Hallmark Channel's Top 15 New Release Movies In 2026 (So Far), Ranked By Reviews

Hallmark is a cultural behemoth, and a large part of why that's still the case is because of the gentle, cozy movies the company puts out at a constant rate. Part of that coziness is the familiarity and comfort these movies provide, with tried-and-true formulas and delightful dynamics that keep viewers coming back for more. Of all the projects released in 2026, the movies featured in this list are the best at living up to the beloved Hallmark standard.

Many familiar stars also reappear across the network, including stars like Nikki DeLoach, Tamera Mowry-Housley, Tyler Hynes, and Jesse Metcalfe. Adding in the yearly movie events like the "Spring Into Love" and the equally well-loved "Fall Into Love" premiere events, Hallmark is the perfect place for seasonal comforts throughout the entire year. The year 2026 even had a "Christmas In July" week, which gave viewers many fashion looks that they'll definitely want to recreate come winter. Of course, viewers have their own opinions when it comes to Hallmark movies, which is why we've taken a look at the Hallmark Channel's top 15 new releases in 2026 and ranked them by their average IMDb reviews.

Hallmark movies are a good source of fluffy fun, but for one of the stars of "A Castle Of Our Own," this movie is a big comeback. Brennan Elliott is back on Hallmark after his wife's death, and it's fitting then that he stars in "A Castle lf Our Own" opposite Erica Cerra (Marley), who plays a burned-out architect on a summer trip in desperate need of rediscovering some joy and whimsy in her life. While on vacation, Marley meets a contractor (Elliott), who agrees to help her in a sandcastle building contest to help Marley reconnect with her daughter.

"A Castle of Our Own" might be one of the lower-rated movies on this list, but that hasn't stopped some viewers from loving it. The movie has a combined IMDb review score of 6.6/10, but one user gave it the full 10 stars, commenting, "This movie is lovely and it's wonderful to see Brennan Elliott again. He's an excellent actor and such a handsome man ... Please keep making more movies like this one, Hallmark! Good job!"

Hallmark fans all know Alison Sweeney, who has played the baker-detective Hannah Swensen in a whopping 14 installments of the series. The actor even stepped into a new role: Sweeney's screenwriting was baked to perfection in 2024's "One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery." The newest movie is "Best Served Cold: A Hannah Swensen Mystery," which sees Sweeney star opposite Victor Webster as the local attorney (and love interest). 

The two of them look into the murder of a suspect in a forgery case. The case's prosecutor then goes missing, and Sweeney and Webster must uncover what connects these two previously-unconnected cases. With a combined IMDb review score of 6.6/10, "Best Served Cold" seems generally well liked. However, one reviewer commented, "Unlike the previous movies in the series, this one was lacking ... in character development, script, and direction ... The script seems to drag on, without moving the plot forward ... I hope it gets better."

Janel Parrish has been through a stunning career transformation since her time in "Pretty Little Liars," and these days, she's one of Hallmark's go-to leading ladies. In her latest role, Parrish plays Chinese American pottery artist Tee, who ends up in a meet-cute with local community center handyman Will, played by Chris McNally. As the two grow closer, Tee learns about her family's traditions through art, and she and Will try their best to stop the closure of their community center.

The film boasts an IMDb score of 6.7/10. One reviewer gave a personal score of 7 stars, commenting, "Yes, this is a save the Community Center story, but at the same time it brings a different and unique perspective rather than the usual Hallmark formula. It's the performances of the actors and well-written dialog that make the characters come to life, which draws you into the story."

It's expected for Hallmark to work with the same actors again and again, and that's definitely the case for Paul Campbell, who has starred in at least a dozen of them over the years. Of all his roles, this one Hallmark movie is Campbell's favorite — and one day his newest role might also make the cut. In "All's Fair in Love and Mahjong," Ben (Campbell) is the love interest of Ronni, played by Fiona Gubelmann. 

Ronni is a devoted mother and school nurse with a particular gift for teaching mahjong. This talent keeps her going as her life is hit by several problems; her work hours are cut, and her ex pressures her into selling her home after her daughter moves out. But after meeting charming contractor Ben, Ronni gets her spark back — and the two fall in love. With 6.8/10 stars on IMDb, the film represents Hallmark's step away from favorite tropes. One user praised the shift, commenting: "Thank you, Hallmark, for completely throwing out your tired, worn out format of town-wide festivals, carnivals, [and] fundraisers."

It's not rare for there to be a dose of magic in Hallmark movies, and that's exactly what drives the plot along in the Valentine's Day movie "Because of Cupid." The film stars Amy Groening as Naomi and Evan Roderick as Marcus as best friends. The two vow to buy the bar they work at by throwing a V-Day mocktail competition. The whole plot goes pear-shaped when the one and only Cupid interferes by intoxicating Marcus — and several other of Naomi's friends — with a love potion.

