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    Miracle in Bethlehem, PA

    7.0/10 · 1,607 ratings·2023·1h 30m·Christmas·Weirdness 5/10
    Miracle in Bethlehem, PA poster

    At a glance

    5/10

    Right on the Hallmark median

    What bumps it up: Santa appears.

    Holiday
    Christmas
    Season
    Winter
    Setting
    Small Town
    Time period
    Contemporary
    Leads start as
    Complete Strangers
    Runtime
    1h 30m
    Watch trailer
    IMDbLetterboxdTMDBHallmarkJustWatch

    Where to watch

    🇺🇸United States17 ways

    Stream

    • fuboTV
    • YouTube TV
    • Philo
    • Hallmark+ Amazon Channel
    • Hallmark+ Apple TV Channel
    • Hallmark TV Amazon Channel

    Free

    • Hoopla

    Rent

    • Amazon Video
    • Apple TV Store
    • Google Play Movies
    • YouTube
    • Fandango At Home

    Buy

    • Amazon Video
    • Apple TV Store
    • Google Play Movies
    • YouTube
    • Fandango At Home
    🇬🇧United Kingdom1 way

    Stream

    • Hallmark TV Amazon Channel

    Via JustWatch · can change anytime.

    The premise

    Just before Christmas, Mary Ann adopts a baby girl to raise alone. She and the infant spend the Christmas stuck in Bethlehem, PA, due to bad weather. Her only choice when the inn is full is to stay with Joe, the brother of the innkeeper.

    Themes:Divine timingThe power of communitySingle motherhoodFinding inspiration after griefFaith and trust

    How unusual is it?

    Middle of the road, with a twist — Santa himself keeps it from being totally by-the-book.

    Who’s in it

    Laura Vandervoort headshot

    Our Girl

    Laura Vandervoort

    as Mary Ann

    Benjamin Ayres headshot

    Our Guy

    Benjamin Ayres

    as Joe

    Alongside them

    • Amy Groening headshot
      Amy GroeningFrankie
    • Braden Blair headshot
      Braden BlairTheodore
    • Teryl Rothery headshot
      Teryl RotheryGoldie
    • Angela Narth headshot
      Angela NarthGrandma Myrtle
    Show all 10 castShow fewer
    • Darcy Fehr headshot
      Darcy FehrShawn Shepherd
    • Kate Trotter headshot
      Kate TrotterHannah
    • Lauren Cochrane headshot
      Lauren CochraneGabriella
    • Amanda Austin headshot
      Amanda AustinBrooke

    Behind the camera

    ShowHide

    Directed by

    • Jeff Beesley headshot
      Jeff Beesley

    Written by

    • Kimberly Daugherty headshot
      Kimberly Daugherty
    • Laura Kampo Lennon headshot
      Laura Kampo Lennon

    Wait, what?

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

    • The protagonist's love interest has a dog named 'Donkey' because he found it in a donkey stable.
    • Joe creates a Christmas tree topper out of a cut-up pizza box, claiming people in biblical Bethlehem probably ate pizza.
    • The ex-girlfriend Brooke is unusually aggressive for a Hallmark movie, mocking Joe's 'record' for short relationships.

    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 37 to find more movies that do the same thing.

    Setting2

    🏘️Small Town🚜Farm

    Time & season3

    ❄️Winter🎄Christmas🗓️Contemporary

    Characters10

    ⚖️Lead: Lawyer🏪Love interest: Small Business Owner👥Pop Star/Singer🐕Dog👶Cute kid👨‍👧Single parent⏰Workaholic lead💘Matchmaking relative🐕Pet👥Celebrity

    Conflict5

    🧭Self-Discovery⚡Economic Downturn👨‍👩‍👧Family stakes📉Business in peril💔An ex returns

    Romance6

    💕Start as complete strangers💕First kiss: final scene only💓Instant attraction🔥Slow burn💗Love confession🎁Grand gesture

    Tone & quirks6

    🎬Light/Heartwarming🎵Musical element👨‍🍳Cooking scenes🧶Crafting scenes🎄Tree decorating💃Dance scene

    How it ends5

    🎅Santa appears💋Ends with a kiss🏘️Stays in the small town🤝Family reconciliation🏪Saves the business

