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I love a good romance movie, but there's just something about adding the holiday element to them! I have several favorites I watch every single year (and they never get old) and each year I find a new one to add to my must-watch list. Here are my 8 go-to holiday romance movies (and some honorable mentions that are fun, too.)!
*All images, videos, and/or descriptions are the property of their respective platforms and are only provided here for informational purposes.
1. Holiday in the Wild - Netflix
To keep her spirits high when their son leaves for college, Manhattanite Kate Conrad (Kristin Davis) has booked a ‘second honeymoon’ with her husband. Instead of thanking her, he brings their relationship to a sudden end; jilted Kate proceeds to Africa for a solo safari. During a detour through Zambia, she helps her pilot, Derek Holliston (Rob Lowe), rescue an orphaned baby elephant. They nurse him back to health at a local elephant sanctuary, and Kate extends her stay through Christmas time. With new love on the horizon, will she return home or make her adventure last a lifetime?
2. The Holiday - Amazon
Two women troubled with guy-problems swap homes in each other's countries, where they each meet a local guy and fall in love.
3. The Christmas Train - Hallmark
From Hallmark Hall of Fame, a journalist embarks on a cross-country train ride at Christmas having no idea this journey will take him into the rugged terrain of his own heart. Stars Dermot Mulroney, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Danny Glover, Joan Cusack. This is also available on DVD from Amazon.
4. Last Holiday - Hulu
The discovery that she has a terminal illness prompts introverted saleswoman Georgia Byrd (Queen Latifah) to reflect on what she realizes has been an overly cautious life. So Georgia withdraws her life savings and jets off to Europe where she lives like a millionaire. Upbeat and passionate, Georgia charms everybody she meets, including renowned Chef Didier (Gérard Depardieu). The only one missing from her new life is her longtime crush Sean Matthews (LL Cool J).
5. Operation: Christmas Drop - Netflix
While gathering evidence to support closing a tropical U.S. Air Force base, a by-the-book congressional aide warms to its big-hearted captain.
6. A Castle For Christmas - Netflix
Famed author, Sophie Brown (Brooke Shields), travels to Scotland hoping to buy a small castle of her own, but the prickly owner, Myles, the Duke of Dunbar (Cary Elwes), is reluctant to sell to a foreigner. Working to find a compromise, the pair constantly butt heads, but they just may find something more than they were expecting.
7. 12 Dates of Christmas - Hulu
Kate is a young woman who re-lives the same first date on Christmas Eve over and over again. In an attempt to win back her ex-boyfriend on Christmas Eve, Kate ends up ruining her blind date with Miles, a handsome guy she's been set up with. In a strange twist of fate, Kate is given the chance to re-live Christmas Eve twelve times!
8. Time For Me To Come Home For Christmas - Hallmark
Cara, meets with her banker while country star, Heath, plays a concert. When their flight to Tulsa is cancelled, this pair travels together to get home in time for the holidays. Stars Josh Henderson, Megan Park.
Honorable Mentions
(not necessarily holiday romances, but still fun to curl up with a
blanket and watch with an adult hot chocolate)
1. Christmas Chronicles - Netflix
The Christmas Chronicle tells the story of sister and brother, Kate (Darby Camp) and Teddy Pierce (Judah Lewis), whose Christmas Eve plan to catch Santa Claus (Kurt Russell) on camera turns into an unexpected journey that most kids could only dream about. After staking out Santa’s arrival, they sneak into his sleigh, cause it to crash and nearly derail Christmas. As their wild night unfolds, Kate and Teddy work together with Santa - as you've never seen him before - and his loyal Elves to save Christmas before it's too late.
2. The Santa Clause series - Disney+
Divorced dad Scott (Tim Allen) has custody of his son (Eric Lloyd) on Christmas Eve. After he accidentally kills a man in a Santa suit, they are magically transported to the North Pole, where an elf explains that Scott must take Santa's place before the next Christmas arrives. Scott thinks he's dreaming, but over the next several months he gains weight and grows an inexplicably white beard. Maybe that night at the North Pole wasn't a dream after all -- and maybe Scott has a lot of work to do.
3. Ghosts of Girlfriends Past - Amazon
Celebrity photographer Connor Mead loves freedom, fun and women…in that order. A committed bachelor who thinks nothing of breaking up with multiple women on a conference call, Connor's mockery of romance proves a real buzz-kill for his kid brother, Paul, and a houseful of well wishers on the eve of Paul's wedding. Just when it looks like Connor may single-handedly ruin the wedding, he is visited by the ghosts of his former jilted girlfriends, who take him on a revealing and hilarious odyssey through his failed relationships past, present and future. Together they attempt to find out what turned Connor into such an insensitive jerk and whether there is still hope for him to find true love…or if he really is the lost cause that everyone thinks he is.
4. The Christmas Cottage - Amazon
Based on the life and inspiration of artist Thomas Kinkade, The Christmas Cottage shows how he was motivated to begin his career after learning his mother’s home was in foreclosure.
Do you have a favorite Christmas movie you'd like to share? Drop the title in the comments (I'm always looking to add to the list)!
Happy Holidays!
