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    Fourth Down and Love

    Not yet ratedΒ·2023Β·1h 23mΒ·Weirdness 3/10
    Fourth Down and Love poster

    At a glance

    3/10

    Mostly standard issue

    What bumps it up: Second chance romance.

    Season
    Fall
    Setting
    Suburb
    Time period
    Contemporary
    Leads start as
    Former Exes
    Runtime
    1h 23m
    Watch trailer
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    Where to watch

    πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈUnited States17 ways

    Stream

    • fuboTV
    • YouTube TV
    • Philo
    • Hallmark+ Amazon Channel
    • Hallmark+ Apple TV Channel
    • Hallmark TV Amazon Channel

    Free

    • Hoopla

    Rent

    • Amazon Video
    • Apple TV Store
    • Google Play Movies
    • YouTube
    • Fandango At Home

    Buy

    • Amazon Video
    • Apple TV Store
    • Google Play Movies
    • YouTube
    • Fandango At Home
    πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦Canada3 ways

    Stream

    • StackTV Amazon Channel
    • fuboTV

    Free

    • Global TV
    πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§United Kingdom1 way

    Stream

    • Hallmark TV Amazon Channel

    Via JustWatch Β· can change anytime.

    The premise

    Follows a single mother and a pro football player as they meet again on her daughter's flag football field after his career is interrupted by an injury.

    Themes:Second chancesTeamwork over individual gloryConquering irrational fearsPrioritizing family over careerIntegrity in professional sports

    How unusual is it?

    Mostly classic comfort-watch, give or take a second-chance romance.

    Who’s in it

    Ryan Paevey headshot

    Our Guy

    Ryan Paevey

    as Mike Hanson

    Pascale Hutton headshot

    Our Girl

    Pascale Hutton

    as Erin Allen

    Alongside them

    • Sophia Powers headshot
      Sophia PowersKeira Allen
    • Dan Payne headshot
      Dan PayneJimmy Hanson
    • Steve Bacic headshot
      Steve BacicRichard
    • Heather Doerksen headshot
      Heather DoerksenDanielle Hanson
    Show all 15 castShow fewer
    • Kalyn Miles headshot
      Kalyn MilesGeorgina
    • Darlene Tait headshot
      Darlene TaitGertie Hanson
    • Fred Henderson headshot
      Fred HendersonFinal Destination 2
    • Piper Scott headshot
      Piper ScottZoey Hanson
    • Panou headshot
      PanouWhaler Head Coach
    • Ian Ronningen headshot
      Ian RonningenBucks Flag Coach
    • Darby Steeves headshot
      Darby SteevesKristina
    • Cole Fairbank headshot
      Cole FairbankLucas
    • Aaron Joseph headshot
      Aaron JosephReferee

    Behind the camera

    ShowHide

    Directed by

    • Allan Harmon headshot
      Allan Harmon
    • Chevy Burnett headshot
      Chevy Burnett
    • Shanda Lee Munson headshot
      Shanda Lee Munson

    Wait, what?

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

    • The 'Harvest Hoedown' takes place at a senior living complex described as a 'frat house for old people' where residents take tequila shots out of ceramic boots.
    • The film features an extended sequence of Hallmark characters attempting to use Gen Z slang like 'cappsy,' 'suss,' and 'fire.'
    • The central metaphor for the protagonist's fear of commitment is a literal fear of bee stings, which is resolved when she finally gets stung and decides it's not that bad.

    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 28 to find more movies that do the same thing.

    Setting2

    🏑Suburb🏫School

    Time & season2

    πŸ‚FallπŸ—“οΈContemporary

    Premise2

    πŸ†ContestπŸ€—Reunion

    Characters7

    🏑Lead: Real Estate AgentπŸ…Love interest: AthleteπŸ…AthleteπŸ‘ΆCute kidπŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘§Single parentπŸ’˜Matchmaking relativeπŸ‘₯Celebrity

    Conflict4

    βš–οΈCareer vs Home/FamilyπŸ«€Personal stakesπŸ—ΊοΈLong distanceπŸ’”An ex returns

    Romance5

    πŸ’•Start as former exesπŸ’•First kiss: middle♻️Second chanceπŸ”₯Slow burnπŸ’—Love confession

