My Top Ten Romantic Christmas Movies

From Thanksgiving to Christmas is the perfect and most socially acceptable time to watch Christmas movies like crazy in your pajamas with a cover over your head, instead of Christmas shopping with money you don't have. It's an even more acceptable time to watch romantic movies (get this) inspired by Christmas. It's a very niche genre that's mostly dominated by The Hallmark channel.

As someone who considers herself a Romantic Movie enthusiast I watched quite a few romantic Christmas movies this year. Some very good, most pretty awful. Here are my Top Ten. Warning: Spoilers!

10. Merry Kissmas

Starring Brant Daugherty and Karissa Lee Staples it follows the story of Kayla who is engaged to narcisstic play director who shares a kiss with Dustin, an up and coming caterer in a "magical" elevator. Of course as the story goes on she realizes her fiancé literally in no way deserves her and she lets herself fall for Dustin. And of course somehow Kayla's fiancé manages to win her back for .2 seconds before going back to being the pretentious jerk he truly is in his heart and Kayla ends up with a man that actually deserves her.

It's one of my favorites because it doesn't follow the usual romantic movie Christmas trope, at least not completely. Kayla isn't some woman who's chosen work over everything else and lost sight of what's important in life. She knows what's important in life, she just isn't sure how to obtain it. It also has a puppy in it and any movie is made ten times better when there's a puppy in it. It's just the facts.

9. Holiday Engagement

Nothing makes me happier than a good ole 'pretend we're dating so I can look good for my family and fall in love in the process' movie. Hillary's workaholic, ungrateful fiancé Jason breaks up with her days before Thanksgiving where he's supposed to meet her family for the first time. Hillary is so desperate to please her mother, she hires David to play her fake fiancé for the weekend. David is very sweet and truly goes above and beyond to deceive Hillary's family, including starting to actually plan this sham of a wedding. Things get complicated when the real Jason shows up to ruin all the good fun everyone was having with fake Jason aka David. Once again we have a man who claims he will change and then immediately puts forth no effort. Once Hillary realizes she's in love with David she steals Jason's incredibly nice car and her family kicks him out, which is what he deserves. Hillary marries David, so their wedding is no longer a sham.

What puts this in my top ten is that this movie has heart. Seeing Hillary and David bond is so much fun and seeing him stand up to her family for her to make them see that she's an incredible, talented woman if she isn't where they want her to be in life is inspiring. This movie also has a dog and as I've stated, dogs elevate every movie no matter what.

8. Holiday in Handcuffs

This one is quite similar to the previous entry, but there is one serious difference: consent. Melissa Joan Hart plays Trudie, a waitress who loses her mind and kidnaps a handsome successful man, David (Mario Lopez) to pretend to be her boyfriend against his will for a weekend in a remote cabin with her wonky family. The whole movie I'm overwhelmingly aware that I should not like this this, but I just can't help it. Trudie is strangely likeable for a kidnapper, so it's kind of understandable when David starts falling for her. Trudie's family is pretty wild themselves, especially her grandmother who insists on drinking constantly and attempting to escape any interaction with the family. Let's just say I can relate. Trudie's family has some issues of their own. Her brother is in the closet, her sister dropped out of college, and her parents marriage is crumbling. Somehow the arrival of our handsome victim brings their issues to the surface so they can acknowledge them. The fun ends when David is rescued which is fair because when you look as good as Mario Lopez, people notice when you go missing.

This would be much higher on my list if it wasn't for the kidnapping and holding at gunpoint part of the movie. These are highly illegal activities and no matter how hard the holidays are we can't treat people like that. Trudie is lucky that David is such a nice man and didn't let her rot in jail for her crimes. Nonetheless this movie is hilarious, filled with sweet moments and it teaches us that all of our families could really use some group therapy.

7. Snowglobe

I'm a sucker for a 'getting sucked in some magical object, because you need to reevaluate your life' movie. Angela, played by the charming Christina Milian receives a snow globe anonymously and every night she is sucked inside it. There resides a little town that does the same thing every day, and is just fine with that. Angela assumes this is all a dream until she finds out the power of her present. She starts to fall for the snow shoveler, Douglas who in return falls for her. It's clear Douglas's best friend, Marie is crazy about him, but apparently doing the same thing every day doesn't include telling your best friend you're in love with them. In the real world, Angela's obnoxious family is trying to set her up with her new neighbor, Eddie who is funny and sweet, but Angela can't see that because all she sees is her family trying to control her life yet again. Eddie is nice enough to watch over Douglas and Marie when they accidentally make their way out of the snow globe. Of course Angela comes to the conclusion that she can't date someone who isn't exactly real, so she sends Douglas and Marie back to the snow globe town together and gives sweet Eddie a chance.

I can't put my finger on what I love so much about this movie. It's just so lighthearted and fun. Also as a snow globe collector myself, I wouldn't mind getting sucked inside a snow globe for few days.

6. Christmas Cupid

Another Christina Milian Christmas movie? With a Christmas Carol theme? Sign me up! I watch this movie every year and it never fails to make me feel good. This time Christina Milian plays a woman named Sloane who falls right into the romantic Christmas trope of working way too much and being generally awful to everyone around her. A big part of her job is watching over Caitlin(played by Ashley Benson), a Hollywood starlet that parties way too much and constantly causes bad press, so I understand why she's so mean. When Caitlin dies by choking on an olive from her martini (what a way to go out, honestly) she comes back as a Jacob Marley type to take Sloane through her life to see her workaholic tendencies and urges her to change her ways before she dies alone. The ghosts come in the form of the boyfriends that she's had, which make her realize that she's still in love with her gorgeous doctor ex, Patrick played by the illustrious Chad Michael Murray. By the end of the movie Sloane is ready to change her ways, dump her garbage, cheating fiancé and try again with Patrick and Caitlin gets her wings.

