Christmas movies are some of the most formulaic movies ever made, and yet they manage to be one of the most popular genres during the fall and winter months.
Christmas movies nearly always rehash the same plot, with minor variances in circumstantial details. For example, a business-focused woman moves to a small town. She meets a local small business owner/single dad, they fall in love and she learns the true meaning of Christmas. Snow begins to fall as they kiss under the stars.
Until recently, Hallmark has been the be-all and end-all producer of Christmas movies. Streaming services like Netflix have begun to produce their own versions of these beloved holiday romances. American small business owners who marry into foreign royal families have become Netflix’s calling card with their new batch of Christmas movies.
Despite suffering from their predictability, these movies are insanely popular. The Hallmark Channel shows almost exclusively Christmas movies from Halloween to New Year’s Day. According to demographic statistics, The Hallmark Channel received a total of 72 million viewers in 2019. This made their channel the most popular channel among women aged 18 to 45 during the Christmas season.
So what makes this genre of film so popular? Perhaps it’s because there is always a happy ending. The main love interests always end up together and the holiday is always saved. There isn’t room in such cut-and-dry scripts for the stress of everyday life. For roughly 90 minutes, the audience can forget about the stress they may be facing.
The wholesome morals being represented are also a potential reason for the popularity of Christmas movies. True love, hard work, and family are all emphasized in these films. In a society where tension and negativity are commonplace, it’s comforting to have media where every problem is solved in under three hours.
However, the cities shown in these movies reflect issues in today’s society. These movies are incredibly similar in terms of plots and casts. Up until recently, there has been little to no representation of people of color in Christmas movies. People with disabilities are used as plot devices or supporting characters — often to play the part of “token minority”. LGBTQ+ characters are also pushed into the background, if represented at all.
The main romantic relationships in Christmas movies are always heteronormative, conventionally attractive, and white. While this certainly reflects a portion of the world’s population, accurate representation of minority groups is a huge point of conflict for film studios. Many viewers find issues with not being able to relate to the identities presented in these films.
Despite the homogenous nature of these movies, they instill a feeling of warmth in their audiences. With feel-good moments, families across the world can bond over their shared love or sense of community. This is especially helpful for those who cannot spend the holidays with their loved ones.
With the COVID-19 pandemic impacting social gatherings, the upcoming holiday season can be especially stressful. Social distancing limits how often, if at all, families and friends can spend the holidays together. This can increase feelings of isolation and depression, which could potentially be combated with living vicariously through the families in Christmas movies.
Sure, Christmas movies are predictable and ultimately lack the representation that the media desperately needs. However, they also spread a little happiness to their viewers – something that 2020 hasn’t had happen too often. Christmas movies may be cheesy and not for everyone, but they help the holiday season feel a little more magic.
Photo by Kaily Paddle
