Butlers in Love

6.2/10 · 1,027 ratings20221h 24mWeirdness 6/10Bingo card

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The premise

Follows Emma and Henry as they train to become royal butlers; the competition is fierce and sparks fly.

How unusual is it?

More than most. Royalty and an enemies-to-lovers arc push it well past the usual Hallmark template — the strangest 18% of everything we've logged.

Who’s in it

Behind the camera

Show

Directed by

Written by

Wait, what?

The quirks and curveballs that make this one a little weirder than your average Hallmark. No spoilers, promise.

  • The repeated use of the term 'butling' as a technical verb.
  • The protagonist's life-long obsession with a fictional butler TV show called 'Plumshire Manor.'
  • A high-stakes 'table-setting race' used as a romantic bonding exercise.
  • The claim that butler school is harder to get into than law school or Harvard.
  • The assertion that 'butling' is older than the invention of the wheel.

Every trope, all in one place

Here’s everything this one has going on, from the setting to the way it wraps up. Tap any of the 26 to find more movies that do the same thing.

How it all plays out

Already seen it, or just can’t wait? Open this up for the whole story, ending included.

Full story (spoilers)
Emma Conroy is a dedicated waitress who dreams of the elite life of a butler, a passion sparked by the fictional series 'Plumshire Manor.' After several rejections, she is finally accepted into the American Butler Academy under the tutelage of the strict Charles Wiloughby. On her first day, she literally runs into Henry Walker, a late-arriving student who seems indifferent to the craft. Emma soon learns that Henry is a 'legacy' butler whose family has served nobility for generations, giving him an effortless mastery of the skills Emma struggles to perfect. While Emma excels in theory and history—even arguing that 'butling' predates the wheel—she suffers from 'stage fright' during physical tasks like synchronized wine pouring and table setting. Recognizing their opposite strengths, Mr. Wiloughby encourages them to collaborate. Henry, who secretly harbors a passion for culinary arts rather than service, begins tutoring Emma in the kitchen. He teaches her to find 'balance' and get out of her own head through competitive table-setting races. In exchange, Emma helps Henry realize that he shouldn't sacrifice his happiness for his family's legacy. Their bond deepens during a trip to a local creamery and a private Beef Wellington dinner Henry prepares for her. Conflict arises when Henry's parents, Phillip and Dana Walker, visit the academy. They are high-level butlers who have already secured Emma a prestigious underbutler position in Scotland, assuming Henry will follow a similar path. At the graduation gala, Henry prepares the entire meal to prove his culinary talent to his father, but Phillip remains dismissive, viewing cooking as a mere hobby. Emma graduates and moves to Scotland to begin her dream job, but she quickly realizes the reality of the profession—total isolation and zero personal life—is not what she truly wants. She quits her position and returns home, only to find Henry has also finally stood up to his parents and abandoned his butler career. The film concludes with the two reuniting; they decide to combine their skills to run a business together, with Henry as the chef and Emma managing the front-of-house, finally finding the 'balance' they both craved.

Beat by beat

  1. Opening

    Emma receives a last-minute acceptance to the American Butler Academy after a student drops out.

  2. Inciting Incident

    Emma meets Henry Walker, a legacy student who is naturally gifted but lacks passion for the profession.

  3. Midpoint

    Henry begins tutoring Emma in 'flavor elements' and table setting to help her overcome her performance anxiety.

  4. Complication

    Henry's parents visit and secure Emma a job in Scotland, while pressuring Henry to maintain the family legacy.

  5. Climax

    After graduating and starting her job in Scotland, Emma realizes she is unhappy and quits to find a balanced life.

  6. Resolution

    Henry and Emma reunite, having both quit the butler profession to pursue a life together in the culinary industry.

Did you know?

A few things that make this one stand out once you stack it up against every other Hallmark movie.

  • It's 1 of only 10 Hallmark movies to combine royalty and an enemies-to-lovers arc.

26 tropes in one movie

We counted 26 distinct Hallmark tropes packed into this one — a genuine greatest-hits reel.

How it stacks up

Where this one’s rating lands against every other rated Hallmark movie.

Rating 6.2 vs every rated Hallmark moviemedian 6.4This movie · 6.2567

Higher-rated than 28% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.

Where this one fits

The corners of the catalog Butlers in Love belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.

Lines worth quoting

The lines that stuck with us — the ones you’ll be repeating after the credits roll.

  • “The word 'butler' comes from the old french word, 'bouteiller' which means 'cup bearer'.”
    — Emma ConroyEmma showing off her historical knowledge in class.
  • “Butlers don't make excuses, they find solutions.”
    — Charles WiloughbyReprimanding Emma for losing her cufflink.
  • “I'd rather deal with your... your disappointment and heartbreak than live the rest of my life unhappy.”
    — Henry WalkerHenry finally standing up to his father about wanting to be a chef.

Meet the characters

Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.

  • Emma Conroy

    Lead

    Aspiring Butler / Waitress

    DiligentDeterminedAnxiousIdealistic
  • Henry Walker

    Love interest

    Legacy Butler Student / Aspiring Chef

    Classmate and tutor

    TalentedCynicalSupportiveRebellious
  • Charles Wiloughby

    Supporting

    Headmaster of the Butler Academy

    Teacher and mentor

    StrictTraditionalObservant
  • Phillip Walker

    Supporting

    Professional Butler

    Henry's father

    TraditionalDemandingElite

Questions people ask about Butlers in Love

Where can I watch Butlers in Love?

Butlers in Love is available via fuboTV, Philo, and Hallmark+ Amazon Channel. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.

How long is Butlers in Love?

Butlers in Love runs about 1 hour and 24 minutes, and was released in 2022.

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