Countdown to Christmas Movie News

Monday, May 19, 2025

Hallmark Media, NFL, Skydance Sports and the Buffalo Bills announce the starting lineup for Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story!

Holland Roden (Holidazed) Matthew Daddario (Shadowhunters), Tracy Pollan (Natalee Holloway, Justice for Natalee Holloway), Caroline Aaron (Ghosts, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Steve Schirripa (Blue Bloods) and Patti Murin (Broadway’s Frozen, Mystic Christmas) are named to the starting lineup for Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story, a new, original movie premiering this year during Hallmark Channel’s 16^th annual Countdown to Christmas, the reigning MVP of holiday programming.  Production begins today in Buffalo, NY at iconic locations throughout the region including Highmark Stadium – which is heading into its final season as the Bills home field – and in Oishei Children’s Hospital. 
 
Taking a break from the NFL’s off-season and getting into the game are Head Coach Sean McDermott, Running Back Ray Davis, Safety Damar Hamlin, Offensive Tackle Dion Dawkins, Tight End Dawson Knox, Long Snapper Reid Ferguson, Defensive Tackle DeWayne Carter and Wide Receiver Joshua Palmer.  Buffalo Bills legend Jim Kelly, former teammates Steve Tasker, Thurman Thomas, Scott Norwood and Andre Reed, along with Bills play-by-play announcer Chris Brown will also see action during production.  And paying homage to the late, great broadcast journalist and die-hard Bills fan Tim Russert, his son Luke Russert rounds out the team. 
 
The movie centers around the Quinns and DeLucas who have lived next door to each other for decades in the shadow of Highmark Stadium – the home of their beloved Buffalo Bills.  With their longtime friendship rooted in being proud members of Bills Mafia, the two clans have enjoyed cherished traditions that revolve around cheering for their favorite team – especially at the holidays when they celebrate the last home game before Christmas.  Pediatric doctor Morgan Quinn (Roden) and the Bills’ VP of Stadium Development Gabe DeLuca (Daddario) have always been close friends, but Gabe has always held a torch for her -a fact obvious to their families (Pollan, Aaron, Schirripa, Murin)…and everyone else who crosses their path.  When Morgan learns from her Uncle Tommy (Danza) that someone anonymously helped her family get by after he was drafted more than 60 years ago – and that he continues to receive a Christmas gift each year to this day –she decides to find his benefactor and give her uncle a Christmas he’ll always remember.  Aided by Bills Mafia friends of theirs, Morgan and Gabe work together to unwrap the gifter’s identity.  Along the way, Gabe’s love for Morgan deepens and in turn, she begins to see him in a new light though neither is daring enough to admit their feelings.  Meanwhile, Morgan’s hopes of pulling off her surprise for Uncle Tommy get sacked.  That is, until Gabe takes matters into his own hands and uses his connections with the Bills to pull off the surprise of a lifetime for Morgan and both their families that will make this a Christmas they’ll never forget. 

Watch Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story on Hallmark+>>

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Hosted by Jonathan Bennett with lead judge Melissa Peterman (Reba, Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up), the reality series follows 10 aspiring actors who compete in festive challenges and learn how to become the best Hallmark leading man — from present wrapping and dancing to acting and on-screen kissing. Each week, one man is sent “home for the holidays,” while the winner lands a starring role in a Hallmark Channel Countdown to Christmas movie.

Catch up on season 1 of Finding Mr. Christmas on Hallmark+! >>

Mistletoe Murders stars and is executive produced by Sarah Drew who plays Emily Lane, a Christmas shop owner who solves local murders. When local murders begin to pop up in Fletcher’s Grove, Emily can’t help but to use her unique talents from her past life to help solve murders that affect people in her new life. She crosses paths with Detective Sam Wilner (Peter Mooney) who she starts to make a connection with, until he comes to learn there is more to Emily than meets the eye.

Catch up on season 1 of Mistletoe Murders streaming now on Hallmark+! >>

Baked with Love: Holiday is a family recipe bake-off where talented home bakers showcase their signature family holiday bakes and the heartfelt stories behind them.

This series is part of Hallmark's new slate of unscripted series, branded as “Reality TV with Heart”. This original programming brings together friendly competition series (Finding Mr. Christmas, Murder Mystery House), community building (Armed to Build, The Motherhood, Celebrations with Lacey Chabert), home and lifestyle enhancement shows (Daughter of the Bride, Home Is Where the Heart Is), aligning with the company’s brand principles of joy, hope, warmth, connection, family and most definitely...love.

Stay tuned for more information!

