The Case of the Hallmark Christmas Movie

Welcome back to the BCD, Cassettes!

There are some films that go hand in hand with the holiday season. These are movies that we watch every year with our families because they remind us of our childhood and the spirit of Christmas. But in the past couple decades, a different kind of holiday movie has taken the season by storm. They’re known for their cheesy lines, simplistic plotlines, and by-the-numbers predictability. Many fans claim to watch these made-for-TV movies as a guilty pleasure, while others have fully embraced their comforting tropes. We’re talking, of course, about Hallmark Christmas movies.

 

You know the deal: He’s a small town business owner of some kind (Christmas trees/coffee shop/bakery) and she’s a successful woman from the city with a vague job title. Why don’t we know what she does? Well, that’s because it doesn’t matter; she’s quitting that job by the end of the movie. They were lovers once, or maybe she left him at the altar, and this Christmas, they may just find their way back to each other again. Each Christmas, these cookie cutter movie plots dominate social media because they are an easy target. But this got us wondering, when did it all start? Over the last twenty years or so, Hallmark essentially invented their own genre, which is honestly pretty impressive. So today, we’re getting a better look at the history of Hallmark Christmas movies and discussing the formula that has made them so successful. 

 

So grab your favorite movie snack and cuddle up next to a roaring TV, it’s time to talk about Hallmark Christmas movies!