Netflix Is the New Hallmark with ‘Hot Frosty’

The Hallmark Channel has become synonymous with Christmas, with the cable network pumping out dozens of features yearly. The channel has become a staple of many households as they settle into the holiday season. Netflix, the streaming giant, may offer a vast catalog, but it has been slowly expanding in various ways to try to attract as wide an audience as possible. One of the pushes has been for more Christmas-themed content along the same lines, focusing on uplifting stories told on a budget.

Every year, Netflix adds more to its holiday catalog. With the recent success of Hot Frosty (which also happens to star a Hallmark staple), the platform continues to push to establish itself as the #1 home of wholesome holiday-themed escapism. We will look at how Hot Frosty fits into the Hallmark niche and whether the streaming behemoth will be able to beat out the long-proven and tested cable TV spreader of joy.

‘Hot Frosty’ Brings Holiday Romance to Netflix

Kathy is still struggling two years after her husband’s passing. She works hard at her café but feels the pains of loneliness come the holiday season. One night, she gives a snowman her scarf, which happens to bring him to life (and in the nude). Named Jack, the newly formed snowman approaches his life with unending optimism and kindness, slowly melting the barrier that Kathy has put up around herself. As Jack becomes a beloved member of the community, he leans on the colorful and holiday cheer of others to work up to asking Kathy out, with a town school dance a chance for him to confess his growing feelings.

Hot Frosty stars Lacey Chambert, who fans of Hallmark movies will instantly recognize with her starring in over 40 films for the channel (appearing as recently as 2023 in Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up). Chabert’s involvement shows a continued trend of Netflix bringing on famous Hallmark actors for their features. Dustin Mulligan, probably best known for his role as Ten Mullens in Schitt’s Creek, plays Jack. The supporting cast is extensive and includes notable inclusions like Lauren Holly, Joe Lo Truglio, and Craig Robinson. Hot Frosty debuted on November 14 and has held the top spot in various regions, including the USA, Canada, and several European countries.

‘Hot Frosty’ Is Exemplary of Netflix’s Switch to Making Hallmark Quality Content

Adept Netflix fans who are always scrounging new releases have likely noticed the abundance of original content that is, at a glance, a budgeted affair often in the romance genre. This has also begun to become true of holiday content, as every year, the platform has its fair share of catchy, Christmas-themed titles. We have already gotten Meet Me Next Christmas and have Hot Frosty this year, and in the past, titles like The Knight Before Christmas and Holidate made an impressive showing. Because these are chart-toppers for the streaming giant, especially considering their budget, we will likely see more and more of these films from Netflix in the coming years.

Make no mistake — Hot Frosty is dumb fun, perfect for getting you in the holiday mood, particularly if you enjoy ogling muscular men. Yet, it fits in that category of being overlooked or disliked by critics but loved by the masses. Hot Frosty presents traditional holiday values and familiar romantic tropes and has a ‘made-for-TV’ vibe that does not precisely have critics lining up to praise it. This content is a comfort watch, tailored for the holiday, bound to be a top hit this year but replaced by something else in 2025 that is just as cookie-cutter. Essentially, Netflix is approaching the Hallmark Channel production model with the holiday season.

Does Hallmark Have to Be Worried About Netflix?

While the Hallmark Channel may not necessarily be what ‘the kids are subscribed to these days,’ the channel and its specials still attract an audience. Hallmark is the most-watched entertainment cable network among key demographics, including Women 25-54 and Adults 18-49 (though one can speculate this is on the older end of said demographics), as reported at the end of 2023, with the trend continuing into 2024. This is particularly true of the holiday season, with 2023’s A Merry Scottish Christmas (which also happened to star Hot Frosty’s Lacey Chabert) becoming the number one most-watched cable movie, scoring 3.33 million viewers on premiere (via Forbes).

Comparatively, Netflix has become a streaming giant, and its continued look at varying its programming, including live TV (if it can get the formula right and stop having consistent issues with streaming), looks to place Netflix as the number one source of entertainment. As of the third quarter of 2024, Netflix has amassed 282.7 million subscribers worldwide, which shows it outpacing cable TV. However, Hallmark has cornered a popular yet niche demographic and doesn’t need to appeal to ‘everyone’ like Netflix.

Hallmark and its channels can exist alongside Netflix, as both have different models and content. Notably, Netflix is creating more budgeted content with a similar style and focusing on traditional values like Hallmark, but the output doesn’t match. Hallmark makes around a hundred movies a year between its channels, with just under half being Christmas-themed. The only way that Netflix will beat out the channel and corner this market is with a potential decline in cable television viewership numbers. While viewers have been ‘cutting the chord’ and there has been a decline in cable TV viewership, Hallmark’s viewership remains strong. However, with time and continued trends, Netflix could be the “New Hallmark.” You can stream Hot Frosty on Netflix.