Thursday, March 27, 2025
Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story

On the heels of its winning partnership last year, Hallmark Media, NFL and Skydance Sports are running it back this Christmas with Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story, a new, original movie premiering during the GOAT of festive films, Hallmark Channel’s 16th annual Countdown to Christmas. The announcement was made today through a video featuring Bills Safety Damar Hamlin. Production kicks off later this year and will film entirely at locations in and around Buffalo, New York, including iconic Highmark Stadium, which is making its last stand as the Bills home field in the upcoming 2025 NFL season. The starting lineup will be announced at a later date.

“The incredible success of last year’s partnership with the NFL and the Kansas City Chiefs far exceeded our expectations,” said Darren Abbott, Chief Brand Officer, Hallmark. “We are thrilled to team up with the Bills this year for a new holiday movie filled with heart, family and the classic Hallmark storytelling that our fans know and love, all set against the special community the Bills franchise has nurtured throughout its storied history.”

“We were honored to be approached by Skydance Sports to participate in this amazing project that will showcase two powerful brands – Hallmark and the Buffalo Bills,” said Pete Guelli, Chief Operating Officer, Buffalo Bills. “This is just another example of how the Bills brand and our amazing fan base continues to grow across the sports and entertainment landscape. This is an incredible opportunity to feature Western New York and Bills Mafia on the Hallmark platform. It is a privilege to be part of this project, and we hope this film will be a hit during the holiday season!”

With planning underway, fan activations, unique co-branded merchandise, and on-air, social, and digital promotion, the multifaceted partnership will engage widespread audiences both on and off the field, with more details to be announced later this year. What’s more, this film will fuel the proven track record of viewership crossover between Countdown to Christmas enthusiasts and football fans. In fact, over 75% of Hallmark Channel viewers also watched NFL Football while Countdown to Christmas was on air in 2024, making this film the perfect holiday occasion.

Stay tuned for more information!

Watch Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story on Hallmark+ >>

Thursday, March 20, 2025
The Twelve Dates of Christmas - Coming in 2025

Mae Whitman (Good Girls, Parenthood) reunites on screen with two-time Oscar®, Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominee Mary McDonnell (The Fall of the House of Usher, Battlestar Galactica) and Jane Seymour (Harry Wild; Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman) makes her return to Hallmark Channel in The Twelve Dates of Christmas, a six-episode limited holiday series adapted from the popular novel of the same name by Jenni Bayliss making its world premiere on the network during Countdown to Christmas, streaming next day on Hallmark+.

Find out more about this new limited holiday series!

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

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Hallmark unwraps an early holiday gift with an exciting collaboration featuring two-time GRAMMY® Award-winning recording artist, Academy Award-winning actress, and Tony and Emmy Award-winning producer Jennifer Hudson. To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the beloved Countdown to Christmas programming event and Hallmark’s 2024 Joy to Your World holiday campaign, Hudson delivers the powerful new anthem “Let There Be Joy,” joining festive forces with Hallmark for this happiest season of all.

As the host of The Jennifer Hudson Show and a celebrated performer across music, film, and television, Hudson’s collaboration with Hallmark is a natural fit, sharing a common vision of spreading joy, positivity, and hope. Additional songs from Hudson’s first-ever holiday album The Gift of Love will also appear in upcoming Hallmark holiday programming.

Jennifer Hudson, EGOT-winning recording artist, actress, producer: “No one does the holidays quite like my friends at Hallmark, so I couldn’t be more thrilled to celebrate the season together with my new song ‘Let There Be Joy,’ as we Countdown to Christmas. Music and movies have always been a favorite holiday tradition for me and my family, so I hope this song can become the same tradition for everyone on Santa’s list this year!”

For years, Hallmark has been a source of joy, spreading warmth, hope, and connection to millions of people. As they celebrate 15 years of the highly popular Countdown to Christmas, they wanted a song that truly captures this spirit. The collaboration with Jennifer Hudson brings a fresh, toe-tapping, groove-inducing anthem that embodies this year’s holiday campaign. Jennifer’s vibrant energy and performance are a great match for Hallmark’s goal of inspiring and uplifting everyone and bringing more Joy to Your World.

Be sure to catch Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas all season long to hear “Let There Be Joy” and new songs from Jennifer Hudson’s upcoming holiday album, The Gift of Love, releasing on Friday, October 18 — the same day Hallmark Channel officially kicks off its Countdown to Christmas season.

Hudson is also set to bring The Gift of Love to life in a live concert experience this holiday season. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit JenniferHudson.world.

Thursday, September 5, 2024

Announced today by its lead stars Tyler Hynes and Hunter King, "Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story" will air on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, November 30 at 8/7c as part of Countdown to Christmas!

