For 15 years, fans of heartwarming holiday fare have heated up the cocoa and cozied up on their couches as they flocked to Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas for their holiday movie fix. The jingle bell juggernaut kicks off its 24/7 programming event on Friday, October 18, and gifts viewers yearning for yuletide tales with 40 new, original movies across Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Mystery. Throwing its own holiday party is Hallmark+, the recently launched, reimagined streaming service and membership rewards program, offering up seven original merry movies and – for the first-time ever – four seasonal series that are sure to make spirits bright.
Viewers’ insatiable appetite for holiday movies once again propelled Hallmark Channel to be the #1 entertainment cable channel among W18+ in Q4, marking an entire decade the network has earned those rankings.**
WE STREAM YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS
Boasting the most robust library of holiday films filled with romance, family, humor and heart, Hallmark+ is home to the largest streaming catalog of original Christmas movies. With nearly 600 hours of Hallmark original holiday content, The Very Merry Holiday Collection allows viewers to stream to their heart’s content whenever – and wherever – the holiday mood strikes. Not only will Hallmark+ members have access to the very best movies of Christmases past – including the entire lineup of original movie premieres from 2023 – but the service is also serving up an exciting slate of new movies and series, both scripted and unscripted.
In a festive first, Hallmark+ will debut two limited holiday scripted series. For sleuthers who like their murder mysteries with a hint of merry, Mistletoe Murders is the perfect gift. Based on the Audible audio series of the same name and starring Sarah Drew and Peter Mooney, the six-episode series follows a small-town shop owner with a secret. Holidazed features an all-star ensemble including Dennis Haysbert, John C. McGinley, Loretta Devine and Virginia Madsen.The heartwarming and hilarious eight-episode series goes inside the chaos, cheer and challenges that can come with family celebrations, fueled by the sometimes-complex dynamics that don’t always create a picture-perfect holiday.
Also a Hallmark first is Finding Mr. Christmas. Hosted by Jonathan Bennett and featuring Melissa Peterman as lead judge, the highly anticipated reality competition show pits 10 handsome Hallmark hunk hopefuls as they face-off in a variety of festive feats in their quest to prove why they have the most heart, talent, authenticity and charisma to be the next Hallmark superstar. The winner will make his debut this year in the Hallmark Channel original movie Happy Howlidays opposite Jessica Lowndes. And in Ready, Set, Glow!, Hallmark fan-favorite Wes Brown goes around the country to spotlight spectacular holiday lights displays and the special stories and people behind them.
Fans of Hallmark Channel’s hit Christmas on Cherry Lane will get to unwrap three all-new movie installments revisiting residents of 7 Cherry Lane, across multiple eras and the ways their lives are connected. Each of the original cast-members returns in their own movies, which also expand to surprising new stories.
Unwrapping Christmas is a four-movie franchise following the holiday romances of Tina (Natalie Hall), Mia (Kathryn Davis), Lily (Ashley Newbrough) and Oliva (Cindy Busby) – all friends who work together at a store named All Wrapped Up.
THRILLING ADVENT-URES
In The Christmas Quest, shot on location in Iceland, an archaeologist and her ex-husband race to keep a legendary treasure from falling into the wrong hands. A teacher and a retired hockey player team up for travel-based adventure show that combines physical challenges with riddles and yuletide cheer in Jingle Bell Run. In The Finnish Line, a woman competes in a dog-sled competition that takes her through Finland with a stop at the world-famous Santa Claus Village and the Arctic Circle. And a quiet librarian gets swept into a glamorous FBI sting operation in The Christmas Charade.
