Christmas is coming early to Lifetime. The network's big "It's a Wonderful Lifetime" holiday schedule boasts 30 new Christmas movies this year — more than any other network — and it starts so soon! The first movie in the slate airs well before Halloween on October 23. From there, new movies come out every weekend leading up to Christmas.
Lifetime also made a public commitment to diversifying its films, with its first ever LGBTQ+ romance — as well as movies centered on a Chinese American family, an actress with a disability, and a military veteran. Plus, Mario Lopez leads a movie called Feliz NaviDAD, which is just truly so amazing, we can't wait to watch it.
This year has been such a disappointment so far, but thanks to Lifetime, we can all dive into the Christmas season early. Then we can down our worries in the sugary sweet story lines of these 30 films.
It can't come soon enough!
Friday, October 23
Kicking things off well before Halloween is Christmas on Ice airing at 8 p.m. ET. In the movie, Courtney is a former pro figure skater who now runs the local ice skating rink. But when she learns she must close down, a former hockey player (and single dad) named Noah comes to her rescue, professionally and romantically.
Saturday, October 24
Catch Christmas Unwrapped at 8 p.m. ET, a new holiday film from executive producer Tiffany Haddish. It follows ambitious reporter Courtney who is doing a story on the surprise gifts the town receives from "Santa." When she finds out who is really behind the presents, she might just also get the gift of love.
Sunday, October 25
Airing at 8 p.m. ET is Forever Christmas. It follows reality TV producer Sophie whose new project is a holiday TV show. (Wow, so meta.) The show stars Will, who celebrates Christmas every day. (How fitting that this is premiering in October, huh?) While working on set, Sophie finds herself falling for Will and also rediscovering her love for the holiday season.
Aww.
Friday, October 30
All the craft lovers out there, listen up. A Crafty Christmas Romance airs at 8 p.m. ET and tells the story of craft store owner Mandy who happens upon a letter from Santa Claus himself stashed inside an old book. As she tries to track down the original owner of the book, she meets handsome contractor Jonah, who helps her on her quest.
Saturday, October 31
Skip the socially distanced Halloween festivities and stay home to watch Candy Cane Christmas at 8 p.m. ET instead. It stars 7th Heaven actress Beverley Mitchell as Phoebe, who loves to admire the decorations on Candy Cane Lane. But this year, the famous neighborhood didn't decorate. With her favorite tradition gone, Phoebe has to make her own — and she just might find love along the way.
Sunday, November 1
Kicking off the first of November at 8 p.m. ET is The Christmas Aunt, starring The Cosby Show's Keshia Knight Pulliam. She plays Rebecca, a woman who's taking care of her niece and nephew for the holidays. While back in her hometown, she reconnects with her childhood BFF, Drew, who could soon become more than her friend.
Friday, November 6
The Christmas Yule Blog puts a modern technological spin on the holiday season at 8 p.m. ET. Caroline is an online travel writer sent to cover a famous Christmas parade in New Mexico. She's not thrilled about the job, but she leans more into the holiday spirit after she meets a local high school music teacher named Oscar.
Saturday, November 7
A Welcome Home Christmas airs twice throughout the "It's a Wonderful Lifetime" celebration. Catch its premiere at 8 p.m. ET on November 7, and again on Veteran's Day on November 11. (The repeat date is meaningful, because this is a movie about an Army veteran.) Michael has recently returned home from the Army, when he meets Chloe, who's helping throw an officers' Christmas ball. As the two plan the event, they grow closer and closer.
Sunday, November 8
Prepare to be charmed by A Very Charming Christmas Town, airing at 8 p.m. ET. It's the classic story of a city girl going to the country and finding love during the holidays. This time it's blogger Aubrey going to the Most Christmassy Town in the US, where she meets chocolate shop owner Sawyer. They don't get along at first, but they're basically destined to fall in love.
Friday, November 13
What's better than drinking a glass of wine and watching a Christmas movie? Doing that while the Christmas movie is also about wine. Christmas on the Vine airs at 8 p.m. ET and follows the story of marketing executive Brooke. She travels home for the holidays and ends up working to help boost the profile of the local winery. When a "wine conglomerate" threatens the local business, Brooke joins forces with stubborn winery owner Tyler, and the two may find more than just good business.
Saturday, November 14
The Good Place actress Tiya Sircar stars in Christmas on Wheels, airing at 8 p.m. ET. She plays Ashley, who comes home to help care for her uncle, but when she learns that he sold her mom's old car (rude), she's on a mission to track it down. Once she finds it, will she want to go back home to the city or stay in the charming town with all the new friends and new love that she's made?
Sunday, November 15
At 8 p.m. ET, it's The Christmas Edition. Jackie is a newbie reporter who suddenly finds herself in charge of a small newspaper in Alaska. At first, she sees success, but she could soon lose everything when her former boss threatens to take over. Nothing that a little Christmas spirit and a love connection with a handsome local can't fix.
Friday, November 20
My Big Fat Greek Wedding star Nia Vardalos plays Francesca in A Taste of Christmas — premiering at 8 p.m. ET. Francesca has to cancel her big Christmas Eve restaurant opening, but her cousin, Natalie, is determined that the show must go on. First she just has to convince stubborn Chef Stefano that it's possible — and that love may be possible, too.
