Topline
The Hallmark Channel has begun its annual “Countdown To Christmas,” and will have released six of the films on its slate of 32 new holiday movies by the end of October as the network moves toward its annual seasonal dominance of TV ratings, when its programs regularly beat out even the most popular cable sports and news broadcasts.
Kristoffer Polaha and Lacey Chabert in “The Christmas Quest.”
Key Facts
The debut weekend of Hallmark’s first new Christmas films of the season made the channel the No. 1 entertainment cable network among women over age 18 for the week of Oct. 14, Nielsen data shows, beating out the likes of HGTV, Investigation Discovery and TLC.
That week, Hallmark was the seventh most popular total-day channel on all of cable with an average of 387,000 viewers at any one time, but the network rose to be the fifth most popular channel in the week of Oct. 21 (with 414,000 average viewers)—the first full ratings week since holiday releases began.
So far, Hallmark holiday movies haven’t broken into the top 40 cable broadcasts of either week, but the three films released the weekend of Oct. 18—”‘Twas the Date Before Christmas,” “Holiday Crashers” and “Scouting for Christmas”—were the top three entertainment cable programs of the week in total viewers (they still fell behind sports and news programs).
As of Oct. 23, Hallmark’s holiday season had reached 7.8 million unique viewers, the network said.
Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you’ll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here: joinsubtext.com/forbes.
Big Number
3.3 million. That’s how many people watched “A Merry Scottish Christmas” last season, the network’s most popular Christmas movie of the year.
A Guide To All Of Hallmark’s 2024 Original Holiday Movies
“‘Twas the Date Before Christmas” — The first of the network’s new movies for the season, which debuted Oct. 18, stars a single woman desperate to keep her family’s traditions alive—even if it means bringing along a fake date to keep it from canceling the annual “Chamberlain Family Christmas Olympics.”
“Holiday Crashers” (Oct. 19) — When two best friends make up fake identities to crash Christmas parties, they’re unexpectedly pushed down paths that could lead one to love—and the other to her life’s purpose (premiered Oct. 19).
Tamera Mowry-Housley and Carolo Marks in “Scouting for Christmas.”
“Scouting for Christmas” (Oct. 20) — Former Disney Channel kids star Tamera Mowry-Housley leads as a busy realtor and single mother who must decide between reuniting her family or embarking on a new love affair for the holidays (premiered Oct. 20).
“Operation Nutcracker” (Oct. 25) — An event planner must partner up with the heir to a local family dynasty to track down an antique nutcracker that goes missing before a holiday charity auction.
“The Christmas Charade” (Oct. 26) — A librarian’s quiet life is turned upside down when she’s forced to pose as the girlfriend of an undercover FBI agent working to catch an art thief before they can strike at a Christmas Eve charity ball.
“The 5-Year Christmas Party” (Oct. 27) — The timing has never been right for old high school rivals-turned-coworkers Alice and Max, who reunite every year when they both sign up for local catering jobs, until an unexpected twist forces them to confront their feelings.
“A Carol for Two” (Nov. 1) — An aspiring Broadway singer is forced to duet with a less-than-welcoming partner while she also navigates a new relationship before a Christmas love triangle threatens to get in the way of her big break.
“Our Holiday Story” (Nov. 2) — Two love stories from different times are told in tandem as one young couple struggles to connect before the holiday season.
“Holiday Mismatch” (Nov. 3) — Two women who’ve never seen eye to eye partner up to stop their adult children’s budding romance, only to discover they have more in common than either expected.
Brant Daugherty and Tammin Sursok in “Trivia at St. Nicks.”
“Trivia at St. Nicks” (Nov. 8) — “Pretty Little Liars” alums Tammin Sursok and Brant Daugherty reunite as two opposites forced to compete on the same team for the biggest event of the year—the annual Christmas Bar Trivia Tournament—only to find sometimes winning isn’t the most important thing.
“Santa Tell Me” (Nov. 9) — Interior designer Olivia is determined to find her true love before Christmas among four different men who seem to have been sent to her straight from Santa himself.
“‘Tis the Season to Be Irish” (Nov. 10) — House flipper Rose travels to Ireland to renovate the ultimate cozy cottage (against the wishes of local realtor Sean) and finds herself falling in love with all the country has to offer during the holidays.
“Christmas with the Singhs” (Nov. 15) — Juggling the very different holiday traditions of two families turns into the ultimate relationship test for newly engaged couple Asha and Jake as they search for some much-needed Christmas magic to save the season.
“Jungle Bell Run” (Nov. 16) — When Avery and Wes are partnered together to compete in The Great Holiday Dash, a Christmas-themed reality competition, a real connection starts to form between the two opposites who have a lot standing in the way of a happily ever after.
