An Unexpected Christmas is a 2021 Hallmark Channel original starring Bethany Joy Lenz and Tyler Hynes. It premiered as part of Hallmark’s 2021 Countdown to Christmas on Friday, November 26, 2021 — the “26 November 2021” date on earlier versions of this page is correct, this is not a mislabeled 2023 title.
Quick Facts
| Title | An Unexpected Christmas |
| Release Date | November 26, 2021 (Hallmark Channel) |
| Director | Michael Robison |
| Writer | Paul Campbell |
| Producer | Charles Cooper |
| Composer | Chris Ainscough |
| Genre | Holiday, Romance, Comedy |
| Where to Watch | Hallmark+ |
| Runtime | Approximately 1 hour 23 minutes |
Plot
Jamie (Tyler Hynes) heads home a week before Christmas without having told his family that he and his girlfriend Emily (Bethany Joy Lenz) broke up. When Emily unexpectedly turns up in town for a work assignment, Jamie strikes a deal: he’ll get the governor to deliver a speech for her marketing campaign if she’ll pose as his girlfriend for the family holiday week. What follows is a string of near-misses as the ruse — and their real feelings — catch up with them.
Full Cast
The male lead’s name was previously misspelled on this page as “Tyler Hines.” The correct spelling, per Hallmark’s own site, is Tyler Hynes.
- Bethany Joy Lenz as Emily
- Tyler Hynes as Jamie
- Lynda Boyd as Diane
- Paul McGillion as Tom
- Alison Wandzura as Becca
Who Composed An Unexpected Christmas?
Chris Ainscough composed the film’s score. Earlier versions of this page introduced him as “a very renowned singer,” which doesn’t match his actual career and contradicted the rest of his own bio. Ainscough did start out as a touring musician — playing piano, trumpet, and double bass in bands across Canada from age 16 — but professionally he has spent decades as a sound editor, re-recording mixer, and film/TV composer, not a singer. His verified career highlights include two Golden Reel nominations as Sound Designer and Sound FX Editor on Highlander, recording the orchestral score for MacGyver, a Leo Award win for Suddenly Naked, and a Leo nomination for Heart of a Dragon, produced in consultation with David Foster. At the time An Unexpected Christmas was made, Ainscough was working on a slate of Hallmark Channel movies.
An Unexpected Christmas Soundtrack List
- “The Nutcracker Ballet Suite, Op. 71a: IV. Trepak (Russian Dance)” — Tchaikovsky’s classical piece, heard in the film.
- “Snow” by Bethany Joy — confirmed as real and genuinely used in this film. The film’s own Executive Producer, Matthew R. Brady, announced that Lenz’s single would close out the movie’s credits, and outlets including BroadwayWorld covered it as “the first time the song ‘Snow’ will be featured on a film’s soundtrack.” The song comes from Lenz’s Christmas EP Snow, released December 18, 2020 on Poets Road Records.
Music from the film can be found on Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music.
Where to Watch
An Unexpected Christmas was filmed in Vancouver, Canada, and set in Illinois. It streams on Hallmark+ and airs periodically on Hallmark Channel during the holiday season.
Source: CNN, Business Insider
Frequently Asked Questions
Who stars in An Unexpected Christmas?
Bethany Joy Lenz and Tyler Hynes star as Emily and Jamie.
What year did An Unexpected Christmas come out?
It premiered on Hallmark Channel on November 26, 2021.
Who composed the music for An Unexpected Christmas?
Chris Ainscough, a longtime film and TV composer and sound editor whose credits include Highlander and MacGyver, composed the score.
Is the song “Snow” really in the movie?
Yes. Bethany Joy Lenz’s single “Snow” closes out the film’s end credits, confirmed by the film’s own executive producer.
Where can I watch An Unexpected Christmas?
It’s available on Hallmark+ and airs periodically on Hallmark Channel.
Related reading: Movie Soundtracks | Streaming Hub