Christmas Above the Clouds is the kind of holiday movie Gen‑Xers pretend we’re too emotionally fortified to enjoy — and then absolutely watch while eating leftover pizza over the sink. Directed by Peter Benson, the film stars Erin Krakow as Ella Neezer, a CEO whose relationship with Christmas is about as warm as a RadioShack in 1998. Tyler Hynes shows up as Jake Phelps, the ex who radiates that classic Hallmark Leading Man glow: flannel, feelings, and the emotional availability of a golden retriever who’s been through therapy. It’s Hallmark’s modern spin on A Christmas Carol, which means fewer ghosts in chains and more ghosts who look like they shop at Anthropologie.
The setup is peak holiday escapism: Ella tries to dodge Christmas entirely by fleeing to another hemisphere, which is honestly the most Gen‑X thing she could do. But instead of a quiet beach and a cocktail with a tiny umbrella, she gets ambushed by three spirits who drag her through her past, present, and future like a holiday‑themed intervention. Emily Tennant pops in as Bobbi Cratchit, the overworked employee who deserves a raise, a nap, and a union. The whole cast leans into the comedy with the kind of sincerity that defined every Very Special Episode we grew up on.
What makes the movie work is its tone — a blend of cozy sincerity and self‑aware humor that hits especially well if you survived dial‑up internet, mall Santas, and the annual “Christmas episode” of every sitcom on TV. Krakow plays Ella with the perfect mix of corporate steel and emotional exhaustion, while Hynes brings that familiar “I’m here to help you rediscover joy” energy that Hallmark has practically trademarked. The ghosts are less “haunting specters of moral consequence” and more “your eccentric aunt who drinks wine out of a Santa mug and tells you to get your life together.”
Visually, the movie has that signature Hallmark glow — the kind where every snowflake looks hand‑crafted, and every streetlamp seems to have been personally polished by a production assistant with a glitter addiction. The emotional beats land exactly where you expect them to, but that’s part of the charm. It’s comfort food cinema: predictable, warm, and just sentimental enough to thaw even the most sarcastic Gen‑X heart. And honestly, watching Ella slowly realize she might actually like Christmas again feels like watching someone rediscover the joy of a good mixtape.
If you want to watch it, Christmas Above the Clouds is streaming on Hallmark’s platform, Hallmark+ and it’s worth the click. The movie is funny, sweet, and exactly the kind of holiday fluff that pairs beautifully with a blanket, a beverage, and the knowledge that even Scrooge would’ve streamed this if he’d had Wi‑Fi.
MPAA Rating: TV-G.
Runtime: 84 mins
Director: Peter Benson
Writer: Christine Garver; Stephanie Jackson
Cast: Erin Krakow; Tyler Hynes; Emily Tennant
Genre: Holiday Romance
Tagline: Deck the Fjords
Memorable Movie Quote: "Of all the luxury first-class pods in all the jumbo jets in the world, you walk into mine."
Distributor: Hallmark Channel
Official Site:
Release Date: November 8, 2025
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: "A comedic, modern-day reimagining of A Christmas Carol."
