask. Heartbroken, Rob heads to his sister’s house. He gets into a car accident that causes him to forget everything that happened in the past year. Including his relationship with Kathryn. She agrees to recreate their relationship in order to help bring back his memories.

On one hand, this was a very cute movie. Parrish is one of the few Hallmark leads that is really good at her job. She has been in a few movies that I enjoyed. Unsurprisingly, she is the bright spot here as well. On the other hand, Rob becomes a completely different person after the accident. Things that he loved before, he finds somewhat annoying now. I’m not sure that forgetting a year of your life would make you forget that you LOVE Christmas. I get that it was supposed to be what makes him a better person. It just seemed like a bit much. Despite that, it was decent enough to watch. And I give all the credit to Parrish. It’s always a good idea to watch her movies.

Rating: Very rich people that need more hobbies

Winter Wonderlanes | Christmas 2026

This is a new one. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Christmas movie about bowling. I’m always happy when there’s a new theme. So let’s check out Winter Wonderlanes.

Audrey (Ashley Newbrough) has come home for Thanksgiving, only to find other that her late grandfather’s beloved bowling alley, Wonderlanes, is about to be sold. Instead of heading off to her next pop-up restaurant, she decides to stay home for awhile to help the family with the sale…and to bring back the alley’s big holiday event, the Winter Wonderlanes youth tournament. Her high school boyfriend, Jason (Franco Lo Presti), is a reporter at the local newstation so he is tasked with helping advertise the event. Will Ashley rekindle her love for bowling and Jason?

This was a cute movie. It was nothing particularly special. There were some slow parts with stupid montages but I think the parts with the actual bowling made up for it a bit. I would have liked to see more bowling…but it’s Hallmark, what can you do? The romance almost always takes the front seat. At least it wasn’t a complete gutter ball.

Rating: A pin short of a turkey

Mr. & Mrs. Christmas | Christmas 2026

You know I really hate Christmas movie titles. Mr. & Mrs. Christmas does not change that. Especially once we get into the plot.

Taylor (Brendan Penny) is a single dad that just moved his kids to the town of Pineway right before Christmas. He has been hired to handle the town’s holiday event displays. Sophie (Pascale Hutton), a single mom, has been tasked as his boss for the season.

So. Taylor is supposed to be this holiday display expert. Yet every display he makes is awful. He claims that he’s trying to impress his teenage daughter, Jenna (Alex MacIsaac), but, like, does he have eyeballs? Sure, some of the town’s teens enjoy the rap DJ he hired for the winter market. But there are so many garish lights and decorations that the whole place looks tacky.

Then, when we get to the holiday fair, he just hires a local band without actually consulting his boss or the town board. First, why is the decorator hiring a band? Not his job. Second, why doesn’t he know that he has to get approval from people in order to spend money? This man is a literal child.

And, of course, the stupid title of the movie. The movie is literally only named this because they eventually dress up as Santa and Mrs. Claus. (I suppose that could be a spoiler but, c’mon, it’s a Christmas movie. Someone is dressing up as Santa.) There is zero other reason for the title. I hate it here.

Rating: Maybe talk to your teenager once in awhile

Christmas At The Kringles | Christmas 2026

The first theatrical Christmas thriller of the season is Christmas at the Kringles. My husband and I caught a showing late Halloween night. We were the only ones in the theater, which made the movie a little more chilling.

Mark (Ron Livingston) and Julie (Rachel Bilson) Severson are having marital troubles. Right before Christmas, they move, with their son Bobby (Jack Jewkes), to the suburbs in the hopes that a change will fix everything wrong with their lives. As they are moving in, they meet the neighbors, the Kringles: Nick (Thomas Lennon) and Carol (Arden Myrin) with their children Rudolph (Zeke Jones), Merry (Alexis Kemp), and Elf (Elliott Egler). But they have been warned by another neighbor, Daryl (Donald Faison), and a mall Santa (Rob Riggle) that the Kringles are dangerous people. If only Mark and Julie listened….

This movie is a mixed bag. The cast is phenomenal. If I was to be murdered by anyone, I just might pick Thomas Lennon. And the lead up to the actual murder parts was pretty good. I can see why someone feeling like an outsider or unhappy with their life might cling onto a family like the Kringles. They seem so perfect during the Christmas season.

