Best. Christmas. Ever! is a Netflix romantic comedy starring Heather Graham as Charlotte, who ends up arriving by chance at the home of an old college friend just days before December 25th. With her husband and kids in tow, she decides to prove that her friend Jackie, played by Brandy Norwood, does not have the perfect life that her holiday newsletter implies, leading to all kinds of chaos and slapstick and a holiday message about friendship and family. Best. Christmas. Ever! was filmed almost entirely in Utah and used various locations to create the right Christmassy vibe, and we’re here to break down the entire production.
If the weather takes a turn for the worse, and you have to stay indoors over the season, you could probably do worse than get everyone together to sit back and check out this amiable romp.
Where was Best. Christmas. Ever! Filmed?
Salt Lake City, Utah
The town of Hadley Falls where the movie is set is a fictional location, so various locations around Utah were used for filming purposes.
Atlas of Wonders reports on a few of the more memorable locations, including the Sanders apartment, supposedly in Arizona, but actually found in Cottonwood, Salt Lake City.
One of the subplots involves Rob mulling over a property that he wants to buy and renovate, and that real-life property, still awaiting renovations, can be found at 235 South 600 East located in the historic district of Salt Lake City.
Payson, Utah.
Payson is a city in Utah County and is part of the Provo-Orem Metropolitan Statistical Area. The main street of Payson was set decorated and doubled for Hadley Falls in the production of the movie.
For the scenes that featured Santa’s workshop, and the Christmas pageant, the Memorial Park in Payson was used.
Summerhouse Farms Mansion, Utah
Summerhouse Farms Mansion | Image via thesummerhousefarms.com
Sitting on fifty acres of land near the Provo River between Heber City and Charleston in Utah sits the mansion that was used for Jackie Jennings’ stunning and enviable home. With views of the Wasatch Back Mountains, the venue is often used for weddings and social events, and the occasional movie too.
Heber Valley Brewing Company, Utah
Residents will no doubt recognize the Heber Valley Brewing Company, located at 501 N Main St, Heber City, even though it was redressed for the film.
The craft beer emporium was used for the scenes at The Warrior Sushi restaurant that is featured in the movie.
Other local businesses were also given a little screen time including Eli’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream and Soda Shop, which sounds great and can be found on Main Street, and the Grand Valley Bank in Heber City built in 1904.
Location hunters are welcome to comment on any other landmarks that you may have spotted in the filming of the movie.
Best. Christmas. Ever! Production Team
The team involved with production included Brad Krevoy, who is the CEO and founder of the Motion Picture Corporation of America. Krevoy has three decades of filmmaking under his belt, and if the name sounds familiar, you might remember him from Dumb and Dumber, or perhaps other Christmas-themed movies such as the Christmas Prince trilogy.
Executive producers were Steve Berman, Bryan Bordon, David Wulf, Eric Jarboe, Jimmy Townsend and Amanda Phillips.
Who directed Best. Christmas. Ever!?
The director of Best. Christmas. Ever! is Mary Lambert, who has had an incredible career directing various projects too numerous to mention, including episodes of Arrow, The Blacklist, Tales From the Crypt, and many pop videos and TV movies.
You might recall her name from one of the best-ever adaptations of a Stephen King novel, Pet Semetery, which she directed in 1989. The film has become a beloved and still terrifying horror movie that still holds up today and is a favorite cult movie for fans of horror around the globe.
