Best Hallmark Holiday Sports Movies Ranked by Viewer Reviews

Hallmark has found a winning formula that goes beyond mistletoe and small-town bakeries: add a little athletic competition, a determined lead, and someone worth falling for on the sidelines. From professional football fandom to figure skating comebacks, these sports-centered romances deliver the comforting chemistry viewers expect, with a competitive twist. But which ones actually score with audiences? Drawing on IMDb and Letterboxd ratings collected by The List, this countdown moves from the lowest-ranked contender to the biggest crowd-pleaser. The surprise is that the football movies aren’t the ones taking home the trophy.

The Sports Romances Bringing Extra Spark to Hallmark

This lineup goes beyond traditional Christmas stories to include winter-sports romances, with everything from soccer stardom to ballet-assisted hockey rehabilitation. The common thread is competition that gives the central love story something more to work around.

9. The Christmas Cup

A knee injury sends Staff Sergeant Kelly Brandt, played by Rhiannon Fish, home for a holiday she hadn’t planned to spend there. Rather than sit out the season, she throws herself into the annual Christmas Cup competition. Fire Captain Quinn Stokley, played by Ben Rosenbaum, lends a hand.

The Christmas Cup finishes last in this lineup with 5.2/10 on IMDb and 2.5/5 on Letterboxd. Still, its mix of community competition, recovery, and romantic possibility makes for an appealing setup if you prefer your holiday entertainment light and spirited.

8. Christmas in Notting Hill

A famous athlete meeting someone blissfully unaware of his celebrity is practically a romance cheat code. In Christmas in Notting Hill, William Moseley plays Graham, a London soccer player whose busy life leaves little room for love. Then American visitor Georgia, played by Sarah Ramos, enters the picture.

The appeal is easy to understand: British charm, holiday atmosphere, and a connection that starts without the baggage of fame. Its 6.1/10 IMDb rating and 2.3/5 Letterboxd score place it near the bottom, but the premise is still inviting.

7. Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story

The Kansas City Chiefs set the scene for this football-fandom romance. Hunter King stars as Alana, whose family enters a Fan of the Year contest. Tyler Hynes plays Derrick, the team employee helping judge it.

Romantic sparks and holiday magic make the competition feel more personal. But audience response is noticeably split: Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story earned 6.4/10 on IMDb but 2.1/5 on Letterboxd. That lower Letterboxd score keeps this high-profile contender from climbing further up the list.

6. Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story

The second Holiday Touchdown installment edges ahead of its Chiefs predecessor with a friends-to-lovers story. Matthew Daddario plays Gabe, the Buffalo Bills vice president of Stadium Development, who has feelings for longtime friend Morgan, a pediatrician played by Holland Roden.

A search involving a family secret gives them a reason to spend more time together and rethink their relationship. With 6.3/10 on IMDb and 2.4/5 on Letterboxd, this entry shows that a slightly lower IMDb score doesn’t necessarily mean a lower overall placement.

The Winter-Sports Contenders That Raise the Stakes

Football may attract attention, but colder-weather pursuits dominate the middle of this ranking. These films make athletic ambition central to the romance, whether the challenge is a demanding race or the possibility of a comeback.

5. The Finnish Line

Dog sledding gives The Finnish Line a distinctive edge. Kim Matula plays Anya, who travels to Finland to compete in the Joulurauha race and honor the legacy of her late father, a celebrated figure in the sport.

Along the way, she unexpectedly teams up with journalist Cole, played by Beau Mirchoff. The racing adds momentum to a familiar romantic framework, while the Finnish setting supplies plenty of atmosphere. Its 6.2/10 IMDb rating and 3.1/5 Letterboxd score put it comfortably in the middle of the pack.

4. Love on Ice

There’s something especially satisfying about a romance built around a second chance. In Love on Ice, Julie Berman plays Emily, a former figure skating champion facing the possibility that her competitive career may be slipping away.

Andrew Walker plays Spencer, the coach who believes she still has something to offer. The emotional hook goes beyond winning: it’s about being seen when confidence starts to fade. Viewers rewarded that combination with 6.4/10 on IMDb and 3.0/5 on Letterboxd.

3. Two for the Win

Trevor Donovan stars as Justin, a world champion downhill skier who returns home to prepare for a major competition. Charlotte Sullivan plays Kayla, the local ski instructor whose presence makes that homecoming more complicated, and more romantic.

Two for the Win combines elite sporting pressure with the warmth of a familiar setting. Its 6.4/10 IMDb score and 3.1/5 Letterboxd rating help it secure third place. If snowy scenery and romance developing through shared athletic experiences appeal to you, this is a strong contender.

Hockey Takes the Top Two Spots

The final stretch reveals a clear pattern: Hallmark viewers have plenty of affection for hockey romance. Both leading films connect the sport to a relationship that develops away from the pressure of the rink.

2. Checkin’ It Twice

Kevin McGarry plays Scott, a hockey player traded to a minor league team in Idaho Falls. His new neighbor is real estate agent Ashley, played by Kim Matula. Their connection grows through Christmas activities, youth hockey coaching, and everyday small-town encounters.

Checkin’ It Twice lets romance develop through shared community life. With 6.8/10 on IMDb and 2.7/5 on Letterboxd, it lands just short of first place, but offers one of the lineup’s strongest Christmas-and-sports combinations.

1. Taking a Shot at Love

The winner swaps a predictable training montage for something more intriguing: ballet. Alexa PenaVega plays Jenna, a former professional dancer who helps injured hockey player Ryan, played by Luke Macfarlane, work toward a return to the ice.

That setup gives Taking a Shot at Love a natural blend of vulnerability, physical discipline, and growing trust. Its 7.1/10 IMDb rating is the highest in the lineup, alongside 3.0/5 on Letterboxd. Sometimes the winning move comes from an entirely different art form.

The Unranked Addition Worth Watching

The List also highlighted another football romance, but didn’t include audience scores for it. That leaves the newcomer outside the ranked countdown.

Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story

Listed for an October 17, 2026 premiere, Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story pairs Robert Buckley as Chicago firefighter Matt with Lyndsy Fonseca as reporter Avery. She’s covering his grandmother, a devoted Bears fan who’s preparing to attend her 500th game.

The ranking above follows The List’s ordering, based on its collected IMDb and Letterboxd ratings, with review counts breaking ties. Those scores are just a snapshot, not a permanent verdict. Still, the takeaway is clear: give the hockey romances a chance before assuming football owns this Hallmark playing field.