    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 Mary Ann Brubeck, a successful and independent lawyer, receiving the life-changing news that an adoption has finally come through. She travels to Bethlehem, PA, to pick up her newborn daughter, Natalie. Simultaneously, we meet Joe, a former touring musician who has settled into a stagnant life running his late father's auto shop, much to the frustration of his girlfriend Brooke, who breaks up with him over his lack of passion. When a severe blizzard shuts down the roads, Mary Ann finds herself stranded with a newborn and no place to stay. Frankie, the local innkeeper and Joe's sister, arranges for Mary Ann to stay in Joe's guest room. The living situation is initially awkward, as Joe's house is cluttered and he is unaccustomed to the needs of a baby. However, Joe quickly steps up, helping Mary Ann with late-night feedings and even using his 'rock star' moves to soothe the crying infant. As they spend time together, Mary Ann learns about Joe's grief over his father's death and his abandonment of music, while Joe learns about Mary Ann's struggle with infertility and her divorce from an ambitious, cold husband. The plot thickens when Mary Ann discovers that Joe's family is on the verge of losing their historic community barn due to a new property tax law. Using her legal expertise, she finds a loophole by getting the barn designated as a historic structure, saving the family legacy. A brief conflict arises when Joe's ex, Brooke, returns and sees them together, leading to a misunderstanding that almost causes Mary Ann to leave for the city early. However, after a heart-to-heart with her own mother, Mary Ann realizes she has found a community and a partner she doesn't want to lose. The film concludes on Christmas Day at the barn, where Joe finally picks up his father's guitar to play for the community, and Mary Ann's mother arrives to meet her new granddaughter. Joe and Mary Ann confess their feelings and 'seal' their commitment with a kiss during a family photo.

    Beat by beat

    1. 1

      Opening

      Mary Ann adopts baby Natalie in Bethlehem, PA, but a blizzard strands her in town.

    2. 2

      Inciting Incident

      With all hotels booked, Mary Ann is forced to stay at the home of Joe, a local mechanic and former musician.

    3. 3

      Midpoint

      Joe and Mary Ann bond while caring for the baby, and Joe helps Mary Ann realize she doesn't have to do everything alone.

    4. 4

      Rising Action

      Mary Ann uses her legal skills to save Joe's family barn from a property tax crisis by filing for historic status.

    5. 5

      Climax

      Joe's ex-girlfriend Brooke creates a scene, causing Mary Ann to feel like an intruder and nearly leave town.

    6. 6

      Resolution

      Mary Ann reconciles with her mother and Joe; Joe returns to music, and they celebrate Christmas as a new family.

    37 tropes in one movie

    We counted 37 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 7.0 vs every rated Hallmark moviemedian 6.4This movie · 7.045678

    Higher-rated than 88% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.

    Where this one fits

    The corners of the catalog Miracle in Bethlehem, PA belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.

    • 🎄Best Hallmark Christmas MoviesIt is, of course, a Christmas movie.
    • 🐶Hallmark Dog & Pet MoviesA four-legged matchmaker.
    • 🧁Hallmark Baking & Cooking MoviesPlenty of time in the kitchen.
    • 👨‍👧Hallmark Single Parent MoviesA single parent finds love again.
    • 🏘️Hallmark Small Town MoviesA classic small-town setting.

    Lines worth quoting

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

    • “I don't need a husband to become a mom. I've gotten as far as I am on my own.”
      — Mary AnnDiscussing her decision to adopt as a single woman.
    • “You named your dog Donkey? Creative name. Not really?”
      — Mary Ann and JoeWhen Mary Ann first meets Joe's dog.
    • “Every good and perfect gift comes from above. Isn't that right? James 1:17.”
      — Mary AnnBonding with Joe over their shared faith.
    • “Those words are legally binding, right? Well... not legally binding, no. We'd have to seal it somehow. Sealed with a kiss.”
      — Joe and Mary AnnThe final romantic exchange before their kiss.

    Meet the characters

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

    • Mary Ann Brubeck

      Lead

      Lawyer

      IndependentAmbitiousFaithfulProtective
    • Joe

      Love interest

      Mechanic / Former Musician

      Host and love interest

      KindUnmotivatedGrievingGood with kids
    • Frankie

      Supporting

      Innkeeper

      Joe's sister and Mary Ann's friend

      WelcomingEnergeticMatchmaker
    • Goldie

      Supporting

      Community Leader

      Joe's mother

      MatriarchalKindTraditional

    Questions people ask about Miracle in Bethlehem, PA

    Where can I watch Miracle in Bethlehem, PA?

    Miracle in Bethlehem, PA is available via fuboTV, YouTube TV, and Philo. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.

    How long is Miracle in Bethlehem, PA?

    Miracle in Bethlehem, PA runs about 1 hour and 30 minutes, and was released in 2023.

    Is Miracle in Bethlehem, PA a Christmas movie?

    Yes. Miracle in Bethlehem, PA is a Hallmark Christmas movie, set during the holiday season.

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    Data and sources

    Curated by the Talking Hallmark team.

    Sources:IMDb·TMDB·JustWatch

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