What is so appealing about Hallmark movies?

It’s the holiday season again, and Hallmark’s Christmas movies are airing constantly and new ones are consistently coming out. Hallmark has a special connection to the Kansas City area, both being founded and having its headquarters being based in the city. Hallmark’s movies are beloved because they are comforting and tend to be formulaic – movies that viewers can enjoy and don’t really have to think about. 

Hallmark’s movies have a reliable formula: a person returns to their small hometown to stay in the holidays away from the city where they have a high-profile job as a doctor, lawyer, or fashion designer and rekindle their love with a former romantic interest from their youth who still lives there. 

These movies are incredibly popular, with an estimated 80 million tuning in to watch at least a few minutes of a movie each holiday season. It was also the 2nd most-watched entertainment cable channel of 2023.

“I like to watch them when they’re on, but I don’t actively seek them out. I just like the consistency of them, the way that they always have a happy ending,” said Evie Smith (11). 

Hallmark’s most recent and high-profile movie is the Chiefs-inspired Christmas movie, called “A Chiefs Love Story.” The movie features cameos from Donna Kelce, the mother of Chiefs tight-end Travis Kelce. It also featured Andy Reid, the coach of the Chiefs, and even the mayor of Kansas City, Quinton Lucas. The anticipation for the film was high with Hallmark promoting it frequently and even putting on a red carpet for the premiere in Kansas City. The movie was met with glowing reviews and was hailed as both a cute Christmas rom-com as well as movie enjoyable for sports fans.