Saturday, November 21
One of the most highly anticipated movies of the season is Feliz NaviDAD, starring Mario Lopez. It airs at 8 p.m. ET, and it sounds like it's a must-watch. Mario plays a high school principal named David who is also a single dad. His wife died during the holidays a few years ago, and now, he can't stand the season. But his daughter is determined to bring back his Christmas spirit, and maybe also get a stepmom for herself.
Sunday, November 22
Homemade Christmas airs at 8 p.m. ET. It follows Megan, who takes on odd holiday jobs to make ends meet. One of her gigs is to save a Christmas party that puts her face to face with her crush. But with more than one man in her life, she's got a tough choice to make before December 25.
Friday, November 27
The day after Thanksgiving marks the official start of the Christmas season, and Lifetime is celebrating with Dear Christmas, premiering at 8 p.m. ET. It stars Melissa Joan Hart as the host of a podcast about love who finally finds romance of her own with a local firefighter played by Beverly Hills, 90210 alum Jason Priestley.
Saturday, November 28
Fans of last year's Lifetime movie Merry Liddle Christmas will love the sequel Merry Liddle Christmas Wedding, which airs at 8 p.m. ET. It stars former Destiny's Child member Kelly Rowland as Jacquie, a woman who is planning her dream holiday wedding. But nearly everything goes awry, and the Christmas ceremony is almost ruined.
Sunday, November 29
Vanessa Lachey plays Amelia in Once Upon a Main Street, starting at 8 p.m. ET. Amelia has plans to start a Christmas store that's open all year long, but her dream property is almost snatched up by a man named Vic. As they go toe-to-toe to claim the space, they could fall in love.
Monday, November 30
Ending the November schedule at 8 p.m. ET is The Christmas Listing. Julia has lost her belief in the holiday season, and she is all about her real estate career. But when she's forced to stay in a Christmas-y inn to win a much-needed home listing, she could rediscover her love for Christmas and also discover romantic love as well.
Friday, December 4
December kicks off with Spotlight on Christmas, which airs at 8 p.m. ET. In it, actress Olivia tries to hide from the press in her hometown for the holidays. But she's soon found out by both a cute new guy and a sneaky reporter. Will she leave behind her big city dreams for a quiet country life?
Saturday, December 5
Kyla Pratt stars in Let’s Meet Again on Christmas Eve, airing at 8 p.m. ET. She plays Corinne, who reunites with her college sweetheart on Christmas Eve to see if their love withstood the time apart. When things don't initially go as planned, it may take a holiday wedding to bring them back together again.
Sunday, December 6
Tony award winner Ali Stroker leads the 8 p.m. ET film Christmas Ever After. She plays a romance author with some serious writer's block right around the holidays … but she might end up inspired by her own love story when she falls for the local bed-and-breakfast owner.
Monday, December 7
What's better than Taylor Swift's squad? The Santa Squad, premiering at 8 p.m. ET. It follows unemployed art teacher Allie who takes on a job to instill a love of Christmas in two young girls, and their widowed father, Gordon. Hmm… we wonder if part of that reintroduction to holiday spirit will include some romantic situations for Gordon and Allie?
Friday, December 11
We love a punny title, and that's just what Inn Love by Christmas has going for it. The movie airs at 8 p.m. ET and introduces us to Mandy from Miami, who heads to her small hometown for the holidays. While there, she becomes taken with the local inn and wants her company to buy it. But her high school enemy, Lucas, also wants the property. They'll likely both end up with a stake in it as well as a true love's kiss.
Saturday, December 12
Lifetime is giving the LGBTQ+ community some representation with The Christmas Setup, which airs at 8 p.m. ET. It's the network's first Christmas movie about a gay romance, and it stars real-life married couple Ben Lewis and Blake Lee. They play high school crushes who reconnect years later around the holidays, and finally fall for each other.
Sunday, December 13
A Sugar & Spice Holiday, airing at 8 p.m. ET, stars Jacky Lai as Suzie, an up-and-coming architect who heads home for the holidays in the wake of her grandmother's death. To carry on her legacy, Suzie enters the local baking competition where she teams up with Billy, played by Tony Giroux. Gingerbread's not the only thing they'll be cooking up.
Monday, December 14
It's country Christmas time with Lonestar Christmas, premiering at 8 p.m. ET. Single mother Erin visits a Texas ranch for the holidays, where she soon strikes up a romance with a local restaurant owner. Along the way, she also works to repair her difficult relationship with her father. It's all warm and fuzzy feelings here.
Friday, December 18
Christmas on the Menu airs at 8 p.m. ET to spice up everyone's holiday season. Kim Shaw plays Josie, a chef who visits her mom's restaurant at a bed-and-breakfast for Christmas. That's where she meets food critic Tanner, who isn't always a fan of Josie's cooking, but is definitely a fan of Josie.
Saturday, December 19
This movie's working title is A Christmas Exchange, but that could always change in the next couple of months. What won't change is its air time: 8 p.m. ET, and the plot. It's about a woman named Molly who does a home exchange for the holidays. She finds herself in a pricey London apartment looking for love abroad, but maybe the connection she's really looking for is with man who's now staying at her home in the US.
Sunday, December 20
The final movie on the schedule airs several days before Christmas. It's called A Christmas Break, and it's on at 8 p.m. ET to tell the story of school teacher Addison. Her school is closing, so she wants the students' last Christmas to be memorable. But then, she meets big shot actor Danny, who may just be able to save the school — and Christmas.