I'm all about anything that has A Christmas Carol theme and I love even more when there's a twist on it. The modernization, the main role being played by a successful black woman, the Marley of the story being a borderline alcoholic. It's the perfect glass of wine Christmas movie.

5. The Princess Switch

Two Vanessa Hudgens? Oh you know I'm there! Vanessa Hudgens plays both Stacey and Lady Margaret in this fun filled rollercoaster Christmas ride. Stacey is a baker who's trying to elevate her business, but not her love life. Her best friend enters her in a baking contest in Belgravia, where Lady Margaret is set to marry Prince Edward, even though she doesn't want to. When they run into each other in the bathroom, Margaret comes up with the brilliantly obvious idea to switch places for two days so each can get a taste of the other life. Of course Stacey starts falling in love with Edward and Lady Margaret falls in love with Stacey's best friend, Kevin. They switch back, knowing in their heart is isn't right, but the Queen has other plans. She sends Edward and Lady Margaret to judge the baking contest with Edward knowing all about the switch. In front of Belgravia (or at least the ones who watch the contest) Edward asks Stacey to marry him, one year from now. As you can guess, the movie ends with the wedding of the century, with a hint that Lady Margaret and Kevin are looking at a New Years wedding as though it's possible to plan a wedding in a week.

This was most definitely trying to gain the success that Christmas Prince had, but it tries just a little too hard. I love this movie, but it does have it's faults, mostly Vanessa Hudgens's accent. But I love the Prince and the Pauper theme and how it never takes itself too seriously. Also any message that urges us to chose love over duty sits well with me.

4. A Christmas Prince 2: A Royal Wedding

One of the biggest Netflix movies came out with a sequel this year, and I was relieved I wasn't the only person overly excited for this film. Remember Amber and Prince (now King) Richard and their undeniable chemistry? Well keep that in your mind, because that's the only place that it's safe. Amber and Richard are set to be married Christmas Day (strange time for a wedding, I think) and it's not all it's cracked up to be. Amber is being heavily controlled by Mrs. Averill who suddenly isn't a nice person. Richard is ignoring Amber's needs as he tries and fails to be a good leader. Amber's dad has been replaced and turned into a kind of obnoxious character who we're supposed to adore. Simon is back and strangely better than ever (he may have actually been the best part of the movie) and money is disappearing from the good people of Aldovia, so Amber and her friends are on the case. Amber and Richard get it together and have the wedding they want, including Amber choosing a dress that was actually worse than the one that Mrs. Averill had wanted her to wear, but it's her wedding day so what she says goes I suppose.

It's not nearly as good as the first one. Maybe because of all the expectations, but a lot of the wonderful elements from the movie are still there. Emily is still sassy and funny, Amber's passion is there, and the Queen is still just trying to go sledding and have some fun. It's honestly better on a second watch and that's when I realized it was kind of the perfect sequel to an amazing movie.

3. A Christmas Prince

Remember number 4 on my list? Well this came first! A Christmas Prince took the internet by storm when everyone finally got around to watching it. It's a fresh story about an aspiring reporter named Amber who goes undercover in Aldovia to get the scoop on the royal family, most notably Prince Richard who clearly doesn't want the crown. Amber is pretty quickly found out by Princess Emily aka the best character in the movie and she basically blackmails Amber into letting her have fun. Amber's new fun loving attitude attracts Prince Edward much to obvious bad guys Simon and Sophie's dislikes.

I still can't put my finger on why this movie feels so fresh and filled with wonder. Is it Amber's genuine decency as person? Prince Richard's struggle to find a leader within himself? Emily threatening to put everyone in the dungeon? Whatever it is has caused me to watch it over twenty times within in the last year. If you were wondering, even in March this movie is amazing.

2. The Holiday

This is on also my Best Movies Ever Made list that I have never actually written down. Just know it's on it. The Holiday follows the story of two women who have just had their hearts broken by selfish jerks and are so over their lives that they decide to trade houses for two weeks. Camren Diaz plays Amanda, a business executive who hasn't cried in years and Kate Winslet plays Iris, a wedding columnist who doesn't get that the guy she loves is just not as into her as she is into him. While living in each other's home, both women find themselves falling in love. Amanda with Iris's gorgeous brother Graham, played by the beautiful Jude Law and Iris with Miles played by the hilarious Jack Black, an assistant who works with Amanda.

I can't actually count how many times I watched this movie. It is one of the best feel good movies ever made. Here we have an incredible cast, beautiful locations, unlikely romantic interests, and heartwarming friendships. It's not just a Christmas movie. It can be watched any time of year and bring joy and laughter to any bad day.

1. Love Actually

Is there anything else that would occupy this top spot? I'll admit, I actually forgot about this movie until my husband asked where it ranks on my list and I realized it had to be number one. I assume everyone has seen Love Actually, because they have right? We've got all kinds of things going on. Some of the best actors from the UK (and from huge franchises) banded together for this brilliant film. You've got Professor Snape who has a crumbling marriage with Professor Trelawney. Elizabeth Swan has married Mordo/Scar. Bilbo Baggins is doing what he must to get a check. Davey Jones is also doing what he must for a check. Mr. I Will Find You and I Will Kill You is giving love advice to Jojen Reed. It's so much happening and it's all sensational.

I've watched this three times since Thanksgiving this year and do I cry every time? Yes, yes I do. I love the intertwining of everyone's lives and how no matter how old or young they are, they're trying to navigate love in all it's forms, similar to real life. The montage of Heathrow Airport makes me tear up every single time. And let us never forget "If you look for it , I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!