If you are a fan of Hallmark holiday movies – predictable plots, overused tropes, and cookie-cutter coziness – you are in the right spot! Hallmark Holiday Movie Bingo is about to be your new favorite activity.
If you're looking for a fun activity for a holiday get-together or a game to play while you binge watch Hallmark channel this winter, keep on reading. This post is for you! You'll find inspiration, tutorials, and a link to purchase customized, pre-made bingo cards (so all you have to do is turn on the TV and relax!).
This post is all about Hallmark Holiday Movie Bingo, the must-play game this holiday season. Whether you are a seasoned pro or a newbie to cheesy holiday movies, this game is exciting and fun! You can play alone, or with friends. It is easy, engaging, and super festive!
What is Hallmark Holiday Movie Bingo?
Hallmark Holiday Movie Bingo is an interactive game based on traditional bingo. A player watches a holiday movie, equipped with a 5 x 5 card that contains 25 common elements found in Hallmark movies (well, 24 plus a free space). As elements on the card appear in the movie, the element is crossed off (or marked some other way, such as with candy pieces) the card. The goal of the game is to get 5 elements in a row marked off! If playing with other people, it becomes slightly more competitive. Not only is the goal to achieve 5 elements in a row but to get your "BINGO" first!!!
Hallmark Holiday Movie Bingo utilizes the common plot schema from 100s of movies and creates an interactive experience that elevates your movie-watching experience. It invites creativity, a healthy dose of competition, and lasting memories with others!
How do you play Hallmark Holiday Movie Bingo?
The rules of the game are fairly simple.
Before the movie starts, all squares on the bingo card are filled in. The game starts when the movie starts. If the content of a square on your card happens in the movie (or is true in the context of the movie), mark off that square on the bingo card. The first person to get 5 in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) wins the game!
Other variations of the game include various bingo patterns (such as four corners) or a festive shape (like a wreath!). When I play with my family and friends, we complete all but 5 squares on our card before the movie starts. Then, at the first commercial break, we each fill in the remaining squares based on the small amount of movie we have seen. This is a great way to show off your Hallmark movie prowess and make predictions about the rest of the plot. It also is a strategic way to strengthen your bingo card. You could also play to see who can fill out the most squares on their card by the end of the movie!
There are so many options and great ways to play.
Tips:
Watch a new movie as it premieres or record it to watch later. The game is less fun when some players have seen it before.
Some squares on the card may be up for interpretation. This is okay, and all part of the fun! You and your party can agree on rules such as obtaining a majority vote if there is a discrepancy.
Much like bingo, feel free to play double or even triple cards. Swapping cards midway could be a fun surprise too!
Make the holiday movie bingo game an experience (ugly sweaters, cookies, treats, prizes, etc.) and you might be responsible for everyone's new favorite tradition.
What materials do you need to play Hallmark Holiday Movie Bingo?
To play Hallmark Holiday Movie Bingo you will need three things:
A bingo card
A pen
A holiday movie
As for the bingo card, feel free to make your own using cardstock, a ruler, and your favorite coloring supplies. If that seems like too much work, or you'd just prefer the convenience of pre-made cards, check out these holiday movie bingo cards in my shop. After purchase, you can download the file, print, and start playing right away!
As for the pen, any writing utensil will work. Crossing off the squares on your card is helpful for keeping track of your own progress (so you don't miss a BINGO!). You can be creative though when it comes to "crossing off" your squares. Maybe you can use red and green M&Ms to mark the squares, or use multi-media supplies such as washi tape to further adorn your cards. These cards are versatile and you can make them your own!
I think Hallmark Channel's holiday movies take the cake for this game, but other networks such as Lifetime produce comparable movies at scale. With each year, more original movies from streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu are fitting the "cheesy, cliché, cozy holiday movie" profile. And I, for one, am not upset about it.
These are the bare minimum materials to get your holiday movie bingo game up and running. There are, however, other nice-to-have elements that can elevate the bingo game atmosphere. Pajama dress code? Festive food and snacks? Candy charcuterie board? Hot chocolate bar? Yes. Yes. Yes. And yes.
Why should you play Hallmark Holiday Movie Bingo?
Hallmark Holiday Movie Bingo is perfect for all ages. It is engaging and creates a phone-free environment as players are invested in both their own card and the cards of others. This game makes a great addition to all your holiday parties. With the rigid structure of the Hallmark movies you know that the activity can be completed in 2 hours (but usually takes a bit longer because of all the fun!). This game builds community using a shared love for simple, romantic, feel-good flicks.
Playing Hallmark Holiday Movie Bingo has become a tradition in my household since the Covid-19 lockdown. Now, the Annual Hallmark Bingo Night is a highly anticipated event. We expand each year, but almost every night ends the same: us gabbing for hours and creating our own Hallmark movie plots. My cousin, Michele, is the absolute best... I'm convinced she has a second brain just for creating captivating romance plots!
If you're looking to indulge your guilty-pleasure holiday movies and try to see if you're the ultimate Hallmark movie fan, download (or make) your bingo cards and get playing!
So what are you waiting for? Grab a cozy mug (with two hands, of course), your bingo card, and get watching. Maybe it will even start snowing. Maybe. ❄️❄️
Thanks for stopping by. Make today a great one :)
~Katherine
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