The most wonderful time of the year is officially around the corner for Lifetime fans! The network’s highly anticipated “It’s a Wonderful Lifetime” holiday programming event is set to kick off on November 29, 2025, bringing 12 brand-new original movies starring beloved actors and exciting new talent, ensuring your festive season is filled with heartwarming stories and holiday cheer.
The holiday season just wouldn’t be complete without Lifetime’s annual “It’s a Wonderful Lifetime” programming event, and 2025 promises to deliver more festive cheer than ever before. This year, the beloved network is rolling out 12 new original Christmas movies, scheduled to premiere every Friday and Saturday, starting on November 29.
Fans can look forward to seeing many familiar faces return to their screens, including Brandy Norwood, Vivica A. Fox, Jackée Harry, Nischelle Turner, Tyler Hilton, and Arielle Kebbel. Adding fresh excitement to the Lifetime family, actor James Lafferty makes his debut. Country music stars Kane and Katelyn Brown also step into the executive producer role for one of the highly anticipated films.
Beyond the romantic comedies and family dramas, Lifetime is also catering to those who enjoy a bit of holiday suspense. The Lifetime Movie Network (LMN) will premiere a new holiday thriller, “Do You Fear What I Fear,” adding a chilling twist to the festive lineup. This diverse slate ensures there’s something for every viewer this season, blending classic holiday themes with fresh storytelling, as reported by Variety.
The 2025 Lineup: A Closer Look at Every New Premiere
Get ready to mark your calendars! Here’s the complete rundown of Lifetime’s 2025 “It’s a Wonderful Lifetime” movie slate, including cast details and captivating synopses, as officially announced:
Christmas Everyday
- Premiere Date: Saturday, November 29, at 8 p.m. ET
- Stars: Brandy Norwood, Sy’rai Smith, Debbi Morgan, Robert C Riley, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman
- Synopsis: Following her father’s passing, Fancy (Brandy Norwood) is more determined than ever to uphold cherished Christmas traditions, especially as her mother, Evelyn (Debbi Morgan), starts losing her sight. Amidst planning her sister Belle’s (Sy’rai Smith) wedding, a burst water pipe brings in contractor Jaylen (Robert C Riley), leading to unexpected romance and profound lessons about faith, family, and Christmas.
The Christmas Campaign
- Premiere Date: Saturday, November 29, at 10 p.m. ET
- Stars: Vivica A. Fox, Jackée Harry, Chelsea Rose Brooks, Austen Jaye
- Synopsis: Driven ad exec Kayleigh Brooks (Chelsea Rose Brooks) and laid-back strategist Darren Morgan (Austen Jaye) are tasked by their boss, Monique (Vivica A. Fox), to create a festive holiday pitch. Sparks fly between them, not just in professional rivalry but also in their personal lives, especially when Kayleigh introduces Darren to her mom, Denise (Jackée Harry).
Do You Fear What I Fear
- Premiere Date: Thursday, December 4, at 8 p.m. ET (LMN)
- Stars: Ciara Hanna and Josh Henderson
- Synopsis: Claire (Ciarra Hanna) moves to the city for her dream job, thinking she’s escaped her past. But eerie holiday decorations, each a message from someone who knows her intimately, begin appearing. Claire must uncover who her dangerous “Secret Santa” is—her charming neighbor or an ex who won’t let go—by setting her own trap.
Jingle All the Way to Love
- Premiere Date: Friday, December 5, at 8 p.m. ET
- Stars: Erin Agostino and Romaine Waite
- Synopsis: After receiving and then passing on a lucky sleigh bell from a stranger at a New Year’s party, lawyer Andi Kelton (Erin Agostino) wins a radio contest years later. The host, Jake (Romaine Waite), helps listeners track down her mystery man before Christmas, turning her story into a festive segment.
A Christmas Cookbook
- Premiere Date: Friday, December 5, at 10 p.m. ET
- Stars: Ashley Newbrough and Franco Lo Presti
- Synopsis: Newly single for Christmas, Veronica Cearley (Ashley Newbrough) finds solace in The X-Mas Club, a group of food lovers. Sparks fly with the club’s founder, Cullen Murdock (Franco Lo Presti), leading Veronica to discover that the best part of Christmas is the feeling of home found in people.
Deck the Hallways
- Premiere Date: Saturday, December 6, at 8 p.m. ET
- Stars: Loretta Devine, Naika Toussaint, Jamie M. Callica
- Synopsis: Tech exec Zoe (Naika Toussaint) returns to Chicago to find her grandmother, Agnes (Loretta Devine), has canceled her late husband’s cherished holiday party. Zoe teams up with her childhood crush, Jace (Jaime M. Callica), to revive the celebration, rediscovering holiday spirit and new love.
Merry Missed Connection
- Premiere Date: Saturday, December 6, at 10 p.m. ET
- Stars: Emily Alatalo and Andrew Bushell
- Synopsis: Marie (Emily Alatalo) takes her diary to a speed dating event to find a Christmas date, but accidentally picks up the wrong one. The mix-up leads to a quest to reunite the star-crossed diaries and potentially find soulmates before Christmas.
