Christmas season is finally here and after a year as long as 2020 has been, we’re all excited to celebrate. While some may go ice skating, travel to see Christmas lights or enjoy a warm mug of hot chocolate for the holidays, others will cuddle up on their couches to binge-watch Hallmark Christmas movies. 

The name Hallmark first became popular in Kansas City, Nebraska back in 1910. It started off as a postcard company created by a teenage boy named J.C. Hall,  looking to spread the holiday spirit. Now, over 100 years later, Hallmark Cards, Inc. continues to thrive in the hands of his grandsons who have branched out to bigger and better things. 

On August 5 of 2001, the Hallmark Channel aired for the first time ever along with its sister channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Since then, these cheesy romantic movies have been a hit, especially around this time of year. 

 If it weren’t for the fact that the plot to every movie is almost identical to the other, watching them would probably be a lot more bearable for people such as myself who cannot stand Hallmark Movies. The plot of every one of their Christmas movies has been recycled again and again: a small town, a failing business, newfound love, and a Christmas Miracle. Not to mention the similarities between the titles of each movie. For example, “Switched for Christmas,” “Crown for Christmas,” and “A Christmas Melody,” 

As you may already know, every Hallmark movie has a female lead and it seems that they have been overused throughout the years. The ex-Full House star Candace Cameron Bure has been in a whopping 18 Christmas Hallmark movies, but she isn’t the only one. Lacey Chabert has been in 17, Danica Mckeller has been in 11, and the King of Hallmark movies, Andrew Walker, has been in 12. Though a familiar face could be comfortable to see in a homey, warm Christmas movie, it gets quite old after three movies, let alone more than 10. Along with this, there is obviously a lack of representation within Hallmark’s channels. There have been hardly any BIPOC leads and out of all the years Hallmark has produced movies, there has been only one gay couple casted, and that was only last month. 

Despite the worn out actors, plots and lack of diversity, Hallmark always knows how to put someone into the Christmas spirit. Though it may be difficult for some, it’s no surprise that families all across the country still gather around the television to spend hours on the Hallmark Channel during the holiday season.