Deliver by Christmas

6.5/10 · 1,578 ratings20201h 24mChristmasWeirdness 5/10Bingo card

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The premise

Molly meets Josh, a widower who recently moved to town with his young son. At the same time she is charmed by a mysterious client of her bakery whom she's never met in person. In the end, he was the one and the same man.

How unusual is it?

Middle of the road, with a twist — mistaken identity and Santa himself keep it from being totally by-the-book.

Who’s in it

Behind the camera

Show

Wait, what?

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

  • Molly's 'stapler system' for database management in a professional bakery
  • The extreme coincidence of meeting in person four separate times without exchanging names while talking nightly on the phone
  • A software developer being unable to bake a basic cookie without setting off a smoke alarm

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 34 to find more movies that do the same thing.

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)
The film opens with Molly, the owner of Sweet Life Bakery, struggling to manage a surge of holiday orders using a primitive system of stapled colored papers. Meanwhile, Josh, a software developer and widower, has moved to Colbyville with his young son, Charlie, to be closer to his brother Jimmy and sister-in-law Amy. Molly and Josh first meet at a Christmas tree lot, where they bond over 'soft needles' and Josh gallantly gives up a perfect tree for Molly and her niece, Zoe. Shortly after, Amy—who is organizing the town's Christmas festival—enlists Josh to help. This leads Josh to call Molly to coordinate a gingerbread house booth. Because Molly is a 'night owl' baker and Josh is used to late-night coding, they begin a series of long, intimate phone conversations without realizing they have already met in person. During these calls, they share deep personal histories: Molly reveals she was left at the altar, and Josh opens up about the loss of his wife, Christie, an Army nurse killed in combat. In person, they continue to run into each other at an ice cream shop and Santa’s Village, but Molly sees Josh with Amy and assumes she is his wife. This misunderstanding deepens when Josh’s family pushes him to date, leading him to a single dinner with a local business owner named Jessica. Molly witnesses this dinner while delivering bread and, heartbroken, decides to stop taking Josh's calls, believing he is unavailable. The conflict reaches its peak when Molly plans to skip the festival entirely to avoid seeing Josh. However, her sister Jane discovers from Amy that Josh is actually single and that the dinner with Jessica was an unsuccessful setup. Jane convinces Molly to wear a special dress and attend the tree-lighting ceremony. At the climax, as the town counts down to light the tree, Josh and Molly stand near each other. Josh sends a text to his 'phone friend,' and Molly’s phone rings in her hand. They finally look at each other, realizing the truth. The film concludes with them embracing their new relationship, while Charlie’s secret Christmas wish—for his father to find happiness again—is fulfilled.

Beat by beat

  1. Opening

    Molly and Josh have a 'meet-cute' at a Christmas tree lot, debating the merits of soft needles before Josh gives her the tree.

  2. Inciting incident

    Josh calls Molly to discuss the festival's gingerbread booth, beginning an anonymous late-night phone friendship.

  3. Midpoint

    Molly sees Josh with his sister-in-law Amy and mistakenly concludes he is a married man.

  4. Rising action

    Josh and Molly share their deepest traumas (abandonment at the altar and the death of a spouse) over the phone.

  5. Climax Approach

    Molly sees Josh on a dinner date with Jessica and decides to cut off contact, feeling foolish for her feelings.

  6. Climax

    At the tree lighting, a phone call reveal forces the two to realize their identities are one and the same.

  7. Resolution

    Josh and Molly unite as a couple, and Charlie's video message to soldiers reveals his wish for his dad's happiness.

34 tropes in one movie

We counted 34 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 6.5 vs every rated Hallmark moviemedian 6.4This movie · 6.5567

Higher-rated than 56% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.

Where this one fits

The corners of the catalog Deliver by Christmas 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.

  • “I think someone should get Aunt Molly a computer for Christmas.”
    — ZoeCommenting on Molly's chaotic paper-and-stapler ordering system.
  • “Always check for a 'sold' sign before you check for soft needles.”
    — JoshTeasing Molly at the tree lot after they both try to buy a tree that was already taken.
  • “It's not about what I don't have, it's about what I do have.”
    — MollyDiscussing her life and bakery with Josh over the phone.
  • “May this season of gift-giving include the gift of an open heart.”
    — JoshGiving a speech at the town tree lighting.

Meet the characters

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

  • Molly

    Lead

    Bakery Owner

    HardworkingTechnologically-averseKind-heartedNight owl
  • Josh

    Love interest

    Software Developer

    Love interest and phone confidant

    GrievingDevoted fatherHumbleHelpful
  • Charlie

    Supporting

    Student

    Josh's son

    Wise beyond his yearsObservantEmpathetic
  • Jane

    Supporting

    Bakery Assistant/Sister

    Molly's sister

    SupportivePushyObservant
  • Amy

    Supporting

    Festival Organizer

    Josh's sister-in-law

    OrganizedMatchmakerCommunity-minded

Questions people ask about Deliver by Christmas

Where can I watch Deliver by Christmas?

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

How long is Deliver by Christmas?

Deliver by Christmas runs about 1 hour and 24 minutes, and was released in 2020.

Is Deliver by Christmas a Christmas movie?

Yes. Deliver by Christmas is a Hallmark Christmas movie, set during the holiday season.

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