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    Dustin Rikert headshot

    Dustin Rikert

    Director · Writer·Active 2018–2026
    View on IMDbView on TMDB

    Career at a glance

    19Hallmark films

    9 at Christmas

    Audience rating6.3 / 10

    across 12 rated films

    Weirdness5.1 / 10

    Right on the Hallmark median

    Best reviewed

    Next Stop, Christmas7.0

    Most recent

    Lost in Paradise2026

    Dustin Rikert is the kind of director Hallmark hands a snowy main street and trusts to bring it home on schedule. Since 2018 he has directed 24 films, and the through line is December: 11 of them are Christmas titles, most set in a small town where the lights are always on and the stakes are pleasantly low. His ratings cluster around a steady 6.3, which is about right for work this dependable. The best of the bunch is Next Stop, Christmas from 2021, his high mark at 7.0, with One Royal Holiday from 2020 close behind. He is not chasing the strange or the high concept here. If you want a holiday movie that knows exactly what it is and delivers it without fuss, his name in the credits is a fair promise.

    Dustin’s signature

    Across 19 films, Dustin usually leans into Christmas and is often set in small towns.

    • Christmas9 films
    • small towns7 films
    • a doctor3 films
    • a return home10 films
    • second-chance romance7 films
    • a supernatural twist4 films

    Coming up next

    Newest title for Dustin
    • 2026Lost in Paradise poster
      Lost in Paradise

      Director · Not yet rated

    13 hours

    13 hours of Hallmark Christmas movies, and counting.

    Adds up across 9 festive titles.

    Known for

    Certified weirdNext Stop, Christmas poster
    Next Stop, Christmas7.0

    Director, Producer · 2021

    Weirdness 10/10

    One Royal Holiday poster
    One Royal Holiday7.0

    Director · 2020

    Weirdness 7/10

    Two Tickets to Paradise poster
    Two Tickets to Paradise6.8

    Director · 2022

    Weirdness 3/10

    Christmas at Graceland poster
    Christmas at Graceland5.7

    Producer · 2018

    Weirdness 3/10

    Home by Spring poster
    Home by Spring6.0

    Writer, Producer · 2018

    Weirdness 3/10

    Sand Dollar Cove poster
    Sand Dollar Cove6.2

    Producer · 2021

    Weirdness 4/10

    On-screen partners

    Wes Brown headshot
    Frequent co-star

    Dustin’s most frequent on-screen partner is Wes Brown, with 4 films together.

    • A Newport Christmas (2025)·
    • Sweet Pecan Summer (2021)·
    • Wedding at Graceland (2019)·
    • Christmas at Graceland (2018)
    • Lacey Chabert3
    • Claire Elizabeth Green2
    • Kellie Pickler2
    • Lyndsy Fonseca2
    • Madison Alsobrook2

    Recurring roles

    Dustin is a recurring face in At Graceland.

    • At Graceland3 films

    Where Dustin fits in

    The corners of the Hallmark universe Dustin keeps turning up in. Each one is a full ranked guide.

    • 🧁Baking & cooking movies
    • 🎄Christmas movies
    • ⭐Best Christmas movies
    • ❄️Winter movies
    • 🐶Dog & pet movies
    • 🏘️Small-town movies

    All 19 movies

    Newest first

    2020s

    14 films
    • 2026Lost in ParadiseDirector, Writer · Resort TownNot ratedWeird 5/10
    • 2025A Newport ChristmasDirector, Writer · Coastal TownNot ratedWeird 7/10
    • 2025Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love StoryDirector · Big CityNot ratedWeird 4/10
    • 2024The Christmas QuestDirector · ChristmasNot ratedWeird 5/10
    • 2024The Finnish LineDirector · ChristmasNot ratedWeird 4/10
    • 2023A Merry Scottish ChristmasDirector · ChristmasNot ratedWeird 7/10
    • 2023Where Are You, Christmas?Director · ChristmasNot ratedWeird 10/10
    • 2022Two Tickets to ParadiseDirector · Resort/Vacation6.8Weird 3/10
    • 2021Next Stop, ChristmasDirector, Producer · Christmas7.0Weird 10/10
    • 2021Sand Dollar CoveProducer · Small Town6.2Weird 4/10
    • 2021Sugar Plum TwistProducer · Christmas6.1Weird 7/10
    • 2021Sweet Pecan SummerDirector · Rural/Farm6.3Weird 3/10
    • 2021Taking the ReinsProducer · Rural/Farm6.3Weird 4/10
    • 2020One Royal HolidayDirector · Christmas7.0Weird 7/10

    2010s

    5 films
    • 2019Christmas at Graceland: Home for the HolidaysProducer · Christmas6.2Weird 4/10
    • 2019Wedding at GracelandProducer · Big City5.9Weird 3/10
    • 2018Christmas at GracelandProducer · Christmas5.7Weird 3/10
    • 2018Christmas EverlastingProducer · Christmas6.3Weird 4/10
    • 2018Home by SpringWriter, Producer · Small Town6.0Weird 3/10

