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    The Way to You

    Not yet rated·2026·Weirdness 3/10
    The Way to You poster

    At a glance

    3/10

    Mostly standard issue

    IMDbLetterboxdJustWatch

    Where to watch

    We haven’t pinned down where The Way to You is streaming yet — check JustWatch.

    The premise

    New Yorkers Emma and Conrad agree to help each other find their missed connections after a subway blackout. Their search might lead to love, but not where either of them expects to find it.

    Themes:fate versus intentionmissed connectionsopposites attracttrusting your instinctscareer versus romancesecond chances

    How unusual is it?

    Honestly? Not very — and that's the charm. It plays the hits, which is exactly the point for a cozy night in.

    Who’s in it

    Kim Matula headshot

    Our Girl

    Kim Matula

    as Emma

    Aaron O'Connell headshot

    Our Guy

    Aaron O'Connell

    as Conrad

    Alongside them

    • Sarah Luby headshot
      Sarah LubyHazel
    • Eugene Baffoe headshot
      Eugene Baffoe
    • Jacob Blair headshot
      Jacob BlairAaron
    • Chelsea Brown headshot
      Chelsea BrownSimone
    Show all 15 castShow fewer
    • Ryan Mah headshot
      Ryan MahLance
    • Fay Kelman headshot
      Fay KelmanGeorgia
    • Cherrel Bergen headshot
      Cherrel BergenSales Attendant
    • Scott Angus headshot
      Scott AngusBrett
    • Simon Arblaster headshot
      Simon ArblasterMystery man
    • Carolina Campos headshot
      Carolina CamposVeronica
    • Dutchess Cayetano headshot
      Dutchess CayetanoMaia
    • Mackenzee Cullen headshot
      Mackenzee CullenValerie
    • Amreen Gill headshot
      Amreen GillPassenger #1

    Behind the camera

    ShowHide

    Directed by

    • Norma Bailey headshot
      Norma Bailey
    • Nicole Baxter headshot
      Nicole Baxter
    • Ian Dimerman headshot
      Ian Dimerman

    Wait, what?

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

    • A romance begins with a missed connection during a subway blackout and is revived through a newspaper ad
    • The leads keep trying to find each other through art-world clues and a public notice column
    • A giant rodent clock appears as a piece of art in a gallery scene

    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 works in the art world and spends her days trying to keep a gallery opening on track while her artist friend Leo procrastinates on his pieces. At home, she shares a cramped apartment with her sister Hazel and brother-in-law Sid, who tease her about being single and encourage her to look for someone stable, responsible, and maybe in finance. In parallel, Conrad is introduced as a driven investment banker who has just ended things with Maia because their relationship lacks the instant, unmistakable spark he thinks love should have. Emma and Conrad meet by chance on the subway during a blackout. Stuck in the dark, they banter about art, books, and the absurdity of the situation, and Conrad is clearly taken with her. Before either can get the other's name or number, the train starts moving again and they are separated in the rush. Conrad refuses to let the moment disappear and places a missed-connection ad in the City Express, which Emma eventually sees. When Emma answers the ad, she and Conrad discover that each is looking for a different kind of certainty: Conrad wants the woman from the subway, while Emma wants a reliable partner who fits the future she imagines. They decide to help each other. Conrad searches Emma's art world for the mystery woman, while Emma advises him on art and lets him in on her more practical dating goals. Their partnership turns into a series of early-morning coffee meetings, jogs, gallery visits, and increasingly personal conversations that make their chemistry impossible to ignore. As they spend more time together, both leads try to follow their own logic and date other people. Emma goes out with Aaron, a nice investment banker from Conrad's world, while Conrad follows the lead from the gallery scene and starts seeing Simone, the woman tied to the ring he first noticed. Yet neither connection feels as natural as the one between Emma and Conrad. At a tense work dinner, Emma has to watch Conrad publicly with Simone while she is seated with Aaron, and the mismatch makes her realize how much her feelings have grown. The final stretch brings everything to a head when Conrad learns he may be going to Tokyo for months. Emma tries to stay composed, but the thought of losing him pushes her to call and then race to tell him in person that she likes him. Conrad admits the same thing and says she is the one he is drawn toward, not Simone. They choose each other at the last possible moment, ending on a hopeful note about long-distance, patience, and the idea that waiting for the right person is worth it.

