Outside my window now is a beautiful portrait of autumn. There’s rich autumn hues coloring the trees, crunchy leaves scattered on the ground, and the need to reach for a favorite scarf. Add in the pumpkin spice latte appearance, and in my part of the world, autumn is front and center. However, one channel asks us to forget the Fall and instead find our holly!
Today we preview Hallmark’s 2018 Countdown to Christmas with a “part 1” list of their original films. This includes their famous week-long Thanksgiving extravaganza!
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This year, between the Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, the networks will air nearly 40 new originals! That’s a lot of Christmas, and with the number of new romances, we’re sure to be kept in Christmas cheer. Starting this weekend, October 27th – December 29th, Hallmark will air new originals every weekend.
On Hallmark Channel, the campaign is called “Countdown to Christmas.” On Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, they fall under the “Miracles of Christmas” banner. Where the former is usually bubbly and cheerful, the latter deals in some weighty topics, but still remains upbeat.
Let’s have a look at the first 20 (or so) premieres from both networks.
Hallmark Christmas 2018, Part 1 – Under the Mistletoe Romance!
(listed by premiere dates, which are subject to change. Check your local listings for dates and times)
1: Christmas at Pemberley Manor – October 27
Where: Hallmark Channel
The first Pride and Prejudice themed Christmas original of the season, this one stars Jessica Lowndes as the Elizabeth Bennet character, an event planner hired by Mr. Darcy. Stepping into his shoes is none other than Emily Owens M.D.’s Michael Rady.
2: Christmas Joy – November 3
Where: Hallmark Channel
From The Flash, Danielle Panabaker co-stars with Matt Long in this second premiere of 2018!
3: Marrying Father Christmas – November 4
Where: Hallmark Movies and Mysteries
The third film in the beloved trilogy, this film reunites Erin Krakow and Niall Matter. Presumably, this will wrap up the trilogy based on novels by Robin Jones Gunn, and see Miranda and Ian finally say “I Do.”
4: Road to Christmas – November 4
Where: Hallmark Channel
Chad Michael Murray, the teen heartthrob of A Cinderella Story leads this cast. This one follows an LA “television producer” who “unwittingly falls for …the son and former producer” of a popular lifestyle TV host.
5: It’s Christmas, Eve – November 10
Where: Hallmark Channel
A hometown romance, this one is about a woman who is forced to make budget cuts (the music program) as the school’s new superintendent. Of course, there’s also romance and a special Christmas program. LeAnn Rimes stars.
6: Christmas in Love – November 11
Where: Hallmark Channel
If you miss When Calls the Heart’s Daniel Lissing, never fear. This holiday season he teams up with Brooke D’Orsay in a Christmas romance that casts him as a “Grinch”-like character. Something tells me, he’ll come around.
7: A Veteran’s Christmas – November 11
Where: Hallmark Movies and Mysteries
Eloise Mumford and Sean Faris reunite in this new drama. A reunion I’m most eager about since I adored these two together in Christmas with Holly. It’s about a veteran who struggles to cope when she’s separated from her K9 partner and a judge who shows her what it means to enjoy the season. Appropriately, this one also airs on Veteran’s Day.
8: Christmas at Graceland – November 17
Where: Hallmark Channel
Kellie Pickler makes her Hallmark Channel (and film!) debut, which seems ideal for the country music crooner. Alongside her co-stars Wes Brown in a romance about reunited sweethearts.
9: Return to Christmas Creek – November 17
Where: Hallmark Movies and Mysteries
A successful big city exec reunites with her childhood best friend, and rediscovers the meaning of family when she returns to Christmas Creek! Tori Anderson (No Tomorrow), Stephen Huszar and Steven Webber star.
10: Christmas in Evergreen: Letters to Santa – November 18
Where: Hallmark Channel
‘Letters to Santa’ is a kind of sequel to last year’s Christmas in Evergreen with Ashley Williams. This year, the cast includes lots of new faces including Jill Wagner and Mark Deklin.
Click through to read about eight additional premieres.
I am so excited about the reunion of the Christmas With Holly stars!! And I always love seeing Brooke d’Orsay on screen. I’m even more happy seeing her paired with Daniel Lissing. I’m already clearing out my DVR recordings to make room for all these Christmas movie.s
ME TOO!! I’ve always loved that movie, Brittaney, so to see them together again (and in a story that will honor the military) is like a Hallmark movie dream. 🙂
Same: Brooke is adorable no matter what she’s in (I just re-watched “How to Fall In Love”) and I’ve liked Daniel in what I’ve seen him in too.
YAY for DVR space. I’m pretty low, so I’d best do the same. 😀
Definitely at the top of my list is A Veteran’s Christmas & Hope at Christmas, for both the actors and their amazing story-lines. However, I’m also getting exciting vibes from Christmas Joy, It’s Christmas, Eve, A Shoe Addicts Christmas, and A Godwink Christmas. Point of fact though is that I’m level 10/10 excited for every film except one that’s a part of the Miracles of Christmas line-up! They are firing on all cylinders this year!
I’m SO excited about ‘Veteran’s’ and if I remember right (I’ve read about WAY too many Hallmark originals in the past week), I did think “Hope at Christmas” sounds really good as well.
Hope you enjoy each one your excited about, Kristy; like you, I too am ready for these movies even though I feel like it’s a tiny bit “too early.” 😀