Magical Christmas Ornaments

6.2/10 · 2,180 ratings20171h 30mChristmasWeirdness 9/10Bingo card

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The premise

After a bad breakup, former Christmas lover Marie (Lowndes) loses her Christmas spirit. Trying to restore it, her mother sends Marie Christmas ornaments from her childhood, and a coincidental blessing follows each one. Marie's Christmas spirit gets another boost when she meets her handsome neighbor, Nate (Penny), and feels a spark with him while celebrating the season. When Marie's boss assigns her to edit the book of the man who caused her holiday heartache, however, the task resurfaces doubts from the past and even causes her to push Nate away. Feeling lost both at work and in love, Marie looks for a Christmas miracle to give her the confidence to pursue her work goals and to try to win Nate back. As Christmas approaches, Marie must follow her heart's passion - both at work and in love - and hope for one more blessing from her magical Christmas ornaments.

How unusual is it?

Very. Magic, Santa himself and an actual miracle all turn up in one movie — the strangest 3% of everything we've logged.

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 ornaments function as literal summoning charms for plot points.
  • The ex-boyfriend writes a book about their breakup and the protagonist is forced to edit it.
  • The protagonist's mother sends a 'prescription for Christmas magic' in the form of a wrist-brace ornament.

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 35 to find more movies that do the same thing.

Why we’d put this one on

Weirdness 9, and a movie that fully commits to its gimmick. Jessica Lowndes is a cynical NYC editor who loses her Christmas spirit after a breakup, until her mother starts mailing her childhood ornaments that turn out to be, basically, magic. Each one she hangs triggers a coincidental blessing, including a budding romance with a charming nurse, Nate (Brendan Penny). The detail that delights me: one ornament arrives described as a "prescription for Christmas magic" in the form of a wrist brace. The ornaments work as literal plot-summoning charms. It is a warm, slightly bananas wish-fulfillment fantasy. Lovely if you want your holiday romance lightly supernatural.

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)
Marie is a successful editor at Lionsrun Publishing who has lost her faith in 'Christmas magic' after a devastating breakup with her college sweetheart, Clark, four years prior. Her mother, Linda, begins sending her a collection of vintage family ornaments, claiming they hold special powers. The first ornament, an angel named Aurora, coincides with Marie meeting her neighbor Nate, a pediatric nurse who is new to the city. As Marie hangs more ornaments, the 'magic' becomes increasingly literal: an ice skate ornament leads to an impromptu skating date with Nate, and a lighthouse ornament—representing the site of her heartbreak—heralds the return of Clark, who has been hired by Marie's boss, Henry, to write a new fiction novel. The conflict intensifies when Marie discovers Clark's book is a thinly veiled account of their own relationship, and he begins using her professional ideas, including her 'Inspiring the future, today' tagline, to impress Henry. Meanwhile, Marie's relationship with Nate hits a snag when she sees him with a female colleague, Leslie, and her fear of being 'burned' again causes her to push him away. After a confrontation at the company Christmas party where Clark prioritizes profit over the integrity of children's literature, Marie realizes she cannot stay at Lionsrun. She resigns to follow her heart and open her own publishing firm, starting with a children's book by her mentor, J.P. Presley. In the resolution, Marie realizes the ornaments weren't just bringing her things, but were changing her perspective. She rushes to find Nate before he leaves for a Christmas flight to Florida, confessing that he is what she wants for Christmas. The film ends with Marie successfully launching her business and finding a happy ending that isn't just fiction.

Beat by beat

  1. Opening

    Marie's mother sends the first 'magical' ornament, Aurora the angel, to help Marie rediscover her love for Christmas.

  2. Inciting Incident

    Marie meets her neighbor Nate, a nurse who challenges her cynical view of the holiday season.

  3. Midpoint

    The lighthouse ornament brings Marie's ex-boyfriend Clark back into her life as a new author at her publishing house.

  4. Complication

    Marie realizes Clark is writing a book about their breakup and stealing her professional ideas for a children's book line.

  5. Climax

    Marie resigns from her job to start her own publishing house and pushes Nate away due to her fear of being hurt again.

  6. Resolution

    Marie reconciles with Nate, realizing he is her 'lighthouse,' and successfully launches her own boutique publishing company.

Did you know?

A few things that make this one stand out once you stack it up against every other Hallmark movie.

  • At a weirdness score of 9, it lands among the strangest 3% of Hallmark movies we've scored.

Top 3% weirdest

Out of every Hallmark movie we've scored, this one lands among the strangest 3%.

How it stacks up

Where this one’s rating lands against every other rated Hallmark movie.

Rating 6.2 vs every rated Hallmark moviemedian 6.4This movie · 6.2567

Higher-rated than 28% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.

Where this one fits

The corners of the catalog Magical Christmas Ornaments 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.

  • “Magic only exists in fairy tales; not in real life.”
    — MarieExplaining to her friend why she no longer celebrates Christmas.
  • “The possible's slow fuse is lit by the imagination.”
    — J.P. Presley / MarieA recurring Emily Dickinson quote that inspires Marie's career change.
  • “If you Scrooge, you lose.”
    — MarieMarie joking about her newfound holiday spirit during a gingerbread class.

Meet the characters

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

  • Marie

    Lead

    Book Editor

    CynicalAmbitiousCreativeGuarded
  • Nate

    Love interest

    Pediatric Nurse

    Neighbor and romantic interest

    OptimisticKindChristmas-lovingPatient
  • Clark

    Antagonist

    Author/Podcaster

    Ex-boyfriend and professional rival

    OpportunisticCharmingSelf-centered
  • Andi

    Supporting

    Office Manager

    Best friend and colleague

    SupportiveFestiveMatchmaker

Questions people ask about Magical Christmas Ornaments

Where can I watch Magical Christmas Ornaments?

Magical Christmas Ornaments is available via fuboTV, Philo, and YouTube TV. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.

How long is Magical Christmas Ornaments?

Magical Christmas Ornaments runs about 1 hour and 30 minutes, and was released in 2017.

Is Magical Christmas Ornaments a Christmas movie?

Yes. Magical Christmas Ornaments is a Hallmark Christmas movie, set during the holiday season.

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Data and sources

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Sources:IMDbTMDB