    Beat by beat

    1. 1

      Opening

      The film opens in New York City with narration about subway chance encounters and contrasts two approaches to love: Emma's art-world spontaneity and Conrad's finance-world practicality.

    2. 2

      Inciting incident

      Emma and Conrad meet during a subway blackout, bond over books and art in the dark, and are separated before they can exchange names or contact information.

    3. 3

      Rising action

      Conrad posts a missed-connection ad and Emma responds, leading them to meet again and agree to help each other: he will look for the subway woman, and she will help him with the art scene while he encourages her dating life.

    4. 4

      Midpoint

      Their collaboration becomes a real friendship as they share morning routines, gallery visits, and personal stories. The emotional connection deepens even as Emma and Conrad each begin seeing other people.

    5. 5

      Conflict escalates

      Emma dates Aaron and Conrad dates Simone, but the attraction between Emma and Conrad only becomes more obvious. A work dinner, apartment stress, and Conrad's possible Tokyo move make it harder for them to ignore what they feel.

    6. 6

      Climax

      Emma realizes she cannot keep pretending and calls Conrad to confess that he is the one she wants, then rushes to tell him face to face before his flight.

    7. 7

      Resolution

      Conrad admits he feels the same, choosing Emma over the other possibilities. They commit to making long-distance work and end on a hopeful note about waiting and hoping for love.

    Where this one fits

    The corners of the catalog The Way to You belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.

    • 🧁Hallmark Baking & Cooking MoviesPlenty of time in the kitchen.

    Lines worth quoting

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

    • “Wait and hope.”
      — ConradHe quotes Dumas while talking to Emma about the book they share on the subway
    • “Sweet and spicy, just like you, Emma.”
      — LeoHe teases Emma while they are chatting at home over food
    • “I think that you're perfect for me.”
      — EmmaEmma finally confesses her feelings to Conrad as he is about to leave for Tokyo
    • “Waiting for you is always worth it.”
      — ConradHe reassures Emma at the end that he is willing to make long distance work

    Meet the characters

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

    • Emma

      Lead

      gallerist

      The central heroine who meets Conrad on the subway and ultimately falls in love with him

      artisticselectiveromanticintrospectivedetermined
    • Conrad

      Love interest

      investment banker

      Emma's romantic counterpart and the man she meets on the subway

      drivenwittypracticalpersistentthoughtful
    • Sid

      Comic relief

      not specified

      Emma's brother-in-law and Hazel's husband

      teasingaffectionateobservanteasygoing
    • Hazel

      Supporting

      teacher

      Emma's sister and roommate who encourages her to date and move forward

      supportiveplayfulnosywarmpragmatic
    • Leo

      Supporting

      artist

      Emma's friend and former romantic interest who is behind on gallery work

      creativecharmingprocrastinatingself-absorbedplayful
    • Maia

      Supporting

      investment banker

      Conrad's former girlfriend/colleague whose breakup helps establish his search for a real connection

      ambitiouspracticaldirectromanticself-aware
    • Aaron

      Supporting

      investment banker

      A man Emma dates in an attempt to choose a more practical partner

      kindstableprofessionalpleasant
    • Simone

      Supporting

      architect

      The woman Conrad dates while he is still circling back to his feelings for Emma

      polishedsuccessfulartisticconfidentclassy

    More like this

    Browse all movies

    Nothing close enough to suggest yet — the full catalog is a good place to wander.

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    Data and sources

    Curated by the Talking Hallmark team.

    Sources:IMDb·JustWatch

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