In addition to Hynes and King, the lineup of stars and cameo appearances is endlessly star-studded, featuring wide-ranging talent like Jenna Bush Hager, Donna Kelce, Diedrich Bader, Megyn Price, Richard Riehle, Christine Ebersole, Richard Christie and Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid alongside many of his standout Kansas City Chiefs players, among others. As previously announced, the playbook for this original will win viewers’ hearts from the get-go.

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Are you ready for some football? It's game time on Hallmark Channel this holiday season when two renowned Kansas City institutions - the Kansas City Chiefs and Hallmark - team up with the NFL and Skydance Sports for a holiday movie and partnership that will have audiences everywhere cheering - TOUCHDOWN! Tyler Hynes (Shifting Gears, Three Wise Men and a Baby), Hunter King (Two Scoops Of Italy, The Santa Summit) and Ed Begley Jr. (Young Sheldon, Better Call Saul) star in the new, original movie, Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story. The movie begins production next month and will film entirely in Kansas City, Missouri locations, including the iconic GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, marking the first time the loudest stadium in the world has been used as a filming location in a Hallmark movie.

In Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story, Alana Higman (King) is sure that her family’s lifelong history as Kansas City Chiefs superfans makes them a frontrunner to win the team’s “Fan of the Year” contest. Derrick (Hynes), Director of Fan Engagement, is tasked with evaluating how Alana and her family stack up against the other two finalists. As the pair spends time together, it’s clear there’s a spark between them but when her grandfathers (Begley Jr.) vintage Chiefs, good luck winter hat goes missing, Alana begins to doubt everything she believed about fate, destiny and even questions her future with Derrick – unless, that is, a little Christmas magic can throw a Hail Mary.

Diedrich Bader (American Housewife, Office Space), Megyn Price (The Ranch, Rules of Engagement), Richard Riehle (Barry, Office Space) and Christine Ebersole (Bob Hearts Abishola, The Kominsky Method), will also star. Trading in their playbooks for scripts for are Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid, Chiefs Guard Trey Smith, Wide Receiver Mecole Hardman Jr., Running Back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Defensive End George Karlaftis. The movie will also feature a special appearance by Taylen Biggs, Chiefs fan and red carpet correspondent and Today Show host, Jenna Bush Hager.

This film marks the ultimate celebration of a longstanding collaboration between the two pioneering KC-based brands, officially uniting the Hallmarkies and Chiefs Kingdom like never before. With planning underway for game-day activations, unique co-branded merchandise, and on-air, social, and digital promotion, the multifaceted partnership will engage widespread audiences both on and off the field, with more details to be announced later this year.

Monday, June 24 2024

This year, When Calls the Heart stars Erin Krakow and Daniel Lissing reunite for an all-new original movie premiere during Countdown to Christmas!

April 27, 2024

The fabulous Brenner brothers are back – and Brenner than ever – in Three Wiser Men and a Boy. Paul Campbell (The Cases of Mystery Lane), Tyler Hynes (Shifting Gears), Andrew Walker (Christmas Island) and Margaret Colin (Three Men and a Baby) reprise their roles in the all-new sequel to Three Wise Men and a Baby – the #1 most-watched original movie premiere of 2022. Currently in production, the movie is set to premiere later this year as part of the network’s 15th annual Countdown to Christmas programming event.

The story begins five years later with the Brenner brothers preparing for another memorable Christmas. In a crazy turn of events, possibly brought on accidently by the brothers themselves, the director of Luke’s (Walker) son Thomas’ (Miles Marthaller, Round and Round) school holiday musical steps down. Luke is desperate to make his son’s stage dreams come true, so he enlists the help of his brothers Taylor (Hynes) and Stephan (Campbell). Meanwhile, the trio navigates meeting their mom Barbara’s (Colin) new boyfriend and the brothers grapple with their own feelings about this relationship. In true Brenner brother fashion, they are all in for a Christmas they will never forget.

April 17, 2024

Production has wrapped on, The Christmas Quest, an all-new holiday movie starring Lacey Chabert and Kristoffer Polaha. Set to premiere later in 2024, as part of the 15th Annual Countdown to Christmas programming event, the movie is the first on-screen pairing of Chabert and Polaha – stars of two of the highest rated cable movies of 2023, A Merry Scottish Christmas and A Biltmore Christmas.

The movie centers around An archeologist (Chabert) and her ex-husband (Polaha), an expert in ancient Norse languages, are sent to Iceland at Christmastime to search for a legendary treasure. When others join in the hunt, the pair find themselves swept into a thrilling adventure as they race to keep it from falling into the wrong hands.

Get a First Look at "The Christmas Quest."

Stay tuned for more Countdown to Christmas news!