Hallmark films have become a staple Christmas program during the winter season and many have conflicting opinions on the movies that premiere during the holiday season. Many love the happy and cozy movies; however, some think they are overdone and repetitive.

Hallmark has a “Countdown to Christmas” program that started streaming on Oct. 18 and is set to release 24 new movies, which will be airing until Dec. 21. You can watch these films live on streaming services such as Sling TV, Hulu TV and Youtube TV. Hallmark also has its own services: Hallmark Movies Now and Hallmark Movies & More. 

One issue that many have with Hallmark’s Christmas movies is their predictability. In many Hallmark movies, there is a “big city girl” that returns home and reconnects with a person from her past. The similar themes in all Hallmark films can feel boring to some viewers. For others, the predictability of the movies provides a sense of stability during the holiday season, with many finding comfort in the fact there will always be a positive outcome at the end of the film.

Hallmark movies are often viewed as outdated and some individuals take offence at tropes they are based on. The familiar plot of a woman abandoning a job she worked incredibly hard for is often seen as sexist when instead she pursues marriage and family. 

Other people feel that the focus on family and relationships helps to show  meaningful dynamics. Hallmark movies always have a heavy family-based plot and this aspect also makes these movies perfect for families to sit down and watch together.

Many view Hallmark portrayals of love as too simplistic, where the focus on solving romantic problems throughout the movie often overshadows the real-world hardships of maintaining relationships over time. Viewers often say that the “true love” shown in the movies is unrealistic. They believe that the movies portray relationships as perfect, and that is wrong. However, many watch Hallmark movies for their simplistic plots, as the love makes viewers happy. 

Hallmark movies’ popularity will increase as the holiday season progresses, which shows that even though their films are viewed as tacky with some questionable plots by a few, these movies will remain a holiday staple. While these films are known to be repetitive, it is no doubt that people will continue to have joy due to them for many years to come.