Ever since the Hallmark Channel debuted in 2001, it has been offering feel-good entertainment that’s simple and family-oriented. The channel focuses on producing Christmas movies as well as romantic ones, and it has a plethora of options when it comes to these. This makes it the perfect channel for the holiday season, or for romantic lovers who like the sweet love that buds in a lovely environment.
One thing Hallmark movies share is that they provide you with a happy ending, so you can go in expecting a dopamine kick! Here are some of the best movies to come out of the Hallmark Channel, and they’re not all about Christmas and love!
Updated on October 19th, 2023, by Soniya Hinduja: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
17 The Magic Of Ordinary Days (2005)
Movies that are centered around World War II usually have a harsh and brutal storyline. However, this tender Hallmark tale showcases a different reality, one that often goes unnoticed because of how simple it seems. The Magic Of Ordinary Days follows a young and educated woman named Livy, who gets pregnant out of wedlock during the Second World War.
Naturally, her family is flabbergasted by the news, and to protect themselves from societal embarrassment, they send her to live with a lonely and decent enough farmer so that the baby can have a good life with a complete family. Ray, the farmer, takes little time to warm up to the change, but Livy has a hard time making herself comfortable in this new environment. Eventually, his good nature and sincerity towards Livy make her fall in love with him.
16 Don’t Go Breaking My Heart (2021)
The entirety of Portland, Oregon is under the unlikely influence of an initiative started by psychologist Dr. Miranda Farada. She runs a traditional boot camp where she tends to the many impulses and pains of the recently broken-hearted. Taking inspiration from her own failed relationship with Dex, Miranda has formed a short formula with rules and everything. A new member in her group is Ben, who is not only suffering from heartbreak himself but is also a reporter trying to figure out if this entire boot camp is a scam or a phenomenon.
With one of the cardinal rules of the camp being “no dating between members,” and with Ben assigned to write an exclusive that exposes Miranda and the workings of her camp, it is not easy for the two of them to fall in love. However, against all odds they do, but how will they make it work? Don’t Go Breaking My Heart is a unique and unpredictable romance from Hallmark, and it only sets standards for the movies that will come in the future.
15 Once Upon A Christmas Miracle (2018)
Released in 2018, Once Upon a Christmas Miracle gives the spotlight to not one but two TV stars who deserve more rules and appreciation. Aimee Teegarden, who you’ve seen in Friday Night Lights, plays the role of Heather, a young woman who’s having a hard time finding someone who can help her with her liver transplant. As an introverted woman with not much of a life, Heather does not socialize but when a chance and encounter with a kind young man brings her the possibility of a better life she’s filled with hope and of course, love.
Chris (played by Brett Dalton from Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.), is not only the perfect match for Heather medically, but also has the kind of personality that goes hand in hand with hers. But magic comes with risk, and the love they share requires all the courage there is in their tender hearts.
14 The Wedding Veil (2022)
Hallmark movies are known for being lighthearted and feel-good, and we can certainly say that The Wedding Veil, despite being limited to a certain channel, is one of the most beautiful movies of 2022. It is the first film in a trilogy of films where three friends come across a magical veil.
The bearer of the veil finds it way easier to meet their one true love. Avery, played by Lacy Chabert, is the woman bestowed with this gift first. She is a museum curator who stumbles upon a long-lost painting, and in an attempt to find its origin, she gets help from a new board member Peter.
13 A Season For Miracles (1999)
Directed by Michael Pressman, this made-for-television Christmas drama film stars Carla Gugino and Laura Dern as sisters who’ve always got each other’s backs. Gugino plays Emilie, a young and caring woman who takes responsibility for saving her sister’s children from foster care after she overdoses. Stuck with her niece and nephew in Bethlehem right before Christmas, Emilie discovers a community that comes together to celebrate hope and light in dark times.
The season’s greatest miracle for Emilie comes in the form of Nathan, who takes extreme measures to protect the children and make sure they have a memorable holiday. A Season For Miracles is a feel-good reminder that hope and faith can get you to overcome anything.
12 Autumn Dreams (2015)
Starring Annie Hancock and Ben Lawson as a couple whose love didn’t make it when they were younger, which meant that they had to get a divorce. Years later, when they are both engaged to different partners, they realize that their annulment was never announced.
Naturally, they both go to finalize the process, but upon meeting each other, they slowly start to reminisce about their old times together. Could they have made it work? Now they must both resolve matters of the heart. Autumn Dreams is when true love gets another chance.
11 A Country Wedding (2015)
Similar to Autumn Dreams, A Country Wedding is about re-evaluating what you want in life. When a famous country singer visits his old hometown and crosses paths with his childhood sweetheart, nostalgic feelings for the past begin to surge.
He is inspired and begins to connect with his old roots. However, will he leave his glamorous life behind for a simpler one, especially with the high-profile Hollywood actress he is engaged to? A Country Wedding is a delicate story about coming home to yourself. For anyone who has missed home, and who has missed who they were back then, this film is a sweet ride.
10 Fallen Angel (2003)
Fallen Angel is a film about a man trying to reconcile with his past. A high-powered attorney, Gary, who is based in Los Angeles returns to Maine to settle his deceased father’s estate. However, this practical venture blossoms into much more, and his life becomes forever changed by a few realizations he makes upon his return.
Fallen Angel is a film about overcoming your troubled past, starting anew, and about synchronicities that make things fall into place. At its heart, you will find heart-touching performances, interesting twists, and a pleasing romance.
