Alison Sweeney’s Best Hallmark Movies: A Fan-Favorite Actress
If you’re searching for Alison Sweeney’s best Hallmark movies, you’re not alone – and you’re in the right place. At Girls Gone Hallmark, we’ve followed Alison Sweeney’s journey from soap star to Hallmark royalty, and we’re rounding up all of her most memorable roles. Whether she’s solving cozy mysteries as Hannah Swensen, tracking down clues in Chronicle Mysteries, or falling in love during the holidays, Alison Sweeney brings warmth and charm to every Hallmark movie she stars in. Keep reading for a complete list of her Hallmark films, plus where to watch and which ones top our must-watch list.
Who is Alison Sweeney?
Alison Sweeney is a Los Angeles native who began her acting career at just 5-years old when she appeared in a commercial for Kodak. As a child she went on to appear on several television series’ like Webster and St. Elsewhere. At 16, Ali landed the role of Sami Brady on the daytime soap Days of Our Lives – a character she’s played since 1993 in over 3,600 episodes, earning her a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress.
Alison Sweeney’s First Hallmark Movie
Alison Sweeney made her Hallmark Channel debut in 2013 with the romantic drama Second Chances, starring opposite her Days of Our Lives co-star Greg Vaughan. In the film, she plays Jenny McLean, a 911 operator and single mom whose life takes an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with a firefighter recovering from a serious on-the-job injury. The movie marked the beginning of Sweeney’s long-running and beloved partnership with Hallmark.
Ali Sweeney’s Best Hallmark Movies
With at least 30 Hallmark movies, narrowing down Ali Sweeney’s top films is no easy task. Here are some of the best Alison Sweeney Hallmark movies that fans adore:
- Ali has played a baker-turned-sleuth in the long-running Murder She Baked series turned A Hannah Swensen Mystery. While Hannah may be great at helping solve crimes, her love life is a different story – caught in a years-long triangle between dependable Norman and detective Mike, with the recent addition of charming prosecutor Chad stirring the pot even more. Let’s just say, her romantic life is as messy as her kitchen.
- One of our favorite Alison Sweeney movies is Love on the Air (2015), where she and Jonathan Scarfe spark delightful chemistry as rival radio hosts in Chicago. As their on-air banter turns into real-life connection, these competitive personalities find unexpected common ground – and maybe even love – when they’re forced to work together.
- The Irresistible Blueberry Farm is undoubtedly a fan favorite. Starring alongside Marc Blucas, Ali Sweeney plays a woman on a heartfelt journey to deliver a letter to her late grandmother’s childhood home in Maine. The film quickly won viewers over – not just with its charming story and scenic backdrop, but also with a surprisingly early kiss between the two leads that set the tone for their undeniable chemistry.
- The mysteries don’t stop with Hannah Swensen – Alison Sweeney stepped into another sleuthing role in 2019 as Alex McPherson in Chronicle Mysteries. Co-starring with Benjamin Ayres, the series kicked off with Chronicle Mysteries: Recovered and spans a total of five intriguing films. As a true-crime podcaster with a knack for uncovering the truth, Alex brings a fresh take on Hallmark’s signature mystery formula.
- And then came The Wedding Veil collection – a Hallmark first that brought together three of the network’s leading ladies: Alison Sweeney, Lacey Chabert, and Autumn Reeser. Spanning six interconnected movies, the series was a landmark collaboration and a ratings juggernaut. Not only did it break records for non-holiday premieres, but it also proved that Hallmark could capture audiences year-round with compelling storytelling and fan-favorite stars.
- In 2025, Alison Sweeney joined forces with fellow Hallmark favorite Ashley Williams for a two-part romantic adventure: To Barcelona, With Love and its sequel To Barcelona, Forever. Part of Hallmark Channel’s Passport to Love programming event, the films follow two women navigating personal crossroads during a life-changing trip to Spain. This marked the first time Sweeney and Williams shared the screen, bringing together two beloved Hallmark stars in a story full of charm, heart, and fresh starts.
Every Hallmark Christmas Movie with Alison Sweeney
Alison Sweeney has brought her signature charm to several festive Hallmark Christmas movies over the years, delighting audiences with each heartwarming role. Here’s a list of Hallmark Christmas movies starring Ali Sweeney.
Christmas at Holly Lodge (2017) – Sweeney stars as Sophie Bennett, the warm-hearted owner of a charming mountain lodge that becomes the target of a major developer. In true Hallmark fashion, the movie leans into the classic trope of a big-city outsider falling for small-town charm – and the woman who embodies it. Fun fact: the film also co-stars Crystal Lowe, who would go on to direct Sweeney years later in Pie to Die For: A Hannah Swensen Mystery.
Time for You to Come Home for Christmas (2019) – When Katherine returns home after her husband passed, she meets a veteran who is on his own holiday journey. As Christmas nears, they learn of a bond that may be the miracle they need. Co-starring Lucas Bryant.
Ali Sweeney reunites with Marc Blucas in Good Morning Christmas! (2020), bringing plenty of holiday charm – and tension – as feuding TV hosts forced to spend Christmas in a picture-perfect small town. While keeping up appearances for their viewers, the bickering duo begins to see each other in a new light, proving that sometimes a little holiday magic can turn sparring into sparks.
Open By Christmas (2021) – As Nicky, Sweeney embarks on a sweet journey to fulfill a long-held promise involving an unopened Christmas card from her past. Co-starring Brennan Elliott.
A Magical Christmas Village (2022) – Playing Summer, she helps rekindle community traditions and family bonds, co-starring with Luke Macfarlane and Marlo Thomas.
This Time Each Year ( 2024) – A year after their separation, Lauren and Kevin focus on raising their young son Charlie together. However, Kevin harbors a desire to make them a whole family again.
Alison Sweeney’s Career Beyond Hallmark
While Hallmark has been his home base for over a decade, Ali has a versatile career beyond romantic movies.
- TV Shows: She’s appeared in popular television series, including Family Man, Friends, American Dreams, and Las Vegas.
- Days of Our Lives: Alison Sweeney has portrayed Sami Brady for an impressive 38 years. She held a contract role from 1993 to 2014, then made recurring appearances over the next seven years. In 2021, she returned as a series regular, with Sami stepping back into major storylines that continued through April 2025.
- Not Just the Star: Ali has worn many hats behind the scenes – she’s served as a producer on nearly every Hallmark movie she’s starred in, penned several Hannah Swensen scripts, and even directed a handful of Days of Our Lives episodes.
What’s Next for Alison Sweeney on Hallmark Channel?
Coming in June 2025, Alison Sweeney returns to lead Pie to Die For: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, alongside returning favorites Barbara Niven and Victor Webster. This time, when one of Hannah’s customers – and Delores’ theater rival – is found murdered, Hannah must unravel the mystery to clear her mother’s name. Meanwhile, her budding romance with Chad begins to heat up.
Fun fact: At the 2024 Kansas City Christmas Experience, Barbara Niven spilled a sweet spoiler – fans can expect a long-awaited kiss between Hannah and Chad in the new movie!
We’re Your New Hallmark Besties
Hey there! We’re Girls Gone Hallmark! Megan’s a longtime Hallmark movie fan, while Wendy – well, she used to be a Hallmark hater. Now, we’ve teamed up to share our (often very different!) takes on these films. Get ready for some lively, fun-filled conversations!
Check out the library of Hallmark movies we’ve reviewed!
