Holiday Hotline
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Canada4 ways
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The premise
After leaving London, Abby connects with an anonymous caller while working at a cooking hotline. The caller is single dad John who Abby unknowingly has become smitten with in real life
How unusual is it?
Middle of the road, with a twist — mistaken identity and an enemies-to-lovers arc keep it from being totally by-the-book.
Who’s in it
Alongside them
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Behind the camera
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Directed by
Written by
Wait, what?
The quirks and curveballs that make this one a little weirder than your average Hallmark. No spoilers, promise.
- A turkey stuck in a clothes dryer
- A turkey stuck on the end of a hockey stick
- A caller asking if they can defrost a turkey on a car roof rack during a road trip
- A caller asking if they should use a chainsaw to carve the bird
- The protagonist maintaining a fake American accent for weeks to a man she is dating in person
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 32 to find more movies that do the same thing.
Setting3
Time & season4
Characters6
Romance6
How it ends1
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)
Abby Mitchell is a talented sous chef in London who quits her job and ends her relationship with her boss, Jason, after he takes credit for her signature Yorkshire pudding recipe in a major review. Seeking a fresh start, she moves to Chicago to stay in her Aunt Dorene’s apartment. Upon arrival, she has a prickly encounter with Jack, an architect restoring the building, after she accidentally breaks an irreplaceable antique door handle. Her neighbor Margaret, a veteran of the 'Holiday Hotline,' convinces Abby to fill in for her at the call center. To avoid being judged as a British person who doesn't understand American Thanksgiving, Abby adopts an American accent and the persona 'Peggy.' Meanwhile, Jack is a widower struggling to recreate the magic of Christmas for his young daughter, Jessica. He decides to cook a full turkey dinner at home for the first time since his wife's death and calls the hotline for help. He connects with 'Peggy,' and over several calls, they form a deep emotional bond as she helps him navigate both culinary challenges and his grief. In the real world, Abby and Jack continue to run into each other, eventually forming a romantic connection as they shop for ornaments and explore Chicago's architecture. The conflict peaks when Abby realizes that her hotline caller 'John' is actually Jack. She fears that revealing her deception will destroy the trust they've built, especially since Jack has been vulnerable with Peggy about his late wife. Jack eventually discovers the truth when he visits the Hotline office to leave a gift for Peggy and overhears Abby speaking in her 'Peggy' voice. Feeling betrayed, he confronts her and leaves. Abby prepares to return to London after receiving a head chef offer from her ex, but she ultimately realizes she belongs in Chicago. She makes a batch of Yorkshire puddings and brings them to Jack's house, explaining that he helped her rediscover her joy for cooking. Jack forgives her, admitting that she healed him as well, and they celebrate Christmas dinner together with Jessica and their friends.
Beat by beat
Opening
Abby quits her job in London after her boyfriend/boss Jason steals credit for her signature Yorkshire pudding.
Inciting Incident
Abby moves to Chicago and takes a job at the Holiday Hotline, adopting the American persona 'Peggy'.
Midpoint
Abby realizes that her favorite hotline caller, 'John,' is actually Jack, the architect she is dating in real life.
Complication
Jack tells 'Peggy' on the phone that he is falling for a woman named Abby, creating a bizarre love triangle with the same person.
Climax
Jack visits the hotline office and catches Abby using her 'Peggy' accent, leading to a confrontation and a breakup.
Resolution
Abby brings Jack Yorkshire pudding to apologize, they confess their love, and share Christmas dinner.
32 tropes in one movie
We counted 32 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.
Higher-rated than 75% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.
Where this one fits
The corners of the catalog Holiday Hotline belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.
- Best Hallmark Christmas MoviesIt is, of course, a Christmas movie.
- Hallmark Thanksgiving MoviesSet at Thanksgiving.
- Hallmark Enemies-to-Lovers MoviesStarts with sparks of the wrong kind.
- Hallmark Baking & Cooking MoviesPlenty of time in the kitchen.
- Hallmark Single Parent MoviesA single parent finds love again.
- Hallmark Big City MoviesA big-city backdrop.
Lines worth quoting
The lines that stuck with us — the ones you’ll be repeating after the credits roll.
“You did what to your turkey?! ... Okay, it’s a long story, but I can’t get it out of the dryer!”
— Abby/PeggyAbby's first day answering calls at the Holiday Hotline. “I’m on vacation from thinking, cooking, dating, and anything else ending in 'ing'.”
— Abby MitchellAbby explaining her mindset to her parents after moving to Chicago. “Food is a powerful connector to memories.”
— Abby/PeggyPeggy comforting Jack on the phone about his late wife's cooking.
Meet the characters
Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.
Abby Mitchell (Peggy)
LeadChef / Hotline Operator
TalentedGuardedEmpatheticDeceptiveJack (John)
Love interestArchitect
Love interest and hotline caller
GrievingEarnestCulinary-challengedDevoted fatherJason
AntagonistChef
Ex-boyfriend and former boss
ArrogantDishonestManipulativeJessica
SupportingStudent
Jack's daughter
ObservantChristmas-lovingEncouragingMargaret
SupportingRetired Hotline Operator
Neighbor and mentor
MeddlingKindEnergetic
Questions people ask about Holiday Hotline
Where can I watch Holiday Hotline?
Holiday Hotline is available via fuboTV, YouTube TV, and Philo. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.
How long is Holiday Hotline?
Holiday Hotline runs about 1 hour and 24 minutes, and was released in 2023.
Is Holiday Hotline a Christmas movie?
Yes. Holiday Hotline is a Hallmark Christmas movie, set during the holiday season.
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