Another well-liked movie from Hallmark's 2026 crop, "Because of Cupid" has an average IMDb score of 6.8/10 stars, with several reviews praising the movie's cute and fun romance. One reviewer commented, "This is a must see for those looking for a warm hug on a cold day. It has its share of fantasy but what sets it apart is the infusion of real life moments which bring depth to the characters ... you find yourself falling in love with the terrific ensemble cast."

"Missing The Boat" stars Emilie Ullerup and Kristoffer Polaha have a sure-fire way to guarantee chemistry — by playing love interests again and again. Many have wondered what Ullerup and Polaha's relationship is like when the cameras aren't on, but it definitely must be nice to work with an old friend a decade later. "Missing The Boat" sees Ullerup as Kelly and Polaha as Parker, both of whom have both set sail on the same Italian cruise. However, the two find themselves having to team up and travel across Southern Italy after they both manage to miss their boat during a planned stop.

While it has an average IMDb review score of 6.8/10 on IMDb, viewers seem to be divided by the film. "I feel it partly missed the mark, probably because of the growing Hallmark's trend to make everything a farce," wrote one reviewer, while other IMDb users praised Polaha's physical humor skills, as well as the chemistry between the leads.

Torrey DeVitto is a familiar face on Hallmark, but what some viewers might know is that DeVitto's dad has fame of his own. Knowing that DeVitto has grown up in the spotlight makes her easy grace as a Hallmark leading lady even easier to understand, so it's no wonder her movie "Toast To Italy" boasts a respectable 6.9/10 stars on IMDb. Taking place in — you guessed it — Italy, "Toast To Italy" stars Devitto as Jenny, who travels to the country to find a special bottle of wine for her sister's wedding. While there, she meets British journalist Arrigo, played by Will Kemp, who is looking for the same bottle of mysterious "Love Wine."

The location left an impression on one reviewer, who said, "I love Will Kemp and I loved the Italian setting. The story was sweet and dear to my heart as for my husband and my wedding we also drank from the same bottle because of an Italian myth ... the hate to love between the two main characters as well as their hunt for the same bottle of wine and 'Italian' backstory was fun."

With over 20 Hallmark movies under her belt, Nikki DeLoach has undergone quite a stunning transformation over the years. With fan favorites such as 2020's "Sweet Autumn" and her role in the "Curious Caterer" mystery series, it's no surprise that reviewers found something to love about DeLoach's newest Hallmark movie, "The Greek Aisle," despite its 6.9/10 IMDb review score. Starring DeLoach as Georgia and Apostolis Totsikas as Alex, the movie sees Georgia travel to the Greek island of Corfu to finalize the collection of an inheritance. However, once she gets there, Georgia finds that the only way to actually receive the inheritance is to marry her co-inheritor, Alex.

While one complaint about "The Greek Aisle" is a somewhat weak story, several reviewers praised the Greek setting and its scenery. One IMDb user commented, "It's great to see Hallmark spread its wings to international venues and no longer be tied to make-believe small towns in rural America ... That said, this is still Hallmark, so the storyline is pretty weak and lacks realism, but with Nikki DeLoach as the lead actress, you get some decent acting."

Former "Pretty Little Liars" star Ian Harding has been hailed as one of the trendiest Hallmark hunks who are stealing fans' hearts, which makes him a great pick to star alongside Christmas movie queen Lacey Chabert. Cue Harding and Chabert's latest Hallmark movie, "Lost in Paradise," where they play love interests on a scenic deserted island. "Lost in Paradise" sees Chabert playing Sophia, a high-end fashion company founder who gets marooned on an island with professional chef Max. The two work together to survive their "deserted" island, and love blooms between them.

The movie has a respectable 6.9/10 IMDb rating, with a few viewers absolutely loving Chabert and Harding's island exploits. One fan loved the "Fiji fun," commenting, "This was another unique Hallmark movie, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The comedic timing of the two main characters made me laugh more than usual. There were some silly parts to the movie, and some that weren't very realistic, but I'm okay with that."

Jesse Metcalfe is ready for a "Desperate Housewives" reboot — not least because the show is where he made a name for himself in his younger years. For the last decade, he's been a common sight in Hallmark productions, including as one of the stars of "Absolutely Devoted To You" alongside Kimberley Sustad. The latter takes on the role as an ambitious TV producer who comes up with a brilliant idea to reunite a beloved '90s boy band to promote her summer programming block. Of course, her ideas are thrown off track when she falls for the band's reluctant lead singer, played by Metcalfe.

Viewers are divided on this movie, which has a 6.9/10 rating on IMDb. One reviewer gave it a 10/10, praising the "romantic summer romance" as well as Metcalfe's hunky looks, while another user gave the movie a mere 2/10. They commented, "I had to force myself to keep watching ... there was no romance throughout the movie until it was forced at the end. The boy band storyline was uninteresting with the exception of the music video being the high point of this time sink of a movie."

