Calling all soap fans: your holiday viewing guide is here! Soap Central has put together a list of Christmas films that star daytime favorites, and it's almost as long as Santa's "naughty or nice" list. Get the fun-filled details on the movies below, and don't forget to leave some Christmas cookies (er, we meant your thoughts) in the Comments section at the bottom of the article!
Erika Slezak (ex-Victoria Lord, OLTL) is joining Chandler Massey (ex-Will Horton, Days of our Lives), Lyndsy Fonseca (ex-Colleen Carlton, The Young and the Restless), Eric Freeman, Lea Thompson, and Christopher Lloyd in Next Stop Christmas. Set to premiere on Saturday, November 6, at 8PM, the film follows Fonseca as Angie, a woman who wonders what her life would be like if she had married a former boyfriend who became a famous sportscaster. She takes the train home to spend Christmas with her family and inexplicably finds herself ten years in the past. With the advice of the train's enigmatic conductor, Angie has the chance to revisit that Christmas and learn what -- and who -- is truly important to her.
Alison Sweeney (ex-Sami Brady, DAYS) will be starring alongside Erica Durance in Open By Christmas, a heartwarming holiday mystery set to air on Friday, November 12. As teased by Hallmark, when Nicky finds an unopened Christmas card from a high school secret admirer, she and her best friend Simone search to find and thank the anonymous author.
Trevor Donovan (ex-Jeremy Horton, Days of our Lives) will star in Nantucket Noel, a romance that follows actress Sarah Power as Christina, who is upset to learn that a developer is planning to tear down the wharf that is home to her toy store. Too bad that doesn’t stop her from falling in love with the developer’s son! Catch the drama when the film premieres on Friday, November 19.
Brandon Routh (ex-Seth Anderson, One Life to Live) will star opposite Kimberly Sustad in The Nine Kittens of Christmas, a sequel to the 2014 movie The Nine Lives of Christmas. Directed by David Winning and written by Erinne Dobson, the film will follow Zach and Marilee, who have drifted apart but could be reunited just in time for the holidays by a super cute litter of kittens. It's set to air on Thursday, November 25 (a.k.a. Thanksgiving!).
Bethany Joy Lenz (ex-Michelle Bauer, Guiding Light) and Tyler Hynes will star in An Unexpected Christmas as exes who agree to fake a relationship for Christmas in order to not upset their families -- but will holiday magic rekindle their spark? It premieres Friday, November 26, at 8PM.
Lacey Chabert (ex-Bianca Montgomery, All My Children) will star opposite Stuart Townsend in Christmas at Castle Hart, which features the magical backdrop of Ireland and is set to air on Saturday, November 27. The film follows Chabert as Brooke Bennett, who goes on a trip to Europe for Christmas to search for her Irish roots. While there, she meets Aiden Hart, Earl of Glaslough. Mistaken for an elite event planner, she's hired to host his castle's epic Christmas party.
John Brotherton (ex-Jared Banks, OLTL) will join Candace Cameron Bure and Barbara Niven for The Christmas Contest , set to air on Sunday, November 28. The film follows exes Lara and Ben, who compete in a Christmas contest to win money for the charity of their choosing. The city watches them battle and choose what is more important: victory or love.
Casey Deidrick (ex-Chad DiMera, DAYS) will join Emily Osment in A Very Merry Bridesmaid, set to air on Saturday, December 4, at 8PM. As Hallmark teases, Leah's 30th birthday is on Christmas Eve, the same day as her brother's wedding. Her childhood crush is back in town for the wedding and he is determined to make sure her birthday does not go by the wayside.
Ashley Williams (ex-Dani Andropoulos, As the World Turns) will join her real-life sister, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, along with Mark Deklin, Keith D. Robinson, Susan Yeagley, Jason Buster, Logan Donovan, Jay Hunter, and Roberta Valderrama in Sister Swap: A Hometown Holiday, a Christmas film series that follows a single mom named Jennifer who returns to her small hometown at the holidays and helps a childhood friend save the local movie theater. Williams will also appear in Sister Swap: Christmas in the City, which stars the soap alum as Jennifer's little sister, Meg, who comes to town to help Jennifer win a Christmas party contest but clashes with her by-the-book manager. Sister Swap: A Hometown Holiday will air on Sunday, December 5 at 8PM, while Sister Swap: Christmas in the City will air on Sunday, December 12, at 8PM.
Jonathan Bennett (ex-J.R. Chandler, AMC) will join Robert Buckley, Ana Ayora, Brad Harder, Treat Williams, and Sharon Lawrence in The Christmas House 2: Handsome Christmas. Set to premiere on Saturday, December 18, at 8PM, the film follows the Mitchell brothers as they compete to see who can create the best Christmas House.