HA-HA HOLIDAY: YOUR FAVORITE TV COMEDY STARS
This holiday, some favorite TV comedy stars known for making you shake when you laugh like a bowl fully of jelly are bringing joy to Hallmark including Angela Kinsey (The Office) in Confessions of a Christmas Letter; Nichole Sakura (Superstore) in The Finnish Line; Melissa Peterman (Reba) serves as lead judge in Finding Mr. Christmas; John C. McGinley (Scrubs) and Lucille Soong (Fresh Off the Boat) in Holidazed; Diedrich Bader (American Housewife) and Christine Ebersole (Bob Hearts Abishola) in Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story; Emily Arlook (Grown-ish) in Leah’s Perfect Gift; Mallory Jansen (Galavant) in All I Need for Christmas; Caroline Rhea (Sabrina the Teenage Witch) and Beth Broderick (Sabrina the Teenage Witch) in Holiday Mismatch and Maggie Lawson (Psych) in Sugarplummed.
IT’S SANTA SEASON
Everyone’s favorite elf – Santa himself – plays a special part in this year’s movies. From helping a woman find her perfect match through enigmatic notes in Santa Tell Me, to the mysterious connection he may have to a family’s vintage winter hat in Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story to needing help with remembering his own identity in order to save Christmas in The Santa Class, good ol’ St. Nick brings the jolly in droves.
JOIN IN REINDEER GAMES
In Jingle Bell Run, a quiet schoolteacher competes in a travel-based reality competition show that combines physical challenges with riddles and yuletide cheer. A Christmas Bar Trivia Tournament leads to love in Trivia at St. Nick’s. A woman tries to keep her family’s annual “Christmas Olympics” tradition going in ’Twas the Date Before Christmas.
OFFICE HOLIDAY PARTY
Did you get the memo? Hallmark’s holiday slate is a tale of two offices. Confessions of a Christmas Letter stars The Office alum Angela Kinsey with a special appearance by her Dunder Mifflin co-worker Brian Baumgartner, Office Space stars Diedrich Bader and Richard Riehle star in Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story and the other Bob, John C. McGinley, stars in Holidazed, an eight-episode limited series for Hallmark+.
REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO FESTIVE
Co-stars from the cult classic film Office Space,Diedrich Bader and Richard Riehle reunite in Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story. Sabrina the Teenage Witch stars Caroline Rhea and Beth Broderick rekindle the magic as two mothers trying to find love for their adult children but clash with each other in Holiday Mismatch. Pretty Little Liars alums Tammin Sursok and Brant Daugherty join forces as they try to be the last team standing in a Christmas-themed quiz tournament in Trivia at St. Nick’s. And former When Calls the Heart on-screen married couple Erin Krakow and Daniel Lissing are together again in Santa Tell Me.
LONG-TIME FAMILY MEMBERS, FIRST NOEL CO-STARS
Fans will be treated to couplings of some of their Hallmark favorites who star together for the first time this holiday season. Ashley Williams and Andrew Walker dash around the country together in Jingle Bell Run. Lacey Chabert and Kristoffer Polaha go on an Icelandic adventure in The Christmas Quest. Kimberley Sustad and Benjamin Ayres are running a school for would-be St. Nicks in The Santa Class. Over on Hallmark Mystery, This Time Each Year pairs Alison Sweeney and Niall Matter in a poignant and uplifting tale. And in Our Holiday Story, Nikki DeLoachand Warren Christie take a trip down memory lane.
TRADING FOOTLIGHTS FOR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Some of Broadway’s best take center stage in this year’s tinsel-trimmed lineup, such as Ginna Claire Mason (Wicked), Jordan Litz (Wicked) and two-time Tony nominee Charlotte d’Amboise (Pippin, Chicago) in A Carol for Two; Jordan Fisher (Dear Evan Hansen, Sweeney Todd) is in The 5-Year Christmas Party; Tony Award nominee Derek Klena (Anastasia, Moulin Rouge, Jagged Little Pill)in Private Princess Christmas; Corey Cott (Newsies, Gigi, Bandstand, The Heart of Rock and Roll) in Season’s Greetings from Cherry Lane and two-time Tony Award winner Christine Ebersole (Oklahoma!, 42nd Street) in Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.
