Why Starring in Christmas Movies is a Smart Career Move
On a cold and rainy night in November, over 2,000 people gathered at the UBS Arena on Long Island for the Great American Family Christmas Festival. The event, organized by the cable TV network of the same name, transformed the arena into a holiday wonderland. The wonderland was complete with ice skating, fire pits, igloos, and $20 spiked cider. Of course, Santa Claus was there too.
The main attraction on opening night was former *Full House* star and current GAF mainstay Candace Cameron Bure. She lit the Christmas tree and greeted fans who paid between $15 and $249 for the experience. Bure, with over 15 holiday movies to her name across Hallmark and GAF, has become a central figure in the Christmas movie industry. She’s earned a substantial income and provided a blueprint for other actors looking to reinvigorate their careers in this growing genre.
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The Rise of Candace Cameron Bure in the Christmas Movie Industry
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Candace Cameron Bure’s journey into the Christmas movie industry began more than a decade after the end of *Full House* with the 2008 Hallmark Christmas movie *Moonlight and Mistletoe*. At the time, Bure was simply grateful for a job after a self-imposed hiatus from Hollywood to focus on her family. The predictable and stable nature of Christmas movie gigs provided her with a gentle runway back into the working world.
Acting in a Christmas movie typically involves a 15-day shoot over three weeks. This is a far less time-consuming commitment compared to feature films or multi-cam sitcoms.
From Hallmark to Great American Family
Bure’s timing was fortuitous as she joined Hallmark during its golden era, when the network’s Countdown to Christmas campaign was taking off. Realizing the growing success and viewership of holiday movies, Bure decided to refocus her career on this niche. Since then, she has starred in dozens more Hallmark movies, including over 10 Christmas titles. In 2022, she left Hallmark to join ex-Hallmark boss Bill Abbott at Great American Family (GAF), where she now stars in and produces films under her Candy Rock Entertainment banner.
Financial Stability and Career Reinvigoration
For actors, appearing in Christmas movies can provide a much-needed element of financial security. The entertainment industry is notoriously unstable, and the 2023 Hollywood strikes only exacerbated this volatility. Yet, the market for original holiday movies continues to grow.
Lisa Hamilton Daly, the executive vice president of programming at Hallmark Media, stated that 2024 was the company’s biggest holiday season yet. They had over 40 new movies debuting across its networks and streaming service.
The Appeal of Holiday Movies
Many actors find the heartwarming and predictable nature of holiday movies appealing. For example, Chad Michael Murray enjoys the stability these roles provide while raising a family. He appreciates the lack of heavy subject matter, which allows him to maintain a positive mental state.
Similarly, Lindsay Lohan made her acting comeback with the 2022 Netflix Christmas movie *Falling for Christmas*. She followed it up with another holiday film in 2024.
The Growing Market for Holiday Movies
The demand for holiday movies is insatiable, with more networks and streaming services joining the bandwagon. Bill Abbott, now heading GAF, called the rapid growth in the space remarkable. The genre’s success has made it a smart career move for many actors, providing them with steady work and a stable income.
A conservative midrange estimate for a holiday movie lead’s salary is around $150,000 for a three-week commitment. This is a solid payout compared to other acting gigs.
Improving Genre Esteem
Major streaming platforms like Netflix entering the holiday movie market have also improved the genre’s esteem. Even Anne Hathaway has expressed a desire to star in a great Christmas movie, calling it her *weird bucket list thing*.
While there’s always a risk of typecasting, this is less of an issue for established actors with extensive bodies of work. For example, former teen heartthrobs like Chad Michael Murray and Jason Priestley have successfully transitioned into holiday movies without compromising their careers.
Positive On-Set Experiences
Working on a Christmas movie set can be a surprisingly pleasant experience. Podcaster Danny Pellegrino, who wrote and starred in his first Hallmark movie, *Deck the Walls*, found the set to be a well-oiled machine with no drama. This positive environment contrasts sharply with the often stressful and intense atmosphere of other film sets.
Breaking Down Snobbery
Sarah Ramos, best known for her role on NBC’s *Parenthood*, initially hesitated to join Hallmark due to concerns about the genre’s reputation. However, she realized that trying to impress *legitimate* directors wasn’t advancing her career. Encouraged by industry professionals like Christopher Storer, creator of FX’s *The Bear*, she embraced the opportunity and later secured a recurring role on *The Bear*.
Conclusion
The Christmas movie industry offers actors a unique combination of financial stability, career reinvigoration, and positive on-set experiences.
The genre’s growing popularity and the entry of major streaming platforms have made holiday movies a viable and respected career path.
Candace Cameron Bure’s success story serves as an inspiring example of how actors can thrive in this heartwarming and ever-expanding niche.
