Melissa Joan Hart is a talented American actress, writer, producer, and director who has made a name for herself in the entertainment industry. Born on April 18, 1976, in Smithtown, New York, Hart began her acting career at a young age, appearing in her first commercial at just four years old. She quickly became a regular in TV commercials, having made 25 by age five. Throughout her childhood, Hart also made appearances in various TV shows and movies, including a small role in the miniseries Kane & Abel (1985), a guest-starring role in an episode of The Equalizer (1986), and a starring role in the movie Christmas Snow (1986).

However, it was her title roles in the popular series Clarissa Explains It All (1991-1994) and Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996-2003) that cemented her status as a household name. The seven-season TV series Sabrina the Teenage Witch was a huge success and earned her critical acclaim and a dedicated fanbase. After the series ended, Hart continued to make appearances in various movies and TV shows, showcasing her versatility and range as an actress. Here are 10 of her biggest film and TV appearances since Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

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10 Holiday in Handcuffs (2007)

     ABC Family

Holiday in Handcuffs is a crime comedy film that first aired on ABC Family as a part of the network’s 25 days of Christmas programming block. Starring Melissa Joan Hart as a struggling artist and waitress named Gertrude Trudie, the film portrays her kidnapping one of her attractive customers, David Martin (Mario Lopez), at gunpoint, bringing him home to meet her parents as her fake boyfriend for Christmas. With a fantastic cast and a saucy sense of humor, Holiday in Handcuffs stands out as a unique and enjoyable holiday movie. While the plot may be unrealistic, this make-believe nature gives the film its happy, festive, and magical feeling.

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The film received an impressive 6.7 million views and was very well received by its audience. In fact, it became the highest-rated and most-watched telecast in the history of ABC Family. It’s a great watch for those looking for a different kind of Christmas movie that is sure to make you laugh and feel good.

9 Nine Dead (2009)

     New Line Cinema

Nine Dead is an American horror thriller that boasts an all-star cast, including Melissa Joan Hart in the lead role as Kelley Murphy, a prosecutor. The film, produced by Paula Hart and directed by Chris Shadley, tells the story of nine strangers kidnapped by a masked maniac and forced to uncover the connections between them. With the stakes high, the kidnapper threatens to kill one person every 10 minutes unless they can solve the mystery. Nine Dead is a psychological horror film that generates tension and suspense in its audience, but it may have been improved with a more compelling ending and a more polished execution of its plot. Filming for Nine Dead began on July 6, 2008, and wrapped on July 27, 2008, but it wasn’t released until November 2009.

8 My Fake Fiancé (2009)

My Fake Fiancé is a romantic comedy starring Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence. The film premiered on the ABC Family network on April 19, 2009, and quickly became a hit with audiences. The story follows Jennifer (Hart) and Vince (Lawrence) as they devise a plan to stage a fake engagement and wedding to receive gifts that will help Jennifer replace her lost household possessions and Vince repay his debts. The film is a charming and entertaining romantic comedy featuring clever humor, an engaging storyline, and delightful performances from its lead actors.

The chemistry between Melissa Joan Hart and Joseph Lawrence is a standout feature, and the film’s success was reflected in its opening numbers, with 3.6 million viewers tuning in for the premiere and another 2.8 million during its replay. My Fake Fiancé was the No. 1 TV movie of the 2008/09 season, and the positive reception led to ABC Family commissioning a sitcom series starring Hart and Lawrence.

7 Melissa & Joey (2010-2015)

Melissa & Joey is an American television sitcom that stars Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence. The show premiered on ABC Family and ran for four seasons, from 2010 to 2015. The series centers around the lives of local politician Mel Burke (Hart) and Joe Longo (Lawrence), as Mel hires Joe to be the male nanny for her nephew and niece after a family scandal. The show may seem like a typical sitcom at first glance, but it quickly reveals itself as a heartwarming and funny series with a great cast of characters. The chemistry between Hart and Lawrence is undeniable; their performances bring great energy and humor to the show.

ABC Family first picked up Melissa & Joey for a pilot season of 12 episodes, and it quickly became a hit with audiences. Due to its success, the show was renewed for 18 more episodes, followed by a second season of 15 episodes. During the second season, the series ranked as the number 1 telecast, and it was renewed for a third and fourth season, but ratings eventually declined.

