Rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
Premiere Date: November 22, 2025
Description: The Quinns and DeLucas have lived next door to each other for decades in the shadow of Highmark Stadium – the home of their beloved Buffalo Bills. With their longtime friendship rooted in being proud members of Bills Mafia, the two clans have enjoyed cherished traditions that revolve around cheering for their favorite team – especially at the holidays when they celebrate the last home game before Christmas. Pediatric doctor Morgan Quinn and the Bills’ VP of Stadium Development Gabe DeLuca have been lifelong friends, but Gabe has always held a torch for her – a fact obvious to their families… and everyone else who crosses their path. When Morgan learns from her Uncle Tommy that someone anonymously helped her family get by after he was drafted more than 60 years ago – and that he continues to receive a Christmas gift each year to this day – she decides to find his benefactor and give her uncle a Christmas he’ll always remember. Aided by Bills Mafia friends of theirs, Morgan and Gabe work together to unwrap the gifter’s identity. Along the way, Gabe’s love for Morgan deepens, and in turn, she begins to see him in a new light, though neither is daring enough to admit their feelings. Meanwhile, Morgan’s hopes of pulling off her surprise for Uncle Tommy get sacked. That is, until Gabe takes matters into his own hands and uses his connections with the Bills to pull off the surprise of a lifetime for Morgan and both their families, which will make this a Christmas they’ll never forget. Starring Holland Roden, Matthew Daddario, Joe Pantoliano, Tracy Pollan, Caroline Aaron, Steve Schirripa and Patti Murin.
Chemistry: These two? Meant. To. Be. I don’t know if they’re secretly dating in real life or just ridiculously good at their jobs, but I believed every minute of it. Even the Bills players and staff doing cameos held their own.
Plot: Unlike last year’s Chiefs movie (which… bless its heart), this story didn’t just lean on the football franchise. The plot had a great and intriguing story to keep it moving along, even without the football theme. Uncle Tommy’s melancholy little monologue early on hooked me instantly, and the movie kept that momentum.
Design: Again, Hallmark brought out the big guns here and emptied their snow budget. There was enough real-looking snow that I believed we were in Buffalo, and that was going to be a hard sell.
Overall: A genuinely great movie, absolutely surpassing last year’s Chiefs attempt. If that one wasn’t your jam, don’t let it scare you off—this is its vastly superior cousin. There is a slightly cringey on-field moment, but nowhere near the level of last year’s.
Best Enjoyed With: One of those stadium hats that holds two cans… filled with hot chocolate instead of beer, obviously.
Holiday Movie Wrap 