She's been a star since the '90s, so it's not surprising that the untold truth of Tamera Mowry-Housley has often been discussed. Mowry-Housley has been a leading lady in over 10 Hallmark movies across the network to date, with one of her most recent being "Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Key to the Castle." In the latest "Haunted Harmony" installment, Mowry-Housley plays music teacher Gethsemane, who once again teams up with friendly ghost Eamon, played by Risteard Cooper. The duo work together to solve the mystery surrounding the death of a ghost hunter show host to help his spirit cross over to the other side.

Viewers definitely seem to have enjoyed "Key to the Castle", which has an average review score of 7.0/10 on IMDb. One viewer in particular commented, "One of my faves ... The back and forth with Gethsemane and Eamon is always hilarious, as well as with Eamon and the host."

Andrew Walker is one of those Hallmark actors who has, in the past, revealed why his on-set chemistry with actors like Paul Campbell and Tyler Hynes is so rare. But viewers of his latest project, titled "Kentucky Roses," are less shocked. Hallmark loves to create a romance between an unlikely pair, and that's exactly what "Kentucky Roses" has in spades. Starring Odette Anable as Sadie Grey and Andrew Walker as Ash Taylor, "Kentucky Roses" sees greenhouse worker Sadie and the son of a CEO (Ash) come together to save the Kentucky Derby rose blanket, uncovering a years-old love story along the way.

The film earned an average review score of 7.1/10 on IMDb. One reviewer gave it an even higher personal rating of 10/10, commenting, "I really love this movie. Andrew Walker and Odette Anable have beautiful chemistry. The location, flowers and wardrobe are amazing ... The backstory of Gloria and Charlie, relatives from the past, really complements the sweet romance."

"I'll Be Seeing You" is a lesson in what it can mean to let go of your responsibilities for a while, as Stacey Farber's character Amy realizes when her plans end up getting derailed. Roped into dropping her plans with her grandma after a work event crops up, Amy meets Mark (played by Tyler Hynes), and away they go. Hynes is known as the ultimate Hallmark sweetheart, so it's no wonder Mark charms Amy in "I'll Be Seeing You" — which many viewers enjoyed about the movie. Praising it as a "sweet road trip romance," one reviewer said, "'I'll Be Seeing You' takes two seniors and two 30-somethings on the road to romance, one of the seniors hoping to reconnect with a lost love."

However, despite its 7.2/10 IMDb review score, not all viewers were so pleased. One reviewer took issue with the "stupid 'screw your responsibilities' message," though they praised the cast and the road trip car itself. "I hate when economic realities are treated with disdain in movies like this," they wrote.

Sometimes, a network has to take a step outside of their comfort zone, and that's exactly what Hallmark films have been doing with their international settings in recent years. In "A Melbourne Match," Mallory Jansen plays Georgie, a travel writer who travels to Melbourne for an assignment. There, she meets Zach Jones, an Australian former professional footballer, who agrees to be her tour guide and slowly shows Georgie that there's more to life than work.

With a very healthy review score of 7.2/10 on IMDb, "A Melbourne Match" left viewers praising both the Australian setting and the chemistry between the main stars. One reviewer commented, "What I didn't expect was a 90-minute journey through Australian culture, cuisine, and scenery that felt genuinely transporting. The story unfolds beautifully and naturally. Nothing feels forced or rushed." Another reviewer added, "One of the rare Hallmarks (and I watch them all) where sparks really seem to fly between the two actors."

Hallmark movies tend to have a romantic notion of small-town life, which made "The Way To You" all the more surprising for viewers, who enjoyed New Yorkers being portrayed as loving the city and their lives in it. "The Way To You" stars Kim Matula as Emma alongside Aaron O'Connell as Conrad, two New Yorkers who meet on the subway during a blackout. Both agree to team up to find their mutual lost connections, but their search seems much more likely to lead them to each other instead.

With an average IMDb review score of 7.2/10, the movie generally went over well with viewers. One reviewer wrote, "The best thing about this movie is it was set in New York and the leading lady was very happy living in New York — no small town yearnings! If you like Hallmark movies but are looking for something different, give this one a chance. It was not formulaic and had a great storyline."

This compilation of top Hallmark movies released in 2026 relied on average user review ratings from IMDb. To make the ranks, particular attention was given to the movies where there was less of a discrepancy between the highest and lowest ratings. There are, of course, some movies that Hallmark released in 2026 that haven't been so loved by viewers. But, due to their comforting nature and familiar formula, even lower-rated movies like "A Royal Setting" (5.7/10), "Love Under The Mistletoe" (5.6/10), "True Justice: Eye for an Eye" (5.8/10), and "Romance at Hope Ranch" (5.9/10) have perfectly respectable scores, with several elements of each movie being praised.

A reviewer for "A Royal Setting" wrote, "[Jen Lilley] and Dan Jeannotte had fun chemistry. I liked that the queen wasn't a total Cruella and listened to her son." However, another reviewer labelled the movie as "simply dreadful." The movie "Love Under the Mistletoe," which previously released in 2024 as "Operation Mistletoe," fared even worse. One reviewer offered the movie 3/10 stars, commenting, "A great drinking game movie."