Best movies like The Heart of Christmas
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Dax Ryan Locke, born to Julie and Austin Locke on June 26, 2007, was diagnosed with AML M7, a rare form of leukemia, when he was 13 months old. The Heart of Christmas is set in Washington, Illinois and at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, one of the world's premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other deadly diseases in children. Told in flashback from the perspective of Megan (Candace Cameron Bure), a successful businesswoman, wife and mother of two, the storyline unfolds when her commitment to faith and family is renewed after reading the blog of Julie Locke, (http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/daxlocke), the online journal that Julie kept after Dax was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) (http://theheartofchristmasmovie.com/story.php).
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: touching, uplifting, emotional, sad, serious, realistic
Best tv shows and movies like The Heart of Christmas (2011):
Similar in 86%
The House Without a Christmas Tree (1972)
Plot Summary:
A young girl named Addie, living in Nebraska in 1946 wants nothing more for the holidays than a Christmas tree, but her widowed father, is bitter and refuses due to events from the family's past.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 886
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 75 min
Plot tags: christmas special, touching, emotional, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 87%
A Town Without Christmas (2001)
Plot Summary:
In the small town of Seacliff, Wash., a child's letter to Santa Claus captures the nation's attention. When the little boy, Chris, writes that he wishes to leave this world so he will no longer be a burden to his divorcing parents, a race begins to find him before he harms himself.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 871
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: touching, realistic, serious, emotional
Similar in 76%
Saint Maybe (1998)
Plot Summary:
A lonely teen troubled by a past family tragedy is suspicious of his sister-in-law, believing she is being unfaithful. His confrontation with his brother sets off a series of tragic events.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 483
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, feel good, serious, emotional, realistic
Similar in 86%
November Christmas (2010)
Plot Summary:
A young father asks for pumpkins at the local farm stand. "In August? No." the farmer replies. The farmer ruminates on the odd request and gets involved with strangers for the first time since his son's death long ago.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: emotional, sincere, serious, disturbing, sad, realistic
Similar in 86%
The Sweetest Gift (1998)
Plot Summary:
Two neighboring families in Florida, one black and one white, struggle with the problems of race, poverty, prejudice, and absent fathers, as their children become friends over the course of one summer and fall.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 181
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: uplifting, touching, feel good, serious, emotional, realistic
Similar in 75%
One Christmas (1994)
Plot Summary:
TV film that was to be Katherine Hepburn's last performance. Based on Truman Capote's bittersweet tale of a young boy's adventures with the father he's never known in New Orleans in the 1930s.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 751
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: sentimental, sincere, uplifting, touching, serious, emotional, realistic
Similar in 83%
A Time to Remember (2003)
Plot Summary:
An artist and single mother returns to her childhood home to patch things up with her mother who has Alzheimers disease.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 274
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: emotional, sentimental, touching, realistic, serious, contemplative
Similar in 82%
A Christmas Visitor (2002)
Plot Summary:
A father struggles with the past. A daughter fights for the future. A mother searches for answers. The Boyajians have not celebrated Christmas in 11 years. They lost their faith when they lost their son to the Persian Gulf War. Now a stranger has joined them - around the same age the boy would have been.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, emotional, realistic
Similar in 86%
The Maldonado Miracle (2003)
Plot Summary:
A story about a small, dying town in need of hope until one day a young boy gives them something to believe in.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 492
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, serious, realistic, feel good
Similar in 75%
Heaven's Door (2012)
Plot Summary:
Julie Taylor has a problem how to cope with a pending divorce, find meaningful employment, live with her mother's constant advice and raise her two children. In their small rural town it isn't so much what people say as what they believe. And since the death of her father her no-holds-barred mother has been leaning more toward the belief that angels and heaven is right here with them. Unseen but as real as this world.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 536
Genere: Drama, Family, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: uplifting, touching, sincere, captivating, light, serious, emotional
Similar in 81%
Christmas at Maxwell's (2006)
Plot Summary:
A successful American family retreat to their summer home on the banks of Lake Erie to find meaning in life, illness, loss, and change this Christmas. With a successful career in the wine business, and two amazing children, what more can a family ask for. But this Christmas will change the Austin family forever with Suzie falling ill. With Andrew struggling over his wife's ill health and the children trying to find peace and solace on their own, only a miracle can help them through this Christmas.