6 God’s Not Dead 2 (2016)

     Pure Flix 

God’s Not Dead 2 is a 2016 American Christian drama film directed by Harold Cronk, serving as a sequel to the 2014 film God’s Not Dead. Starring Melissa Joan Hart, the movie follows Grace Wesley, a high school teacher who finds herself on trial for her job after answering a student’s question about Jesus. The film explores the theme of the separation of church and state, depicting the struggle of a Christian teacher to stand up for her beliefs in the face of a legal battle. However, the film received largely negative reviews from critics, who criticized it for portraying non-believers as stereotypical villains and playing into a perceived victim complex among Christians. Despite this, the film was a box office success, grossing $24 million on a $5 million budget.

5 No Good Nick (2019)

     Netflix

No Good Nick is a comedy-drama streaming television series produced by Keetgi Kogan and David H. Steinberg. The show starred Siena Agudong, Melissa Joan Hart, Kalama Epstein, Lauren Lindsey Donzis, and Sean Astin and was released on Netflix in two parts, premiering on April 15, 2019. However, despite its promising premise and talented cast, the show was canceled after only one season, with the final episode airing on August 5, 2019.

The series follows the Thompson family, whose lives are turned upside down when a young girl named Nick (Agudong) arrives at their doorstep, claiming to be a long-lost relative. Hart plays Liz, the matriarch of the family. Although the show received mixed reviews, it was criticized for its low ratings and lack of suspense, ultimately leading to its cancelation.

4 Christmas Reservation (2019)

     Hartbreak Films

Christmas Reservation is a romantic film directed by Deanne Foley and starring Melissa Joan Hart. The movie follows Holly (Hart), an event coordinator at the Treeline Ski Resort, as she navigates her feelings when her college sweetheart, now a widower, unexpectedly arrives at the resort. The film is a classic Christmas-themed romantic movie that is light-hearted and family-friendly. The acting, particularly from Hart, is strong, and the cinematography is well done.

Although it may not be a critically acclaimed film, it receives relatively positive ratings, with an average of 6/10 on IMDb, making it an enjoyable and entertaining watch.

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3 Mistletoe in Montana (2021)

Mistletoe in Montana is a drama romance film directed by Kellie Martin and starring Melissa Joan Hart. The movie follows Merry (Hart), a rancher who finds herself unexpectedly falling for Mark (Duane Henry), a single father of two who has rented her farm for the Christmas holiday. Known for her role in holiday-themed films, Hart delivers a strong performance in the film, bringing her trademark charm to the lead character. However, the film received mixed reviews and has a low rating. Critics pointed out that the chemistry between the two lead characters was lacking and should have been the story’s highlight. Despite this, the film is a heartwarming and festive movie that will appeal to fans of the holiday genre.

2 Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (2021-Present)

     AMC

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune is a spin-off of the American television game show Wheel of fortune. It was produced by Richard and premiered on January 7, 2021. Each game show episode lasts for one hour and consists of two complete games, whereas every game consists of three rounds and an additional bonus round. Celebrity wheel of fortune features modified rules from the wheel of fortune, including bonus cash for every puzzle completed successfully. Games are played only for money, and the winnings are donated to the player celebrity’s charity of choice. Due to its positive reception and popularity, the game show has been renewed for three seasons. Melissa Joan Hart appeared on the game TV show on October 17, 2021. She became the first celebrity to win the top prize of 1 million dollars for her charity, Youth Villages.

1 Dancing with the Stars (2005- Present)

     BBC Studios Los Angeles

Dancing with the Stars is an American dance competition television series. Its debut was on June 1, 2005. The series is the US version of the UK series Strictly Come Dancing. In the show, celebrities are paired with skilled dancers, and each couple performs rehearsed and prearranged dances and competes against other couples. Some judges award the performances with points, and the audience gets to vote for its favorite dance couple. The duo that receives the lowest number of votes from the audience and the lowest combined number of points from the judges is eliminated every week until only one pair remains.

Melissa Joan Hart competed in season nine of the television series and was paired with Mark Ballas, a two-time reigning champion. She was eliminated from the competition in week six, but considering the show lasted for ten weeks, Melissa performed relatively well.