Swept Up by Christmas

6.1/10 · 1,102 ratings20191h 24mChristmasWeirdness 3/10Bingo card

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The premise

An antique seller and a cleaner clash over how to downsize a magnificent estate right before Christmas. As the two uncover the house's treasures, they find a way to reconnect the reclusive owner with his own Christmases past.

How unusual is it?

Mostly classic comfort-watch, give or take an enemies-to-lovers arc.

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.

  • The cleaning company is named 'Dirt Force One' and operates with military tactical precision.
  • The auction features a 'haunted violin' that supposedly plays itself on Christmas Eve.
  • The protagonist was 'ditched at the altar' in a backstory that is mentioned with surprising frequency.

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 33 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)
Gwen Donnelly is an ambitious appraiser at Legacy Auction House in Winndale, determined to purchase the business from her retiring boss, Graham, before the corporate Davrow Group can swoop in. Her path to ownership depends on the massive commission from the Hawthorne House estate. However, she is dismayed to find she must share the job with Reed, the owner of 'Dirt Force One,' a cleaning company staffed by veterans. Gwen and Reed previously worked together on a job that ended poorly due to their clashing styles: Gwen's fluid, work-until-it's-done approach versus Reed's rigid, military-style logistics. The estate owner, Alan Hawthorne, is a grumpy widower who wants to auction off every memory of his late wife, Carol, and has become estranged from his daughter, Isla. To help the real estate sale, Gwen agrees to decorate the house for Christmas, a task that forces her and Reed into close proximity. As they sort through four generations of belongings, Gwen discovers Carol’s old cookbook and a rare Belgian glass star that Alan bought on their honeymoon. Reed reveals his own struggles with civilian life and his desire to build a home after a failed engagement. The two begin to bond over s'mores at local fire pits and custom lattes from Gwen's friend Vanessa. The conflict peaks when Gwen learns that Davrow has outbid her for Legacy. At the final auction, Gwen makes a pivotal choice: she pulls the Belgian glass star from the sale, sacrificing her commission to return the heirloom to Alan, realizing its sentimental value outweighs its price tag. This act of integrity moves Alan, who finally reaches out to Isla. In the resolution, Alan reconciles with his daughter and reveals he has purchased Legacy Auction House himself to keep it local, installing Gwen as his partner. Reed, who was planning to move to San Diego for a business expansion, decides to stay in Winndale to be with Gwen, sending his partner Mike to California instead.

Beat by beat

  1. Opening

    Gwen lands the Hawthorne House appraisal job but is forced to work with Reed, a cleaning contractor she previously clashed with.

  2. Inciting Incident

    Gwen agrees to decorate the Hawthorne House for Christmas to help the sale, leading to a forced collaboration with Reed's crew.

  3. Midpoint

    Gwen and Reed bond over their shared work ethic and past heartbreaks while discovering the sentimental history of the Hawthorne family.

  4. Rising Action

    Gwen discovers she is being outbid for the auction house by a corporate conglomerate, putting her dreams at risk.

  5. Climax

    At the auction, Gwen pulls a valuable heirloom from the block to return it to the grieving owner, choosing sentiment over her own career goals.

  6. Resolution

    Alan Hawthorne buys the auction house to save it for Gwen, and Reed decides to stay in town rather than move to San Diego.

33 tropes in one movie

We counted 33 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 6.1 vs every rated Hallmark moviemedian 6.4This movie · 6.1567

Higher-rated than 21% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.

Where this one fits

The corners of the catalog Swept Up 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.

  • “Individuals play the game, but teams beat the odds.”
    — ReedExplaining his philosophy on why he and Gwen should work together on the house.
  • “I think you might be more sentimental than you think.”
    — ReedTo Gwen, after she admits why she returned to her hometown.
  • “There are some things worth holding on to, but there are things that we all need to let go of.”
    — GwenAdvising Alan Hawthorne on his grief and his relationship with his daughter.

Meet the characters

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

  • Gwen Donnelly

    Lead

    Estate Appraiser

    HardworkingSentimentalAmbitiousIndependent
  • Reed

    Love interest

    Owner of Dirt Force One cleaning service

    Professional rival turned romantic partner

    OrganizedDisciplinedLoyalVeteran
  • Alan Hawthorne

    Supporting

    Estate Owner

    Client and eventual business partner

    GrumpyGrievingWealthyPhilanthropic
  • Mike

    Supporting

    Business Partner at Dirt Force One

    Reed's best friend

    SupportiveObservant

Questions people ask about Swept Up by Christmas

Where can I watch Swept Up by Christmas?

Swept Up 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 Swept Up by Christmas?

Swept Up by Christmas runs about 1 hour and 24 minutes, and was released in 2019.

Is Swept Up by Christmas a Christmas movie?

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

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Data and sources

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Sources:IMDbTMDB