Hallmark boasts a whopping 80 million viewers during their annual Countdown to Christmas when they run holiday fare 24/7 from the end of October to the new year. Those numbers are simply astounding.

The Hallmark phenomenon is even more fascinating when you consider that they produce the yuletide version of Groundhogs Day. Most of the films have strikingly similar plots, or at least plot points. Still, they are beloved.

Let me state upfront that I’m a fan of these candy-coated concoctions for reasons that I detailed a few years ago in a light-hearted article, which espouses the virtues of these films while expressing some areas of concern. Not long after writing that critique, Hallmark veered into agenda-driven television, adding an additional concern for faith-based believers. I covered that topic in a follow-up article and wrote a piece on how to discuss these issues with your kids from a Biblical point of view.

But analyzing the pros and cons and addressing the concerns doesn’t answer a critically important question:

What makes these films so popular?

Or more particularly, what is the overwhelming need that these films meet?

I address that question head-on in the latest episode of CHRISTIAN PARENT/CRAZY WORLD and in a new article for Crosswalk.

To read the article, click HERE. To connect to the podcast, click on the image below:

Or you can listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Pocket Casts.

ARTICLES REFERENCED:

“Hallmark Christmas Movies: Five Reasons To Be Careful”

“Should Christians Be Concerned by the LGBTQ Direction in Hallmark Movies?”

“How Should Christians Talk to Their Kids about LGBTQ Issues?”

“Is It Possible to Be a Christian and a Modern Feminist?”

STATISTICS MENTIONED:

“How Hallmark Takes Over Your TV Every Christmas” by Emily VanDerWerff, Vox

“Why Netflix Is Making Hallmark Christmas Movies” by Caroline Fox, Screenrant

“The Impact of Coronavirus on Cable TV is Mixed” by Brad Adgate, Forbes

PODCASTS & BLOGS REFERENCED:

CPCW Episode 13: “Four Types of Prayer Every Believer Should Know”

“I Want to Live in a Hallmark Film”