Christmas Made to Order

5.9/10 · 5,496 ratings20181h 22mChristmasWeirdness 3/10Bingo card

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The premise

A Hallmark Channel original movie. When architect and Christmas amateur Steven (Jonathan Bennett) finds himself hosting his family for Christmas, he recruits holiday coordinator Gretchen (Alexa PenaVega) to bring holiday joy to his home.

How unusual is it?

Mostly classic comfort-watch, give or take an enemies-to-lovers arc.

Who’s in it

Behind the camera

Show

Directed by

Wait, what?

The quirks and curveballs that make this one a little weirder than your average Hallmark. No spoilers, promise.

  • The concept of a 'Christmas Ambassador' who is essentially paid to hang out with a family because the host is too busy to talk to them.
  • The sister is a master mechanic who restores old cars in her spare time and fixes a car's alternator overnight in a driveway.
  • The 'Believe' sign randomly found in the woods that has been there since the protagonist's childhood.

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 26 to find more movies that do the same thing.

Why we’d put this one on

Jonathan Bennett plays a workaholic architect who gets stuck hosting his whole family for Christmas and hires Alexa PenaVega's professional decorator to make his bare house festive in a hurry. Naturally she ends up running the holiday and warming him up at the same time. The job title here is my favorite touch: she becomes the family's Christmas Ambassador, essentially paid to hang out because he is too busy to talk to his own relatives. At a weirdness of 3 it is straightforward cozy fare. Likeable leads, twinkly lights, and a tidy enemies-to-sweethearts arc.

How it all plays out

Already seen it, or just can’t wait? Open this up for the whole story, ending included.

Full story (spoilers)
Steven Brenner is a high-achieving architect at Geyser Corporation in Salt Lake City, so focused on his career that he views Christmas as a one-day distraction. His life is upended when his sister Kirsten calls to announce that a burst pipe has flooded her home, meaning the entire family—including their parents and Steven's niece Paige—will be spending the holidays at his undecorated bachelor pad. After a literal run-in with Gretchen, a holiday decorator, in his office lobby results in him being covered in fake snow, Steven decides to hire her to prepare his home. Impressed by her spirit and overwhelmed by his workload, Steven offers Gretchen a unique contract: to be the family's 'Christmas Ambassador,' coordinating all their holiday activities so he can focus on a major investment pitch. Gretchen, who works a soul-crushing part-time job staging catalogs, accepts the gig as a way to build her business, 'Holidays Made to Order.' As the week progresses, Gretchen leads the family through tree shopping, cider making at her Aunt Lindsay's inn in Silverpine, and caroling. Along the way, she discovers that Paige is secretly a talented singer who is afraid to tell her parents she wants to study music instead of medicine. Gretchen encourages Paige to find her voice, leading to a heartfelt confession where the family supports Paige's dreams. Meanwhile, Steven and Gretchen grow closer, bonding over a 'Believe' sign in the woods and decorating cookies. However, conflict arises when Steven tries to 'help' Gretchen by securing her a job interview at his firm. The position is a rigid corporate role that would stifle her creativity, and when she declines, Steven clumsily offers to double her pay as a client, making her feel like a mere employee rather than a partner. This friction leads both characters to re-evaluate their lives. Gretchen quits her catalog job to pursue her business full-time, and Steven, realizing he hates corporate architecture, resigns from his firm to design family homes. On Christmas Eve, Steven surprises Gretchen at her aunt's inn, presenting her with his new business plan for residential homes and asking her to be his permanent decorator. They confess their feelings and celebrate the holiday with the whole family.

Beat by beat

  1. Opening

    Steven and Gretchen have a 'meet-cute' collision in a lobby, covering Steven in fake snow and establishing their opposite views on Christmas.

  2. Inciting Incident

    Steven's sister Kirsten reveals a burst pipe has ruined her house, forcing the family to move Christmas to Steven's unprepared home.

  3. Midpoint

    Steven hires Gretchen as a 'Christmas Ambassador' to manage his family's holiday expectations while he works on a career-making pitch.

  4. Subplot Climax

    Gretchen encourages Steven's niece Paige to reveal her singing talent to her parents, leading to a breakthrough in family honesty.

  5. Climax

    Steven tries to get Gretchen a corporate job; she refuses, they argue over her professional worth, and she leaves feeling like just an employee.

  6. Resolution

    Both Steven and Gretchen quit their respective corporate jobs to follow their true passions and reunite on Christmas Eve.

26 tropes in one movie

We counted 26 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.

Rating 5.9 vs every rated Hallmark moviemedian 6.4This movie · 5.9567

Among the lower-rated Hallmark movies — the median is 6.4.

Where this one fits

The corners of the catalog Christmas Made to Order belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.

Lines worth quoting

The lines that stuck with us — the ones you’ll be repeating after the credits roll.

  • “Christmas is one day a year. I think people go overboard for it.”
    — StevenSteven expressing his initial cynicism about the holiday to Gretchen.
  • “I don't just do Christmas. Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, Halloween. Basically if it's a day off with a whole lot of food, that's my time to shine.”
    — GretchenGretchen explaining her business, Holidays Made to Order.
  • “You're a part of our family, Gretchen, whether you like it or not.”
    — Ellen (Steven's Mom)The family welcoming Gretchen into their inner circle on Christmas Eve.

Meet the characters

Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.

  • Steven Brenner

    Lead

    Architect

    WorkaholicOrganizedInitially cynicalFamily-oriented
  • Gretchen

    Love interest

    Holiday Decorator / Catalog Stager

    Hired decorator and romantic interest

    FestiveCreativeEncouragingAmbitious
  • Paige

    Supporting

    Student

    Niece

    MusicalHesitantAthletic
  • Kirsten

    Supporting

    Mechanic

    Sister

    OverachieverHandyProtective

Questions people ask about Christmas Made to Order

Where can I watch Christmas Made to Order?

Christmas Made to Order is available via fuboTV, Philo, and Hallmark+ Amazon Channel. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.

How long is Christmas Made to Order?

Christmas Made to Order runs about 1 hour and 22 minutes, and was released in 2018.

Is Christmas Made to Order a Christmas movie?

Yes. Christmas Made to Order is a Hallmark Christmas movie, set during the holiday season.

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Data and sources

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Sources:IMDbTMDB