The Best Hallmark Movies So Far In 2023

Sometimes, there's nothing quite like a cheesy, easygoing Hallmark movie. Whether you're in the mood for a light-hearted romantic comedy, a gripping whodunit, or a heartwarming drama, the network has plenty of movies to choose from. Hallmark releases dozens of movies every year — and while this is great news for fans, it can also make choosing which one to watch a little tricky.

If you're looking for a brand new Hallmark movie to check out, there are already a few great 2023 options to choose from. There's the latest addition to the "Wedding Veil" series starring Hallmark-favorite Lacey Chabert. There's also a bunch of adorable Valentine's Day-themed rom-coms, such as "A Paris Proposal," "Welcome to Valentine," and "Sweeter Than Chocolate." The network has also brought us a few exciting new mysteries to sink our teeth into. Ready to find your next Hallmark favorite? We've compiled a list of our top picks for Hallmark movies of the year so far. 

This brand new Hallmark movie has everything we could want from a rom-com — an adorable story, a few of our favorite Hallmark actors, and, of course, a very cute puppy. "The Dog Lover's Guide to Dating" was released on January 1, 2023, and stars Rebecca Dalton. Audiences may remember from last year's Hallmark hits, "For the Love of Pasta" and "A Tiny Home Christmas." "The Dog Lover's Guide to Dating" also features Corey Sevier, of "Christmas of Mistletoe Lake," "Noel Next Door," and "Christmas Plus One" fame.

The movie tells the story of Simon, a young man who is trying to win over Chloe by bonding with her dog. However, when he meets Alex, a peppy dog trainer, sparks fly and he begins to reconsider where his affections really lie.

In addition to us, Hallmark fans are loving this new addition to the collection. As the fan podcast "Girls Gone Hallmark" noted in their podcast episode about the movie, "I thought there was some, just, fun, lighthearted, very current writing in this movie." 

As every Hallmark fan knows, "The Wedding Veil" series is one of the network's biggest hits. To date, there have been six movies in total — three of which were released in 2022 and three that came out this year. While it's hard to pick a favorite "Wedding Veil" installment from 2023, we are big fans of the first entry in the new series of films, "The Wedding Veil Expectations," which was released on January 7, 2023.

This film catches up with Avery (Lacey Chabert) and Peter (Kevin McGarry), who were the first couple to be married with the mystical antique veil in the 2022 movie "The Wedding Veil." The couple is now renovating the old house they purchased. Even though the three college friends all got married in the veil in the first trilogy, it finds its way down the aisle once again in this sequel. 

Just before the release of "The Wedding Veil Expectations," its star, Lacey Chabert, spoke to Forbes about the powerful series. "In 'The Wedding Veil,' we get to explore the best friends," she said. "It's not just about the romantic relationship, which is front and center, but it's really about the friends ... the thing that I'm most excited about is that we finally get to see what happens after these movies end." If you loved "The Wedding Veil" and you're curious to catch up with the three friends after their weddings, this follow-up is the perfect pick for you.

"Love in Glacier National: A National Park Romance" made its debut on January 28, 2023. The ski resort rom-com stars Ashley Newbrough, who you may know from "Saving Christmas Spirit," "Blue Moon Ball," or "A Merry Christmas Match," to name a few. It also features Stephen Huszar, known for "Christmas in Rockwell," "Undercover Holiday," and "Chesapeake Shores." This story is all about the unlikely romance between an avalanche predictor and a local mountain rescuer, who initially disagree on mountain safety techniques, but ultimately begin to fall for each other.

While this movie is a great pick for fans of romance, it's also a wonderful choice for skiers, as it was filmed on location in Fernie, British Columbia on real ski slopes. "It's one of the most avalanche-prone hills in the Rockies or even in the world," Huszar told the "Everything About Hallmark" podcast. "And it has some of the most snow, accumulation of snow, over the actual ski season ... the ski patrollers and the avalanche experts and everyone there are very, very, very well trained. They're some of the world's best."

Get ready for one of the sweetest Valentine's Day rom-coms ever. "Sweeter Than Chocolate" tells the story of Lucy Sweet (Eloise Mumford), a chocolatier whose famous Valentine's Day recipe promises to help people fall in love. When Dean Chase (Dan Jeannotte), a TV reporter, comes to do a story about the chocolate, the recipe seems to start working.

