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The Christmas Secret

The Christmas Secret

Romance · Drama · Family · 2014

While her life is falling apart, single mother Christine finds a magical family heirloom that leads to love and good fortune during Christmas.

Movie details

The Christmas Secret

2014 Romance · Drama · Family 1h 30m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.9 / 10

Community rating

While her life is falling apart, single mother Christine finds a magical family heirloom that leads to love and good fortune during Christmas.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Christmas Secret?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

Christmas Getaway

Christmas Getaway

Romance · 2017

When a reservation mix-up at a mountain resort forces a newly-single travel writer to share a cabin with a handsome widower and his precocious daughter over the holidays, their lives are transformed by the magic of Christmas and the unexpected power of love.

A December Bride

A December Bride

Romance · 2016

Aspiring interior designer Layla is dreading the Christmastime wedding of her cousin who’s marrying Layla’s ex-fiancé. Although Seth is the one responsible for introducing the bride and groom, she begrudgingly accepts his offer to be her date as she’s out of options. Seth gets carried away at the reception and announces they’re engaged, forcing a mortified Layla to keep up the pretense.

Christmas in Evergreen

Christmas in Evergreen

Romance · 2017

Allie, a veterinarian in Evergreen, reluctantly will spend Christmas with her long-distance boyfriend. Bound for the airport, she has engine trouble, and Ryan, headed to Florida with his daughter Zoe, stops to help. Sure they won’t meet again, they ignore their attraction, and part ways. At the diner, Zoe wishes on a snow globe, and a storm seems to grant her wish.

Christmas Cottage

Christmas Cottage

Drama · 2008

Inspired by the picturesque paintings of Thomas Kinkade, The Christmas Cottage tells the semi-autobiographical tale of how a young boy is propelled to launch a career as an artist after he learns that his mother is in danger of losing the family home.

Karen Kingsbury's Maggie's Christmas Miracle

Karen Kingsbury's Maggie's Christmas Miracle

Romance · 2017

Maggie, a single mom has to balance between her career and her son, Jordan. Jordan finds a tutor named Casey to help him at school, and Casey becomes like a father figure. Will the three of them find happiness and love once again?

Lovely, Still

Lovely, Still

Drama · 2009

A holiday fable that tells the story of an elderly man discovering love for the first time.

I'll Be Home for Christmas

I'll Be Home for Christmas

TV Movie · 2016

Jackie Foster, a dynamic Assistant District Attorney and single mom, is looking forward to wrapping up her latest case and spending Christmas with Gracie, her adorable and precocious, eight-year old daughter. But when Jackie’s estranged dad, Jack , a gruff retired police officer, unexpectedly shows up at her door, they will be forced to confront old wounds.

Magical Christmas Ornaments

Magical Christmas Ornaments

Romance · 2017

When Marie begins receiving ornaments from her mother, a new coincidental blessing comes with each one, causing Marie to feel more excited for the holidays than she has in years. Marie’s once-lost Christmas spirit gets another boost when she meets her handsome neighbor Nate and feels a spark with him while celebrating the season.

We Live in Time

We Live in Time

Romance · 2024

An up-and-coming chef and a recent divorcée find their lives forever changed when a chance encounter brings them together, in a decade-spanning, deeply moving romance.

Too Close for Christmas

Too Close for Christmas

Romance · 2020

When Hayley accepts an invitation to spend Christmas with her sister’s new in-laws, her seemingly perfect holiday takes a turn when Paul, Hayley's brother-in-law's brother, unexpectedly shows up. Still harboring a grudge against Paul for ending her last relationship, Hayley reluctantly spends time with Paul and slowly realizes she may have been too quick a judge on Paul

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Norma Bailey

Written by

Wesley Bishop · Judd Parkin

Bethany Joy Lenz

Bethany Joy Lenz

Christine Eisley

John Reardon

John Reardon

Jason

Jaeda Lily Miller

Jaeda Lily Miller

Hayley

William Ainscough

William Ainscough

Zach

Nicola Cavendish

Nicola Cavendish

Betty

Tasya Teles

Tasya Teles

Female Paramedic

Michael Hogan

Michael Hogan

Mrshall

Court is in session

Put The Christmas Secret on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.