IMDB Rating: 4.3
IMDB Votes: 124
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: uplifting, sentimental, sincere, touching, independent film, serious, emotional, realistic
Similar in 75%
Johnny (2010)
Plot Summary:
When Dr. Drew Carter tragically loses his ten-year old son in a car accident, he didn’t expect to lose his whole family as well. Since the accident, his wife (Julia) has become emotionally absent towards him and their daughter. When Johnny, a terminally ill foster child with leukemia, is referred to Drew he sees a chance to heal his family. With Julia against the idea, Drew takes matters into his own hands and adopts Johnny. Johnny doesn’t know what he is in for, but believes he is here for a special mission.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 393
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: realistic, christian film, psychological, sentimental, touching, captivating, contemplative, serious
Similar in 82%
Cool Kids Don't Cry (2012)
Plot Summary:
Adaptation of one of Benelux most famous children's novels. Tough prime school girl Akkie loves soccer and can be a real bully. Love is the only thing she's scared of. When Akkie is diagnosed with Leukemia, she has to fight for her life. On the verge of going to high school, Akkie has to allow love to enter her life, and thus gain courage to accept the inevitable.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama, Family, Sport
Country: Netherlands
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: emotional, sentimental, serious, realistic, sincere, psychological, captivating, sad, crying
Similar in 79%
The Gathering (1977)
Plot Summary:
When Adam Thornton learns that he only has a little time left, he decides that he wants to make peace with his family. Only problem is that most of his family are not exactly fond of him because he walked out on his wife and of his stubborn nature and he hasn't spoken to his youngest son after having an argument with him which he was in the wrong but only realize after his son left and has not been heard from since. But he goes to her to help him find him. But when his doctor says that it won't be good for him to travel, she suggests that they invite them all for Christmas. While most of them come, Adam's attempt at reconciliation won't be easy.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 790
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, serious, emotional, realistic, vintage
Similar in 75%
Lullaby (2014)
Plot Summary:
Estranged from his family, Jonathan (Hedlund) discovers his father has decided to take himself off life support in forty-eight hours’ time. During this intensely condensed period, a lifetime of drama plays out. Robert (Jenkins) fights a zero sum game to reclaim all that his illness stole from his family. A debate rages on patients’ rights and what it truly means to be free. Jonathan reconciles with his father, reconnects with his mother (Archer), sister (Brown-Findlay), and his love (Adams) and reclaims his voice through two unlikely catalysts – a young, wise-beyond-her-years patient (Barden) and a no-nonsense nurse (Hudson). Through this intensely life affirming prism, an unexpected and powerful journey of love, laughter, and forgiveness unfolds.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 117 min
Plot tags: touching, sentimental, serious, realistic, sad
Similar in 80%
The Way Home (2010)
Plot Summary:
An inspirational true story about how a rural community rallied around a distraught family to search for their missing two year-old boy and through doing so changed the lives of many of those involved.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 816
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: sincere, touching, christian film, uplifting, emotional, serious, realistic
Similar in 89%
Louder Than Words (2013)
Plot Summary:
After the unexpected death of their daughter, a couple work to build a state of the art children's hospital where families are welcomed into the healing process.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: touching, emotional, sentimental, serious, captivating, realistic, uplifting
Similar in 90%
The Sound of the Spirit (2012)
Plot Summary:
Beautiful and precocious Rivka is a twelve-year-old Jewish girl who believes in Jesus. She and her father attend a Messianic Jewish congregation in their community. But when her father suddenly dies, Rivka's life changes forever. She ends up moving in with her traditional Jewish relatives and attending their synagogue. From her stormy relationship with her uncle, to a meeting with the synagogue’s senior rabbi, to the attention of the cutest boy in the synagogue, Rivka learns life lessons that stir her faith to new levels, touching the hearts of those whose lives she has reluctantly impacted. "The Sound of the Spirit" is the never-before-told story of a young girl caught in the crossfire of strong feelings between two faith communities. It’s told with humor, compassion, and grace.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 158
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 129 min
Plot tags: serious, touching, realistic, emotional, christian film, independent film
Similar in 89%
Mermaid (2000)
Plot Summary:
Four year old Desi learns to accept the death of her father by sending him a letter on a balloon to which she receives a reply. Based on a true story.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 651
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, serious, emotional, realistic
Similar in 87%
The 12 Dogs of Christmas (2005)
Plot Summary:
This holiday tale has all the elements of a classic heartwarmer--cuddly dogs, small town spirit, and even a full-fledged Christmas pageant. Set during the meager years of the Great Depression, 12 DOGS OF CHRISTMAS follows the story of Emma, a 12-year-old who is sent to live in Doverville, a rural town, with her aunt. The town has, like the rest of the nation, fallen on lean times and seem to have lost all interest in celebrating. However, Emma manages to enlist the town's dogs into a colorful holiday pageant that reminds the inhabitants that even the Great Depression cannot ruin the spirit of Christmas.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 996
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: feel good, light, humorous, sentimental, touching
Similar in 77%
Christmas Angel (2012)
Plot Summary:
