The Holiday Sitter
Where to watch
United States17 ways
Canada3 ways
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The premise
Sam babysits his niece and nephew before the holidays, and when he recruits help from their handsome neighbor Jason, he finds himself in an unexpected romance.
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.
Who’s in it
Behind the camera
ShowHide
Directed by
Wait, what?
The quirks and curveballs that make this one a little weirder than your average Hallmark. No spoilers, promise.
- The 'Calvin Card' blackmail involving a 22-year-old secret about sneaking out to Central Park
- The concept of hiring a neighbor as a professional 'Uncle Consultant'
- Sam's client Stavros trying to buy a social media company and a second yacht
- The 'jousting pole' romantic proposal story mentioned by Sam
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 28 to find more movies that do the same thing.
Time & season3
Characters7
Romance6
Tone & quirks6
How it ends2
Why we’d put this one on
A small milestone wrapped in tinsel: this was Hallmark's first holiday rom-com centered on a gay couple, and it is exactly as cozy as the rest of the lineup. Jonathan Bennett plays Sam, a commitment-shy bachelor who cancels a solo Hawaii trip to babysit his niece and nephew, then ropes in his family-minded neighbor Jason, played by George Krissa, as his "uncle consultant." The childcare-mishap energy is sweet rather than chaotic, and the chemistry is genuine. There is a fun running gag about a "Calvin Card" tied to a decades-old secret about sneaking into Central Park. If you want a low-weirdness, high-comfort Christmas watch, this is a gentle one.
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 Sam Dalton, a high-net-worth business manager in the city, on a lackluster date with a doctor. Sam is a self-proclaimed workaholic who avoids children and is planning a solo Christmas getaway to Hawaii to escape the holidays. Meanwhile, his sister Kathleen and her husband Nate receive a call that their birth mother is in labor two weeks early. With their parents out of the country and no other options, Kathleen 'calls in the Calvin Card'—a 22-year-old favor—to guilt Sam into coming to the suburbs of Brayden to watch their children, Miles and Dania. Upon arrival, Sam is immediately overwhelmed by the suburban aesthetic and a barking dog. He meets Jason DeVito, the neighbor and contractor who was temporarily watching the kids. Jason is the youngest of seven and deeply family-oriented, currently saving up for a retainer fee to start his own adoption process as a single father. Recognizing his own incompetence with children, Sam hires Jason as an 'uncle consultant' to help him follow Kathleen’s rigid schedule. The two bond over various suburban challenges, including making vegan pancakes and navigating a neighborhood 'lights walk.' A subplot involves Miles, who is nervous about auditioning for the lead role in the local Christmas play to impress Jason's niece, Arabella. Sam uses his own college speech training to help Miles find his confidence, while Jason helps Dania connect with her new role as a big sister. As the week progresses, the 'transactional' relationship between Sam and Jason turns romantic, though Jason remains wary of Sam’s tendency to 'run' from commitment. When Kathleen and Nate return on Christmas Eve with the new baby, Angelica Samantha, Sam prepares to leave for his delayed Hawaii flight. However, after a heart-to-heart with his sister and a realization that he loves the 'bubble' of family life he created with Jason, Sam cancels his trip. He finds Jason at his home and confesses his feelings, admitting that while he can't guarantee 'forever,' he wants to stop running. The film concludes with the two men kissing under the mistletoe and joining the DeVito family for Christmas brunch.
Beat by beat
Opening
Sam is guilted into babysitting his niece and nephew in the suburbs after his sister's adoption process begins early.
Inciting Incident
Sam meets Jason, the neighbor and contractor, and realizes he is completely incapable of handling the kids alone.
Midpoint
Sam hires Jason as an 'uncle consultant' to help him manage the kids, leading to a deepening romantic bond during a neighborhood lights walk.
Rising Action
Sam helps Miles overcome stage fright for the Christmas play, proving he has a natural talent for being a 'guncle'.
Climax
The parents return with the new baby; Sam is faced with the choice of going to Hawaii or staying for a potential future with Jason.
Resolution
Sam cancels his flight, confesses his love to Jason, and they share a first kiss under the mistletoe.
28 tropes in one movie
We counted 28 distinct Hallmark tropes packed into this one — a genuine greatest-hits reel.
The backstory
- Music by Russ Howard III.
The Holiday Sitter is an American-Canadian romantic comedy television film that premiered on the Hallmark Channel on December 11, 2022. It is the first LGBTQ-themed film broadcast by the network in its annual lineup of Christmas-themed romance films.
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 The Holiday Sitter 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.
“Maybe it's easy to find a reason to run if there's not a better reason to stay.”
— Jason DeVitoDiscussing Sam's dating history during the lights walk. “I am going to rock these two nights of gunclehood and then it's off to checking work emails on sandy beaches.”
— Sam DaltonSam convincing himself he can handle the kids. “I'm tired of waiting for my happily-ever-after to start.”
— Jason DeVitoExplaining why he is choosing to adopt as a single father.
Meet the characters
Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.
Sam Dalton
LeadBusiness Manager
WorkaholicCommitment-phobicWittyUrbaniteJason DeVito
Love interestContractor
Neighbor and 'Uncle Consultant'
Family-orientedPatientNurturingHandyKathleen Walker
SupportingMother
Sister
OrganizedPersuasiveLovingMiles Walker
SupportingStudent
Nephew
NervousTalentedSmitten
Questions people ask about The Holiday Sitter
Where can I watch The Holiday Sitter?
The Holiday Sitter is available via fuboTV, YouTube TV, and Philo. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.
How long is The Holiday Sitter?
The Holiday Sitter runs about 1 hour and 24 minutes, and was released in 2022.
Is The Holiday Sitter a Christmas movie?
Yes. The Holiday Sitter 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 .