Maclain Nelson
Director · WriterActive 2018–2026
View on IMDb
View on TMDBCareer at a glance
18Hallmark films
6 at Christmas
Audience rating6.5 / 10
across 9 rated films
Weirdness5.1 / 10
Right on the Hallmark median
Best reviewed
Most recent
Missing the Boat2026
Maclain Nelson is the steady hand behind the camera on 20 Hallmark films, and since his 2018 start he has kept the work landing at a respectable 6.5 on average. He knows what the network wants from him, and he delivers it. Small towns turn up in five of his titles, winter in six, and Christmas accounts for six as well, so the December slate clearly trusts him to keep the snow falling and the pacing warm. His high point is The Presence of Love from 2022, which at 7.1 is comfortably his best-reviewed, with Small Town Christmas from 2018 and Hidden Gems just behind. If you have ever settled in for a cozy holiday premise and never thought about who steered it, there is a fair chance it was him.
Maclain’s signature
Across 18 films, Maclain often leans into Christmas and is frequently set in small towns.
- Christmas6 films
- small towns5 films
- an executive2 films
Coming up next
Newest title for Maclain8 hours
8 hours of Hallmark Christmas movies, and counting.
Adds up across 6 festive titles.
Known for
Haul Out the Holly6.0
Director · 2022
Weirdness 5/10
Small Town Christmas6.7
Director · 2018
Weirdness 5/10
Christmas on My Mind6.5
Director · 2019
Weirdness 6/10
Christmas in Vienna6.4
Director · 2020
Weirdness 5/10
The Presence of Love7.1
Director · 2022
Weirdness 4/10
Certified weird
Hidden Gems6.5
Director · 2022
Weirdness 8/10
On-screen partners
Frequent co-star
Maclain’s most frequent on-screen partner is Eliza Hayes Maher, with 4 films together.
Where Maclain fits in
The corners of the Hallmark universe Maclain keeps turning up in. Each one is a full ranked guide.
All 18 movies
Newest first2020s
16 films- 2026
Missing the BoatDirector · InternationalNot ratedWeird 5/10 - 2025
A Keller Christmas VacationDirector · InternationalNot ratedWeird 3/10 - 2025
Haul Out the HalloweenDirector · SuburbNot ratedWeird 6/10 - 2025
Home TurfDirector · College TownNot ratedWeird 3/10 - 2025
Return to OfficeDirector · Big CityNot ratedWeird 4/10 - 2024
Branching OutDirector · Small TownNot ratedWeird 5/10 - 2024
The Magic of Lemon DropsDirector · Small TownNot ratedWeird 9/10 - 2023
A Heidelberg HolidayDirector · HolidayNot ratedWeird 3/10 - 2023
A Nashville LegacyWriter · Big City6.4Weird 3/10 - 2023
Haul Out the Holly: Lit UpDirector · ChristmasNot ratedWeird 5/10 - 2022Haul Out the HollyDirector · Christmas6.0Weird 5/10
- 2022Hidden GemsDirector · Wedding Anniversary6.5Weird 8/10
- 2022The Presence of LoveDirector · Rural/Farm7.1Weird 4/10
- 2021
Every Time a Bell RingsDirector · Christmas6.0Weird 8/10 - 2021
Love, for RealDirector · Resort/Vacation6.5Weird 4/10 - 2020Christmas in ViennaDirector · Christmas6.4Weird 5/10
Maclain’s standouts
In pictures
A quick look at Maclain’s Hallmark run — headshot and the posters fans know best.
- Maclain Nelson
Beyond Hallmark
Where else you might recognise Maclain from — notable roles outside the Hallmark catalogue.
- Mythica: The Iron Crownas Sergeant Lipschitz2016
- Mythica: The Godslayeras Executive Producer2016
- Once I Was a Beehiveas Writer2015
- SAGA - Curse of the Shadowas Executive Producer2014
- Vamp Uas Fred Green2013
- My Girlfriend's Boyfriendas Club Host2010
- Forever Strongas Scottish Captain2008
- Wienersas Barri2008
Maclain’s creative circle
Go-to cast
- Eliza Hayes Maher4 films
- Wes Brown4 films
- Ellen Travolta3 films
- Lacey Chabert3 films
- Laura Wardle3 films
Who Maclain works with
The cast and crew Maclain keeps ending up on set with — the regular faces you’ll recognise from one film to the next. Bigger circle, more films together.
Movies by year
Ratings profile
Average 6.5 across 9 rated movies — each dot is one film.
People also ask
- How many Hallmark movies has Maclain Nelson been in?
- We have 18 Hallmark movies on file for Maclain Nelson, spanning 2018–2026.
- What kind of Hallmark movies is Maclain Nelson known for?
- Maclain is best known for Christmas movies and romances set in small towns.
- What is Maclain Nelson's highest-rated Hallmark movie?
- The Presence of Love (2022) is Maclain's best-reviewed Hallmark film, with a 7.1/10 audience rating.
- What is Maclain Nelson's most popular Hallmark movie?
- Haul Out the Holly (2022) has more audience votes than any other Maclain Nelson Hallmark film, so it's the one most people have actually seen.
- Who does Maclain Nelson usually star with?
- Maclain has shared 4 films with Eliza Hayes Maher, their most frequent Hallmark co-star.
- What is Maclain Nelson working on next?
- Maclain has a new Hallmark title on the way: Missing the Boat (2026).
- Is Maclain Nelson still making Hallmark movies?
- Yes — the most recent Maclain Hallmark film we have is from 2026, so the credits keep coming.
- How many Hallmark Christmas movies has Maclain Nelson made?
- Maclain Nelson turns up in 6 Hallmark Christmas movies.
- What was Maclain Nelson's first Hallmark movie?
- The earliest Maclain Hallmark title we have is Small Town Christmas (2018).
- What does Maclain Nelson do in Hallmark movies?
- Maclain Nelson works on Hallmark films as director and writer.
Data & sources
Maclain’s filmography, credits and ratings are compiled from IMDb and TMDB, then checked and tidied by the Talking Hallmark team. Last updated August 2026.
Catalogue curated by Alanna of Talking Hallmark. About the project
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