Whenever I go to see my mother, my aunt is glued to the Hallmark channel. She actually told me the other day that they have over 100 movies stored on the DVR. I was floored by that shared information.

I wanted to ask the question of what drives people to essentially watch the same movie over and over but with a different title and cast?

It seems like Hallmark movies are where actors go after they are no longer cast in film or television. Yes, I realize that Hallmark is television but...

And out of curiosity, has there ever been an actor start on Hallmark movies and then end up in much bigger roles in film or television?

She didn't start there, but Carla Gugino was in one early in her career.

First time that I laid eyes on her was Encino Man. I actually worked with her on Race To Witch Mountain. You will not meet a more beautiful and down to earth woman than her.

This could probably go in the Hallmark thread we have in the TV forum.

I'm guessing you mean Son in Law, because she wasn't in Encino Man.

I didn't realize that there was one. Point me in the right direction kind sir.

DOH!!! You are absolutely correct. How could I screw that up with only 4 Shore films to pick from?

I don't think there is a general catch-all Hallmark thread, but a few threads about Hallmark.

Local LA sports radio guys Petros and Money were talking about the Hallmark Christmas movies the other day. They said Hallmark make around 30 to 40 Christmas movies a year at a cost of roughly $2 Million per "movie" with a 3 week start to finish production schedule. That's insane, that one, anything halfway decent can be achieved with that timeframe and or budget and two, people actually watch this shit. Gotta keep that audience happy I guess? So I imagine with that amount of Christmas content that starting shortly after Thanksgiving it's just a non-stop Christmas movie fest on the Hallmark Channel.

In a world of chaos, you can always rely on a Hallmark Movie, I think that is what drives people to them in a comfy couch sort of way... The Christmas movies are good clean fun

The movies started October 26th this year.

It’s this one:

https://forum.dvdtalk.com/tv-talk/62...christmas.html

People watch TV dramas every week, I assume those are filmed and edited approximately one per week?

The early Hallmark movies (I'd say pre-2010) are actually pretty good. Especially the Hallmark Hall of Fame movies. They put some time and effort into them. Unique stories and great casting.

Unfortunately, today's Hallmark movies have turned into a version of Mad Libs. Insert random actors/settings/problems into a generic script. Churn out as many as possible.

Despite that, I still enjoy them. Especially the Christmas movies. They're easy to watch. And I love the holiday atmosphere with all the snow and amazing decorations.

My wife and I enjoy watching the Hallmark Christmas movies in an ironic sort of way, feigning surprise when the woman falls for the sweater-wearing guy next door (who initially irritated her) and dumps her successful suit-wearing CEO boyfriend (who turns out to be a cad), or being amazed when a house's interior is decorated flawlessly like it's going to be photographed for the Christmas issue of Better Homes and Gardens. But we don't do it in a mean-spirited way. It's just fun, and I'll admit the movies do give you that warm, "it's the holidays" feeling. It's Christmas comfort food. You get to imagine living in a world where everyone is good-looking, has perfect teeth, owns a plethora of expensive sweaters, true love prevails in the end, and there are no problems that love can't overcome (even terminal illness).

But really, the whole genre is ripe for a parody movie. I'm surprised no one has done one, that I'm aware of. (Something akin to how Amy Pohler's They Came Together made fun of rom-coms.)

I don't know that I've ever seen a Hallmark movie. Where would one start?

Last year there was a very nice one that stood alone, it was about donating an organ, very sweet movie, and Stars Aimee Teegarden from Friday Night Lights as a bonus.

Once Upon a Christmas Miracle.

If you want a really good Hallmark Christmas movie, check out November Christmas. It has an excellent cast (Sam Elliott, John Corbett, Sarah Paulson, Karen Allen, Emily Alyn Lind).

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1708658/

A few others I'd recommend:

A Christmas Visitor (2002)
The Christmas Card (2006)
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (2008)
A Season for Miracles (1999)
Trading Christmas (2011)


For recent Hallmark Christmas movies, I'd recommend:

A Very Merry Mix-Up (2013)
Matchmaker Santa (2012)
Hitched For The Holidays (2012)
Christmas Under Wraps (2014)

Thanks!

Two of my favorites are "The Nine Lives of Christmas" and "Signed Sealed and Delivered for Christmas".

You really should go by the lead actress in a Hallmark movie. They have a stable of rotating stars like Lacey Chabert and Candace Cameron Bure, who churn out anywhere from 3-7 movies a year. Pick a Hallmark movie with a female lead you enjoy.

The movies are formulaic and occasionally lacking, but often hit the right spot. Many prefer them because they are the antithesis of modern Hollywood storytelling.

With all of this positive reinforcement, I am going to open my mind and commit to a week's worth of Hallmark movie viewing with my wife. I will share my findings in an honest report. Thanks everyone!

Wow, what a weird day for this thread to pop up. So I went to see Tom Morello tonight with a friend. The friend invited his friend, someone we both went to school with that I never really knew in school and have only seen 2 or 3 times since. This guy was born and raised in a middle class suburb just outside of Vancouver, but if you told me he was from a trailer park in Alabama, but lost the accent, I'd believe you. He's almost a cartoon character. He was talking about how he likes to fight at least once a week, and went in depth about a fight he got in last week. He also lets the F word (the slur against gay men) fly off his tongue as casually as you would greet someone. He's barely literate. Or so I assumed. On the way out of the show he was talking about how he's a screenwriter now and has written 5 or 6 movies. I didn't pay much attention to it, as he was drunk, and I assumed, was clearly lying. But he WASN'T. On the cab ride home my friend CONFIRMED that he's written 6 Hallmark channel movies that have been filmed and have aired on Hallmark. I couldn't wrap my head around it. I guess literally ANYBODY can write one of these things. Apparently he's worked in the film industry for some time and just kind of fell into it. It astounded me. I've never seen a Hallmark movie. Or even a trailer. But now I'm dying to see one of his movies.

No offense, but I have no idea who Lacey Chabert or Candace Cameron Bure are. Unless any of them star Maggie Cheung or Juliette Binoche I'm probably lost.