One Magic Christmas

One Magic Christmas

Year: 1985

Runtime: 88 mins

Language: English

Director: Phillip Borsos

FamilyFantasyHoliday joy and heartwarming ChristmasEmotional and touching family dramasPowerful stories of heartbreak and suffering

When Ginny Grainger, a young mother, feels the holiday season has lost its sparkle, her six‑year‑old daughter Abbie’s unwavering belief and the gentle guidance of Gideon, Ginny’s guardian angel, help her rediscover the true joy and wonder of Christmas.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen One Magic Christmas yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – One Magic Christmas (1985)

Trace every key event in One Magic Christmas (1985) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Gideon is appointed to restore Ginnie Grainger's Christmas spirit

Saint Nicholas assigns Gideon to restore the Christmas spirit of Ginnie Grainger. Gideon's mission is to bring hope and warmth back to a family on the brink. This celestial intervention sets the sequence of magical events in motion.

Two nights before Christmas Eve
2

Abbie meets Gideon while mailing a letter to Santa

Abbie encounters Gideon on the street as she mails a letter to Santa. He asks her to have her mother mail it instead and protects Abbie from a speeding car. Abbie eventually hands the letter to her mother, who refuses to mail it.

Two nights before Christmas Eve Abbie's neighborhood
3

Gideon warns Abbie and shatters her snow globe

Gideon visits Abbie again and warns that bad things are coming, but she should not be afraid. He 'accidentally' drops and shatters Abbie's snow globe, then magically restores it. Around this, all the Christmas lights on the street turn off.

Two nights before Christmas Eve Abbie's street
4

Ginnie and Jack discuss finances; Jack plans bike shop

Ginnie urges Jack to find a steady job instead of opening a bike shop, fearing it would drain savings. Frustrated by the uncertainty, Jack leaves the house to clear his head and think things over.

Two nights before Christmas Eve Ginnie's home
5

Ginnie loses her job after intervening at the bank

Abbie visits Ginnie at the grocery store and tells her Jack is headed to the bank to withdraw savings. Ginnie leaves to stop him and, in doing so, is fired by her boss for leaving her shift.

Christmas Eve morning Grocery store
6

Harry robs the bank; Jack dies and the chase ensues

Harry the bank robber shoots and kills Jack during the confrontation, then flees in Jack's car with Cal and Abbie inside. Ginnie chases after them in Harry's car but runs out of gas. Harry's car skids and crashes into a river, ending the immediate danger for the family.

Christmas Eve Bank and river
7

Ginnie mourns; Gideon rescues the children

Grief-stricken, Ginnie believes she has lost her husband and children. Gideon intervenes to rescue Cal and Abbie, and the police bring them home to the anxious mother.

Christmas Eve night Ginnie’s home
8

Abbie asks Gideon for help; Santa is unable to fix it

Abbie goes to the town's Christmas tree to beg Gideon to bring back her father. He explains that Santa can't fix what has happened. Gideon suggests that Santa's help may not be enough, setting up a path toward the North Pole journey.

Later that evening Town square / Christmas tree
9

Abbie visits the North Pole and meets Santa

Gideon takes Abbie to the North Pole to see Santa, who admits he cannot fix the tragedy or mend her mother's heartbreak. Santa shows Abbie his workshop, a factory run by Christmas angels, and retrieves a letter Ginnie sent in childhood.

Night before Christmas North Pole
10

Abbie gives the letter to Ginnie; Christmas spirit returns

Back home, Abbie hands the letter to her mother. Reading it makes Ginnie realize that the true spirit of Christmas is gratitude for what she has. She mails Abbie's letter, and the street lights return as Jack appears walking through the neighborhood.

After the North Pole visit Ginnie's neighborhood
11

The day after: a small miracle helps prevent crime

The next day, Ginnie's boss gives her the day off so she can spend time with her family. At the gas station, she buys Harry's camp stove, which helps him avoid robbing the bank and keeps the family safer.

The next day Grocery store / gas station
12

Community Christmas and Santa's farewell

That evening, Ginnie attends the village tree lighting and joins in singing. The family celebrates Christmas at Caleb's, and she writes a cheque to Jack for the bike shop as a Christmas gift. Santa visits downstairs and wishes her a Merry Christmas before fading into the night.

Christmas night Village square / Caleb's house

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:28

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One Magic Christmas Summary

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One Magic Christmas Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in One Magic Christmas

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