# A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish
*A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish* is a 2019 American teen musical romantic comedy that reimagines the [Cinderella](https://www.edgepedia.org/cinderella) fairy tale at Christmas, starring [Laura Marano](https://www.edgepedia.org/laura-marano) as an aspiring singer-songwriter forced to work as a singing elf by her cruel stepfamily.[1](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish/umc.cmc.32p9ie4orsy021zcvjij5nl8h) It was the fifth film in the *A Cinderella Story* franchise, which began with the 2004 [Hilary Duff](https://www.edgepedia.org/hilary-duff) film, and was filmed in Vancouver with Michelle Johnston directing.[2](https://www.stagerightsecrets.com/a-cinderella-story-gets-a-christmas-spin/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 2019; streaming release listed as August 27, 2019 by Rotten Tomatoes, while Moviefone lists a digital release of October 15, 2019 and DVD/Blu-ray on October 29, 2019[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_cinderella_story_christmas_wish) • [4](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish/3fbhh3kMSBigfzzJdJNFw5/where-to-watch/) |
| Director and writer | Michelle Johnston (her screenwriting credit); producer Dylan Sellers[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_cinderella_story_christmas_wish) |
| Production | Blue Ribbon Content, distributed by Warner Bros.; production countries Canada and the United States[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_cinderella_story_christmas_wish) • [5](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish) |
| Lead cast | Laura Marano (Kat Decker), Gregg Sulkin (Dominic Wintergarden), Isabella Gomez (Isla)[1](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish/umc.cmc.32p9ie4orsy021zcvjij5nl8h) |
| Runtime and rating | 1 hour 25 minutes; rated PG for rude and suggestive material[1](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish/umc.cmc.32p9ie4orsy021zcvjij5nl8h) |
| Reception | IMDb 5.3/10 from about 8,400 votes; Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer 40% from 3 critics[5](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_cinderella_story_christmas_wish) |
| Franchise position | Fifth film in the *A Cinderella Story* series[2](https://www.stagerightsecrets.com/a-cinderella-story-gets-a-christmas-spin/) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
Kat Decker is an aspiring singer-songwriter whose dreams are stalled by a conniving stepfamily and a demoralizing job as a singing elf at billionaire Terrence Wintergarden's Santa Land.[1](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish/umc.cmc.32p9ie4orsy021zcvjij5nl8h) Her father died while she was young, and she lives with her stepmother Deirdra (Johannah Newmarch) and stepsisters Joy (Lillian Doucet-Roche) and Grace (Chanelle Peloso).[6](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz_48cGPuGc) • [7](https://www.beautifulballad.org/2019/10/29/review-a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish-kicks-off-the-holiday-season/)
A bright spot in her job is Nick, the handsome new Santa at the tree lot, who is in fact Dominic Wintergarden, the billionaire's son, who dreams of becoming a manager in the music industry.[1](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish/umc.cmc.32p9ie4orsy021zcvjij5nl8h) • [7](https://www.beautifulballad.org/2019/10/29/review-a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish-kicks-off-the-holiday-season/) Because both are in costume, neither realizes they have met before under awkward circumstances.[8](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish) When Kat is invited to the Wintergarden Christmas Gala, hosted by Terrence Wintergarden on [Christmas Eve](https://www.edgepedia.org/christmas-eve), her stepfamily schemes to keep her from attending and to secure their own invitations.[1](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish/umc.cmc.32p9ie4orsy021zcvjij5nl8h) • [2](https://www.stagerightsecrets.com/a-cinderella-story-gets-a-christmas-spin/) In place of a glass slipper, Dominic recognizes Kat through a composition book and a set of elf ears.[8](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish)
## Cast and production
Laura Marano, known for Disney's *Austin & Ally*, plays Kat; [Gregg Sulkin](https://www.edgepedia.org/gregg-sulkin) of *Marvel's Runaways* plays Dominic; and Isabella Gomez of *One Day at a Time* plays Isla, Kat's best friend.[1](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish/umc.cmc.32p9ie4orsy021zcvjij5nl8h) The supporting cast includes [Maddie Phillips](https://www.edgepedia.org/maddie-phillips) as Skylar, Barclay Hope, and Trezzo Mahoro.[9](https://flixpatrol.com/title/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish/)