Ryan Paevey (ex-Nathan West, General Hospital) will star opposite Janel Parrish and Adriana Ravalli in Coyote Creek Christmas, which follows a daughter who returns home to plan a holiday party for her family-owned inn, not knowing her parents plan to sell -- possibly to a handsome single dad guest. A release date has to be announced.
Vanessa Williams (ex-Dr. Valerie Grant, DAYS) and Michelle Argyris (ex-Kendra Lennon, GH) star alongside Alonzo B. Slater, Wendy Raquel Robinson, and Asia'h Epperson in Welcome to the Christmas Family Reunion (a.k.a. A Christmas Family Reunion). The film tells the story of an event planner who gets her big break planning a celebrity's holiday family reunion, but things get complicated when she starts to fall for a member of the family. The film is set to premiere on Monday, November 29, at 8PM.
Corbin Bleu (ex-Jeffrey King, OLTL) will star opposite Monique Coleman in A Christmas Dance Reunion, which tells the story of a mother and daughter who return to a closing resort for its final season, where the mother reconnects with a childhood dance partner. The film is set to premiere on Friday, December 3, at 8PM.
Adam Gregory (ex-Thomas Forrester, B&B) will join Marie Osmond, Amanda Payton, Sarah Jayne Jensen, and Shona Kay in A Fiancé for Christmas. Set to air Thursday, December 9, at 8PM, the film follows perpetually single Sawyer (Payton), who makes a fake wedding registry, hoping a shopping spree with a scan gun will be the ultimate retail therapy. But when the registry is discovered and the whole town throws her a surprise bridal shower, she’s too embarrassed to tell the truth. Instead, she finds a fake fiancé (Gregory) to help her navigate through the lies and holiday festivities. However, as real feelings develop between Sawyer and her fake fiancé, they may turn into the real deal after all.
Mario Lopez (Dr. Christian Ramírez, B&B) will join Emeraude Toubia, Aimee Garcia, Gia Lopez, and Hank Chen in Holiday in Santa Fe. The film tells the story of a greeting card executive who is sent to acquire a family-owned business that specializes in traditional Mexican holiday ornaments. It is set to air on Friday, December 10.
Telma Hopkins (Denise Tolliver, Y&R) will join Haylie Duff, Aaron O'Connell, Christopher Knight, Susan Olsen, and Barry Williams in Blending Christmas. The film follows a man who comes up with an elaborate plan to propose to his girlfriend in front of both their families at a soon-to-close resort that holds special memories for her, but the stress of trying to make everything perfect could tear them apart. The film is set to premiere on Sunday, December 12, at 8PM.
Jen Lilley (ex-Theresa Donovan, DAYS) will star in Royally Wrapped for Christmas, a romance that follows a kind and charitable woman who finds herself falling for a prince. It’s set to premiere on Saturday, November 27.
Cameron Mathison (Drew Cain, GH; ex-Ryan Lavery, AMC) will star opposite Jennie Garth in A Kindhearted Christmas (formerly titled Secret Santa). The film follows Garth as Jamie, a woman who is inspired to play secret Santa and gift a huge sum of money to a high school for the holidays. Though she tries to keep her identity hidden, a sleuthing TV journalist (Mathison) discovers her secret -- but not before falling in love. Watch the romance unfold on Saturday, November 20.
Trevor Donovan (ex-Jeremy Horton, DAYS) will appear opposite Merritt Patterson in Jingle Bell Princess on Saturday, December 4. The royal rom-com follows a princess whose jet is temporarily grounded in a small town due to mechanical issues, which leads her to explore a Christmas tree lot at the airport’s perimeter. When her plane accidentally takes off without her and a snowstorm grounds all flights in and out, the princess is taken in by an airline employee and her sexy son (Donovan). What starts as a royal catastrophe turns into an unforgettable holiday as the princess embarks on a very uncommon romance.
All My Children alum Sam Page (ex-Trey Shepard) is set to star in Joy at Christmas, which premieres on Sunday, December 19. The film follows Holly Silver (Cindy Busby), who must convince pro athlete Jack Kane (Page) to be the public face of her family firm’s fledgling toy drive. But business turns to pleasure when the pair discover kindred spirits in one another.
Colin Egglesfield (ex-Joshua Madden, AMC) will join Arielle Kebbel, LaDonna Tittle, and Bryan Segal in Holiday Hitman, set to air on Sunday, November 28.
Vivica A. Fox (ex-Stephanie Simmons, Y&R; ex-Carmen Silva, DAYS) will join Michelle Borth in Private Eye Christmas, which follows a private investigator who clashes with a local cop as they both try to solve a string of holiday break-ins. It is set to air on Sunday, December 5.
Charles Shaughnessy (Victor Cassadine, GH; ex-Shane Donovan, DAYS) stars alongside Kaitlyn Leeb and Nick Hounslow in Christmas with a Prince: The Royal Baby, the sequel to 2018's Christmas with a Prince and 2019's wedding-themed Christmas with a Prince: Becoming Royal. Originally based on a book by Sarah Morgan, this new installment will feature the newlywed royals becoming parents. The film will make its debut on Sunday, November 7, at 7PM ET.
