The Ultimate Guide to Hallmark's Hanukkah Movies: From Festive Flicks to Latke-loving Favorites
Experience the magic of Hallmark's Hanukkah movies with our ultimate guide From heartwarming tales to delightful surprises, explore the unofficial ranking of these seven films, spanning from 2012 to 2023 Uncover the best of Hanukkah on the silver screen!
The Hallmark Channel is famous for its Christmas movies, but it has now extended its offerings to include Hanukkah-themed features. In 2012, Hitched for the Holidays honored various Hanukkah traditions, and in 2019 Hallmark began producing at least one holiday movie focusing on Judaism for the season.
"I, like everyone else, understand the importance of seeing diverse representation on television," said Nina Weinman, writer of Double Holiday, to Variety in December 2019. "While we can't capture every individual way of celebrating, I believe we were successful in portraying Hanukkah in a fun and compelling manner."
In 2019, both Double Holiday and Holiday Date highlighted Hanukkah festivities, and in 2020 Love, Lights, Hanukkah! continued the trend. The network has followed up with a closer look at the religious celebration in 2021's Eight Gifts of Hanukkah and 2022's Hanukkah on Rye.
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Hallmark's Round and Round in 2023 combined the storyline of Groundhog Day with the celebration of Hanukkah. The film follows a Jewish woman who finds herself caught in a repetitive loop of reliving Hanukkah, striving to make it to the eighth day of the Festival of Lights while also falling in love with someone who has no memory of their previous encounters each day. Check out our comprehensive list and unofficial ranking of all of Hallmark's Hanukkah films below.
Credit: Ryan Plummer/Crown Media United States; Allister Foster/Crown Media United States
A Guide to (and Unofficial Ranking of) Hallmark’s Hanukkah Movies: From Good to Love It a Latke
Hallmark Channel is known for its Christmas movies, but the network has expanded to Hanukkah-themed features as well.
Hitched for the Holidays in 2012 included some Hanukkah traditions, but it wasn't until 2019 that Hallmark began producing at least one holiday movie focused on Judaism.
“I understand the desire for representation on television, and I shared that desire,” said Nina Weinman, writer of Double Holiday, in a December 2019 interview with Variety. “We can't capture every individual celebration, but I think we did a great job of showcasing Hanukkah in a fun and interesting way.”
The network has showcased Hanukkah festivities in various films, starting with Double Holiday and Holiday Date in 2019, followed by Love, Lights, Hanukkah! in 2020. Viewers were then treated to a closer look at the religious celebration with Eight Gifts of Hanukkah in 2021 and Hanukkah on Rye in 2022.
In 2023, Hallmark combined the concept of Groundhog Day with the festival of Hanukkah in the film Round and Round. The story follows a Jewish woman who finds herself stuck in a time loop, experiencing Hanukkah over and over again. As she attempts to break free from the cycle and reach the eighth day of the Festival of Lights, she also falls in love with someone who fails to remember their encounters each day.
Keep reading for a comprehensive list, and We's unofficial ranking, of Hallmark's Hanukkah movies.
Credit: Crown Media
7. 'Hitched for the Holidays' (2012)
Although not the main focus, Hanukkah features prominently in Rob (Joey Lawrence) and Julie’s (Emily Hampshire) romantic storyline. The movie sees Rob and Julie, a Jewish New Yorker, pretending to be a couple after connecting on a dating site. Together, they navigate each other's family holiday traditions and start developing real feelings for each other.
Hanukkah Highlight: Although Rob fumbles through the Hanukkah prayers while pretending to be Jewish for Julie’s family, the moment is fun and light.
Credit: Albert Camicioli/Crown Media United States
6. 'Double Holiday' (2019)
Rebecca (Carly Pope) and Chris (Kristoffer Polaha) initially clash while planning their company's holiday party, but an unexpected romance blooms as they compete to impress their boss for a promotion. Rebecca brings her Jewish traditions to the celebration, and Chris tries to outdo her with his Christmas decorations.
One of the highlights is when Rebecca's family warmly embraces Chris during their Hanukkah celebrations, despite their initial rivalry, leaving viewers with warm and fuzzy feelings.
Credit: Ryan Plummer/Crown Media United States
5. 'Eight Gifts of Hanukkah' (2021)
Optometrist Sara (played by Inbar Lavi) embarks on a voyage of self-discovery when she receives a series of gifts from an anonymous admirer each night of Hanukkah. As she attempts to uncover the identity of the sender, she seeks the counsel of her longtime friend Daniel (portrayed by Jake Epstein) — who has harbored feelings for her for quite some time.
Hanukkah Highlight: The intense dreidel game and fun unveiling of gifts each night with Sara’s chosen family are two memorable moments for fans.
Credit: Allister Foster/Crown Media United States
4. 'Holiday Date' (2019)
After being dumped right before the holidays, Brooke (Brittany Bristow) decides to hire actor Joel (Matt Cohen) to pose as her boyfriend for her family's festivities. But complications arise when she discovers that Joel is Jewish. Surprisingly, her family warmly embraces Joel's religion, incorporating his traditions into their celebrations. As the charade continues, Brooke finds herself developing genuine feelings for her fake boyfriend.
Notable Moment: A heartwarming scene unfolds as Joel teaches Brooke's family how to light the menorah while singing, becoming a highlight of the holiday season.
Credit: Craig Minielly/Hallmark
3. 'Round and Round' (2023)
On the seventh night of Hanukkah, Rachel (Vic Michaelis) finds herself stuck in a time loop, experiencing her parents' party repeatedly. Encouraged by her grandmother's praise of Zach (Bryan Greenberg) as a "nice boy," Rachel enlists his help in breaking the cycle.
The focal point of this Hanukkah tale is the timeless tradition of playing dreidel, which is a recurring theme. However, it is the matchmaker role played by Rachel’s grandmother that truly honors classic Jewish customs.
Credit: Farah Nosh/Crown Media United States
2. 'Love, Lights, Hanukkah!' (2020)
After the passing of her adopted mother, Christina (Mia Kirshner) unearths her Jewish heritage through a DNA test. Reconnecting with her birth mother, she embraces her new religion and kindles an unexpected romance with David (Ben Savage) over the course of eight eventful nights.
Hanukkah Highlight: The enchantment of lighting the menorah takes center stage in this film, with a particularly poignant moment as Christina assumes the role of leading the ritual for the first time.
Credit: Steven Ackerman/Hallmark
1. 'Hanukkah on Rye' (2022)
Molly (Yael Grobglas) and Jacob (Jeremy Jordan) are set up by a Jewish matchmaker. However, when they discover that their families own competing delis and have a shared history, their love story faces challenges.
Hanukkah Highlight: Food is at the heart of this movie, and the latke recipe competition is a sweet nod to the holiday cooking tradition.