Warner Bros. Home [Entertainment](https://www.edgepedia.org/entertainment) and Blue Ribbon Content began filming in Vancouver.[2](https://www.stagerightsecrets.com/a-cinderella-story-gets-a-christmas-spin/) The film features original music alongside holiday favorites, and a soundtrack album, *A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)*, was released.[1](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish/umc.cmc.32p9ie4orsy021zcvjij5nl8h) • [10](https://cineclaus.com/films/film-a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish) [Choreography](https://www.edgepedia.org/choreography) was created by Scott Hislop.[11](https://tresamagazine.com/2025/06/09/lillian-doucet-roche/)
## Reception
The Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes stood at 40% from three critic reviews, while audience ratings were warmer: the Popcornmeter drew more than 100 ratings, [JustWatch](https://www.edgepedia.org/justwatch) users gave it 76%, and Moviefone listed a 64% audience score.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_cinderella_story_christmas_wish) • [5](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish) • [4](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish/3fbhh3kMSBigfzzJdJNFw5/where-to-watch/) On IMDb the film holds 5.3 out of 10 from about 8,400 votes.[5](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish)
Critics split over the film's adherence to formula. Writing for Film Inquiry, Amanda Mazzillo observed that the film hews to the familiar Cinderella pattern with some variations, a few of which succeed, whereas others end up resembling innumerable other retellings of the story.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_cinderella_story_christmas_wish) Jeffrey Lyles rated it 8.5/10, saying it knows its target audience well with the right amount of musical numbers, romance, and fun.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_cinderella_story_christmas_wish) Common Sense Media's review called it better than the usual by-the-numbers holiday fairy tale, praising the chemistry between Marano and Sulkin and Isabella Gomez's supporting turn, while noting the over-the-top nasty stepfamily and reliance on incredible coincidences.[8](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish) A recurring criticism was the music: CineClaus noted that the vocals are so heavily autotuned that a film about a gifted singer never lets you hear her properly, and BeautifulBallad judged that the musical numbers do not hinder the story but do not move it along either.[10](https://cineclaus.com/films/film-a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish) • [7](https://www.beautifulballad.org/2019/10/29/review-a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish-kicks-off-the-holiday-season/)
## Home media and availability
The film was released on digital on October 15, 2019 and on DVD and Blu-ray on October 29, 2019.[4](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish/3fbhh3kMSBigfzzJdJNFw5/where-to-watch/) It has appeared on Netflix in some regions but is not available on Netflix in the United States; as of late 2026 it can be rented from about $3.99 or bought from about $9.99 on services including Apple TV, Amazon Video, Google TV, and YouTube, with no free streaming option.[5](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish) • [12](https://flixboss.com/movie/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish-81148811)
## References
1. [A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish/umc.cmc.32p9ie4orsy021zcvjij5nl8h)
2. [A Cinderella Story Gets a Christmas Spin!, Stage Right Secrets](https://www.stagerightsecrets.com/a-cinderella-story-gets-a-christmas-spin/)
3. [A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_cinderella_story_christmas_wish)
4. [A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish – Where to Watch, Moviefone](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish/3fbhh3kMSBigfzzJdJNFw5/where-to-watch/)
5. [A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish streaming, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish)
6. [A Cinderella Story Christmas Wish (2019) Explained, Movies At Glance, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz_48cGPuGc)
7. [REVIEW: A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish Kicks Off The Holiday Season, BeautifulBallad](https://www.beautifulballad.org/2019/10/29/review-a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish-kicks-off-the-holiday-season/)
8. [A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish – Parents' Guide & Movie Review, Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish)
9. [A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish, FlixPatrol](https://flixpatrol.com/title/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish/)
10. [A Cinderella Story Christmas Wish: Verdict & Age, CineClaus](https://cineclaus.com/films/film-a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish)
11. [Lillian Doucet-Roche interview, TresA Magazine](https://tresamagazine.com/2025/06/09/lillian-doucet-roche/)
12. [Where to Watch A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish on Netflix, Flixboss](https://flixboss.com/movie/a-cinderella-story-christmas-wish-81148811)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Franchise and series entries as standalone works › Teen and comedy series film entries › Entries released in the 2010s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license