Donnell Turner (Curtis Ashford, GH; ex-Dr. Aiden Williams DAYS), Teresa Castillo (ex-Sabrina Santiago, GH), and Mark Lawson (ex-Dustin Phillips, GH; ex-Brody Lovett, OLTL) will join Denyce Lawton and Kate Watson in Most Wanted Santa. The film follows an FBI agent and a detective who team up to catch an art thief, but struggle when the primary suspect is a sexy Santa. The film is set to premiere on Friday, December 3.
Vanessa Williams (ex-Dr. Valerie Grant, DAYS) will join Bill Bellamy, Tyler Abron, Brandee Evans, and Denise Boutte in A Rich Christmas, which is being directed by Victoria Rowell (ex-Drucilla Winters, Y&R). The film tells the story of a spoiled socialite who is forced to work at a homeless center for the holidays and ends up learning the true meaning of Christmas. The film is set to premiere on Thursday, November 4.
Aaron D. Spears (Justin Barber, B&B) will join Shanti Lowry and Nadine Ellis in Christmas For Sale, which follows a real estate developer who falls for a billionaire that thinks she's someone else. The film is set to premiere on Thursday, December 23.
John McCook (Eric Forrester, B&B) will join his real-life daughter, Molly McCook, along with Food Network chef Ree Drummond, Aaron O'Connell, Lee Garlington, and Landry Townsend in Candy Coated Christmas. The film follows a woman who returns to her holiday-crazy hometown after a failed business venture. The film will premiere on Sunday, November 19.
Josh Swickard (Harrison Chase, GH) will star in California Christmas: City Lights, which was written by the actor's real-life wife, Lorynn York, who also appears in the film. An airdate for the holiday movie, which is a follow-up to the pair's 2020 film A California Christmas, will be released on Thursday, December 16.
Eric Roberts (ex-Vance Abrahms, Y&R) will join Bianca & Chaira D'Ambrosio (ex-Summer Newman, Y&R), Ian Buchanan (ex-Duke Lavery, GH; ex-Dr. James Warwick, B&B), Charles Shaughnessy (Victor Cassadine, GH; ex-Shane Donovan, DAYS), Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke Logan, B&B), Sally Kirkland (ex-Tracey Simpson, DAYS), and Kristos Andrews in The Magic. Written and directed by The Bay's Gregori J Martin, the film follows a man who tries to regain his Christmas spirit with a little help from his guardian angels. Be sure to catch the premiere when it airs on Popstar!TV on Thursday, November 25, and catch it again on Friday, December 10, when it becomes available for digital on-demand via services like Amazon Video, Tubi, and more.
Leigh-Ann Rose (Imani Benedict, Y&R) will star opposite Harry Lennix, Dawnn Lewis, Charmin Lee, Oliver Samuels, Fae Ellington, and Kyrie Mcalpin in Blackjack Christmas. The film, which will be directed by Victoria Rowell (ex-Drucilla Winters, Y&R), follows estranged sisters who celebrate the holidays together despite lingering resentments over one's move to the US, and the other's inheritance. A release date has yet to be announced.
Patrick Muldoon (ex-Austin Reed, DAYS) and Cody Calafiore (ex-Cody, B&B) will join Taryn Hacker in Magic in Mount Holly, which was released on Monday, November 1, on PureFlix. The film follows a new gallery owner who discovers that she can paint the future using a paintbrush left by Santa. As she discovers the true magic within herself, she also learns to love and be more confident.
Vivica A. Fox (ex-Stephanie Simmons, Y&R; ex-Carmen Silva, DAYS) will join Camille Winbush and Victor Sho in Holiday Hideaway, which tells the story of a holiday-loving woman who finds her Christmas spirit crushed by family drama, so she escapes to a quaint inn that just might hold the key to regaining her love of Christmas. An airdate has yet to be announced.
Camila Banus (Gabi Hernandez, DAYS), Mark Hapka (ex-Nathan Horton, DAYS), and David Fumero (ex-Cristian Vega, OLTL) will star alongside Terri Hoyos, Melissa Marty, Harrison Grant, and Susan Ortiz in Sweet Navidad. The film, which marks the directorial debut for Brittany Underwood (ex-Langston Wilde, OLTL), follows a chef who has to work with a hated rival to plan a holiday menu in hopes of making her dreams of opening a bake shop just like the one her family once owned in Puerto Rico come true. An airdate for the film has yet to be announced, but fans can watch the trailer below.
Which 2021 Christmas films featuring soap opera stars are you most excited to see this holiday season? We want to hear from you -- and there are many ways you can share your thoughts.
