The magic formula behind Hallmark holiday films has been unveiled, just in time for millions of Americans preparing to snuggle up on the couch and enjoy a heartwarming Christmas movie with their loved ones.
Hallmark and Lifetime networks, renowned for their annual Christmas romance films, weave an enduring narrative throughout their productions, according to an analysis of more than 400 holiday films by The New York Times.
Year after year, the tales unfold against the backdrop of picturesque small towns during the cherry season, featuring career-driven women residing in bustling metropolises.
The main characters embark on a journey to small towns, where they find themselves entangled in romance with handsome local men and ultimately choose to leave the cities in pursuit of a lifetime spent together.
However, that pattern has been evolving and changing as the networks attempt to modernize their productions.
The magic formula behind Hallmark holiday films has just been unveiled, just in time for millions of Americans preparing to snuggle up on the couch and enjoy a heartwarming Christmas movie with their loved ones. Miracle in Bethlehem, PA (2023)
Hallmark and Lifetime networks, renowned for their annual Christmas romance films, weave an enduring narrative throughout their productions. Miracle in Bethlehem, PA (2023)
The main characters embark on a journey to small towns, where they find themselves entangled in romance with handsome local men and ultimately choose to leave the cities in pursuit of a lifetime spent together
To begin with, holiday films undoubtedly revolve around festive narratives – with 99 percent of the 424 films dedicated to Christmas and 73 percent featuring ‘Christmas’ right in their titles.
But this year might mark a departure from the norm, as only half of Hallmark’s productions include the word ‘Christmas’ in their titles.
‘I think people should know that they are holiday movies, but you run out of adjectives and adverbs to use with Christmas at some point,’ said Lisa Hamilton Daly, the network’s programming executive.
The company is also taking steps to innovate its film posters after social media users mocked them for consistently featuring a man and a woman in green and red sweaters.
‘We try not to put bows on things where bows should not be, because that’s not how someone would decorate their house,’ said Samantha DiPippo, a senior vice president in charge of the networks’ holiday movie development.
‘I want to watch one of these movies and go, “Oh man, I should do that to my tree”,’ she added, saying their goal was to make the settings ‘organic and aspiration.’
To begin with, holiday films undoubtedly revolve around festive narratives – with 99 percent of the 424 films dedicated to Christmas and 73 percent featuring ‘Christmas’ right in their titles. Miracle in Bethlehem, PA (2023)
Year after year, the tales unfold against the backdrop of picturesque small towns during the cherry season, featuring career-driven women residing in bustling metropolises
The company is also taking steps to innovate its film posters after social media users mocked them for consistently featuring a man and a woman in green and red sweaters
An astounding 87 films feature female protagonists with corporate jobs, with 19 working in the marketing industry, 14 as lawyers, and ten in real estate.
Meanwhile, characters employed as reporters, retail store owners, decorators, or interior designers take the helm in guiding the festive romance.
The films typically start with the protagonists grappling with challenges and life-altering decisions, with many centering around aspirations for a promotion or a new position.
Others showcase characters who have undergone breakups or romantic disappointments. Ten percent of the protagonists are single moms.
Almost half of the characters embark on solo journeys to picturesque Christmas-themed small towns or cozy suburbs.
Interestingly, Canada’s landscapes are featured in a substantial 70 percent of the films, even though the majority of the stories are set in the U.S..
In recent years, audiences have witnessed an increasing number of holiday movies depicting Christmas in Europe.
Daly said of Lacey Chabert, who stars in as many as 30 Hallmarks films: ‘It’s not contractual, but she enjoys filming around the world, so we’re happy to oblige.’
The films typically start with the protagonists grappling with challenges and life-altering decisions, with many centering around aspirations for a promotion or a new position. Checkin’ It Twice (2023)
An astounding 87 films feature female protagonists with corporate jobs, with 19 working in the marketing industry, 14 as lawyers, and ten in real estate. Checkin’ it Twice (2023)
Twenty percent of the men are single fathers, as the network Hallmark remarked: ‘We found that watching men be parents is very attractive to women. Three Wise Men And a Baby (2023)
Amidst the festive charm of quaint small towns, the female characters stumbled upon unexpected romance.
Almost a hundred of them encountered figures from their pasts – whether ex-boyfriends, long-forgotten crushes, or childhood friends – adding a nostalgic twist to their journeys.
Twenty percent of the men are single fathers, as the network Hallmark remarked: ‘We found that watching men be parents is very attractive to women.’
While most films limit their romantic plots to an almost-kiss, the Lifetime channel is breaking new ground by featuring a sex scene for the first time.
With the release of this season’s A Cowboy Christmas Romance, the network has chosen to showcase what they describe as ‘grown-up romance.’
Tia Maggini told Variety: ‘We think that there’s an audience out there that’s hungry for grown-up romance, and we’re looking forward to adding some smolder to the usual holiday sugar and spice.’
She added, ‘We love trying new things, and we’re excited about this new ‘first’ for us in a holiday movie.’
Others showcase characters who have undergone breakups or romantic disappointments. Ten percent of the protagonists are single moms. Catch Me If You Claus (2023)
The characters consistently find themselves entangled in Christmas-themed scavenger hunts, class reunions, or festive parades and carnivals. Catch Me If You Claus (2023)
‘We try not to put bows on things where bows should not be, because that’s not how someone would decorate their house,’ said Samantha DiPippo, a senior vice president in charge of the networks’ holiday movie development. Friends and Family Christmas (2023)
Holiday films also heavily lean on tropes, such as competitions, performances, or Christmas Eve galas.
Patrick Serrano, who has diligently watched every holiday movie from Hallmark and Lifetime since 2016, shares insights on the films through his blog and podcast.
According to him, the reliance on tropes is ‘very similar to horror movies or a Marvel movie. These certain things happen in every movie.’
The characters consistently find themselves entangled in Christmas-themed scavenger hunts, class reunions, or festive parades and carnivals.
According to the analysis, 25 percent of the stories are centered around a business or town facing challenges, while ten percent involve secrets that must be revealed by the end.
‘We’re continually trying to push ourselves out of what we’ve done in the past,’ DiPippo said.
Happy ending prevails in every Christmas film, with the majority ending as the female protagonist decides to leave her job, choosing to stay with the love of her life.
In recent years, audiences have observed a shift in narrative dynamics, with men sometimes following women to the city instead of the traditional small-town setting.
Some women end up operating their businesses remotely.
‘We always say that whatever our woman’s path is, that her relationship is icing on the cake,’ Ms. DiPippo said. ‘If she’s career driven, or there’s some goal that she has, that’s what she’s going for.’
‘I think we’d be crazy to just walk away 100 percent from the formula. What we see as the essential formula is connection, love, people coming together.’