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    My Christmas Guide

    7.1/10 · 1,269 ratings·2023·1h 24m·Christmas·Weirdness 3/10
    My Christmas Guide poster

    At a glance

    3/10

    Mostly standard issue

    Holiday
    Christmas
    Season
    Winter
    Setting
    Small Town
    Time period
    Contemporary
    Leads start as
    Complete Strangers
    Runtime
    1h 24m
    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
    🇨🇦Canada2 ways

    Stream

    • StackTV Amazon Channel
    • fuboTV

    Via JustWatch · can change anytime.

    The premise

    A college professor connects with a guide dog trainer after losing his eyesight and adopting a seeing eye dog.

    Themes:Independence and disabilityTrust and vulnerabilityThe power of literatureResilienceNew beginnings

    How unusual is it?

    Honestly? Not very — and that's the charm. It plays the hits, which is exactly the point for a cozy night in.

    A rare specific

    Tap to find the other Hallmark movies that share it.

    • College Professor as the leadThe only one

    Who’s in it

    Ben Mehl headshot

    Our Guy

    Ben Mehl

    as Trevor Donovan

    Amber Marshall headshot

    Our Girl

    Amber Marshall

    as Peyton Lewis

    Alongside them

    • Ava Weiss headshot
      Ava WeissAnnie Donovan
    • Justin Nurse headshot
      Justin NurseChad
    • Bridget Wareham headshot
      Bridget WarehamKatie
    • Jonathan Valvano headshot
      Jonathan ValvanoNathan
    Show all 10 castShow fewer
    • Leslie Takeda headshot
      Leslie TakedaDr. Shaw
    • Vox Smith headshot
      Vox SmithSean
    • Pete Soucy headshot
      Pete SoucyDr. Lewis
    • Erin Mackey headshot
      Erin MackeyChef

    Behind the camera

    ShowHide

    Directed by

    • Max McGuire headshot
      Max McGuire

    Written by

    • Keith Hemstreet headshot
      Keith Hemstreet

    Wait, what?

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

    • The antagonist is a 'golf bro' who prioritizes Rory McIlroy clubs over his girlfriend's father's visit
    • A high-stakes subplot involving a middle-schooler threatening to reveal a bully's bed-wetting secret
    • The protagonist identifies his love interest by her specific perfume, 'Soleil du Matin'

    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.

    Setting2

    🏘️Small Town🏫School

    Time & season3

    ❄️Winter🎄Christmas🗓️Contemporary

    Characters7

    👥Lead: Guide Dog Trainer🍎Love interest: Teacher/Professor🐕Dog👶Cute kid💘Matchmaking relative🐕Pet🖤Widow / widower

    Conflict3

    🧭Self-Discovery🫀Personal stakes💔An ex returns

    Romance5

    💕Start as complete strangers💕First kiss: late (final third)🔥Slow burn💗Love confession🎁Grand gesture

    Tone & quirks4

    🎬Light/Heartwarming🎵Musical element👨‍🍳Cooking scenes🎄Tree decorating

    How it ends2

    💋Ends with a kiss🔄Career change

    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 Trevor Donovan, a literature professor, navigating his daily life with a mobility cane after losing his sight to retinitis pigmentosa. His daughter, Annie, is deeply concerned for his safety, especially after he sustains a head injury by walking into a construction pole at the university. Peyton Lewis, a guide dog trainer and founder of Best Friend Guide Dogs, notices Trevor's struggle and leaves information at Annie's school. Though initially hesitant and protective of his independence, Trevor is persuaded by Annie to visit Peyton's training center. There, he meets Max, a highly trained guide dog. Peyton begins a rigorous training program with Trevor, teaching him not just how to handle Max, but how to trust the dog's 'intelligent disobedience' to stay safe. As they spend time together, Peyton and Trevor bond over shared interests in classic literature and music, and Peyton even helps Annie with her math struggles. However, Peyton is currently dating Chad, a self-absorbed golfer who frequently prioritizes his friends and trips over her, even missing her father's visit to go to Florida. Meanwhile, Trevor faces pressure at work from Dr. Shaw, who suggests he take a leave of absence due to the construction hazards. The tension peaks when Chad, feeling threatened by Trevor's presence, lies to him, claiming Peyton views him as 'just another client' and that they are moving to the next level in their relationship. Discouraged by this and a bullying incident involving Annie at school, Trevor attempts to return Max to Peyton, intending to withdraw from his teaching position. Peyton, alerted to Chad's behavior through a recording and his general dismissiveness, breaks up with him. She attends Trevor's final lecture, where he delivers a moving speech about the power of literature and resilience, quoting Dickens and Harper Lee. Inspired by his own words and Peyton's support, Trevor decides to keep Max and continue teaching. The film concludes on Christmas Day with Trevor, Annie, and Peyton celebrating together, looking forward to a future as a family.

    Beat by beat

    1. 1

      Opening

      Trevor, a blind professor, hits his head on a construction site, prompting his daughter Annie to seek help.

    2. 2

      Inciting Incident

      Peyton introduces Trevor to Max the guide dog, and the two begin a rigorous training and bonding process.

    3. 3

      Midpoint

      Trevor and Peyton's relationship deepens through shared activities like a cooking class and a visit to a music venue, while Peyton's boyfriend Chad remains distant.

    4. 4

      Conflict

      Chad confronts Trevor and lies about his relationship with Peyton, causing Trevor to lose confidence and try to return Max.

    5. 5

      Climax

      Trevor delivers a powerful final lecture on literature and resilience; Peyton dumps Chad after realizing his true nature.

    6. 6

      Resolution

      Trevor decides to stay at the university, keeps Max, and begins a romantic relationship with Peyton on Christmas.

    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 7.1 vs every rated Hallmark moviemedian 6.4This movie · 7.145678

    Higher-rated than 92% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.

    Where this one fits

    The corners of the catalog My Christmas Guide 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.

    • “A classic is a book nobody reads.”
      — Trevor DonovanQuoting Mark Twain while discussing his profession with Peyton.
    • “Max is a professional obstacle-avoider.”
      — Peyton LewisExplaining Max's role in helping Trevor navigate the construction site.
    • “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”
      — Trevor DonovanQuoting Charles Dickens during his final lecture to his students.

    Meet the characters

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

    • Trevor Donovan

      Lead

      Literature Professor

      IntellectualResilientProtectiveInsecure
    • Peyton Lewis

      Love interest

      Guide Dog Trainer

      Trainer and eventual romantic partner

      CompassionatePatientObservantDedicated
    • Chad

      Antagonist

      Sales/Golfer

      Peyton's initial boyfriend

      Self-centeredImmatureManipulative
    • Annie

      Supporting

      Student

      Daughter

      CaringDeterminedSmart
    • Max

      Supporting

      Guide Dog

      Service animal and companion

      LoyalObedientIntelligent

    Questions people ask about My Christmas Guide

    Where can I watch My Christmas Guide?

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

    How long is My Christmas Guide?

    My Christmas Guide runs about 1 hour and 24 minutes, and was released in 2023.

    Is My Christmas Guide a Christmas movie?

    Yes. My Christmas Guide is a Hallmark Christmas movie, set during the holiday season.

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    Data and sources

    Curated by the Talking Hallmark team.·Last updated June 17, 2026.

    Sources:IMDb·TMDB·JustWatch

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