Switched for Christmas

Identical twins Kate and Chris Lockhart swap lives for the holidays so each can handle the other sister's Christmas obligations, with Kate stepping into school duties and Chris taking over Kate's office and family responsibilities. They set one firm rule, no romance, but juggling unfamiliar schedules, parental expectations and workplace demands creates comic misunderstandings and tender moments. As mistakes pile up and plans collide, each twin gains a clearer sense of what the other's daily life requires and how much they matter to their community and family. The swap tests routines, loyalties and confidence, while the season's events force them to decide how to protect what matters most without giving away their secret, and small revelations about themselves.

Switched for Christmas premiered as a 2017 television movie, directed by Lee Friedlander and created by Tracy Andreen. Candace Cameron Bure plays the twin sisters, joined by Eion Bailey, Natasha Bure, Mark Deklin and Cooper Johnson.

The telefilm did not receive major industry awards or high-profile nominations, so it was not an awards season contender. Still, it drew attention from viewers who follow holiday programming and helped further Candace Cameron Bure's standing as a familiar face in seasonal television, and continues to air during holidays regularly.

The twin-swap premise and Bure's performances led the movie to become a repeat option on holiday streaming playlists and cable marathons, especially among families who prefer gentle, family-centered Christmas stories. Social media conversations tend to highlight the warm family moments and the lighthearted contrasts between the sisters' lives for viewers.

Critical response was mixed to favorable, and the audience score averages around 6.49 out of 10, reflecting appreciation for the performances while noting a formulaic plot. Themes center on sisterhood, responsibility, identity switching and the capacities for forgiveness and understanding that often feature in holiday entertainment, and wholesome seasonal tone.