Runaway Bride for Christmas (working title)
- Premiere Date: Friday, December 12, at 8 p.m. ET
- Stars: Nischelle Turner and Mark Ghanime
- Synopsis: Runaway bride Emma (Nischelle Turner) finds refuge in her hometown, unexpectedly falling for her high school crush, Mitch (Mark Ghanime), who is also nursing a broken heart. When her ex arrives, Emma must decide if she’s brave enough to risk her heart again before Christmas.
Christmas in Alaska
- Premiere Date: Friday, December 12, at 10 p.m. ET
- Stars: Emma Johnson and Marcus Rosner
- Synopsis: Rival journalists Megan (Emma Johnson) and Oliver (Marcus Rosner) are stranded in snowy Alaska after an emergency landing. As Megan follows her son’s festive bucket list and Oliver helps save his sister’s inn, an unexpected Christmas romance blossoms between them.
Thank God: Christmas at Keller Ranch
- Premiere Date: Saturday, December 13, at 8 p.m. ET
- Stars: Arielle Kebbel and Tyler Hilton (Executive produced by Kane and Katelyn Brown)
- Synopsis: After an injury, pro-hockey player Wes Campbell (Tyler Hilton) heads to Keller Ranch for recovery, meeting equestrian-assisted therapist Maggie Keller (Arielle Kebbel). Despite initial skepticism, Wes embraces equine therapy, and as Maggie helps him heal, an unexpected romance develops, leaving them to wonder if it’s more than a holiday fling.
Rodeo Christmas Romance
- Premiere Date: Saturday, December 13, at 10 p.m. ET
- Stars: Rebecca Dalton and Corey Sevier
- Synopsis: Equestrian Emma (Rebecca Dalton) ranch-sits for a friend while caring for her injured horse. She clashes with brooding veteran Noal (Corey Sevier), only to discover that the magic of Christmas might be exactly what they both need to heal their hearts.
Sweet Holiday Romance
- Premiere Date: Friday, December 19, at 8 p.m. ET
- Stars: Erin Karpluk and Christopher Russell
- Synopsis: World-renowned pastry chef Amanda (Erin Karpluk) enters a Christmas cookie competition to reclaim her title. She partners with The Little Shop of Fudge, only to find the owner’s handsome nephew, Simon (Christopher Russell), in charge, who knows nothing about making fudge. Their contrasting styles create a sweet and savory romance.
A Pickleball Christmas
- Premiere Date: Saturday, December 20, at 8 p.m. ET
- Stars: Zibby Allen and James Lafferty
- Synopsis: Tennis star Luke Hollis (James Lafferty) returns home for Christmas to find his family’s racquet club facing sale. He teams up with pickleball coach Caroline (Zibby Allen) to compete in a high-stakes tournament to save the club. Sparks fly on and off the court, revealing that the greatest victory might be love, family, and a new chapter at home.
Beyond the New Premieres: Digital Delights and Thrills
Lifetime understands that one cannot live on new movies alone. This holiday season, the network is significantly expanding its digital offerings to ensure fans have access to a vast library of festive content:
- 100 Beloved Holiday Movies: Starting October 27 and running through December 31, fans can stream 100 classic holiday titles on the Lifetime website, app, and through Video-On-Demand (VOD) partners.
- Day-After Premieres: All new premiere movies will be available the day after their broadcast premiere on TV Everywhere (TVE) and VOD platforms.
- Lifetime Movie Club: Subscribers can enjoy 70 library titles commercial-free, starting October 24.
- Holiday Movie Favorites FAST Channel: A free ad-supported streaming television channel, Holiday Movie Favorites by Lifetime, will begin airing library titles on November 1.
This comprehensive approach ensures that no matter how or when you want to celebrate the holidays with Lifetime, there’s an option available, making it easier than ever to indulge in your favorite festive films.
Why This Year’s Lineup Shines
The 2025 “It’s a Wonderful Lifetime” slate stands out for its thoughtful blend of returning fan favorites and exciting new additions to the Lifetime universe. The inclusion of stars like Brandy Norwood and Vivica A. Fox brings a familiar warmth, while talents like James Lafferty introduce fresh faces to new holiday narratives. The executive production debut of Kane and Katelyn Brown also adds another layer of star power and creative input to the lineup, broadening its appeal.
Moreover, the expansion of digital access points demonstrates Lifetime’s commitment to meeting viewers wherever they are. Providing a wealth of beloved library titles alongside new premieres ensures that fans can curate their ultimate holiday viewing experience, a strategy that continues to resonate with its dedicated audience, as detailed by Us Weekly.
A Tradition Continues
Lifetime has long been a cornerstone of holiday programming, creating heartwarming, feel-good movies that capture the spirit of the season. The “It’s a Wonderful Lifetime” event has become an annual tradition for millions, offering a comforting escape into stories of love, family, and community. This 2025 lineup reinforces that tradition, promising to deliver joy, laughter, and perhaps a few happy tears, making the holidays truly wonderful for viewers everywhere.