However, once we get to the third act where the chase begins, the movie falls apart. I’m not sure if it’s the editing or the writing that did them dirty. There are a lot of quick cuts that make it a little difficult to keep track of what is going on and there are events that happen then are immediately forgotten. (For example, Mark gets a weapon at one point then gets into a fight almost immediately after but he doesn’t have or use the weapon.) I think the movie would have benefited a little more from less chase and more building on the reason the Kringles are doing what they do.

Christmas at the Kringles is a movie that would be fine for a late night at-home viewing. I’m not sure it was worth the price of a movie ticket. Though this does make me look forward to the Violent Night sequel coming out later this year.

Rating: Don’t dismiss the gamer. They’ll rarely want to actually kill you.

Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story | Christmas 2026

The Holiday Touchdown series started in 2024 with A Chiefs Love Story. 2025 had A Bills Love Story. This year, it’s A Bears Love Story. I’m not a big football fan but I wonder if they are going to go through all of the NFL teams.

Avery (Lyndsy Fonseca) is a reporter who has come to Chicago to spend Christmas with her mother and stepfather. While there, she gets a chance to write a story about Darlene (Marsha Mason), a woman who is about to attend her 500th Bears game. Darlene, however, is determined to set Avery up with her grandson, Matt (Robert Buckley).

This was actually quite a cute movie. Sure, the football was there but it didn’t overtake any of the plots. We see Darlene helping out her community, Avery trying to reconnect with her mother and stepfather, and Matt…well, Matt’s story falls to the wayside a bit. His story is really just falling in love with Avery. It was nice to see all of the community events and just how much Darlene cares for the people around her. She is so much more than just a Bears fan. Of all of the Holiday Touchdown movies, this may be my favorite.

Rating: Go Bears!

'Tis The Season For Setups | Christmas 2026

Our first Christmas movie of the 2026 season is here. And it is Hallmark’s ‘Tis The Season For Setups. The title only vaguely makes sense and I really wish they picked a different one. I hope this isn’t setting the tone for the season.

Lexi (Amanda Schull) is a tight-knit party planner. Her mother, June (Barbara Niven), is a free spirit who travels the world by herself. When Lexi’s daughter, Piper (Verity Marks), misses out on a ski trip with her friends over the Christmas break, June gets Lexi a job at the ski resort planning their annual holiday party. Once there, Lexi and Ridge (Victor Webster), the son of resort owner Dan (John B. Lowe), try to set June and Dan up on a date. But June and Dan are trying to set Lexi and Ridge up as well! Ah, Christmas love!

Yes, I know the movie is basically about everyone trying to set everyone else up on dates. That is why the title only vaguely works. There are probably a million other puns that would have worked better.

Anyway, ‘Tis The Season is fine. Verity Marks is the standout actor here as Lexi’s teenage daughter. She is the one thing that seems to bring everyone together. Everyone else is fine. They are all capable actors and no one really misses the mark. There just isn’t a lot for them to do. The party planning stuff takes a backseat to hanging out and having fun. But the having fun parts end up as montages. The rest is just walking and talking. And that is boring. But it’s a decent start the season. It could have been a lot worse than this.

Rating: Are snow banks the winter equivalent of quicksand?

If I Can't Have You | Halloween 2026

If I Can’t Have You is the final Tubi movie that I am watching. Ever. I am never ever watching a Tubi original movie again. These are on par with the UpTV Christmas movies I watched, which is why I banished that channel from the blog. Tubi might get one more chance since there were a few good movies there but it is VERY close to banishment.

Marc (Redaric Williams) and his wife, Eva (Dawn Halfkenny), are about to have a baby. However, he has to go away to a work conference before Eva gives birth. While he is away, he has sex with Marissa (Kaye Singleton) multiple times over the weekend. When they return to their usual lives, Marissa becomes obsessive. Marc, unwilling to confess to Eva, tries unsuccessfully to keep Marissa away from his family.

This was a pretty typical obsessed lover type story. Marc is a terrible person and he continues to be terrible through the end of the movie. Marissa is unhinged but not in a fun way. Overall, the movie was fine. It would have been nice if the story moved along a little faster but I have learned that that is the main problem with most Tubi movies. They drag. I would say to stay away from this one. There are a million obsessive stalker movies out there better than this. Watch one of those.

Rating: Is it really that difficult to just not cheat on your wife?