9 Gourmet Detective Mysteries (2015)
Gourmet Detective Mysteries is a series of original Hallmark movies that are themed around the culinary world. The first film was released in 2015 and follows a San Francisco detective and a culinary expert who bring their knowledge to solve murder mysteries related to food.
The refreshing movies are for gourmet lovers who are into the crime world. Starring Dylan Neal, Brooke Burns, and Matthew Kevin Anderson, Gourmet Detective Mysteries has an attractive duo, interesting culinary facts, and an enticing plot.
8 The Watsons Go to Birmingham (2013)
Based on the historical fiction novel by Christopher Curtis, The Watsons Go to Birmingham is a story about a revolutionary, close-knit family. Set in 1963 during the summer, the family decides to visit their grandmother, who lives in Birmingham.
They embark upon a road trip from Michigan that detours their lives. When they arrive at their grandma’s town, they realize that life is very different from where she lives and find themselves caught up in something far bigger than themselves. This is one of Hallmark’s more serious and mature films that depicts a time in history when Black Americans fought hard for their rights and the turbulent times they endured during the civil rights movement.
7 Falling for Vermont (2017)
Falling for Vermont is a lovely story with great character development that will prove to be a delightful watch. When a best-selling author is on her way to make some big media appearances, she crashes her car and gets amnesia in a small town in Vermont. Luckily for her, the town doctor helps her and invites her in with his family until she gets her memory back.
She beautifully fits in this new context, but what could that mean for her old life and her previous identity? What will happen when she gets her memory back? Falling for Vermont is a thought-provoking narrative about the different paths that life could lead you to, and how so very different they could be from what you always dreamed up for yourself. However, is it always a bad thing?
6 The Nine Lives of Christmas (2014)
The Nine Lives of Christmas is a Christmas-centric film. A chain of events leads firefighter Zachary to adopt a cat and get acquainted with a veteran who ends up cohabiting with him. That is when his notions of the bachelor life, as the best option, are challenged.
It’s a motion picture with very likable lead actors who will convince you that marriage might be scary, and many may have a commitment issue. But also, finding the right, and compatible partner might just change things around. On top of that, for animal lovers, this film will provide a cherry on top. This is one of the finer romance movies to ever come out of the Hallmark Channel.
5 Crossword Mysteries: Proposing Murder (2019)
Crossword Mysteries: Proposing Murder is a solid mystery film that revolves around solving a murder mystery using codes, ciphers, and crossword puzzles.
When the owner of an art gallery is murdered and is left with crossword cues, Tess, a crossword editor, asks to join Detective Logan in his investigation. Together, they make a good team. This is also a different kind of film from the usual route that Hallmark usually goes for.
4 The Best Bad Thing (1997)
In The Best Bad Thing, a young girl working at a cucumber farm discovers she has a dual heritage, American and Japanese. This is a good film about a Japanese family that has migrated to the to to pursue a better life while highlighting all the hardships that come with that decision.
The movie brings out problems such as discrimination, culture, and language barriers and ultimately emits a strong message of hope and will inspire you to be more tolerant.
3 The Lost Valentine (2011)
Starring Betty White, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Sean Faris, The Lost Valentine chronicles the life of Caroline, now a grandmother, who goes every Valentine’s Day to the train station where she last saw her husband before he took off to war. Many years ago, she received the news that he had gone missing and still hopes that he will return one day. Her story catches the interest of a channel that wants to do a coverage on her sentimental story.
Could they manage to find out what happened to Caroline’s husband? Suzanne, the reporter of the channel, grows warm relationships with Caroline and her grandson, but she’s also engaged. Could this epic love story that stood the test of time give birth to another one? Betty White gives a beautiful performance in which she showcases both depth and humor. The Lost Valentine is elegantly done, weaving great performances, a heartfelt premise, and beautiful cinematography.
2 Love Comes Softly (2003)
Love Comes Softly is one of the most popular movies to have ever been produced by Hallmark. Set in the Old West, the gentle film is based on the novel by Janette Oke and stars Katherine Heigl and Dale Midkiff. It tells the story of Aaron Claridge and Clark Davis, who are brought together by circumstances that lead them to go through with an arranged marriage. Both widowed, they must navigate a new shared life together and a new reality. Can new love blossom in their hearts through this marriage?
This delicate film explores the feelings that come with losing a loved one and successfully portrays the immense grief of having to go on without your partner. Meanwhile, it’s a beautiful ode to letting people in and trusting that a new story can be written with someone new and that it can get better again. Just as the film title suggests, the film presents the idea that sometimes love can come softly and gives an intimate and interesting look at marriages of convenience.
1 Beyond the Blackboard (2011)
Beyond the Blackboard narrates the incredible journey of a young teacher, whose life is forever impacted when she begins teaching young children in a homeless shelter. Stacey Bess has to grapple with being a first-time teacher which means she has to know how to command a room and earn the respect of her students.
She has to face her fears and insecurities to do her job well. With a tough childhood of her own, Stacey begins to find her way and empathize with the children. This transforms both her and her students for the better. The film also touches upon themes such as teen pregnancy, alcoholism, and physical and mental abuse. We’ve almost all had that one teacher who made our days better and believed in us when we were losing steam. Beyond the Blackboard will remind you of them and will make you want to thank them once again.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
