The 5 New Fall Hallmark Movies We're Most Excited To Watch
As soon as holiday music begins to play in stores and our favorite holiday Starbucks drinks are finally available again, we suddenly feel the urge to stay inside and watch a cheesy movie on Hallmark. And while the cozy feeling is enough to reach for your biggest blanket and the remote, there is actually scientific evidence as to why many of us feel a gravitational pull towards Hallmark movies. According to The Lily, dopamine and oxycontin are released in our bodies when we watch one of these movies, lowering our stress levels and making us feel happy.
NBC News agreed, speaking with a behavioral scientist who said that the predictable nature of the movies also helps humans relax during an otherwise stressful time of year. But, you don't have to wait for the holidays to get that rush of dopamine you may need in the fall. The Hallmark channel recently released their "Fall into Love" 2022 movie schedule, featuring a ton of new movies you are not going to want to miss. Here are five we are adding to our cozy night-in schedule.
Love in the Limelight
The very first movie to premiere during the "Fall in Love" event on the Hallmark channel was "Love in the Limelight." While this one technically came out while we were still knee-deep in summer, it was the perfect introduction into the fall season. According to Hallmark, the story follows Summer and her teen crush, Nick, who happens to be a boy band member. The pair has never met in person, but when Nick comes to her town for a comeback tour, they finally meet and romance is sure to follow. And the best part? Summer and Nick are real-life husband-and-wife, Alexa and Carlos PenaVega, so the chemistry is sure to be on fire.
Alexa may have millennials seeing double — she was the star of "Spy Kids" — but her resume proves that she is made for Hallmark movies. You can find her in other Hallmark favorites like "Destination Wedding," "Enchanted Christmas" and "Christmas Made to Order," per IMDb. Her husband Carlos is known for his role in Nickelodeon's "Big Time Rush." The two have previously acted together in Hallmark's "Enchanted Christmas."
"Love in the Limelight" premiered on August 6, 2022.
Marry Me in Yosemite
According to What to Watch, all of the new Hallmark movies released in the "Fall into Love" category have two things in common: love and the introduction of fall, often by way of color-changing leaves and sweaters. "Marry Me in Yosemite" fits in perfectly. The story follows a photojournalist named Zoe who creates coffee table books of beautiful spots she visits — her next assignment is to take photos of Yosemite, per Hallmark. While there, she enlists the help of a tour guide named Jack, who takes her on a brand new adventure throughout the area.
The movie stars Cindy Busby, a Canadian actress who you may recognize from her early years in movies and shows like "Picture This," "Heartland," and "Vampire Diaries." But if you are a fan of Hallmark, you have likely seen her there. She has starred in "Royal Hearts," "Romance on the Menu," and "Unleashing Mr. Darcy." Her co-star, Tyler Harlow, has a shorter resume, with his career based in modeling — according to Hallmark — or you may recognize him from Taylor Swift's music video for "The Man."
"Marry Me in Yosemite" premieres on September 3, 2022.
Marry Go Round
If you are looking for a classic story of high school sweethearts who separate and then find each other again years later, "Marry Go Round" should be at the top of your list. According to Hallmark, this movie follows Abby Foster as she plans a new life in Paris with her fiance, only to be blindsided by a letter from her former high school sweetheart, Luke Walker. There is a bit of a twist to this classic story: Abby was married to Luke, but the couple divorced, making this letter even more of a shock to Abby (per Pioneer Woman).
The movie stars Amanda Shull, who, according to IMDb, was a professional ballet dancer before moving into acting. She got her start in the world of movies in the popular film "Center Stage," in which she had the lead role. She has also appeared in "Pretty Little Liars" as Meredith and in "Suits" as Katrina. Amanda's co-star, Brennan Elliot, is a Hallmark channel favorite, starring in some of our favorite movies, and has recently made headlines for his wife's journey after being diagnosed with stomach cancer, per Us Weekly.
"Marry Go Round" premieres on September 10, 2022.
Wedding of a Lifetime
Following the sought-after trend of high school sweethearts, "Wedding of a Lifetime" follows teen loves, Darby and Jake, who find themselves at an impasse in their relationship. Their small town suddenly nominates them for a competition and the prize? An all-expenses paid wedding, Hallmark notes. Will this competition lead them to rekindle the romance they once had? We will sure be tuning in to find out!
Not to mention, the movie stars heartthrob Jonathan Bennet, who you know as Aaron Samuels from the hit movie "Mean Girls." According to Food Network, he has also been in "Smallville," "Veronica Mars," "Cheaper by the Dozen," and is the host of "Cake Wars" on Food Network. His co-star Brooke D'Orsay is no stranger to the feel-good movies we Hallmark fans crave. She has starred in "Beverly Hills Wedding," "Love is Christmas," and "Christmas in Love," per Rotten Tomatoes.
"Wedding of a Lifetime" premieres on September 17, 2022.
Fly Away with Me
The last movie to premiere during the "Fall in Love" series of movies on the Hallmark channel is "Fly Away with Me." This movie sounds like it has the perfect amount of romance and quirk to take our minds off our busy schedules and hectic lives. It follows Angie, played by Natalie Hall, as she moves into an apartment that has a strict no pets rule, according to Hallmark. When a parrot arrives along with her, neighbor Ted, played by Peter Mooney, sets out on a mission to find the parrot's owner, without getting her in trouble.
"Fly Away with Me" premieres September 24, 2022.
As the final September movie, this is the ultimate way to enjoy a cozy fall day before we enter October and start streaming all our favorite Halloween hits including "October Kiss," "Pumpkin Pie Wars," and "Good Witch: Halloween," the first of Hallmark's "Good Witch" series (via Cafe Mom).