While this movie has all the trappings of a good old-fashioned rom-com, it might also surprise some viewers. "When I first read the script, it immediately struck me as a different kind of story than some of these rom-coms tend to be," said Jeannotte to Us Weekly. "Because we weren't just focused on the love story between the two main characters. You also get to see these snippets of a lot of different kinds of love stories." Jeannotte went on to praise the network for including a wide range of diverse narratives in the movie. "[We're] seeing gay love stories, love stories with people who met later in life, older people who fell in love after having a marriage or losing a partner," he said. "And it just goes to show there [are as] many different ways to fall in love as there are different people in the world." 

This Hallmark movie has everything we could want and more.

What could be more romantic than falling in love in Paris? If you have always dreamed of a chic love affair on the banks of the Seine, this 2023 Hallmark movie is the perfect choice for you. The movie begins with colleagues Anna (Alexa PenaVega) and French native Sebastian (Hallmark newcomer Nicholas Bishop) visiting Paris in the hopes of winning the account of a French diamond company for their marketing firm ("Emily in Paris" anyone?). However, the pair end up having to pose as a couple — and naturally, real sparks soon begin to fly. 

"It's both funny and difficult for them," Bishop said during a Hallmark set visit. "And they kind of grow to like each other." And Paris is definitely the perfect setting for the unlikely love story to form. "I think it's the perfect place to put these two characters," said PenaVega. Added Bishop, "People will enjoy these two characters pretend that they don't like each other." Sign us up.

In "Welcome to Valentine," we meet Olivia (Kathryn Davis) and George (Markian Tarasiuk), two strangers who end up taking a road trip together after Olivia loses her home and job. Of course, things quickly turn around for Olivia when she begins to develop feelings for George.

As Davis explained, this rom-com is anything but uneventful. "With the formula of these stylings of films is that there's some initial attraction, and then a little misunderstanding, and then there's — along the way, the characters make amends and then the feelings grow, and then there's a big misunderstanding and then there's the conclusion and the resolution of the film," Davis told Survived the Shows. However, she explained "Welcome to Valentine" strays from the common approach, adding even more mix-ups along the way — and that's exactly why we love it. "It's very much like a wave of storyline between them that goes on throughout the film ... so it makes it quite dynamic."

Looking for a rom-com with a supernatural twist? "Made for Each Other" is for you. This adorable movie stars Alexandra Turshen as Rachel, a young sculptor whose statue of the perfect man comes to life (Aaron O'Connell). But even though her living statue might tick all of her boxes, she soon starts to fall for her friend David (Matt Cohen) and realizes that when it comes to love, there might be no such thing as perfection.

For Matt Cohen, who plays comedian David in the film, it was a particularly special project. "Coming out of COVID, this was the first film I did in over two years," he told Digital Journal. "I was so excited to get back, it was a reward to work with Aaron, Alex, and the director Jeff Beesley. It was an extraordinary group of people that was very kind and very giving. It was a spectacular experience with a role that I connected far more than I ever expected to."

A film filled not only with great performances but great songs, too, "A Nashville Legacy" does not disappoint. This instant Hallmark classic tells the story of Naima (Andrea Lewis), a music fan who moves to Nashville, Tennessee, where she meets and falls in love with successful music producer Damian (Pooch Hall). The pair share a strong love of music, but, as it turns out, Damian's family company may be hiding some secrets. "A Nashville Legacy" is a fun, exciting journey with a few twists and turns and plenty of romance and amazing music along the way.

"Hallmark's been great as far as making sure everything feels authentic and this music vibe is just really, really electric," noted Hall during an on-set interview. Added Lewis, "If I could describe this movie in three words: music, family, and then I would say, it's just good old Nashville fun!" We'd agree.

2023 will see a series of Hallmark movies called "The Love Club," about a group of friends who have a pact to help each other with relationship problems — no matter where or when the issues might arise. The first installment, "Nicole's Pen Pal," follows Nicole (Brittany Bristow), who decides she wants to get in touch with a mystery man (Marcus Rosner) who used to be her pen pal. She tracks him down and finds a way to meet him under false pretenses.  

Not only does this film offer a lovely romance, but it's also a deeply relatable story. "I think Nicole is dealing with something a lot of people have felt in the past where you don't feel like you're in the right place," Bristow told the Hallmark Channel in an interview. 

