Hallmark Channel’s Top Movies of 2025 Surprise Ratings

Hallmark Channel’s 2025 ratings tell a story no one really saw coming. Christmas still dominated, sure, and Hallmark stayed a ratings powerhouse.

But if you look closer at the numbers, there were some wild surprises. A non-Christmas movie actually snagged the top spot, and a few unexpected stars really cemented their Hallmark royalty status.

With decades of ratings to look back on, 2025 stands out as a strange but fascinating year for the network. It’s a mix of old traditions, some real changes, and a handful of delightful curveballs.

The Big Picture: Hallmark Still Rules, Even in a Changing TV Landscape

Before we get to individual movies, let’s zoom out a bit. Despite all the cord-cutting and people jumping to streaming, Hallmark Channel once again showed its staying power.

For the twelfth year in a row, it was the most-watched entertainment cable channel among women 18 and up during the entire fourth quarter. That’s honestly impressive, especially since cable ratings are down pretty much everywhere.

Overall, Hallmark Channel viewership dropped 24 percent compared to last year. That’s right in line with what’s happening across the industry, as Variety pointed out.

Still, Hallmark dominated Total Day viewership among households. They owned the entire Top 50 most-watched cable TV movies of 2025. Not bad for a network some people keep predicting will fade away.

Why Hallmark’s Decline Isn’t Actually Bad News

A ratings dip sounds bad at first, but it’s more complicated than that. Most big cable networks saw similar drops as people migrated to streaming.

Hallmark’s edge is consistency. When people do watch cable, they’re still picking Hallmark first. Every single one of those top movies is now on Hallmark+, feeding into the network’s bigger streaming push.

The Shocking Number One Movie of 2025

This is where 2025 really flipped the script. For the first time in ages, Hallmark’s most-watched movie wasn’t a Christmas flick.

That honor went to February’s An Unexpected Valentine, starring Lacey Chabert and Robert Buckley. It pulled in a hefty 1.8 million viewers.

Even longtime Hallmark fans didn’t see that coming. Christmas programming is still the network’s crown jewel, but a Valentine’s rom-com outperformed every festive favorite.

That’s a subtle but interesting shift in what audiences want.

Lacey Chabert and Robert Buckley: A Ratings Dream Team

Lacey Chabert’s Hallmark reign rolled on, no question. But 2025 might be the year Robert Buckley officially arrived as a Hallmark leading man fans can’t get enough of.

From An Unexpected Valentine to the crowd-pleaser Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper!, Buckley’s blend of charm and comedic timing—and his presence at Hallmark events—helped launch him into true Hallmark hunk territory. People just love the guy.

Christmas Still Dominated the Top Rankings

Even with a Valentine’s movie at number one, Christmas ruled the rest of the leaderboard. Four out of the top five most-watched Hallmark movies of 2025 were holiday films.

The holiday formula is still incredibly strong. People just can’t resist it.

The Top Five Most-Watched Hallmark Movies of 2025

• An Unexpected Valentine – 1.8 million viewers
• The More the Merrier – 1.77 million viewers
• The Reluctant Royal – 1.75 million viewers
• A Grand Ole Opry Christmas – 1.74 million viewers
• She’s Making a List – 1.6 million viewers

The margins between these movies were razor-thin. It was a tight race, especially during those big holiday weekends.

The Christmas Movies That Nearly Tied for the Crown

Just outside the top five, the numbers stayed strong. A bunch of Christmas movies landed in the 1.5 to 1.6 million viewer zone, especially among viewers 18–49.

That kind of consistency shows how deeply Hallmark’s holiday brand is baked in. People know what they’re getting, and they keep coming back.

Standout Performers Just Below the Top Five

• Three Wisest Men – 1.536 million viewers
• Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story – 1.516 million viewers
• Christmas Above the Clouds – 1.506 million viewers

Even Hallmark’s “just missed the top five” movies pulled in numbers most cable networks would love to have. Not too shabby.

Diversity, Niche Stories, and Surprising Successes

One of the most refreshing things in 2025 was Hallmark’s success with more diverse and niche stories. Movies that mixed up cultural traditions or leaned into offbeat ideas did surprisingly well.

Smaller Movies With Big Impact

• Oy! To The World – 1.356 million viewers in the 18–49 demo
• Christmas at the Catnip Cafe – 1.355 million viewers

These didn’t top the charts, but they did great in key demographics. Clearly, people are open to fresh takes on the Hallmark formula. Maybe the network should lean into that even more.

How 2025 Compares to Previous Years

Looking back, the shift is pretty clear. In 2024, the top Hallmark movie was Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story, and in 2023 it was A Merry Scottish Christmas.

Both were Christmas stories, so this year’s Valentine’s Day win really stands out. It doesn’t mean Christmas is over, but it does hint that Hallmark can grow beyond December if it wants.

What These Ratings Mean for Hallmark’s Future

Hallmark is still a ratings juggernaut, even as TV keeps changing. All of the Top 50 most-watched cable movies of the year came from Hallmark. That’s wild.

With more viewers jumping onto Hallmark+, the network looks set to handle the ongoing cable decline just fine. Breakout stars, solid ensembles, and a willingness to try new things are keeping the brand fresh. I wouldn’t count them out anytime soon.

The Bottom Line

Hallmark didn’t just survive 2025. It adapted—sometimes in ways nobody really saw coming.

The network managed to shake up what success means for cable TV. Honestly, if you look at these ratings, it’s clear folks aren’t tired of cozy romances and familiar faces just yet.