Get Excited for These 2020 Premieres
Here we go again! The leaves have been so vibrant in Minneapolis that we couldn’t believe the 2020 Christmas movie season was around the corner (with premieres starting on October 24, for those not familiar).
Then…it snowed on Friday. We’re now in the cozy, candle-lighting, soup-making, holiday-watching mood.
Let the clichés begin!
With COVID-19 halting most film and TV production, we weren’t sure if many would be ready for a 2020 premiere. But Hallmark held firm on their 40 premieres, Lifetime has 30 new movies, Netflix has at least 7, and even UPtv and ION are bringing a handful of flicks. (Freeform, you doing OK?)
We read through every description to find a future classic. These seven popped to the top, with one honorable mention—expect a review for each and watch along for the potential best of the season:
#7: A Ring for Christmas
Channel: UPtv
Premiere: November 8, 2020
The artwork for this film doesn’t inspire confidence in the production quality. But with the surprisingly awesome 2019 UPtv premiere “Christmas Movie Christmas” (review forthcoming), we wanted to give the network another shot.
Rooted in a somewhat Contest as Plot Device, our spoiled lead must marry by Christmas or lose her trust fund. Add in a hunky love interest (familiar from the New York seasons of “Glee”) and it popped onto our list as an underdog for a Very Merry designation.
#6: five star christmas
Channel: Hallmark
Premiere: November 27, 2020
We love when holiday plotlines hint at the modern world. (Really, how many ranch hands lose their Christmas spirit?) This flick doesn’t explicitly reference Airbnb, but it highlights the importance of reviews when it comes to travel, which speaks to our millennial hearts.
There are conflicting descriptions of who initiates the Mistaken Identities in this film. Regardless if it’s the B&B owner’s daughter (a household favorite from “Poinsettias for Christmas”) or the travel writer, we’re hoping for hijinks and a stellar review of our own.
#5: the Christmas setup
Channel: Lifetime
Premiere: December 12, 2020
Finally! A movie that doesn’t revolve around a straight love story. It’s been a long time coming, and we’re not surprised the more progressive Lifetime is the first network to do it.
But treating this movie as a novelty does no good—we’re excited to highlight a fun plot that also happens to have two male leads. There’s the hint at high school crushes (maybe a Rekindled Romance?), a meddling matchmaker mother (Fran Drescher), and perhaps some hot Condo talk from the high-powered lawyer.
#4: one royal holiday
Channel: Hallmark
Premiere: October 31, 2020
Nothing says Halloween like a stranded royal family from a mysterious European county, right?
Jess was first drawn to this movie because of Aaron Tveit, the sole Tony nominee for best actor in a musical. But deeper Googling identified our plucky female lead as a MN native, whose Wikipedia page references her run at the “nation’s largest dinner theatre, the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre.”
Hometown connections and shared Christmas traditions between royalty and regular people. We’ll skip the tricks for this potential treat.
#3: Christmas tree lane
Channel: Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
Premiere: October 24, 2020
For genre lovers like us, this movie is filled with star power: Alicia Witt and Andrew Walker. Do we need to entice you more?
For casual viewers who might not react to those names, how about this: a music store owner whose block is being threatened by a development company…probably for Condos. It’s a traditional plot but always effective.
This will be our first review of the season, given its early premiere date. If one of us can’t give it at least a Merry, well…it’ll be a long winter.
#2: Feliz Navi*DAD
Channel: Lifetime
Premiere: November 21, 2020
This title. Oh, this title. Lifetime knows how to grab your attention, but we’re hoping the story rises above pun territory.
Mario Lopez is an OG Christmas movie star, and this flick is directed by none other than his Holiday in Handcuffs costar, Melissa Joan Hart! Top that with his Widower character whose young daughter adds him to a dating site. That’s all we know for now, but it’s enough for a #2 spot. (That, plus the title. Genius.)
#1: The Princess Switch: Switched Again
Channel: Netflix
Premiere: November 19, 2020
Are you surprised? This 2018 Very Merry movie was such a treat. Vanessa Hudgens’s accent switching was a true acting feat, but get ready: this 2020 sequel will have not 2 but 3 lookalikes! How many times can we use Mistaken Identities in Christmas Movie Bingo for that?!
Triple accents are all we need to get excited. And if Netflix can maintain its high-quality production values and embrace the silliness/Christmas-y-ness of the first film, we can’t imagine a better gift this season.
Honorable Mention:
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
Channel: Netflix
Premiere: November 13, 2020
Rumor had it this movie would premiere in 2019. After viewing the trailer, we understand that post-production might have taken some time.
The reason it’s not an “official” part of our premieres list is the questionable fit in the genre. Yes, Netflix is intended for a TV screen…but this feels more like “The Greatest Showman.” That’s not quite fair to compare it to a CCB- or Lacey-led flick.
Fantastic star power and trailer songs that’ll give you tingles. It’s a must-watch for sure, and we’ll determine how best to measure as the season unfolds.
