APPLETON, Wis. — As the holiday season ramps up, the Hallmark Channel is once again transforming living rooms into winter wonderlands with its annual Countdown to Christmas programming slate. This year's lineup, which kicked off in October and runs through December 25, features a mix of romantic comedies, mystery series, competition shows, and festive adventures, drawing millions of viewers eager for feel-good holiday fare.
According to a recent overview from CNET, the network's offerings have grown more robust each year, blending traditional holiday themes with unexpected twists like Christmas-themed murders and reality competitions. 'The Countdown to Christmas is already underway, but there are still dozens of great shows and movies to watch between now and Dec. 25,' the report noted, highlighting the event's two-month duration that starts before Halloween.
Viewers without cable aren't left out in the cold. Options include streaming services like Philo, Frndly, YouTube TV, or Fubo, as well as the standalone Hallmark Plus plan, which provides access to this year's releases and a library of classics. For those looking to save, CNET pointed out that all new 2025 releases are available free via a Hallmark Plus BingePass on Hoopla with a library card.
Among the highlights is the return of Mistletoe Murders for its second season, premiering on November 7. The series stars Sarah Drew as Emily, a gift shop owner in the quaint town of Fletcher's Grove, who doubles as an amateur detective amid a string of local crimes. 'Emily's an excellent sleuth, a good thing as there's a disproportionate number of murders in this town that need solving,' according to the CNET article. New episodes will air weekly on November 7, 14, and 21.
Romantic tales take center stage in films like Christmas Above the Clouds, set to debut on November 8. Erin Krakow plays Ella Neezer, a workaholic inspired by Ebenezer Scrooge, who tries to escape the holidays on a flight to Australia but encounters three spirits and her ex-boyfriend, portrayed by Tyler Hynes. The movie draws from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, adding a modern Hallmark spin.
On November 9, A Keller Christmas Vacation brings together Jonathan Bennett, Brandon Routh, and Eden Sher as estranged siblings forced into a family reunion on a Danube River cruise. Described as a fun family comedy, it reportedly serves as an inadvertent promotion for European river cruises, with the CNET writer humorously noting, 'Send help, I'm turning into my parents.'
Reality programming adds a fresh layer to the lineup. Finding Mr. Christmas, hosted by Jonathan Bennett, returns for season two on November 10. The competition pits 10 aspiring actors against each other in Hallmark-themed challenges, with the winner earning the title of 'Mr. Christmas' and a leading role. Episodes air weekly on Mondays through December 15, culminating in a reunion on December 20.
Similarly, Baked With Love: Holiday, hosted by Tamera Mowry-Housley, features home bakers competing with family recipes under judges Anna Haugh and Vaughn Vreeland. Premiering on October 27, it continues weekly on Mondays until December 15, focusing on holiday-themed baking challenges.
The Brenner brothers saga continues with Three Wisest Men on November 15, starring popular Hallmark leads as grown siblings facing life changes while their mother sells the family home. This marks the third installment in the series, following Three Wise Men and a Baby and Three Wiser Men and a Boy. Margaret Colin reprises her role as the matriarch.
Tamera Mowry-Housley also stars in Tidings for the Season on November 16, playing single mom Lucy whose son idolizes local newscaster Adam, played by B.J. Britt. The story explores potential romance between the two adults, set against a backdrop of family and holiday cheer.
Sports fans get a treat with Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story on November 22, following last year's Chiefs-themed film. This installment features cameos from Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott and players like Damar Hamlin, Ray Davis, and Dawson Knox, centering on two fans finding love amid the Bills Mafia enthusiasm.
'Hallmark and the NFL is an unlikely pairing ... or is it?' the CNET report questioned, praising the previous film's cameos including Donna Kelce and a kitten named Catrick Mahomes.
Other November premieres include Melt My Heart This Christmas on November 23, where glassblower Holly James (Laura Vandervoort) navigates betrayal and romance with fair director Jack (Stephen Huszar); We Met in December on November 27, starring Autumn Reeser and Niall Matter as layover lovers searching for each other; and The Snow Must Go On on November 28, with Heather Hemmens and Corey Cott in a Broadway-inspired tale.
The Black Friday double feature on November 28 also brings The More the Merrier, featuring Rachel Boston and Brendan Penny as doctors delivering babies during a Christmas Eve blizzard. On November 29, An Alpine Holiday follows sisters honoring their grandmother in the French Alps, with Ashley Williams and Laci J. Mailey, while A Grand Ole Opry Christmas offers country music cameos from stars like Brad Paisley and Mickey Guyton, starring Nikki DeLoach and Kristoffer Polaha.
The Christmas Cup on November 30 teams a marine (Rhiannon Fish) and fire chief (Ben Rosenbaum) in a town rivalry, and Christmas at the Catnip Cafe on November 29 features Erin Cahill and Paul Campbell in a feline-focused romance at a cat café.
Moving into December, Twelve Dates Till Christmas premieres as a six-episode series on December 5, with Mae Whitman as a designer thrust into holiday dating, co-starring Jane Seymour and Mary McDonnell. Episodes air weekly on December 5, 12, and 19.
A Suite Holiday Romance on December 13 involves mistaken identities in a New York hotel, with Jessy Schram and Dominic Sherwood. Oy to the World! on December 14 explores an interfaith romance between rival choir directors, blending humor and music in what CNET called potentially 'the perfect movie.'
On December 20, A Make or Break Christmas tests a couple (Hunter King and Evan Roderick) hosting family amid relationship strains. The Christmas Baby on December 21 riffs on the 1980s film Three Men and a Baby, with Ali Liebert and Katherine Barrell caring for an unexpected infant.
Finally, Ready, Set Glow! hosted by Wes Brown debuts on the Hallmark Channel on December 22, showcasing elaborate holiday light displays and the stories behind them, after initial episodes on Hallmark Plus.
Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas has become a cultural staple, boosting viewership and even influencing holiday traditions. With over 40 original movies and shows in recent years, the event taps into a demand for escapist entertainment, as evidenced by its expansion into series and competitions.
Looking ahead, fans can anticipate more crossovers with sports and music, building on this year's NFL and country star integrations. As the season wraps on December 25, the network's strategy of early starts and diverse streaming options ensures broad accessibility, potentially setting records for holiday engagement.