THE MORE THE MERRIER – SEQUELS AND FRANCHISES
The Brenner brothers (Paul Campbell, Andrew Walker, Tyler Hynes) are back in Three Wiser Men and a Boy, the follow-up to the #1 most-watched cable movie of 2022, Three Wise Men and a Baby. This time they find themselves having to step in to direct a Christmas play for Luke’s (Walker) son and his class, while the bonded brothers try to come to terms with their mom’s (Margaret Colin) new romance. In Debbie Macomber’s Joyful Mrs. Miracle, Rachel Boston stars as Mrs. Merkel in the continuation of the popular franchise. In this latest tale, she uses her special brand of holiday magic to help a family honor their late grandmother’s wish. And it’s triple the tinsel with not one, but three new movies inspired by last year’s Christmas on Cherry Lane: Season’s Greetings from Cherry Lane, Happy Holidays from Cherry Lane and Deck the Halls on Cherry Lane.
HALLMARK CHANNEL’S MERRY THANKSGIVING WEEKEND
Viewers will have much to be thankful for when Hallmark Channel once again serves up extra helpings of holiday fare during its annual Merry Thanksgiving Weekend. After a long day of gridiron action and gobbling food, viewers can unwind with an all-new original movie premiere on Thanksgiving night at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Starting Friday, November 29 and continuing through Sunday, December 1, fans can put away their holiday shopping bags and put up their feet as they settle in to enjoy a double feature with new movies premiering at 6 p.m. ET/PT and 8 p.m. ET/PT each night. For anyone To access full schedule, please click here.
JOY TO YOUR WORLD
This year, the holiday magic jumps off the screen and into real life with unique opportunities enabling fans to experience the joy of Hallmark in person, get the chance to connect with their favorite stars and engage in festive activities that are sure to create memories to last a lifetime.
HALLMARK JINGLE STOP TOUR
First on deck, onWednesday, October 16, Hallmarkis hitting the holiday highway with a busload of stars, embarking on a first of its kind Jingle Stop Tour to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Countdown to Christmas. What’s more, viewers can enter for a chance to attend both the kick-off and grand finale of the multi-stop tour. In Washington, D.C. and New York City, fans can join in on the fun to get an unprecedented sneak peek of this year’s holiday programming, celebrate the magic of the season, and see their favorite Hallmark talent including Andrew Walker, Jonathan Bennett, Nikki DeLoach, Tyler Hynes, and more! To enter for a chance to attend Washington, D.C. click here, and for New York City, click here.
HALLMARK CHANNEL CHRISTMAS CRUISE
Fans signed up in droves to sell out this first-of-its-kind Hallmark Channel holiday celebration at sea! On a floating winter wonderland, guests will indulge in a four-day dream vacation on the Hallmark Channel Christmas Cruise. Created in partnership with Sixthman, the leader in fully immersive festivals at sea for more than two decades, the occasion will allow people to immerse themselves in a Hallmark Christmas with top Hallmark stars, artists, and unique yuletide experiences. The ships set sail November 5-9 and November 17-21, 2024 from Miami, FL to Nassau, Bahamas on the beautiful Norwegian Gem. For more information, visit hallmarkchannelcruise.com.
HALLMARK CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE
Hallmark is giving fans another ultimate new holiday tradition right outside the heart of Hallmark headquarters. The inaugural Hallmark Christmas Experience will celebrate the joy of the season at Kansas City’s Crown Center every weekend beginning November 29 through December 22, 2024. This free, open-to-the public immersive experience is designed by Hallmark’s renowned creative team to bring all the charm of a Hallmark movie town square to life, inviting guests to be merry, make memories, and find magic together. Fans can elevate their experience by purchasing VIP ticket packages or individual tickets that unlock access to Hallmark stars and artists. For more information, please visit experiencehallmarkchristmas.com.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Join our Hallmark group for all the latest breaking news, spoilers, and recaps and to interact with numerous Hallmark fans across the globe. Soap Opera News is your number 1 source for all things soap operas.
Leave a Reply