By Emily Hernandez Dominguez, Managing Editor
& Brenna Schauer, Copyeditor and Contributing Writer
The beginning of the Christmas season can be marked by many things: cooler weather, stores starting to sell Christmas items, and, for many, the arrival of Hallmark Christmas movies.
The Hallmark Channel is a 24-hour cable network known for its family-friendly programming, including its original movies. These films are often cheesy, their plots predictable, and their storylines remarkably similar. Yet, there is a captivating element that keeps viewers coming back for more.
Despite some viewers’ distaste for the formulaic movies, Hallmark’s productions—typically low-budget—perform surprisingly well. The highest-rated Hallmark movie premiere was Christmas Under Wraps, which aired in 2014 and drew 5.8 million viewers.
The phenomenon didn’t begin until relatively recently. The first-ever Hallmark movie, “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” aired on Dec. 24, 1951, marking the start of what would become an iconic holiday tradition.
Written by composer Gian Carlo Menotti, the opera tells the story of a young boy’s encounter with the Magi, the three kings who visited the infant Jesus. Menotti, who grew up in Italy, was inspired by the tradition of the Magi bringing gifts to children, a custom that replaced the figure of Santa Claus in his childhood.
It wasn’t until the 1990s that Hallmark began to solidify the formulas and tropes that would define its Christmas movies. Films like “A Season for Miracles” and “A Holiday to Remember” introduced the story structures that would become the blueprint for most modern Hallmark holiday films.
The Hallmark movies of the 2000s were very similar to those of the 1990s, but over time, the main story conflicts began to focus more on the adults in romantic relationships. In the last 24 years, Hallmark movies have increasingly depicted an idealized version of America. They are designed to feel like a metaphorical warm blanket, allowing viewers to relax and escape the stresses of the holiday season.
They achieve this by appealing to as broad an audience as possible. With runtimes averaging between 90 and 120 minutes, the characters don’t overstay their welcome. The typical story features two love interests: one who is the right match, and one who isn’t. Mr. Wrong isn’t usually a “bad guy”—he’s just not the right fit. The central conflict often revolves around choosing between the two. Unlike the Hallmark Hall of Fame movies of the ’80s, every Hallmark Channel original Christmas movie ends with a happy conclusion.
The reason the films feel so similar is that Hallmark has its own production company, giving each movie a standard look and feel.
For many viewers, this predictability is comforting. Knowing how the story will unfold can be a relaxing experience, making these movies perfect for background viewing during the holidays.
“I love Hallmark movies because they are perfect to watch during the holidays and have romantic storylines,” states Nadia Lusco, a sophomore majoring in Criminal Justice.
As the network prepares for its peak holiday season, its programming is expected to dominate TV ratings once again, often surpassing even the most popular cable sports and news broadcasts. The Hallmark Channel ranked third among all cable networks, trailing only Fox News and ESPN.
The Hallmark Channel has kicked off its annual Countdown to Christmas and already has nine films lined up as part of its slate of 32 new holiday movies. The Hallmark Channel is available on:
- DIRECTV: Channel 312 HD
- Hulu + Live TV: Includes the Hallmark Channel and on-demand movies and shows
- OTT streaming providers: Select Hallmark Channel offerings are available on major platforms
While many find joy in Hallmark movies during the holiday season, valuing their comforting predictability, others view the cookie-cutter films as repetitive and uninspired. For these individuals, the monotonous narratives of Hallmark movies fail to engage them, leaving little room for surprise or interest.
Faith Skierkowski, a junior majoring in English, captures this sentiment perfectly.
“I only like Hallmark movies when I watch one at the beginning of the holiday season. After that, I feel like all the storylines are fairly similar and follow the same plot. They’re predictable.”
For viewers like Skierkowski, the charm of Hallmark’s holiday formula wears out quickly, making the films less enjoyable over time.
While Hallmark’s success lies in its comforting nature, its reliance on a tried-and-true formula can sometimes create a sense of monotony. The network’s focus on producing low-budget, formulaic films limits the potential for diversity in storytelling. Each movie may follow a similar arc, and this structure, while soothing for some, leaves little room for the more dynamic and engaging storytelling that today’s audiences increasingly crave.
Modern audiences have shown that they require a more dynamic form of storytelling, as seen in the success of franchises like Marvel, at its peak. Since 2019, however, Marvel, under Disney, has attempted to replicate its record-breaking profits, often to diminishing returns. Many fans have criticized the studio for prioritizing profit over compelling stories, leading to declining box office performance and waning interest.
This serves as a cautionary tale for content creators who lean too heavily on formulaic storytelling, which can ultimately result in audience disengagement.
In a world where entertainment can be found at the fingertips of many, Hallmark’s unwavering commitment to the same formulaic stories may eventually fail to capture the attention of those who are seeking something fresh.
With audiences increasingly craving unpredictability and content that pushes boundaries, Hallmark may need to reconsider its approach if it hopes to continue captivating viewers beyond the predictable joy of the holiday season.
