Tis the season — a little early — when Hallmark Media unwraps its annual “Countdown to Christmas” event, and this year the gift is a festive haul: 16 brand-new holiday-movies joining its lineup, promising romance, time travel, country music and more merry magic.

The network’s 2025 holiday slate kicks off in mid-October and runs through December, bringing fresh stories to cable viewers as well as the streaming crowd. Among the highlights: returning favorites such as Lacey Chabert and Andrew Walker alongside newcomers and quirky premises that whisper sleigh bells and pine needles.

Hallmark Christmas Movies: A Sprinkle of Stars and Storylines

In one corner of the North Pole–adjacent universe, Lacey Chabert and Andrew Walker reunite for one of the new films, marking her 16th holiday movie for the “Countdown to Christmas” brand. The network is also leaning into its long-running “Three Wise Men” franchise with the third installment, titled “Three Wisest Men,” which reunites stars Andrew Walker, Tyler Hynes and Paul Campbell.

Another wintry treat: the film “A Grand Ole Opry Christmas” (premiering Nov. 29) combines Nashville vibes with Christmas magic, starring Nikki Deloach in a story about a songwriter invited to honor her late father at the Grand Ole Opry — then suddenly transported back to 1995.

The holiday fun doesn’t stop at chestnuts roasting. In a creative swoop, Hallmark is teaming up with the Buffalo Bills for “Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story,” set to premiere Nov. 22. The romantic-comedy features two neighboring families bound by Bills fandom and a decade-old holiday mystery. NFL players and coaches make cameo appearances, underscoring the network’s push into sporty Christmas territory.

On the much gentler side of things, “Tidings for the Season” (Nov. 16) stars Tamera Mowry-Housley and B.J. Britt and follows a local newscaster whose life is changed by a 10-year-old fan who demands he focus on good news instead of doom and gloom. Amid the cheer, romance blooms. Meanwhile, “An Alpine Holiday” (Nov. 29) sends two estranged sisters to the French Alps to honor their grandmother’s last wish, with reunion and romance awaiting.

Analysts say this year’s slate stands out for its variety: royalty, time travel, sports fandom, New York hotel intrigue and small-town newsrooms. One overview notes the lineup is “the coziest one yet,” according to Christmasmarketusa.com. The premieres spread from Oct. 18 through December, covering early birds and full-fledged December snow-globe watchers.

Hallmark Media’s approach this year also includes a mix of new titles plus returning frameworks—giving fans familiar formulae and fresh twists. “Watch for time travel, angels, siblings, country music and rival-fandom football,” Christmasmarketusa.com added.

Here’s how to get the most out of the season: mark your calendar for the Saturday/Sunday premieres, keep an eye on Mondays (which often feature other holiday-themed series or specials) and settle in with cocoa and fuzzy socks. According to the schedule, the movies air at 8 p.m. ET unless otherwise noted, and many are available on streaming the next day via Hallmark+.

Also worth noting: the inclusion of beloved franchises (like Three Wise Men) alongside brand-new stories helps keep longtime fans engaged while recruiting new ones. The football-movie crossover with the Bills taps younger/ male viewers in a smart move. The network is clearly embracing a broader audience.

Get Cozy With Holiday Movies

In a world that often feels sped up, the 2025 “Countdown to Christmas” lineup offers exactly what holiday-movie lovers crave: familiar warmth, a dash of fresh magic and plenty of twinkle lights to fill evenings through the end of the year. Whether you’re a Hallmark aficionado, a Bills fan, a country-music devotee or just someone who loves mistletoe and mismatched ornaments, Hallmark Media has ho-ho-hopefully rolled out something for you.

So fluff the pillows, turn up the fireplace channel, and prepare to be wrapped in red-and-white bows of film-fest joy. The holidays have arrived early — with 16 new films to guide the sleigh.

🎬 Hallmark’s 2025 “Countdown to Christmas” Movie Lineup

Get ready to deck your DVRs: Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas 2025 lineup is bursting with 16 brand-new films filled with holiday magic, meet-cutes, and enough twinkle lights to power the North Pole.

Oct. 17 – “Mistletoe Murders”
The season opens with a playful twist on the whodunit — a cozy mystery series where small-town secrets get wrapped up in tinsel and crime-solving cheer.

Nov. 9 – “A Keller Christmas Vacation”
Three grown siblings set sail on a Christmas river cruise, navigating family tension, floating buffets, and the real meaning of togetherness.

Nov. 15 – “Three Wisest Men”
Fan favorites Andrew Walker, Tyler Hynes, and Paul Campbell reunite for the third installment of the “Wise Men” saga, proving that friendship — and a bit of mischief — never go out of season.

Nov. 16 – “Tidings for the Season”
A local newscaster known for covering doom and gloom gets an unexpected nudge toward optimism when a young fan challenges him to find good news during the holidays.

Nov. 22 – “Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story”
Romance takes the field when two Buffalo Bills fans from rival families discover love can be just as unpredictable as football in a snowstorm. Cameos from real players make this one a touchdown for sports fans.

Nov. 23 – “Melt My Heart This Christmas”
A glass artist and a winter festival director cross paths and quickly realize that sometimes the best masterpieces are the ones the heart creates.

Nov. 27 – “We Met in December”
Two neighbors strike up a holiday friendship that tiptoes toward love, proving that the season’s best gifts can’t be wrapped.

Nov. 29 (6 p.m.) – “An Alpine Holiday”
Estranged sisters head to the French Alps to honor their late grandmother’s wishes, finding reconciliation — and a little romance — in the glow of snow-capped peaks.

Nov. 29 (8 p.m.) – “A Grand Ole Opry Christmas”
A Nashville songwriter receives an invitation to perform at the Grand Ole Opry and mysteriously wakes up in 1995, where she reconnects with her roots and rediscovers the music of her heart.

Dec. 6 – “She’s Making a List”
A high-powered consultant working for a company that categorizes people as “naughty or nice” meets her match in a small-town toy-store owner who challenges everything she believes about data — and Christmas.

Dec. 13 – “Love, Santa”
When a widowed mom accidentally receives a child’s lost letter to Santa, she sets off on a heartfelt mission to make the wish come true — and maybe find a little love of her own.

Dec. 14 – “Snowed Inn for Christmas”
Two rival travel writers find themselves stranded in a Vermont inn during a blizzard. Between deadlines, cookie contests, and cocoa-fueled confessions, sparks begin to fly.

Dec. 20 – “A Royal Christmas Ball”
A royal incognito prince signs up for dance lessons, only to fall for his spirited instructor. Cue the waltzing, wishful thinking, and tiaras by twinkle light.

Dec. 21 – “Angel on Main Street”
A struggling café owner discovers an anonymous guardian angel has been quietly helping her through the holidays — and maybe guiding her toward a miracle of her own.

Dec. 23 – “Jingle All the Way Home”
A city architect returns to her hometown to restore her family’s inn before Christmas, rekindling both memories and an old flame along the way.

Dec. 24 – “The Christmas Promise II”
Hallmark closes out the season with a sequel to one of its most beloved stories, revisiting familiar characters as they find new hope, new love, and the comfort of old traditions.