12/13/24
The cheesy Christmas movie season is in full swing. Hallmark has aired twenty-eight new holiday movies—only four left on their Countdown to Christmas calendar. Lifetime released twelve new movies. Netflix has released six-holiday movies, four in the cheesy/rom-com genre. Hulu released four holiday movies, and two fit into the cheesy category. Prime Video and Peacock released one cheesy movie.
This post will give you updates on the 2024 new releases. I’ve watched ten so far. Some new releases have featured six-pack abs and nods to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. From the New York Times: Netflix and Lifetime Ask: What if Christmas Movies Were Sexy?
What is a cheesy holiday movie?
Before I write about the 2024 movies, I want to review the history of the cheesy holiday movie and what tropes are included in these movies.
Hallmark is the channel most associated with cheesy holiday movies. Countdown to Christmas started in 2009, airing a handful of new movies. I’m not sure how they air over twenty new movies now. Forbes: The Best Hallmark Christmas Movies Of All Time, Based On Reviews
Lifetime started creating cheesy Christmas movies around the same time as Hallmark. Elle has rated 112 of them: We Ranked the 112 Best Lifetime Christmas Movies
Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video have added new cheesy movies every year. Forbes: The Best Netflix Christmas Romance Movies To Watch This Season The number one pick, Holidate, is one of my favorites. Your Christmas or Mine? was my favorite on Prime Video.
I started watching cheesy holiday movies in 2022; my goal was to watch 25 by the end of the season.
Read my post from 2022: Cheesy Christmas Movies
And the results of my 2022 challenge: Cheesy Christmas Movie Update
My 2023 Update: 2023 Holiday Movie Update
The 2024 Lists: 2024 Cheesy Holiday Movies
How do you know if it’s a cheesy holiday movie?
One: If the movie airs on Hallmark or Lifetime.
Some new releases on Netflix and Prime Video are closer to the holiday rom-com genre, but still include cheesy holiday movie tropes.
Two: The tropes
Activity in the snow, ice-skating, over-the-top Christmas decor in every room, Christmas-themed clothing, small town activity including a stroll down Main Street or visiting a market, drinking hot beverages, a big holiday event, Christmas activities including tree-trimming and making Christmas crafts and baked goods, Santa, a special gift is given, there is some Christmas magic, a business is saved, characters bump into each other, there is an awkward almost kiss, a date, obstacles are overcome, a person relocates (maybe goes back home from the big city), there are transportation issues, maybe a cute pet or kid and a quicky best friend offering advice, and lastly with all of these things two people fall in love. Their love story always has a challenge: hate turning to love, a love triangle, or mismatched characters, but the movie should end with a kiss.
Should you watch a cheesy holiday movie?
I’ve grown to like these types of movies more every year. They provide holiday comfort and a happy ending. I enjoy watching them with family and friends and playing cheesy Christmas movie bingo. Use this link: Hallmark Movie Bingo, or create your board:
From The New York Times: How I Aged Into the Bad Christmas Movie. One December morning, a millennial critic awoke to discover that she had been begrudgingly charmed by an onslaught of Hallmark and Netflix holiday films.
Hallmark
From Peacock: 41 New Holiday Movies! See Hallmark’s Christmas Movie Schedule 2024
Movies I watched:
Holiday Crashers (Stars: Lyndsy Fonseca, Daniella Monet, Chris McNally, Jag Bal), Two best friends who work at a card shop decide to shake up their humdrum world by creating new identities to crash Christmas parties from the shop’s confidential invitations. Their lies eventually catch up to them as they’re whisked away to a fancy corporate Christmas retreat in the snowy Vermont mountains. Cheesy rating score: 94/100 watchability 🎄🎄🎄🎄(4/5). I liked the dual love stories and fun party crashing.
Scouting for Christmas (Stars: Tamera Mowry-Housley, Carlo Marks, Marci T. House) Realtor Angela has been busy raising her 10-year-old daughter ever since her divorce several years ago. When her daughter plays cupid and asks a handsome bakery owner to help her mom cater her scout troop’s holiday event, Angela finds herself opening her heart. Cheesy rating score: 90/100 watchability 🎄🎄🎄.5(3.5/5). Cute, family-friendly movie.
‘Twas the Date Before Christmas (Stars: Robert Buckley, Amy Groening), To prevent her family from canceling the Chamberlain family Christmas Olympics, Jessie lies and says she’s inviting a date to the long-standing holiday tradition. She meets Bryan on a dating app, and he agrees to spend the holiday with her and her family. Inspired by a true story. Cheesy rating score: 95/100 watchability 🎄🎄🎄🎄(4/5). This is one of my favorite in Hallmark’s 2024 collection.
A ‘90s Christmas (Stars: Eva Bourne, Chandler Massey, Katherine Barrell), Workaholic lawyer Lucy Miller is celebrating her promotion alone on Christmas Eve when a mysterious rideshare experience transports her back to 1999. Reliving the holiday with her mom, sister and best friend — not to mention her high school crush — Lucy gets a second chance to understand where her relationships went wrong. Cheesy rating score: 90/100 watchability 🎄🎄🎄(3/5). Cute time-travel movie.
Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story (Stars: Hunter King, Tyler Hynes, Ed Begley Jr., Richard Riehle, Diedrich Bader, Christine Ebersole, Megyn Price, cameos by Jenna Bush Hager, Donna Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid and players Trey Smith, Mecole Hardman Jr., Clyde Edwards-Helaire, George Karlaftis) Alana Higman is sure her family’s lifelong history as Kansas City Chiefs superfans makes them a frontrunner to win the team’s “Fan of the Year” contest. Derrick, director of fan engagement, is tasked with evaluating how Alana and her family stack up against the other two finalists. As the pair spends time together, it’s clear there’s a spark between them but when her grandfather’s vintage good-luck winter hat goes missing, Alana begins to doubt everything. Cheesy rating score: 80/100 watchability 🎄🎄🎄. 5 (3.5/5). More football than Christmas, a big nod to the Chiefs and the Kelce family, including a cameo by Donna Kelce and several Chiefs players. Watch if you love a football themed cheesy holiday movie.
Lifetime
From Variety: Lifetime Unveils 2024 Holiday Movie Schedule, Including Rom-Com Inspired by Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce
Christmas in the Spotlight (Cast: Jessica Lord, Laith Wallschleger, Jeannie Mai, Haley Kalil) Logline: “Bowyn is a popular musician and celebrity, who despite always singing about love and relationships, hasn’t found Mr. Right yet. Her fame and busy recording schedule make it nearly impossible to date, but when she meets Drew, a pro football player, backstage at her show with his niece, there’s an undeniable spark between the two of them. When Drew publicly declares he has a crush on Bowyn, they decide to give dating a shot, much to the excitement of her manager Mira. With each passing day they spend together, their feelings grow stronger… but can it last in the limelight, especially when they both have such hectic schedules?” Cheesy rating score: 80/100 watchability 🎄🎄🎄. 5 (3.5/5). It’s more love story than Christmas love story, but it is cute and very loosely based on Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. And a sexy six-pack is featured!
Netflix
Meet Me Next Christmas: (Cast: Christina Milian, Devale Ellis, Kofi Siriboe, Tymika Tafari, Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola, Matt Sallee, Kalen Allen, Nikki Duval, Wesley French) In pursuit of a fairytale romance with the man of her dreams, Layla must race through New York City to get her hands on the hottest ticket in town: the sold out Pentatonix Christmas Eve Concert. Cheesy rating score: 93/100 watchability 🎄🎄🎄🎄(4/5). This is one of my favorite in Netflix’s 2024 collection. I liked seeing Pentatonix be part of the story, the shopping at Channel, and the nod to Dirty Dancing.
Hot Frosty: (Cast: Lacey Chabert, Dustin Milligan, Katy Mixon Greer, Lauren Holly, Chrishell Stause, Sherry Miller, Dan Lett, Matthew Stefiuk, Heleene Lohan Cameron, Allan Royal, Sarah Desouza-Coelho,Bobby Daniels, with Joe Lo Truglio and Craig Robinson) Two years after losing her husband, Kathy magically brings a handsome snowman to life! Through his naïveté, the snowman helps Kathy to laugh, feel and love again, as the two fall for each other just in time for the holidays… and before he melts. Cheesy rating score: 92/100 watchability 🎄🎄🎄(3/5). There were some funny moments, but it was the most ridiculous story. Great cast and included nods Mean Girls and Pretty Woman.
The Merry Gentlemen: (Cast: Britt Robertson, Chad Michael Murray, Marla Sokoloff, Beth Broderick, Michael Gross, Maxwell Caulfield, Hector David Jr., Colt Prattes, Marc Anthony Samuel )To save her parents’ small-town performing venue, a former big-city dancer decides to stage an all-male, Christmas-themed revue. Cheesy rating score: 90/100 watchability 🎄🎄🎄. 5 (3.5/5). The sexiest 2024 holiday movie with a cute love story. I didn’t hate the shirtless men dancing.
Our Little Secret: (Cast: Lindsay Lohan, Ian Harding, Tim Meadows, Jon Rudnitsky, Henry Czerny, Judy Reyes, Chris Parnell and Kristin Chenoweth, Dan Bucatinsky, Katie Baker, Jake Brennan, Ash Santos, Brian Unger) Two resentful exes are forced to spend Christmas under the same roof after discovering that their current partners are siblings. Cheesy rating score: 81/100 watchability 🎄🎄🎄. 5 (3.5/5). Lindsey Lohan is back on Netflix for some holiday fun. It’s a cute story with funny moments.
Hulu
Nov. 1: Operation Mistletoe | Jen Lilley, Nick Bateman, Steve Belford, Lisa Michelle Cornelius, When Grace’s former crush comes home for Christmas, her best friend tries to play matchmaker by hiring her to decorate the house he plans to sell.
Nov. 1: Christmas on the Ranch | Jade Harlow, Houston Rhines, A relationship expert who struggles with love finds herself stuck on a ranch before Christmas with a charming rancher.
*Nov. 29: Nutcrackers | Ben Stiller, Linda Cardellini
*Dec. 13: A Sudden Case of Christmas | Antonella Rose, Danny DeVito, Andie MacDowell, Wilmer Valderrama
*not quite cheesy movies
Prime Video and Peacock
The Holiday Exchange (PG-13 Romance), Wilde must cope with vacationing as a bachelor, so he decides to swap houses on an LGBTQ app with Oliver. In their efforts to escape their woes, they end up meeting two locals who set romance on fire from LA to the charming town of Brilfax.
More LGBTQ Movies: The Best Queer Holiday Movies to Make the Yuletide Gay
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