The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Where to watch
Via 
JustWatch · can change anytime.
The premise
Jen, a corporate analyst and single mom, tackles Christmas with a business-like approach until her uncle arrives with a handsome stranger in tow.
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
Written by
Wait, what?
The quirks and curveballs that make this one a little weirder than your average Hallmark. No spoilers, promise.
- The uncle essentially kidnaps a drifter to force his niece to date him
- The uncle threatens to 'crush the windpipe' of a criminal in the opening scene
- The 'Garage Bandit' subplot where Morgan 'smells' a criminal
- Ralph stealing a government-issued passport to manipulate a romance
- The protagonist and love interest engaging in a physical altercation with a toy store owner in an alley
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 29 to find more movies that do the same thing.
Time & season3
Characters9
Romance6
How it ends1
Why we’d put this one on
Henry Winkler is the reason to watch, and he is having a ball. He plays a retired-cop uncle who basically brings home a charming drifter from the airport to set up his high-strung niece, played by Brooke Burns. It is a warm corporate-mom-learns-to-relax Christmas romance, but the uncle's methods are gloriously meddlesome. With a 7.3 rating the comfort beats land, and Winkler's gruff matchmaking gives it real charm. If you like a Christmas movie where the family schemer steals every scene, this one is for you.
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)
Jennifer Cullen is a stressed corporate analyst who manages her life and her son Brian's Christmas through meticulous lists. Her uncle Ralph, a retired police officer, meets Morgan Derby at the airport when flights to Denver are grounded by snow. Ralph, who dislikes Jennifer's dull boyfriend Richard, decides Morgan is a better match and brings him home to stay. Jennifer is initially hostile toward the 'vagrant' in her house, but Morgan wins over Brian by validating his belief in Santa Claus and helping him with a 'Rocketwheel' bike quest. Morgan, a world-traveling chef, begins to dismantle Jennifer's rigid traditions, replacing her artificial silver tree with a real one and offering to cook the Christmas turkey. The conflict intensifies as Richard, a jeweler who organizes his shirts by color, becomes jealous of Morgan's presence. In a notable scene, Morgan and Jennifer confront a toy store owner to get a bike, which involves Morgan physically intimidating the man. To prevent Morgan from leaving, Ralph secretly steals Morgan's passport, forcing him to stay another night. On Christmas Eve, Richard proposes to Jennifer in front of his parents in a cold, business-like manner. Jennifer realizes she is bored and unhappy, leading her to break up with Richard and kick his family out. After discovering Ralph's 'passport' ruse, Jennifer realizes Morgan is her true love. She rushes to the airport on Christmas Day, delivering a tearful confession to a security guard about how Morgan 'knows how to do Christmas.' Morgan, who hadn't yet boarded, overhears her. The film concludes with Morgan returning to the Cullen home to join the family for a real Christmas dinner, finally finding a place to put down roots.
Beat by beat
Opening
Uncle Ralph meets Morgan at the airport and uses a fake injury scam to get them both upgraded to first class.
Inciting Incident
Ralph brings Morgan home to Jennifer's house, much to her chagrin, claiming Morgan is a 'turkey expert' who can help with dinner.
Midpoint
Morgan and Jennifer 'break into' a closed toy store to secure a Rocketwheel bike for Brian, leading to a physical confrontation in an alley.
Complication
Ralph steals Morgan's passport to prevent him from flying to Denver, while Richard's jealousy of Morgan grows.
Climax
Richard proposes to Jennifer in front of his parents; Jennifer rejects him, realizing her life with him is 'boring' and 'solid like a bookcase.'
Resolution
Jennifer chases Morgan to the airport and gives a heartfelt speech to security; Morgan stays and they celebrate Christmas together.
Did you know?
A few things that make this one stand out once you stack it up against every other Hallmark movie.
Among everything Hallmark put out in 2008, this is the highest rated on the site — 7.3 out of 10.
29 tropes in one movie
We counted 29 distinct Hallmark tropes packed into this one — a genuine greatest-hits reel.
The backstory
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is a 2008 American made-for-television Christmas film directed by Michael Scott. The film premiered on Hallmark Channel on December 13, 2008.
How it stacks up
Where this one’s rating lands against every other rated Hallmark movie.
Higher-rated than 95% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.
Where this one fits
The corners of the catalog The Most Wonderful Time of the Year 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.
“You make one move and I will crush your windpipe, all right?”
— Uncle RalphRalph apprehending a mugger outside a bar. “I sat on your nutcracker.”
— Morgan DerbyMorgan sitting on the sofa after a long day of Christmas prep. “He sounds like a bookcase.”
— Uncle RalphRalph describing Jennifer's boring boyfriend, Richard. “Organisation saves time.”
— Brian CullenJennifer's young son explaining his room's cleanliness.
Meet the characters
Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.
Jennifer Cullen
LeadCorporate Analyst
StressedOrganizedCynicalProtectiveMorgan Derby
Love interestChef / Drifter
Houseguest and romantic interest
Free-spiritedCharismaticHandyAdventurousRichard
AntagonistJeweler
Boyfriend / Fiancé
BoringControllingMaterialisticArrogantUncle Ralph
SupportingRetired Police Officer
Uncle
MeddlingToughLoyalEccentric
Questions people ask about The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Where can I watch The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is available via fuboTV, YouTube TV, and Philo. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.
How long is The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year runs about 1 hour and 28 minutes, and was released in 2008.
Is The Most Wonderful Time of the Year a Christmas movie?
Yes. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is a Hallmark Christmas movie, set during the holiday season.
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Curated by the Talking Hallmark team.Last updated .