“Confessions of a Christmas Letter” (Nov. 17) — Actress Angela Kinsey (“The Office”) makes her Hallmark debut in a story about one woman’s journey to embrace her imperfect family in time for their most special holiday season yet.
Sara Canning and Ser’Darius Blain in “Christmas on Call.”
“Christmas on Call” (Nov. 22) — The NFL’s favorite mom, Donna Kelce, will make a cameo appearance in this film about a budding holiday romance between an emergency room doctor and EMT working to balance the joys of the season and the stresses of their professions.
“Three Wiser Men and a Boy” (Nov. 23) — The sequel to Hallmark’s popular “Three Wise Men and a Baby” (2022’s most-watched original TV movie) stars the Brenner brothers as they band together to save a school holiday musical while grappling with the realities of their mom’s journey to find a new love.
“To Have and To Holiday” (Nov. 24) — Newly engaged couple Celeste and Jason’s love is put to the test when her father—and their would-be officiant—puts them through a series of Christmas-themed challenges designed to determine if their relationship can go the distance.
“Debbie Macomber’s Joyfun Mrs. Miracle” (Nov. 28) — Three adult siblings return to their childhood home to spend Christmas together for the first time since their grandmother died—and to agree on new leadership for the family company.
“A ’90s Christmas” (Nov. 29) — An evening in a time-traveling taxi makes a workaholic lawyer reassess her priorities as she gets the chance to relive the Christmas of 1999 with her mom, sister, best friend and high school crush.
“Deck the Walls” (Nov. 29) — Rose’s reluctant return to her hometown to help save her brother’s holiday charity efforts puts her face-to-face with the unrealized love of her youth.
“Believe in Christmas” (Nov. 30) — Christmasland promises to give guests the perfect taste of holiday magic, but when the reluctant Beatrice finds herself falling for a charming stranger, she starts to wonder what’s real, and what’s part of the experience.
Hunter King and Tyler Hynes in “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.”
“Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story” (Nov. 30) — Viewers can expect cameos from Donna Kelce, Jenna Bush Hager, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and players Trey Smith, Mecole Hardman Jr., Clyde Edwards-Helaire and George Karlaftis in what is perhaps the most anticipated Hallmark release of the season.
“The Finnish Line” (Dec. 1) — Anya’s only goal for her trip to Finland is to finish the Joulurauha dog race in honor of her late father, but an injury throws her off track—and into the life of journalist and former dog sledder Cole.
“The Christmas Quest” (Dec. 1) — The “Queen of Hallmark” Lacey Chabert is back in a holiday film about an archaeologist and her ex-husband who are sent to Iceland to find a legendary treasure.
“Private Princess Christmas” (Dec. 6) — Spoiled Princess Violet of Wingravia is shipped off to a vigorous leadership boot camp in Colorado to fix her attitude problem and prove she’s worthy of becoming queen.
“Sugarplummed” (Dec. 7) — When Emily’s wish for a picture-perfect Christmas brings to life a made-for-TV holiday movie main character, she’s forced to reconsider what’s so special about the holidays.
“Leah’s Perfect Gift” (Dec. 8) — A Jewish woman prepares to celebrate her first Christmas with her boyfriend’s family, but is forced to reconsider what she really wants as traditions clash and the perfect holiday slips further away.
“Hanukkah on the Rocks” (Dec. 13) — A city-wide search for the perfect box of Hanukkah candles leads Tory on an adventure that proves even life’s detours can lead to a happy ending.
“The Santa Class” (Dec. 14) — Following the death of her father, Kate has stepped up to take over his struggling Santa School when she and a co-worker discover who they believe to be the real Santa suffering from amnesia after a sled crash.
“Following Yonder Star” (Dec. 15) — A down-and-out actress steps up to help a single widower run the local church’s Christmas pageant as she avoids the fallout from a career-altering scandal.
“Happy Howlidays” (Dec. 21) — A stray dog brings together a lonely webpage editor and an animal shelter owner who forge a meaningful connection just in time for Christmas.
Surprising Fact
Actress Jessia Lowndes will star in “Happy Howlidays” opposite the winner of “Finding Mr. Christmas,” a reality TV competition to become the next Hallmark leading man. The show premieres Oct. 31.
Further Reading
The Most Popular Hallmark Channel Christmas Movies Of 2023 (Forbes)
Tis The Season: A Hallmark Christmas Movie Outrated Everything On Cable News Last Week (Forbes)
Hallmark Channel Beats Fox News In Prime Time As Christmas Movies Drive Up Ratings (Forbes)