    Tone & quirks4

    🎬Light/Heartwarming🎡Musical elementπŸ‘¨β€πŸ³Cooking scenesπŸ’ƒDance scene

    How it ends2

    πŸ’‹Ends with a kiss🏘️Stays in the small town

    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)
    The film opens with Mike Hanson, a star wide receiver for the professional Whalers, suffering a serious rib injury during a game. Forced into a month of rest, he returns to his hometown of Chestnut Creek to stay with his brother Jimmy and sister-in-law Danielle. Meanwhile, Erin, a single mother and real estate agent, is dealing with her daughter Kira's frustration over being ignored by the boys on her flag football team. Mike and Erin, who were college sweethearts until Erin abruptly ended things before the NFL draft, reunite at the local football field. The tension is immediate, as Mike's family still blames Erin for breaking his heart. When Jimmy gets an opportunity to coach the high school team, Mike steps in to coach Kira’s new all-girls flag football team, with Erin serving as his assistant. As they spend time together at practices and a local 'Harvest Hoedown,' the spark between them reignites. Mike helps Kira gain confidence, while Erin helps Mike realize there is more to life than just the game. The conflict escalates when Mike's agent, Richard, arrives in town. Richard views Erin as a distraction and lies to her, claiming Mike is being traded to a team across the country and that she is jeopardizing his career. Believing she is doing what's best for Mike, Erin pushes him away again. On the day of the flag football championship, Mike is cleared to play in a pro game and must leave immediately. During the drive to the stadium, Mike discovers Richard's manipulation and realizes the agent has been trying to trade him against his will for a higher commission. Mike fires Richard on the spot. After playing a crucial role in the Whalers' victory by acting as a decoyβ€”a lesson in teamwork he learned from the girlsβ€”Mike uses a post-game interview to announce he is staying with the Bay Area team. He reunites with Erin at the stadium, where she reveals she finally conquered her lifelong fear of bees after getting stung, realizing that the 'sting' of love is worth the risk. The film ends with the couple and their families celebrating together, finally at peace with Mike's career and their shared future.

    Beat by beat

    1. 1

      Opening

      Mike Hanson suffers a major rib injury and is placed on injured reserve, forcing him to return to his hometown.

    2. 2

      Inciting Incident

      Mike reunites with his college ex, Erin, at a youth football field and agrees to coach her daughter's all-girls flag football team.

    3. 3

      Midpoint

      Mike and Erin attend a 'Harvest Hoedown' at a senior living complex, where they share a romantic dance and realize their feelings are still strong.

    4. 4

      Rising Action

      Mike's agent, Richard, manipulates Erin into believing Mike is being traded and that she is a distraction to his career.

    5. 5

      Climax

      Mike is activated for a pro game and must leave the flag football championship; Erin pushes him away, believing he is leaving for good.

    6. 6

      Falling Action

      Mike fires his agent after discovering his lies and uses a live TV interview to declare his intention to stay in the Bay Area.

    7. 7

      Resolution

      Erin and Mike reunite at the stadium; Erin reveals she got a bee sting and realized her fears were unfounded.

    28 tropes in one movie

    We counted 28 distinct Hallmark tropes packed into this one β€” a genuine greatest-hits reel.

    The backstory

    Fourth Down and Love is an American romantic comedy sports TV film that premiered September 9, 2023, on the Hallmark Channel. Directed by Allan Harmon, the film stars Pascale Hutton and Ryan Paevey.
    From Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

    Where this one fits

    The corners of the catalog Fourth Down and Love belongs to β€” handy if you’re after more of the same.

    • πŸ‚Hallmark Fall MoviesCozy autumn setting.
    • πŸ”„Hallmark Second-Chance Romance MoviesA rekindled romance.
    • 🧁Hallmark Baking & Cooking MoviesPlenty of time in the kitchen.
    • πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘§Hallmark Single Parent MoviesA single parent finds love again.

    Lines worth quoting

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

    • β€œI remember when fire was just fire.”
      β€” ErinReacting to her daughter using the word 'fire' to describe a football.
    • β€œDon't go breaking his heart twice.”
      β€” GertieWarning Erin at the Harvest Hoedown.
    • β€œIt's a bee sting, and it wasn't as bad as I thought it was gonna be. All that worry, for nothing.”
      β€” ErinExplaining to Mike why she stopped being afraid of their relationship.

    Meet the characters

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

    • Mike Hanson

      Lead

      Professional Football Player

      AthleticDeterminedKind-heartedMentor
    • Erin

      Love interest

      Real Estate Agent

      College ex-girlfriend

      ProtectiveIndependentFearful of beesDedicated mother
    • Richard

      Antagonist

      Sports Agent

      Professional Agent

      ManipulativeGreedyDishonest
    • Kira

      Supporting

      Student

      Daughter

      AmbitiousAthleticResilient
    • Gertie

      Supporting

      Retired

      Grandmother

      SpiritedOpinionatedProtective

    Questions people ask about Fourth Down and Love

    Where can I watch Fourth Down and Love?

    Fourth Down and Love is available via fuboTV, YouTube TV, and Philo. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.

    How long is Fourth Down and Love?

    Fourth Down and Love runs about 1 hour and 23 minutes, and was released in 2023.

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    Data and sources

    Curated by the Talking Hallmark team.Β·Last updated June 17, 2026.

    Sources:IMDbΒ·TMDBΒ·WikipediaΒ·JustWatch

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