Of course, while the love story is a major part of this movie, it also focuses on female friendship. And, thanks to the real relationships of the women in the cast, that dynamic shines through on the screen. "We were there for each other in the mornings. We hung out on the weekends," said Bristow to TV Fanatic. "We really developed beautiful friendships and had a chance to really be there as support for each other, which is beautiful."

In Hallmark's "Game of Love," two game designers find themselves at odds when asked to create a romantic game. Even though things get off to a shaky start for the couple, who have very different ideas about the right approach, they soon fall for each other while working on the game. 

The movie stars Brooks Darnell (known for "Holiday Heritage" and "Advice to Love By") as Matthew and Kimberley Sustad (known for "North to Home" and "Lights, Camera, Christmas!") as Audrey.

"These two people are — Brooks less so — their own worst enemy," explained Sustad in an interview with Dear Hallmark. "Audrey is this really highly competitive board game designer ... but also has a love for creating these games." Because of her competitive nature, Audrey tends to push people away. As Sustad put it, "She's sort of a lone wolf." With Brooks, Audrey continues to push him away — until she finally softens. We're suckers for enemies-to-lovers stories, and we're a fan of this one's especially cute premise.

If you're in the mood for a sporty love story — think "Bend It Like Beckham" — look no further than "A Winning Team." This rom-com centers around Emily (Hallmark-newcomer Nadia Hatta), a soccer player who finds herself working with Ian (Kristoffer Polaha), a kids' soccer coach in a small town. 

For Hatta, "A Winning Team" was a dream project because it put the spotlight on women's soccer, a sport she used to play. "I was over the moon because first of all, there's like no women's professional soccer players in movies, really, especially for the World Cup," she told Just Jared. "And I used to almost go professional in soccer. I chose acting instead of soccer, but I never thought I would ever combine the both." 

But even though "A Winning Team" may be a sports movie, at its heart, it's got a wonderful love story. "What all these Hallmark movies do so well is reminding the viewer that if you are bold enough to allow love into your life, it can have a really amazing effect on your whole life," Polaha added. "It can mellow you, it can give you strength ... it's kind of amazing when people believe in you and when they love you and when you find that support and that community."

"A Picture of Her" is a Hallmark movie about mistaken identities and fated love — who could ask for anything more? Beth (Rhiannon Fish) is at a flower market when photographer Jake (Tyler Hynes) happens to take a picture of her. When it becomes famous, Beth becomes curious about the identity of the mysterious photographer. The couple meet and sparks fly, but, at first, Beth doesn't know that her new romance is also the man behind the camera.

So, what can viewers expect from "A Picture of Her"? Well, for one thing, it stars Tyler Hynes, who has appeared in loads of Hallmark favorites, including "Three Wise Men and a Baby," "Always Amore," "An Unexpected Christmas," and "It Was Always You," to name a few. As his co-star Fish put it to Hallmark Happenings Podcast, he is "one of the Hallmark Golden Boys." She went on, "I think audiences are really, really gonna like that one."

"Unexpected Grace" follows a young girl named Grace (Erica Tremblay) who, looking for a friend, responds to an anonymous letter from another young girl. This kicks off a series of events that bring two single parents together. Naturally, a touching story of family and romance follows.

This is a great Hallmark movie to choose if you're looking for something a little deeper. "It's a story about dealing with grief and different stages of grief, and that is an exciting thing as a storyteller to jump into," one of the film's stars, Michael Rady, told Digital Journal. "We all enjoyed digging into that and playing with that. It felt really delicate at times to find a balance. We also wanted romance to be a part of that story." Another actor from the film, Sophia Powers, told Survived the Shows, in three words, the movie is "Uplifting, heartwarming, funny." Sounds like everything we could want from a new Hallmark movie.

If you're a fan of "The Parent Trap," this movie is an excellent choice for you.

If you're after a romantic Hallmark movie with a gorgeous sunny backdrop, you'll love "Love in the Maldives." This film follows a travel writer who heads to the Maldives for a story and ends up teaming up with the hotel's guest experience expert. The pair set out on an adventure — and find love along the way.

