One Big Change I’d Like To See With Hallmark’s Christmas Movie Lineup In 2025

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Since approximately 2016, I’ve become a dedicated fan of Christmas movies, first tuning in for a Hallmark movie airing. The audience grew significantly during the pandemic and when I was caring for my mother as she battled cancer. As the number of Christmas movies on cable increased each year, so did my viewing. However, something seemed to lack magic in 2024, and I hope to see that improved in 2025. Here are some changes I’d like to see in the upcoming year.

More High Tier Scripts Are Needed

In my opinion, Hallmark content can be categorized into two levels: the top-tier, featuring more recognizable actors, receives better character development, stronger storylines, and superior production quality; while the lower tier is reserved for lesser-known talents to fulfill the network’s annual Christmas movie quota. I think it’s acceptable that the network chooses to allocate fewer resources to the lower tier content, but in my view, there were significantly less standout productions in the top tier this past year. That being said, I did enjoy “The Christmas Quest” starring Lacey Chabert and Krisoffer Polaha. There were a few other notable movies on the schedule, but even the high-tier content seemed slightly stiff compared to previous years.

Initially, I found Hallmark’s flagship film of the season, “Holiday Touchdown: A Chief’s Love Story“, to have a rather juvenile screenplay and poor quality CGI for the fake snow. However, the appealing cast, headed by Momma Donna Kelce, couldn’t fully compensate for this. Additionally, the typical storylines that Hallmark often favors – such as time travel themes or Christmas comedies – seemed less captivating than usual to me in this instance.

This year, the most prominent “comedy” film that the network released was likely “Three Wiser Men and a Boy.” Now, I wouldn’t go as far as saying I disliked it, but when compared to its sequel “Three Wise Men and a Baby,” or other charming comedies like “Haul Out The Holly,” this year’s offerings from the network didn’t quite measure up.

For another example, time travel is frequently featured in Hallmark Christmas movies, and in 2023, we had “A Biltmore Christmas” starring Kristoffer Polaha and Bethany Joy Lenz, which many believe is one of the network’s best time travel productions. I also think that “Love Strikes Twice,” accurately rated “A Timeless Christmas,” and charmingly cast “Next Stop, Christmas” should be included in this list. However, in 2024, we got “That ‘90s Christmas,” a concept that had potential but didn’t quite deliver, and I believe the problem lies with its script.

It’s unclear whether the network was trying to reduce costs by not launching Hallmark+ or if it was a series of behind-the-scenes decisions (such as Lisa Hamilton Daly leaving), but this year’s projects didn’t capture my interest as much. Regardless, I hope for significant improvements next year. I prefer quality over quantity, so I’m fine with fewer movies if it means better ones.

But why should Hallmark care?

Competition Is Increasing At Netflix And Other Outlets

During this festive period, it’s novel that my preferred holiday film was available on Netflix instead of Hallmark for a change. Surprisingly, I found myself thoroughly entertained by the humor in “Our Little Secret“, which seemed more appealing than much of what Hallmark offers. The hilarious interactions between Lindsay Lohan’s character Avery and Kristin Chenoweth’s Erica were a standout for me.

While it’s true that not everyone was fond of Lindsay Lohan’s latest project, it’s worth noting that Netflix and other streaming services, including GAF, have significantly increased their Christmas content this year. Stars like Candace Cameron Bure and Danica McKellar can now be found on these platforms. Although Hallmark currently leads in the quality of its programming, the gap between the two has narrowed considerably. In fact, some of Hallmark’s stars are making a name for themselves elsewhere, as evidenced by Netflix’s “Hot Frosty” starring Lacey Chabert.

As a dedicated enthusiast of the festive season, there’s no denying my affection. However, as the excitement builds, I can’t help but sense a growing rivalry amongst content providers. The charm and magic that Hallmark has long embodied as the ultimate holiday movie destination seems to be under threat, with other platforms nudging their way in, as hinted by last year’s lineup.

It’s worth mentioning that the cast is eager for “Holiday Touchdown 2” following its success as the top seasonal release, and I must admit, the prospect of pairing Tyler Hynes once more with Hunter King is appealing to me. However, I hope this sequel offers a stronger script that isn’t overly dependent on Chiefs cameos or stunts like Patrick Mahomes. All I’m suggesting is a well-written storyline. With Christmas just around the corner, let’s aim to create some 2025 Christmas movies that will rank among the all-time classics.

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2025-01-18 04:08