    Dustin’s standouts

    • Next Stop, Christmas poster
      Highest ratedNext Stop, Christmas (2021)

      Best-reviewed of the 19, at 7.0/10

      7.0
    • Christmas at Graceland poster
      Most divisiveChristmas at Graceland (2018)

      Lowest-rated of the 19 — every filmography has one

      5.7
    • Where Are You, Christmas? poster
      WeirdestWhere Are You, Christmas? (2023)

      The strangest of the bunch — 10/10 on our weirdness scale

    In pictures

    A quick look at Dustin’s Hallmark run — headshot and the posters fans know best.

    • Dustin Rikert headshotDustin Rikert
    • Lost in Paradise poster
    • A Newport Christmas poster
    • Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story poster
    • The Christmas Quest poster
    • The Finnish Line poster
    • A Merry Scottish Christmas poster
    • Where Are You, Christmas? poster
    • Two Tickets to Paradise poster
    • Next Stop, Christmas poster
    • Sand Dollar Cove poster
    • Sugar Plum Twist poster
    • Sweet Pecan Summer poster

    Beyond Hallmark

    Where else you might recognise Dustin from — notable roles outside the Hallmark catalogue.

    • The 12 Days of Christmas Eveas Director
      2022
    • The Holiday Fix Upas Co-Producer
      2021
    • A Christmas Love Storyas Producer
      2019
    • The Legend of 5 Mile Caveas Writer
      2019
    • A Mermaid's Taleas Director
      2017
    • Easy Rider: The Ride Backas Director
      2012
    • Ambush at Dark Canyonas Writer
      2012
    • The Gundownas Director
      2011

    Dustin’s creative circle

    Go-to cast

    • Wes Brown4 films
    • Lacey Chabert3 films
    • Claire Elizabeth Green2 films
    • Kellie Pickler2 films
    • Lyndsy Fonseca2 films

    Who Dustin works with

    The cast and crew Dustin keeps ending up on set with — the regular faces you’ll recognise from one film to the next. Bigger circle, more films together.

    Dustin Rikert's most frequent co-stars, sized by shared filmsAndrew Gernhard: 10 films togetherAndrew Gernhard10 filmsTommy Fields: 10 films togetherTommy Fields10 filmsColin Theys: 5 films togetherColin Theys5 filmsKat Spiess: 5 films togetherKat Spiess5 filmsPenny Perry: 5 films togetherPenny Perry5 filmsBryan Capri: 4 films togetherBryan Capri4 filmsEric Close: 4 films togetherEric Close4 films

    Movies by year

    Dustin Rikert Hallmark movies by release year320182201912020520211202222023220242202512026

    Ratings profile

    Average 6.3 across 12 rated movies — each dot is one film.

    Rating distribution for this filmography1510mean 6.3Christmas at Graceland: 5.7Wedding at Graceland: 5.9Home by Spring: 6.0Sugar Plum Twist: 6.1Sand Dollar Cove: 6.2Christmas at Graceland: Home for the Holidays: 6.2Sweet Pecan Summer: 6.3Taking the Reins: 6.3Christmas Everlasting: 6.3Two Tickets to Paradise: 6.8Next Stop, Christmas: 7.0One Royal Holiday: 7.0

    People also ask

    How many Hallmark movies has Dustin Rikert been in?
    We have 19 Hallmark movies on file for Dustin Rikert, spanning 2018–2026.
    What kind of Hallmark movies is Dustin Rikert known for?
    Dustin is best known for Christmas movies and romances set in small towns, often with a return home.
    What is Dustin Rikert's most popular Hallmark movie?
    Next Stop, Christmas (2021) has more audience votes than any other Dustin Rikert Hallmark film, so it's the one most people have actually seen.
    Who does Dustin Rikert usually star with?
    Dustin has shared 4 films with Wes Brown, their most frequent Hallmark co-star.
    What is Dustin Rikert working on next?
    Dustin has a new Hallmark title on the way: Lost in Paradise (2026).
    Is Dustin Rikert still making Hallmark movies?
    Yes — the most recent Dustin Hallmark film we have is from 2026, so the credits keep coming.
    How many Hallmark Christmas movies has Dustin Rikert made?
    Dustin Rikert turns up in 9 Hallmark Christmas movies.
    What was Dustin Rikert's first Hallmark movie?
    The earliest Dustin Hallmark title we have is Home by Spring (2018).
    What does Dustin Rikert do in Hallmark movies?
    Dustin Rikert works on Hallmark films as director and writer.

    Data & sources

    Dustin’s filmography, credits and ratings are compiled from IMDb and TMDB, then checked and tidied by the Talking Hallmark team. Last updated June 2026.

    Catalogue curated by Alanna of Talking Hallmark. About the project

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