An Unexpected Christmas
Where to watch
Via 
JustWatch · can change anytime.
The premise
Emily works at an ad agency and is sent to her ex's hometown before Christmas. She arrives at the train station as her ex is picked up by his family. They mistakenly think Emily's still an item.
How unusual is it?
Mostly classic comfort-watch, give or take a fake relationship and a second-chance romance.
Who’s in it
Behind the camera
ShowHide
Directed by
Written by
Every trope, all in one place
Here’s everything this one has going on, from the setting to the way it wraps up. Tap any of the 33 to find more movies that do the same thing.
Setting2
Time & season3
Characters5
Romance6
Why we’d put this one on
A meet-the-family fake-relationship classic with two extremely charming leads. Bethany Joy Lenz is Emily, an ad exec sent to her ex's hometown right before Christmas, who arrives at the train station just as his family scoops him up and assumes the two are still together. Tyler Hynes is the ex, and the easy push-pull between them is the whole reason to press play. It is second-chance comfort with a mistaken-couple misunderstanding driving the laughs. At 6.9, this is one of the more beloved modern entries here, and a great showcase for a fan-favorite pairing.
33 tropes in one movie
We counted 33 distinct Hallmark tropes packed into this one — a genuine greatest-hits reel.
How it stacks up
Where this one’s rating lands against every other rated Hallmark movie.
Higher-rated than 83% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.
Where this one fits
The corners of the catalog An Unexpected Christmas belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.
- Best Hallmark Christmas MoviesIt is, of course, a Christmas movie.
- Hallmark Fake Relationship MoviesBuilt on a fake-dating setup.
- Hallmark Second-Chance Romance MoviesA rekindled romance.
- Hallmark Baking & Cooking MoviesPlenty of time in the kitchen.
- Hallmark Small Town MoviesA classic small-town setting.
Meet the characters
Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.
Emily
LeadAd agency worker
drivenwarmadaptableJamie
Love interestEmily's ex
Love interest
charmingkindreflectiveBecca
SupportingJamie's family
Jamie's relative
warmDiane
SupportingJamie's family
Jamie's relative
warmTom
SupportingJamie's family
Jamie's relative
friendlyGrandma
SupportingJamie's grandmother
Jamie's grandmother
wise
Questions people ask about An Unexpected Christmas
Where can I watch An Unexpected Christmas?
An Unexpected Christmas is available via fuboTV, YouTube TV, and Philo. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.
How long is An Unexpected Christmas?
An Unexpected Christmas runs about 1 hour and 23 minutes, and was released in 2021.
Is An Unexpected Christmas a Christmas movie?
Yes. An Unexpected Christmas is a Hallmark Christmas movie, set during the holiday season.
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Talking Hallmark
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“I watched Hallmark’s WORST Christmas movie (so you don’t have to)”
Data and sources
Curated by the Talking Hallmark team.Last updated .