The top 5 Hallmark holiday movies you can’t help but love

BY COLTON BRADBERRY / Multimedia Journalist

Hallmark holiday movies are a staple of the season, delighting fans with their predictable plots, picture-perfect towns and cozy charm. But let’s be honest—what makes these movies so endearing is also what makes them cringy.
 

When I say “cringy,” I don’t mean bad. Quite the opposite. These films lean into their cheese, giving us laugh-out-loud moments, absurd plotlines and a feel-good factor that’s hard to resist.
 

Here are my picks for the top five cringiest Hallmark holiday movies, the ones so over-the-top you can’t help but love them.
 

5. “The Town Christmas Forgot”
 

The title alone sets the tone for the cringe-worthy charm of this Hallmark movie. The Town Christmas Forgot follows a middle-class white family who gets stranded in an impoverished mining town during the holiday season.
 

The name of the town? Nowhere Town. Yes, you read that correctly. Hallmark wasn’t exactly subtle with its messaging here and the heavy-handedness is part of what makes this movie a prime pick for this list.
 

From the moment the family’s luxury SUV breaks down in this dusty, struggling community, you know exactly where the story is headed. Cue the uplifting holiday clichés: the family quickly becomes the saviors of the town, bringing positivity, holiday spirit and just the right amount of Christmas cheer to the residents.
 

In spite of their poverty and lack of gifts, everyone magically finds themselves filled with joy by the end. It’s a feel-good resolution, sure, but one that feels so forced it’s impossible not to roll your eyes.
 

Despite all of this—or perhaps because of it—“The Town Christmas Forgot” is oddly endearing.
 

There’s something about its over-the-top optimism and refusal to acknowledge its own absurdity that makes it enjoyable to watch. You know exactly how it’s going to end, but you stick around anyway because it’s just so quintessentially Hallmark.
 

Would this movie ever win an award for nuanced storytelling? Not a chance. But if you’re looking for a holiday flick that will make you laugh at its earnestness while still warming your heart, this one delivers.
 

4. “Ghost of Christmas Always” 
 

This movie doesn’t just embrace the classic tale; it flips it upside down, throws in a love story and tops it with an extra layer of Hallmark absurdity. The result? A delightfully ridiculous holiday romp that will leave you laughing, rolling your eyes and maybe even tearing up.
 

The story follows Katherine, the Ghost of Christmas Present, who teams up with her ghostly colleagues, Roy (Christmas Future) and Arlene (Christmas Past), to “Scrooge” Peter Brown, a wealthy and seemingly well-adjusted man.
 

Here’s the catch: Peter isn’t your typical grumpy Scrooge. He’s self-aware, charming and surprisingly open to the whole being-haunted-by-Christmas-spirits thing. The real twist? 

Katherine begins to develop feelings for Peter, setting the stage for a love story that defies the laws of life and death.
 

What makes “Ghost of Christmas Always” so cringy is its sheer audacity. The movie doesn’t just ask you to suspend disbelief; it asks you to throw disbelief out the window and fully embrace the absurdity of a ghost-human love story.
 

From the melodramatic snowstorms to the cheesy dialogue (“You’re magical”), every scene is dripping with Hallmark stereotypes. But it’s precisely this over-the-top charm that makes the movie so endearing.
 

3. “Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade”
 

“Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade” perfectly encapsulates Hallmark’s tried-and-true formula of holiday romance, miscommunication and feel-good clichés. It’s a story about love, tradition and giant turkey floats, all set against the backdrop of Chicago’s beloved Thanksgiving Day parade. Cringy? Absolutely. But that’s exactly what makes it so entertaining.
 

The movie follows Emily Jones, a parade coordinator who is as passionate about her job as she is about her hometown. Emily dreams of a picture-perfect holiday season, complete with a long-awaited proposal from her long-distance boyfriend, Brian.
 

Enter Henry Williams, a wealthy development consultant hired to make the parade more profitable. Immediately, sparks fly—but not the romantic kind.
 

Is this movie groundbreaking? Absolutely not. But that’s not why you watch Hallmark holiday films. “Love at the Thanksgiving Parade” offers an enjoyable, if cringy, escape into a world where conflicts are mild, love conquers all and everything is wrapped up in a neat bow by the end. It’s the perfect film to watch with a warm drink, a cozy blanket and a willingness to laugh at (and with) its cheesiness.
 

2. “A Christmas Treasure”
 

Hallmark movies often lean on familiar formulas to create their holiday magic and “A Christmas Treasure” is no exception. It’s a story of self-discovery, romance and nostalgia—all wrapped up in a shiny Hallmark package.
 

While the movie has its endearing moments, it also leans heavily into its clichés, resulting in a charming yet cringy holiday offering that feels almost too polished for its own good.
 

The story revolves around Lou, an aspiring writer who discovers a 100-year-old time capsule in her small town. As she sifts through the items, Lou begins questioning her life’s direction, wondering if she should leave her small town to pursue her dreams in the big city. She meets Kyle, a talented chef passing through town who serves as both her romantic interest and the voice of reason.
 

The premise is classic Hallmark: small-town girl meets big decisions with a side of romance to sweeten the deal. The time capsule adds a unique touch, but it doesn’t take long for the movie to veer into familiar territory.
 

“A Christmas Treasure” is the kind of movie you watch when you want a light, comforting holiday escape. It’s cozy and full of heart. If you can embrace its over-the-top sentimentality, you’ll find yourself smiling along with its charm.
 

1. “Catch Me If You Claus”
 

If Hallmark has taught us anything, it’s that the holidays are the perfect time for implausible plotlines and heartwarming twists.
 

The movie’s setup is as bizarre as it is intriguing: Avery Quinn, a struggling segment producer with dreams of being a reporter, stumbles upon Chris, the alleged son of Santa Claus, who she initially mistakes for a burglar.
 

Chris insists he’s the real deal and Avery reluctantly teams up with him to prove his innocence while unraveling a crime spree committed by the mysterious “Santa Crook.”
 

While the romantic subplot is serviceable, it often feels secondary to the movie’s comedic antics and caper plot. Avery and Chris share some sweet moments, like bonding over their struggles to live up to their parents’ legacies, but their romance never quite hits the swoon-worthy heights of other Hallmark films.
 

Instead, their relationship feels more like a buddy comedy with occasional romantic sparks—a refreshing twist for a Hallmark holiday movie.
 

“Catch Me If You Claus” isn’t trying to be profound or groundbreaking—it’s here to entertain and it succeeds in spades. With its zany plot, cringy one-liners and a himbo Santa who steals the show, the movie delivers exactly what you’d expect from a Hallmark holiday film: festive fun with a heavy dose of ridiculousness.
 

What makes these movies so cringy isn’t their flaws—it’s their earnest commitment to delivering holiday cheer. They don’t shy away from overused tropes, sugary dialogue, or wildly implausible scenarios. Instead, they lean into them, creating a safe, comforting world where love is inevitable, problems are easily solved, and everything is wrapped up with a neat bow.
 

These movies remind us that the holidays aren’t about perfection—they’re about finding joy, even in the cheesy, ridiculous moments. So grab a cozy blanket, a mug of hot cocoa, and let yourself bask in the warm, cringy glow of Hallmark holiday magic.