The Christmas Wishing Tree
Where to watch
We haven’t pinned down where The Christmas Wishing Tree is streaming yet — check JustWatch.
The premise
The town has a new tradition to help make the wishes of the townspeople come true. Elizabeth works overtime to make one wish come true, while she waits for her own wishes to come true.
How unusual is it?
Very. Magic, Santa himself, an actual miracle and a historical setting all turn up in one movie — the strangest 7% of everything we've logged.
Who’s in it
You’ve seen this pairing before: Erin Krakow and Pascale Hutton have made 4 Hallmark movies together.
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.
- The town's former villain is essentially kept as a holiday slave/lackey for community service before becoming a hero.
- The 'magical' blizzard that perfectly aligns with a Mountie's leave orders.
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 & season4
Premise2
Romance5
Tone & quirks6
Why we’d put this one on
This is the holiday detour from When Calls the Heart, set in frontier Hope Valley where teacher Elizabeth Thatcher, played by Erin Krakow, waits on her Mountie while the town starts a Wishing Tree of selfless requests. At 8.4 it is the highest-rated film in this whole batch, beloved by the show's devoted fans, and it runs a generous 120 minutes. Weirdness 8 is gentle: a blizzard that conveniently aligns with leave orders, and the town's former villain kept on as a community-service lackey. Pascale Hutton and Jack Wagner round out the regulars. Pure cozy comfort for Hearties.
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 Elizabeth Thatcher writing in her journal about her longing for Jack Thornton, who has been away for six months. She introduces her students to the legend of the Wishing Tree, a tradition where people write wishes on ornaments for others to fulfill. While Elizabeth is hesitant to wish for Jack's return, fearing it is selfish, her friends Rosemary and Abigail encourage her to have faith. Meanwhile, Abigail Stanton prepares for her daughter Becky's return from school, and Lee Coulter struggles to adapt to a week of 'leisure' after closing his sawmill for the holidays. The emotional core of the film is established when Bill Avery surprises Elizabeth by arranging for Jack to return home for a few days. However, the joy is bittersweet as Jack reveals he must return to the Northern Territories on Christmas Eve. Several subplots unfold: a young student named Robert wishes for a crib for his unborn sibling because he senses his parents' anxiety over a difficult pregnancy; Dr. Carson Shepherd tries to break through the icy exterior of the reclusive Mrs. McCormick; and the disgraced former mayor Henry Gowen is brought back to town from a detention camp to perform community service. The tension rises when Becky is stranded at a train depot during a blizzard. In a surprising turn of events, Henry Gowen uses his knowledge of local shortcuts to rescue her, earning a modicum of respect from the townspeople. As the Christmas parade commences, Lee Coulter is 'voted' into playing Santa, and the town gathers to see the wishes fulfilled. Robert's family receives their crib, and Mrs. McCormick finally joins the community. The film reaches its climax on Christmas Eve as Jack prepares to ride out. Just as he is about to leave, Bill Avery arrives with a telegram stating that a massive blizzard has blocked the northern passes, ordering all Mounties to stay put for another week. The movie concludes with Elizabeth and Jack celebrating a miraculous extension of their time together under the glow of the Wishing Tree.
Beat by beat
Opening
Elizabeth introduces the Wishing Tree concept to her students while struggling with Jack's absence.
Midpoint
Jack Thornton makes a surprise return to Hope Valley, though he reveals he must leave by Christmas Eve.
Subplot Climax
Henry Gowen redeems himself by rescuing Abigail's daughter Becky from a snowstorm.
Climax
The town holds a Christmas parade where Lee Coulter serves as Santa and the Wishing Tree wishes are fulfilled.
Resolution
A blizzard in the North prevents Jack from leaving, granting him and Elizabeth an extra week together.
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.
Among everything Hallmark put out in 2017, this is the highest rated on the site — 8.4 out of 10.
At 2 hours it's a genuine epic by Hallmark standards — only about 58 of their movies run two hours or longer.
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 100% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.
Where this one fits
The corners of the catalog The Christmas Wishing Tree 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 Baking & Cooking MoviesPlenty of time in the kitchen.
Lines worth quoting
The lines that stuck with us — the ones you’ll be repeating after the credits roll.
“So look within and you will see the magic of the Wishing Tree.”
— Elizabeth ThatcherReading the legend of the tree to her students. “Criminal justice isn't supposed to be pleasant.”
— Bill AveryDiscussing Henry Gowen's living conditions in the tent camps. “I am not going to be Santa Claus... Oh, that is so sweet, Lee. Like you think you actually have a choice.”
— Lee and Rosemary CoulterRosemary informing Lee he won the vote to be Santa.
Meet the characters
Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.
Elizabeth Thatcher
LeadTeacher
CompassionateHopefulLiteraryJack Thornton
Love interestMountie
Fiancé
BraveDuty-boundRomanticAbigail Stanton
SupportingMayor / Cafe Owner
Close friend
WiseForgivingMaternalHenry Gowen
SupportingFormer Mayor / Prisoner
Former antagonist
CynicalResourcefulMisunderstoodRosemary Coulter
SupportingCommunity Leader
Best friend
TheatricalPushyKind-hearted
Questions people ask about The Christmas Wishing Tree
Is there a sequel to The Christmas Wishing Tree?
Yes. The Christmas Wishing Tree is followed by Believing.
How long is The Christmas Wishing Tree?
The Christmas Wishing Tree runs about 2 hours, and was released in 2017.
Is The Christmas Wishing Tree a Christmas movie?
Yes. The Christmas Wishing Tree 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 .