Matchmaker Santa
Where to watch
United States4 ways
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JustWatch · can change anytime.
The premise
A young baker discovers the magic of Christmas and love.
How unusual is it?
Very. Magic, santa is real, Santa himself and an actual miracle all turn up in one movie — the strangest 7% of everything we've logged.
Who’s in it
Behind the camera
ShowHide
Directed by
Written by
Wait, what?
The quirks and curveballs that make this one a little weirder than your average Hallmark. No spoilers, promise.
- Santa Claus is a literal hitchhiker who sabotages a car's alternator to force a breakup.
- The 'Bear Problem' subplot where the sheriff refuses to help because he thinks the protagonist is a 'fruitcake' seeing imaginary bears.
- The road worker who gives intentionally confusing directions to ensure the characters stay lost.
- The 'Skeeter' nickname given to Melanie by a local woman for no apparent reason.
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 31 to find more movies that do the same thing.
Setting2
Time & season3
Romance5
Why we’d put this one on
This is one I keep recommending to people who think they have seen every Hallmark trick. Lacey Chabert plays a baker road-tripping to a lake house with her CEO boyfriend when a hitchhiking Santa named Chris climbs in and starts arranging things. By arranging, I mean he sabotages the car's alternator to strand her in a charming town with the boyfriend's best friend. At a weirdness of 8 the details are pure chaos: a sheriff who thinks she is a fruitcake imagining bears, a road worker giving deliberately confusing directions, and a real, meddling Santa pulling the strings. Florence Henderson and John Ratzenberger co-star. Rated 6.6 and a blast.
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 begins with a flashback to a young Melanie writing a letter to Santa, wishing to one day meet her 'Prince Charming.' Years later, Melanie is a successful but stressed bakery owner in a relationship with Justin, a high-powered CEO who often prioritizes work over her. Justin invites Melanie to his family's lake house for Christmas to meet his mother, Katherine, but he is too busy to pick her up from the airport and sends his assistant/best friend, Dean, instead. On her flight, Melanie sits next to a mysterious man named Chris who looks exactly like Santa Claus and claims to be heading to Buford Falls to work.
When the rental car breaks down near Buford Falls, Melanie, Dean, and Chris are forced to stay at a local inn run by the eccentric Peggy. Meanwhile, at the lake house, Justin is stranded with Blaire, his high school sweetheart and current business associate, due to a reported 'bear' outside the house and a logging truck accident blocking the road. As Melanie and Dean spend time in Buford Falls, they discover they share a love for woodworking and traditional Christmas values. Melanie helps the local women bake cookies for charity using her secret family ingredient, while Dean carves a wooden ornament for her.
Chris, who is heavily implied to be the real Santa, subtly manipulates events to keep the couples apart until they realize they are with the wrong people. Justin and Blaire realize their corporate ambitions and history make them a perfect match, while Melanie recognizes that Dean is the 'Prince Charming' she actually wished for as a child. The film culminates at the Buford Falls tree lighting ceremony where Melanie and Dean admit their feelings. When they finally reach the lake house, Justin and Melanie mutually confess they've found love with others, resulting in a happy ending for both couples.
Beat by beat
Opening
A young Melanie writes a letter to Santa wishing for her own Prince Charming.
Inciting Incident
Melanie's car breaks down in Buford Falls while traveling with Dean and a hitchhiking Santa named Chris.
Midpoint
Melanie and Dean bond over baking and woodworking in Buford Falls while Justin is 'trapped' at the lake house by a bear.
Climax
Melanie and Dean realize they are in love during the town's Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
Resolution
Melanie and Justin break up amicably, realizing they have both found their true matches in Dean and Blaire respectively.
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 8, it lands among the strangest 7% of Hallmark movies we've scored.
Top 7% weirdest
Out of every Hallmark movie we've scored, this one lands among the strangest 7%.
How it stacks up
Where this one’s rating lands against every other rated Hallmark movie.
Higher-rated than 63% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.
Where this one fits
The corners of the catalog Matchmaker Santa belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.
- Weirdest Hallmark MoviesScores 8/10 on our weirdness scale — comfortably in the strange end.
- Craziest Hallmark MoviesWild enough in premise to make the all-time list.
- Best Hallmark Christmas MoviesIt is, of course, a Christmas movie.
- Weirdest Hallmark Christmas MoviesA Christmas movie strange enough to make the weird list.
- Hallmark Supernatural MoviesHas a supernatural element.
- Hallmark Second-Chance Romance MoviesA rekindled romance.
Lines worth quoting
The lines that stuck with us — the ones you’ll be repeating after the credits roll.
“If this is the right fellow for you, you're not gonna put him out, and he'll wait there for you.”
— ChrisGiving Melanie relationship advice on the plane. “I'm pretty sure it's the alternator... mechanical energy from the crankshaft into electricity through induction.”
— George the MechanicExplaining why they are stranded in Buford Falls. “I'm giving the company my two-weeks notice after Christmas. Starting the new year fresh.”
— DeanTelling Melanie he is quitting his job to follow his woodworking passion.
Meet the characters
Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.
Melanie Hogan
LeadBakery Owner
KindHardworkingTraditionalSentimentalDean Ford
Love interestExecutive Assistant / Woodworker
Boyfriend's best friend and assistant
LoyalArtisticSincereUnderappreciatedJustin Green
SupportingCEO
Initial boyfriend
AmbitiousWorkaholicForgetfulStatus-consciousChris (Santa)
SupportingSanta Claus
Travel companion and magical matchmaker
MysteriousJovialManipulative (benevolent)All-knowingBlaire Tisdale
SupportingVP of Operations
Justin's ex-girlfriend and business associate
EfficientAmbitiousNostalgic
Questions people ask about Matchmaker Santa
Where can I watch Matchmaker Santa?
Matchmaker Santa is available via YouTube TV, UP Faith & Family Apple TV Channel, and UP Faith & Family Amazon Channel . Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.
How long is Matchmaker Santa?
Matchmaker Santa runs about 1 hour and 15 minutes, and was released in 2012.
Is Matchmaker Santa a Christmas movie?
Yes. Matchmaker Santa is a Hallmark Christmas movie, set during the holiday season.
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Talking Hallmark
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Data and sources
Curated by the Talking Hallmark team.Last updated .