'Tis the season... to watch all the Christmas movies on TV we can possibly fit onto our DVR. We're kind of obsessed with the made-for-TV messy goodness, no matter how good or bad-good (or straight-up bad) they may sometimes be. But what we're celebrating the most this holiday season is all of the hot, romantic love interests sprinkled through these flicks. Sure, a lot of the time you get a bland guy who fulfills his role as the protagonist's man simply because he kind of is just there and goes through the motions. But then sometimes you find a guy so hot — and so charming — that he sweeps you off your feet, even though you're just the viewer at home.
Over the years, we've fallen for some of these hunks. And now we're sharing our favorite Christmas movie cuties to help spread the holiday cheer to everyone. Check out the Life & Style crew's favorite Christmas flicks — and the hot guys who star in them.
Christmas Crush
"I have to go with Fake Aaron Samuels (Mean Girls actor Jonathan Bennett) in Christmas Crush (alternately titled Holiday High School Reunion, but you'll find it on Netflix under the former title). First point: he's Aaron F--king Samuels. His eyebrows are perfect and the meathead jock who's supposed to be former-popular-girl Georgia's love interest pales in comparison. Fake Aaron Samuels is Georgia's sardonic, sensitive, supportive (and unrealistically hot) former best friend who EVEN IN THEIR ADULTHOOD is constantly there for her.
How in the hell does this auburn-haired moron overlook him until the last 15 minutes of the movie? I don't even... whatever. He's also art freak turned corporate graphic designer or something, which is like, as close to my type as I'll get from a made-for-TV Christmas movie." - Mary Grace Garis, Features Writer
Watch the trailer here. Check out the whole flick on Netflix.
12 Dates of Christmas
"I think the guy* in 12 Dates of Christmas is so attractive because for one, he is really cute (in that hot dad kind of way) and I love that they had a BAD date. I find that super relatable and genuine. I like relationships that don't seem like they'll work in the beginning. I like it when people have to work for it!" - Paulina Jayne Isaac, Editorial Assistant
*Bonus points? It's Mark-Paul Gosselaar!
Watch the trailer here. Check out the whole flick on Netflix.
A December Bride
"It’s hard to say exactly which cheesy made-for-TV Christmas movie is my favorite — but Seth is by far my favorite of the love interests. Not only is Daniel Lissing, the actor who portrays him, stupid hot (in the cutest way). The character is also open about when he likes Layla or is jealous about other guys, makes her gingerbread cookies, quite literally sweeps her off her feet — he basically demonstrates his feelings through all the love languages. He’s also the one who gets them into the whole fake relationship mess in the first place when he decides to spontaneously tell everyone at Layla's cousin Jessica and former-fiancé Jack's wedding that he and Layla are engaged. Hello, if that’s not everyone’s favorite rom-com trope, I don’t know what is.
Plus, he gets a totally unfair rap for introducing Jack and Jessica. What, was Layla just never going to introduce her fiancé to her cousin? They were bound to meet eventually. The bottom line? Seth is just unbelievably, impossibly charming. Someone else literally sweeping Layla off her feet in a semblance of a romantic gesture might’ve seemed stilted or forced. But when he does it, it’s nothing but smooth — and that’s an expert level move to pull off." - Chelsea Duff, Features Writer
Watch the trailer here. Check out the whole flick on Amazon.
Spirit of Christmas
"The ghost is hot AF. No, seriously. The entire time he was on the screen I just kept thinking 'OMG he's beautiful.' And to be fair, the lead actress in the movie is stunning, as well — her eyes are so big and green that I don't even understand how they're real. So, like, props to Lifetime for a great casting job. Before watching The Spirit of Christmas I was raving about the Netflix original movie A Christmas Prince — it's cute, I recommend it. In hindsight however, the Prince is just not cutting it. They should have given the hot ghost the role of the prince in that movie. Because really, he deserves ALL THE ROLES." - Ginny Van de Wall, Features Director
Watch the trailer here. Check out the whole flick on Netflix.
A Cinderella Christmas
"If you haven't seen A Cinderella Christmas yet, well you're not missing out on any sort of cinematic masterpiece and no, there isn't any actual prince or princess in this one. But there is a super hot guy who plays Nicholas, the heir to a fortune who needs to get married before he gets his inheritance. There's a holiday masquerade ball where he falls in love with a girl in a blue dress and a mask and it might take him a while to find out who she is, but hey, he's got a nice smile and is that tall, handsome type and ends up having a heart of gold even though everyone thought he was this wild playboy. I dare you not to swoon when he proposes in a living room in front of his one true love's pet rabbit. It's much cuter than it sounds, I promise." - Jen Maldonado, Senior Editor
Watch the trailer here. Check out the whole flick on Amazon.
Naughty & Nice
"Naughty and Nice might be the cringiest of the cringy Christmas movies, but it's all worth watching for Tyler Jacob Moore. Sure, Hayley totally doesn't appreciate his pure and understanding nature, but whatever, she can keep her cheesy radio DJ. More Cole for me!" - Emy LaCroix, Senior Staff Writer
Watch the trailer here. Check out the whole flick on Amazon.
Christmas Cupid
"If I’m being honest, there isn’t anything standout about the plot of Christmas Cupid. It follows the whole A Christmas Carol trope pretty closely with the spirits of Christmas past, present, and future running the show. That being said, Christina Milian, Ashley Benson, and Chad Michael Murray (swoon) make for the perfect mid-2000s cast. Did I mention Chad Michael Murray? He will forever be a certified babe and is especially sweet in Christmas Cupid where he inevitably fulfills every girl's prince charming fantasy (well, at least mine)." - Melissa Copelton, Associate Editor
Watch the trailer here. Check out the whole flick on Freeform.