What makes this film an absolute must-watch is the fact that the stars, Jocelyn Hudson and Jake Manley, are actually partners in real life, too. The pair first met through their self-tape coach, and Manley proposed to Hudson in 2020 with a "Gilmore Girls"-inspired proposal. As Hudson recalled to ET, "We had just driven six hours from Toronto to Montreal and got to our Airbnb which is about six floors, and after a sweaty walk up all of the flights of stairs, we went up to the rooftop terrace and waiting on the patio was 1,000 red roses. I was so shocked." How adorable. This movie seriously excels due to the chemistry of the two leads.

"A Pinch of Portugal" is the perfect Hallmark flick for foodies looking for a fun, flirty watch this year. The film stars Heather Hemmens as Anna, a cook who lands a job as a TV chef cooking up Portuguese dishes after her boss, Dean, played by Darren Day, goes on vacation. Although the pair initially struggle to work together upon his return, romance is never far away on the Hallmark Channel, and sparks soon fly between Anna and the cameraman, Russ, played by Luke Mitchell.

What makes this movie so special is that its star, Hemmens, is actually trained as a chef. "I was able to really use some skills and show off a little bit, and put it to the test while I was doing dialogue," she said to Digital Journal. "It was a challenge in multitasking but it was very fun." She continued, saying, "Portugal is the most beautiful backdrop. The food was fantastic, the crew was amazing and we couldn't have asked for a better setup."

Come for the romance and stay for the gorgeous shots of Portugal. We can guarantee that you'll be desperate for a vacation romance (and some vacation food) by the time it's finished.

In "The Wedding Cottage," released in April 2023, Erin Krakow stars as Vanessa, a wedding planner who's planning a PR wedding to help publicize her book — the only problem is that the wedding needs to happen in the next month. Luckily, when she meets Evan, played by Hallmark regular Brendan Penny, a handsome sculptor who also happens to own the wedding cottage, she persuades him to help her get the venue ready in time. As you might have guessed, romance soon begins to blossom.

The moment Vanessa convinces Evan to help ended up being one of Penny's favorites. "I say, okay, I will accept your offer and your ability to work on the cottage as long as it doesn't affect me," he told Just Jared. "I really enjoyed that scene because on paper it was kind of a long scene and it didn't really seem like it was going too much anywhere. It was a well-written scene, but I wasn't really sure about it, and then just the way that Erin played it made me laugh and I really thought that she drove that scene and it actually just became one of my favorites by, it was just so fun to shoot and watch her work. It was great."

Thanks to this pair's electric chemistry, what might have been a pretty simple rom-com has become one of our favorites of the year.

"Spring Breakthrough" features the touching love story of an older single mother who meets someone new during a vacation to the Gulf Shores. You might call it a ... spring breakthrough.

Unlike many rom-coms, this movie features a love story between older leads. As star Keesha Sharp told Us Weekly, this is exactly what makes the film so special. "Reading the script, I loved that it was about women of a certain age, no matter if you're 30, 40, 50 and above, you know, there's time," she explained. "There's time and we're all here for our breakthrough. ... Life isn't over at 40 [or 50]. It's over when we stop breathing."

Actor Akono Dixon, who plays Shawn Norwood, summed up what makes this movie one of our favorite Hallmark films of 2023, telling Knockturnal, "This movie is filled with raw human connection, adventure, a rollercoaster of emotions, and lots and lots of smiles, giggles, comfort, and if I may say it again ... a lot of LOVE." 

The Hallmark Channel brought us yet another rom-com in May — "When Love Springs," a sweet story about a woman named Rory (Rhiannon Fish) who falls for Noah (James O'Halloran), the owner of a country B&B after she asks him to be her pretend boyfriend for the weekend.

"It was a great little film to do, we shot it in Brisbane, Australia, which is not too far from the Gold Coast," O'Halleran told Digital Journal. In addition to enjoying the location, the actor also loved working with his co-star. "Rhiannon is an absolute sweetheart, and she is a veteran in the romantic comedies genre," he told the publication.

This rom-com may use a pretty common trope — falling for the pretend boyfriend — but don't write it off without seeing it. This is a quintessential Hallmark love story that works thanks to the dynamic cast. As one reviewer wrote on IMDb, "The [ambiance] is very inviting somehow, Noah's character is very likable, the relationship that matures between them is endearing, and there are several charismatic moments one cannot ignore."

