Our First Impressions of Hallmark’s January Movie Lineup
Hallmark’s January Movie Lineup is kicking off 2026 with sunshine, travel, second chances, and a fresh start kind of energy. With five new movies, one returning series, and one Hallmark+ wildcard, Hallmark is leaning fully into escapism to start the year. We sat down to share our very first impressions of what’s coming – and here’s where we landed. Think tropical locations, slow burn romances, and at least one movie we already cannot wait for.
Hallmark’s Winter Escape 2026 begins on Saturday January 4, 2026. All new movies will premiere on Hallmark Channel (and will be available to stream on Hallmark+ the following day. Second Chance Love (unscripted, reality) will stream exclusively on Hallmark+.
Listen to our January 2026 First Impressions Episode on Girls Gone Hallmark
Lost in Paradise
Starring Lacey Chabert and Ian Harding
Our First Impression: Cautiously optimistic and very intrigued.
A deserted island. A high end fashion founder. A chef. And Fiji. This one has all the ingredients for a January standout. Lacey Chabert is clearly booked and busy and pairing her with Ian Harding feels fresh and fun. We love the creative team behind this one, especially with Dustin Rikert directing and Keith Costumes handling wardrobe.
Our only hesitation is the fashion angle. High end fashion can be tricky on a Hallmark budget, but if anyone can pull it off, this team can. This is absolutely one we’ll be watching the minute it drops.
A Melbourne Match
Starring Mallory Jansen and Ryan Corr
Our First Impression: Open minded but slightly skeptical.
Mallory Jansen returns to her hometown of Melbourne in this travel forward romance where she plays an American writer learning to slow down. Mallory also co-wrote and executive produced this film, which gives it some extra credibility right out of the gate.
That said, this type of story does not always light us up. Travel romances can blur together and we’re not fully convinced yet. Still, the setting is gorgeous and Mallory is always a win, so we’re keeping an open heart.
Love on the Amazon
Starring Jaicy Elliott and Rafael de la Fuente
Our First Impression: Pretty people, pretty locations, but proceed with caution.
This one sends us deep into the Amazon rainforest where a woman travels to find her sister and ends up teaming up with a rugged riverboat captain. Sound familiar? A little bit. The director has done several globe hopping Hallmark movies, which makes us wonder if this could feel similar to past titles.
That said, the cast is charming, the setting looks stunning, and we are more than willing to be proven wrong. We’ll reserve judgment until we see it.
Caught by Love
Starring Rachel Leigh Cook and Luke Macfarlane
Our First Impression: Very excited and feeling confident.
A resort getaway, stolen jewels, an undercover investigation, and a romance? Yes please. This one feels like a fun tonal shift for January and the writing pedigree here is strong. Marcy Holland has written some of our favorite Hallmark films and Luke Macfarlane continues to be a total standout.
This has all the makings of a clever, adventurous romance and we’re hopeful it delivers.
Missing the Boat
Starring Emily Osment and Kristoffer Polaha
Our First Impression: Already obsessed.
Two strangers miss their cruise ship in Italy and have to race across the country to catch up. This is the one. Directed by Maclain Nelson and starring two Hallmark favorites, this movie feels like a perfect way to end the month.
The cast chemistry, the Italian setting, and the behind the scenes buzz all point to something special. We have very high expectations and honestly, we are not mad about it.
When Calls the Heart Returns
When Calls the Heart is back, but we will not be jumping in to review season 13. Thirteen seasons is a commitment we simply do not have in us. If you’re curious about our thoughts, we did a first impression of the pilot episode way back when and you might be surprised by how we felt.
Hallmark+ Reality Series – Second Chance Love
This new unscripted Hallmark+ series brings former couples back together to see if they still have a spark. Wendy is deeply skeptical. Megan is willing to give it one episode. We won’t be reviewing it on the podcast, but it does raise interesting questions about the future of unscripted programming on Hallmark+.
Don’t Miss our Full Catalog of January Hallmark Movies!
The Bottom Line
January feels bookended by two very strong movies with some question marks in the middle. Lost in Paradise and Missing the Boat are the standouts we’re most excited about, while the rest will need to earn our hearts.
We’ll be reviewing every Saturday night movie as they air, so come back each week and watch along with us.
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We’re Your New Hallmark Besties
Hey there! We’re Girls Gone Hallmark! Megan’s a longtime Hallmark movie fan, while Wendy – well, she used to be a Hallmark hater. Now, we’ve teamed up to share our (often very different!) takes on these films. Get ready for some lively, fun-filled conversations!
Check out the library of Hallmark movies we’ve reviewed!