A young girl tries to prove that the mysterious old lady next door is really an angel, when some of the neighborhood kids’ Christmas wishes. Olivia is not like most fifth graders. She is being raised by Melinda, a single mother who works at a bustling local bakery run by her good friend Daphne, the mother of Olivia's best friend and classmate. Olivia has a heart of gold that shines through in her good intentions and her imagination. During the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, a mysterious lady quietly moves into the house next door. The house has been uninhabited since the owner, Dr. Nathan Davis, left town abruptly. When some of the neighborhood kids Christmas wishes suddenly begin to come true, Olivia is convinced that the towns newcomer is an angel and she is determined to prove it.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, realistic, semi serious, christian film
Similar in 84%
The Christmas Bunny (2010)
Plot Summary:
The Christmas Bunny tells the story of a lonely foster child (Sophie Bolen) who finds a lost, injured rabbit in the woods on Christmas Eve. The rabbit is nursed back to health by The Bunny Lady (Florence Henderson), who runs a rabbit rescue in an old barn behind her Michigan farmhouse.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 854
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: sentimental, uplifting, touching, sincere, captivating, light, serious, realistic, gloomy
Similar in 79%
Mary Christmas (2002)
Plot Summary:
Californian widower Joel Wallace, a successful businessman, is a great catch in a grand mansion, but absorbed by his work. His daughter Felice writes to a TV Christmas special, hoping for a 'new mammy'.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 545
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, captivating, light, uplifting, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 88%
Candles on Bay Street (2006)
Plot Summary:
DeeDee returns to her hometown with her 11 year old son, Trooper, 13 years after she ran off with her boyfriend. Her childhood best friend, Sam, is now married and he and his wife, Lydia, are the town's veterinarians. Lydia is a little wary about DeeDee after Sam tells her that they were best friends growing up and DeeDee was his first crush. But DeeDee and Trooper find their way into many hearts of the townspeople with their sweet helpfulness and friendships. DeeDee sets up a candle making business in town square and invites many of the ladies of the town to weekly candle making parties, and through these parties she and Lydia become good friends. One evening after dinner with Lydia and Sam, DeeDee tells Sam she's very sick and she doesn't have much longer to live and she needs his help to find a good family in town to adopt Trooper. Sam later tells Lydia everything and they decide to adopt Trooper themselves if/when something happens to DeeDee.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, serious, emotional, realistic
Similar in 83%
Two Against Time (2002)
Plot Summary:
This film finds a mother and her teen daughter both being diagnosed with cancer. This discovery helps to overcome the longtime antagonistic relationship that the two have developed.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 210
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, touching, captivating, humorous
Similar in 89%
...First Do No Harm (1997)
Plot Summary:
When Lori Reimuller learns that her young son Robbie has epilepsy, she first trusts the judgment of the hospital staff in how best to bring it under control. As Robbie's health slides radically downhill, however, she becomes frustrated and desperate, and so does her own research into the existing literature on treatments. When she decides to try an alternative treatment called the Ketogenic Diet, devised long ago by a doctor from Johns Hopkins, she is met with narrow-minded resistance from Robbie's doctor, who is prepared to take legal action to prevent Lori from removing him from the hospital.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: edutainment, sentimental, sincere, uplifting, touching, serious, emotional, realistic, controversial
Similar in 76%
Dawn Anna (2005)
Plot Summary:
The true story of a single mom who overcomes many of life's obstacles.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: sentimental, sincere, realistic, touching, serious, emotional
Similar in 78%
Snowmen (2010)
Plot Summary:
Three young friends find adventure and purpose in their attempts to set a Guinness World Record. Set in a wintry mountain town, the unpopular trio pursues fame through a series of schemes and stunts that eventually imperil their own lives. Along the way, they conquer schoolyard bullies, unite their community and discover that while fame is fleeting, true friendship lasts forever.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 748
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: uplifting, touching, sentimental, feel good, semi serious, offbeat, humorous, realistic, independent film, surprise ending
Similar in 78%
My Sister's Keeper (2009)
Plot Summary:
Sara and Brian live an idyllic life with their young son and daughter. But their family is rocked by sudden, heartbreaking news that forces them to make a difficult and unorthodox choice in order to save their baby girl's life. The parents' desperate decision raises both ethical and moral questions and rips away at the foundation of their relationship. Their actions ultimately set off a court case that threatens to tear the family apart, while revealing surprising truths that challenge everyone's perceptions of love and loyalty and give new meaning to the definition of healing.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 97000
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: sad, tear jerker, heartbreaking, touching, sentimental, emotional, thought provoking, compassionate, suspense, dramatic
Similar in 90%
Angels Sing (2013)
Plot Summary:
As a child, Michael Walker wished every day could be Christmas. That is, until a tragic accident crushed his holiday spirit. Thirty years later, Michael still can't muster any joy for the holidays, despite encouragement from his playful wife and well-intentioned parents. But when his young son faces a tragedy, Michael needs to make amends with his past. A mysterious man named Nick gives Michael a gift and instills in him the courage to find the joy that he lost.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, semi serious, realistic