The Holiday Stocking

6.5/10 · 673 ratings20221h 24mChristmasWeirdness 7/10Bingo card

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The premise

New angel R.J. returns to earth as a stranger and has the chance to help his sisters to reconcile, something he didn't accomplish in his lifetime.

How unusual is it?

More than most. Angels/heaven and an actual miracle push it well past the usual Hallmark template — the strangest 12% of everything we've logged.

A rare specific

Tap to find the other Hallmark movies that share it.

Who’s in it

Behind the camera

Show

Directed by

Wait, what?

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

  • The protagonist is a dead man in a magically altered body
  • Heavenly bureaucracy involves a 'flip phone' for angel intuition
  • The angel boss Sarial is obsessed with the number 12 for biblical reasons
  • Robert's 'pendant' is the only thing keeping him visible to the living
  • The 'Angel Magic' is activated by snapping fingers, but only if the heart is 'complete'

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.

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 the backstory of the Holiday family, who were once inseparable and bonded by their 'Holiday Stocking' game—a tradition of riddles and good deeds. Following the death of the family patriarch and later their mother, the three siblings drift apart. Robert, the brother, dies in 2022 and finds himself in a celestial transition area with an angel named Sarial. Regretting that his sisters Dani and Marlow are no longer speaking, Robert is given a 'pendant' and a new physical appearance to return to Earth as 'RJ' for twelve days to mend the family. Dani is a successful advertising executive in Chicago, while Marlow runs the family's struggling bakery. RJ approaches them claiming to be Robert's former assistant and presents them with the original holiday stocking, insisting they complete the game to receive a final 'box' of Robert's effects. Dani initially agrees to the volunteer work to bolster her firm's philanthropic image for a private equity deal, leading her to meet Wilson Whitlock, the handsome director of a local foundation. As the sisters solve riddles and perform tasks like decorating senior homes and donating clothes, old tensions surface regarding their mother's care and Dani's perceived selfishness. The conflict peaks when Marlow discovers Dani's PR team filming their charity work, leading her to believe the reconciliation was a corporate stunt. RJ intervenes by delivering a final, personal riddle to Marlow that addresses Robert's own guilt, helping her find the grace to forgive. In the climax, Dani realizes her priorities are skewed and resigns as CEO on live television, handing the company to her partner to focus on family and community. The sisters reconcile during a family sledding trip on Christmas Eve. As his twelve days expire, RJ leaves the sisters with a box of sentimental treasures and vanishes into the snow, having successfully earned his wings by reuniting his family.

Beat by beat

  1. Opening

    Robert dies and is sent back to Earth by the angel Sarial in the guise of 'RJ' to fix his sisters' relationship.

  2. Inciting Incident

    RJ introduces the 'Holiday Stocking' game to Dani and Marlow, forcing them to volunteer together.

  3. Midpoint

    Dani begins a romance with Wilson but secretly uses their charity work to impress a business investor.

  4. Climax

    Marlow discovers Dani's PR angle, causing a massive fallout; Dani later resigns from her company on live TV to prove her sincerity.

  5. Resolution

    The sisters reconcile while sledding, and RJ disappears as it begins to snow, signaling his return to heaven.

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 6.5 vs every rated Hallmark moviemedian 6.4This movie · 6.5567

Higher-rated than 55% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.

Where this one fits

The corners of the catalog The Holiday Stocking 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.

  • “The most important gifts at Christmas are the things that money can't buy.”
    — Robert / RJExplaining the philosophy of the Holiday Stocking game.
  • “I'm stepping down and I'm leaving the company in the very capable hands of my amazing VP... so that I can fully devote my time and resources to organizations that really make an impact.”
    — Dani HolidayResigning from her firm on live television.
  • “Well, as mama would say, another angel's getting their wings.”
    — Marlow HolidayObserving the snow after RJ disappears.

Meet the characters

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

  • Robert / RJ

    Lead

    Angel / Former Estate Assistant

    Brother to Dani and Marlow

    MeddlingSentimentalMysterious
  • Dani Holiday

    Lead

    Advertising CEO

    Sister to Marlow and Robert

    AmbitiousStylishProtective
  • Marlow Holiday

    Lead

    Baker

    Sister to Dani and Robert

    StubbornHardworkingResentful
  • Wilson Whitlock

    Love interest

    Foundation Director

    Dani's romantic interest

    AltruisticKindPerceptive
  • Sarial

    Supporting

    Angel

    Robert's heavenly guide

    DeadpanBureaucratic

Questions people ask about The Holiday Stocking

Where can I watch The Holiday Stocking?

The Holiday Stocking is available via fuboTV, Philo, and Hallmark+ Amazon Channel. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.

How long is The Holiday Stocking?

The Holiday Stocking runs about 1 hour and 24 minutes, and was released in 2022.

Is The Holiday Stocking a Christmas movie?

Yes. The Holiday Stocking is a Hallmark Christmas movie, set during the holiday season.

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Data and sources

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Sources:IMDbTMDB