Top Ten Made for TV Christmas Movies

One of my favorite things to do during the holidays is to sit back with some cocoa and cookies and melt into a sugary sweet world of formulaic romantic comedy. These squeaky clean TV movies call to mind a simpler time of main street USA, fake snow, low budgets and heart.  Lots of heart.  That’s what I love about these simple stories. I feel like as the audience, we are connected to the filmmaker and the actors by a common understanding.  There’s no big budget or special effects team.  They’re telling a story with the best resources available and we’re okay with that. In fact, we love them for it.

With that being said, there are some that you can TOTALLY skip over.  There’s no heart in them.  They’re just not good.  So how do you know which ones to watch and which to avoid? I’ve got you covered! I’ve watched almost all of them over the years and I can confidently give you the best ones.

Get ready to set your DVR because here is my list of the best of the Cheesy, Made for TV  Christmas movies.

#1

Christmas on the Bayou

Hilarie Burton, Tyler Hilton, Randy Travis

Katherine is divorced and a workaholic so when her work starts effecting her son, she decides to take a trip back to her hometown to spend Christmas with her mother Lilly who lives in the bayou, and as she returns she sparkles romance with old childhood friend…

#2

Naughty or Nice

Hilarie Burton, Matt Dallas, Danneel Ackles

Holiday humbug Krissy Kringle receives a special delivery intended for Santa Claus, the Naughty or Nice book he left behind while visiting a child, and uses the power of the book to expose the naughty deeds of those around her, but soon finds that her newfound power isn’t always so nice.

#3

12 Men of Christmas

Kristin Chenoweth, Josh Hopkins, Anna Chlumsky

A high-powered New York publicist finds herself in Montana promoting a charity calendar after being betrayed by her boss and fiancé. Unfortunately, matters of the heart are just as complicated in the wilds as they are in the big city.

#4

Dear Santa

Amy Acker, David Haydn-Jones, Emma Duke

A young woman who comes from a life of privilege falls for the owner of a soup kitchen after discovering a Dear Santa letter written by his seven year old daughter.

#5

Let It Snow

Candace Cameron Bure, Jesse Hutch, Alan Thicke

An executive examines her company’s new property and prepares a presentation to transform the rustic lodge into a new hot spot.

#6

Moonlight & Mistletoe

Tom Arnold, Candace Cameron Bure, Barbara Niven

In ‘Saint’ Nick Crosby’s old-fashioned all-year Christmas village Santaville, working as a mere elf on Christmas preparations all year killed his daughter Holly’s seasonal spirit. So she moved out, feeling neglected since ma’s death, to become a Boston toy firm’s hardest-working sales executive. When Nick makes a bad fall, she returns to help out. She finds Santaville outdated, near bankruptcy despite much generous help, especially from shy Peter. She tries to save it, counting on a plan proposed by charming financial advisor Ben Richards.

#7

A Boyfriend for Christmas

Kelli Williams, Patrick Muldoon, Charles Durning

On Christmas Day, Santa brings two lonely people together. But can love overcome deception?

#8

Battle Of The Bulbs

Daniel Stern, Matt Frewer, Allison Hossack

Bob Wallace makes sure to go all out every year on Christmas decorations so that he can have the brightest and most festive house in his neighborhood. This year, he notices that his new neighbor has put up an even brighter and more lavish display. The fight is on when they declare war for the best Christmas decoration display in the neighborhood.

#9

Christmas at Cartwright’s

Alicia Witt, Gabriel Hogan, Wallace Shawn

A single mom gets a holiday job as a department store Santa to help boost her finances, and then an angel enters her life and brings about some positive changes, including the spark of a new romance.

#10

Annie Claus Is Coming To Town

Maria Thayer, Sam Page, Randy J. Goodwin

Santa’s daughter takes her first trip away from the North Pole.  Will she be able to tell the naughty from the nice?

 

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If you like any of recommendations and would like to purchase a copy, you can click on the movie and it will take you straight to the Amazon page.

These are affiliate links which means I make a small commission when you buy based on my recommendations.  As always, I will never recommend something that I don’t fully believe in. To see my full disclosures, click here.