Freeform / ABC Family Kickoff to Christmas
Originally began in 2007 as the “Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas” on the ABC Family channel. This block of special programming includes holiday films, but many scheduled movie are not Christmas related. On May 15, 2018, Freeform announced that the Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas would be renamed Kickoff to Christmas for the 2018 season. Freeform’s annual “Kickoff to Christmas” will begin again in November 2021.
Kickoff to Christmas on Freeform will begin November 1st 2021
PLEASE NOTE: Date/times are subject to change (all times shown in Eastern)
**Page last updated on 3/24/21
Check back in for schedule updates later in the year
Archives
- 2020 Kickoff to Christmas
- 2019 Kickoff to Christmas
- 2018 Kickoff to Christmas
- 2017 Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas
- 2016 Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas
- 2015 Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas
- 2014 Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas
- 2013 Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas
- 2012 Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas
- 2011 Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas
I believe that Lifetime started the whole Christmas Movie season. I also believe there is an affiliation between Lifetime and Hallmark. My question is why aren’t some of the earlier movies that were aired on Lifetime never seen?
I’ve gotten to the point where we watch the new movies and then watch movies we own on DVD to get more of a variety of movies. Just as annoying as (the stations who will remain anonymous) that air the same movie for 24+ hours, it is just as annoying to see the same movies over and over again during the holiday season when there are so many other movies that are not aired at all. I think some type of balanced programming is needed.
Why don’t you show any of the “older” movies. My favorite is A Dog Named Christmas….and Christmas with Tucker, Christmas in Conway……and many many more…..haven’t seen them in years……please show these movies…
What I have found in all of the TV channels for the past 4 or 5 yrs. is that each channel will show their newest productions of the yr. during daytime & early evening hrs. Then they will show the Christmas movies that people have stated as “their favorites” at any time between midnight to 6 or 7 the next a.m. In the beginning, I thought I was just imagining this practice but by the end of the 2nd yr., I noticed the obvious pattern. I no longer watch any of the current yr. (2018) Christmas movies on any channel. I personally find that the writing & producing of the earlier movies to be of a higher type & more of a “good feeling” & appropriate comic quality than the newer ones.
My opinion.
Rita M. Gorman
I also would like to see some of the old Christmas movies that make you feel good about the season. There seems to be way too much degradation of the holiday with nasty/crude/stupid movies, that are repeated so many times during the season. Why not have more diversity?????
Why do you air the new movies 300 times before Christmas until I am sick of them? Where are the older ones that I loved. My favorite was always the Season for Miracles which seems to be thrown away as do a lot of the older sometimes better movies. There is so much time before Christmas and two channels that you should be able to show a lot of the older movies along with the new ones. Very disappointed!!
Fran Shoemaker
I love Christmas movies, but what happen to fantasy movies about Santa Claus, miracles, not just movies about people falling in love during the holidays. I like Freedom much more than Hallmark Channel that one kiss @ the end of this movies drive me freaking crazy. I want more and more people of color we do Christmas also, not just white people. I would also like to see more Christmas cartoons old and new kids really like this( I mean me really). Thanks
Why is there no MISER BROTHERS CHRISTMAS on any schedules this year?
lol
I’m disappointed that so many in countdown and 25 days of Christmas are not entirely Christmas and you don’t play any of the older ABC Family original Christmas movies. Always love Three days, Christmas List, etc.
When will The Christmas Wish with Debbie Reynolds and Neil P. Harris air? Have not seen movie in years.
Really need to show ‘Three Days’ again this year
I see that How the Grinch Stole Christmas will be back on again in 2017. My family was very disappointed that it was not on in 2016. Will this be the Ron Howard ( Live Action ) version like what was aired in 2014 and 2015? That one is the best, because it has all the deleted scenes that the 2000 version does not. ABC Family was the only one to have this movie.
yes, live action
Why is Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer not in either list to be aired? The countdown to 25 days of Christmas or 25 days of Christmas? That is one of mine and my 2 daughters favorite Christmas specials we look forward to seeing every year.
Why does “25 Days of Christmas” begin in November and actually only last for 13 days? Is it just me or does that seem odd?
Hi Amanda, this is the schedule for the “Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas” not the actual “25 Days of Christmas” itself. Freeform/ABC Family counts down to to December with two weeks of holiday movies. Hope that helps! 🙂
ok
Why do you not play both versions of DR. Soose’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas?
Hi Patrick, currently NBC owns the right to air the original Grinch on TV:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Seuss%27_How_the_Grinch_Stole_Christmas!_(TV_special)
The half-hour (with commercials) short was originally telecast in the United States on CBS on December 18, 1966. CBS repeated it annually during the Christmas season until 1988. It was then aired on various other networks multiple times a season. In the 1990s and 2000s, it was primarily seen on Turner-owned properties (TBS, TNT, and Cartoon Network), and later ABC and ABC Family. On August 13, 2015, NBC announced that the special would move to that network, which would air it twice during the Christmas season under a three-year licensing deal with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution.
I missed Mistletoe Inn and want to know if it will be shown again?
sorry! In what country do you usually watch the movie?
Hi Linh, we are in the United States.