Musical theater fans, this one is for you. "Dream Moms" is the beautiful story of two moms who get a second chance at following their theatrical dreams. Moms Danielle (Tamera Mowry-Housley) and Claire (Chelsea Hobbs) enter a TV competition and soon find fame.

This movie features an often-overlooked view into the sacrifices mothers make — and it proves that it's never too late to chase your dreams. As Hobbs explained to Pop Culturist, "Women often are so focused on their kids and making sure that they're the best for their kids," she said. "The beautiful silver lining in all of this story is that you are truly a better mother if you take care of yourself. ... That is a really strong part of the story. It's an important story for a lot of women to be reminded of."

We also love this movie because it serves as a unique celebration of female friendships. As Hobbs told Just Jared, it can be hard for moms to make time for friends. "I think anybody who is in their thirties or forties or, any age, as you get older, it gets harder to make friends," she said. As this film shows us, though, it's possible!

"Wedding Season" is a fun romantic comedy that sees Trish (Stephanie Bennett) bringing Ryan (Casey Deidrick) along as her plus-one when she's tasked with being a bridesmaid three times in one summer.

One thing we love about "Wedding Season" is how well it portrays the mayhem of, well, all things weddings. "I'm getting married in a few weeks, so I understand how chaotic it can be," Bennett to TV Fanatic in June 2023. "It was also a lot of fun, wedding planning and trying to and those little fun moments in the chaos."

The film also highlights the importance of not only romantic love but platonic, too. "My friends and my life are essential and complement my life with my partner," Bennett said. "So, having those friendships is important, and I really liked that part of the movie." That's exactly why we consider this film one of the best Hallmark productions of 2023.

Looking for a comforting romantic movie set in a sunny holiday location? Look no further than "Love's Greek to Me," a charming rom-com set in Santorini, Greece. "Mamma Mia" and "Big, Fat, Greek Wedding" fans are sure to love this one.

The film stars Greek actor Yannis Tsimitselis as Mike, who brings his American girlfriend Ilana, played by Torrey DeVitto, to Santorini for a family wedding — and a surprise proposal. As Tsimitselis told Digital Journal, the film is a wonderful example of what Greece has to offer. "I am proud of this movie because it showcases the energy of us Greeks," he said. "Greeks are very dynamic and extroverted group of people, and we showcase our emotions very vividly. I invite everybody to visit not only Santorini, but the other beautiful Greek islands as well, which are infinite."

We think you'll love the couple's love story as much as we do — and you'll certainly love the setting.

"Make Me a Match" is a special Hallmark feature as it's the production company's first Indian-American film. The movie follows Vivi (Eva Bourne), a dating app developer, who initially consults an Indian matchmaker to help improve her app, only to find herself falling for the matchmaker's son, Boom (Rushi Kota).

"It's a bit like Indian Matchmaking meets American dating, and I don't think we've ever seen that on Hallmark so far," Kota told Just Jared. As Bourne told the publication, the film may feature a new storyline for Hallmark, but it is also a classic enemies-to-lovers story. "These characters maybe don't see eye to eye initially, and I think they're both very headstrong," she said. "Their idea and their vision of the world and how love works is clear to them, and they feel very strongly that the other person should feel the way that they feel." Of course, their bickering soon turns into something a little more romantic.

We agree with Decider's review of the film: "Make Me a Match has a lot to offer for both the head and the heart." This film will surely become one of your favorite Hallmark films — not just of 2023 but of all time.

Christmas in July anyone? In "A Royal Christmas Crush," you'll get that dose of festive romance we've all been craving. This delightful rom-com stars Katie Cassidy as Ava, an architect commissioned to design a festive ice building for the royal family of the (fictional) Freeland. She meets Prince Henry (Stephen Huszar), who ends up being just the thing she's been looking for.

While this Christmasy film may be a light-hearted romance, it also has some depth. In fact, it tackles the issue of sustainable housing. Of her character, Cassidy told Survived the Shows, "She's very much all about the environment and building, you know, sustainable homes and that are more affordable for mass majority of population in America. And you know what? A better person than someone in royalty in power — to help bring awareness to the situation to."

We love that this film broaches serious topics while still including everything you could want from a Hallmark romance. "Everyone I think loves a love story and it's a very warm-hearted movie and I hope that they just want to see more because we want to feel more," Cassidy said. "It was really fun."