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He's coming to our screens -

The most wonderful time of the year, and the perfect time to cozy up and watch a movie. Among the regular themes, we all expect to see Santa, Christmas lights and decor, snow, gifts, and the eventual reindeer.

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Getting creative -

While some blockbuster films manage to play with these elements creatively, have you ever noticed how holiday movies often seem to be the same film on repeat?

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Honorary Christmas movies -

Some movies that aren’t typical Christmas films, like the 'Harry Potter' series or 'Die Hard' (1988), help mix things up and add variety to holiday movie nights. But it's evident that certain tropes are prevalent, and several factors contribute to this predictability.

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Hallmark empire -

Along with other players in the industry, Hallmark movies have a significant influence. The Hallmark Channel was created in 2001, strategically intensifying its focus on Christmas programming around 2011.

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The sheer volume -

In 2021 alone, Hallmark released 40 Christmas movies. With over 400 movies under their belt since 2009, no wonder the stories start to get repetitive! 

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Costs -

And how do they manage to keep up at this pace? Hallmark and similar channels produce lower-budget films, often under U$2 million, frequently around $400,000 to $500,000.

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Location -

Most Hallmark movies are filmed in Canada, primarily Vancouver, due to tax breaks and the wintry climate. Ontario alone produces over a dozen Christmas movies annually, a third of all North American Christmas films screened in December.

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The Hallmark formula -

They're known for their predictable plot: a career-driven woman from the city finds love, purpose, and holiday spirit in a small town, often with the help of a charming local. In 2023, The New York Times analyzed over 420 Hallmark movies to fact-check common perceptions about their storylines.

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Business women -

Are all female leads powerful executives from the big city? Not quite. While many are, the research showed that only 22% start the film in corporate roles like lawyer or architect. Many are local shop owners or writers.

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Small towns -

This trope is understandable, given how much small towns are associated with closeness, community, and tradition. The research noted that 40% of stories begin with a woman traveling to a small town (often her hometown) or already living there.

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Handsome local men -

Are they all really humble and gorgeous lumberjacks? Not exactly. About 20% of male love interests are locals who are also on a small-town visit when the meet-cute happens. However, they're more likely to be old friends or ex-boyfriends.

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Dads are hits -

Twenty percent of the men are single fathers. Lisa Hamilton Daly, the Hallmark Channels' programming executive, revealed that "women find it attractive to watch men be parents."

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Have we seen this before? -

Although not all stories share major plot points, most contain elements of the following common tropes.

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Major events -

No matter how small the town or how busy the city, nearly half the movies revolve around an event that the main characters need to plan or attend, like a holiday festival, competition, or performance.

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A business or town in trouble -

A quarter of the plots feature a struggling business or town. Some of the places characters must save include a bakery, an animal shelter, a children's theater, a candy store...

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Reveal a secret -

About 10% involve some kind of secret that must be revealed by the end of the movie. Common themes include: Is Santa real? How did the parents meet? What is Mom's true story? Who is the city's Secret Santa?

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Other common elements -

Other common elements include musical acts, travel mix-ups, royalty, time travel, and mistaken identities. About half involve grief over a dead or estranged family member.

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Christmas conflicts -

In many cases, one character is more enthusiastic about Christmas than the other. Sometimes, a bit of Christmas magic helps bring them together.

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Cast regulars -

The cast also plays a part in making holiday movies look the same. Many regularly featured actors, like actress Lacey Chabert, are known for the roles they played as teenagers. Daly said she believes audiences appreciate the familiarity of watching actors they've seen grow up on screen. "Those are gold for us," she admits.

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The formula spreads -

With the rise of Hallmark, other networks and streamers followed suit, adopting a similar formula. Lifetime, BET, UPTV, Netflix, Hulu, and Apple TV+ have contributed to the saturation of holiday movies, making them feel increasingly similar.

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Mistletoe syndrome - In Hallmark movies and blockbusters, the plot often revolves around a single kiss. But for most people, Christmas is more about the stress of gift-giving, juggling social commitments, planning meals, and spending time with extended family. So why the focus on romance?

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Family oriented -

Journalist Meredith Haggerty argues that the focus on romance in holiday movies isn't just about kissing. It's about the potential for family formation. Many plots revolve around characters wanting or needing to form family bonds, often through marriage or children. "In this way, holiday love stories are the origin story for a family," she explains.

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Extended family -

And it goes beyond blood relatives. She also notes how holiday films create extended families, from chosen children to wacky adopted uncles, and others outside the nuclear family. While some may view this as formulaic, others appreciate the warmth and hope it evokes.

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Sounds like Christmas -

Beyond looks and plot points, another element that makes holiday films similar is the music. While we all expect to hear Christmas carols, the specific choices are often driven by what moves all business decisions: budget.

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Big bucks -

Typically, only three to five percent of a film's budget is allocated for music. Even in the blockbuster 'Elf' (2003), they had to have characters sing a cover of the classic "Baby, It's Cold Outside" to bypass copyright fees.

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Copyright issues -

Licensing traditional Christmas songs generally costs around U$25,000 for the composition and an additional fee for the original or cover recording. Popular artists like Mariah Carey may charge more than the traditional fees, raising total licensing costs significantly.

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Workaround -

That's why many movies, especially lower-budget Hallmark films, rely on Christmas songs in the public domain. These songs can be used freely, enabling their inclusion in many films, such as classical pieces from Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker.'

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Public domain -

From the iconic instrumental background in 'Home Alone' (1990), where the family's chaotic holiday preparations set the stage, to countless Christmas movies since, this is just one example of a public domain tune that contributes to the similarity of holiday film soundtracks.

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The diversity question -

Another point that makes movies look similar is the lack of casting diversity. Hallmark, in particular, has faced backlash since critics noted that, from 2017, only 18% of their movies have featured a non-white star on the poster, compared to 44% of those released by Lifetime.

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Evolving -

Since 2020, both networks and streaming services have made efforts to diversify their casts and stories, including LGBTQ+ representation and a focus on family and friendship. They've also made strides in featuring actors of diverse ethnicities.

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Will the formula stick around? -

Hallmark executives acknowledge the pressure to differentiate their films in a crowded market. However, some core elements will remain. "I think we'd be crazy to abandon our formula entirely," said Daly. "At its heart, it's about connection, love, and people coming together."

Sources: (Vox) (New York Times) (Business Insider) (Forbes)

See also: The best Christmas movies to watch this year

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