Can AI Craft the Perfect Hallmark Holiday Movie Plot?
We challenged AI with some creative prompts to deliver some holiday movie charm you won’t actually find on TV…yet!
If you’re like us, you probably love to spend the holidays watching holiday themed movies. Whether they be the blockbuster movies from your childhood, or a sappy TV holiday romance, there are few better things than curling up on the couch with some hot cocoa, sweet treats, and a couple of hours of uninterrupted entertainment. You may have read that at Remarkist, we dedicated our Holiday Slate content to the new slew of Hallmark holiday movies that are premiering this season. We love Hallmark movies for their cheesy predictability: no matter what happens throughout the film, our two protagonists are always bound for a sweet Happily Ever After kiss. There’s a formula to it–no, really. You need a protagonist from a big city with a high pressure job who travels to a small picturesque town, one that might look like Stars Hollow, drenched in holiday decor. You need a love interest in that town–maybe he’s an old flame, a new charming stranger, or a visitor. You need some kind of conflict: a misunderstanding of some sort. But the slow build towards romance should be evident halfway through. And at the end, the audience should be smiling and feeling all those warm holiday fuzzies as the couple finds love.
While the art of original writing is a skill we hold near and dear, we thought it would be fun to see if AI could deliver some juicy plots for a typical holiday romance TV movie, given their formulaic nature. So we came up with three prompts for ChatGPT to run with! And with the Remarkist community in mind, we invoked some of the fandoms you’d find on our Discord, as well as our general love of TV and movies. Check out the following plots for three potential films we’d definitely watch during the holiday season! See below for our prompts, the plot summaries that ChatGPT gave us, and our favorite title ideas.
Mistletoe Movie Magic
Our ChatGPT prompt:
Write a Hallmark-style holiday movie plot in three paragraphs with the following details: Protagonist is a woman with a vague marketing industry job and lives in Los Angeles. She has to go home for the holidays, a town with a festive-sounding name, to help with the family business: the last DVD rental store in the country. Her love interest is a man who runs the coffee shop next door. They have arguments about which holiday TV shows and movies they love, and really don't like one another until they start to fall in love. They have a happily ever after movie ending where they kiss for the first time.
The ChatGPT Plot Summary:
In the bustling heart of Los Angeles, marketing maven Sarah Reynolds is caught up in the whirlwind of the holiday season, orchestrating elaborate campaigns for products she can barely remember. When she receives an urgent call from her hometown, Mistletoe Ridge, beckoning her to return for a family emergency, she finds herself trading palm trees for snowflakes. To her surprise, she discovers that her family business, the charming Mistletoe Movie Haven, is on the verge of closing. It's the last DVD rental store in the country, and its fate rests on her shoulders. As she navigates through a sea of nostalgic films, Sarah meets the stubbornly endearing coffee shop owner, Jack, whose business stands next door. Their first encounter is marked by clashing opinions on holiday movies, creating sparks that neither of them expects.
Back in Mistletoe Ridge, Sarah and Jack find themselves entangled in a spirited rivalry over their favorite festive TV shows and movies. Their heated debates echo through the quaint streets, much to the amusement of the townsfolk. Despite their differences, a surprising camaraderie blossoms, revealing hidden depths and shared vulnerabilities. As the days lead up to Christmas, they join forces to save the Mistletoe Movie Haven and discover that beneath the bickering lies a burgeoning romance. In a heartwarming twist of fate, they unveil the magic of the holiday season, rekindling the spirit of love, family, and the joy found in the most unexpected places. On a snowy Christmas Eve, amidst twinkling lights and the soft jingle of bells, Sarah and Jack share a magical kiss, sealing their happily ever after and creating a story that's sure to warm the coldest winter night.
Alternative titles: Mistletoe Memories, Snowflakes and Sparks, A Cinematic Christmas, and Love, Lights, and the Last DVD.
2. Holiday Harmony
Our ChatGPT prompt:
Write a Hallmark-style holiday movie plot in three paragraphs with the following details: Protagonist is a female pop star who has become super famous and lives a life on the road performing in cities all over the world. She returns home to her family's Christmas tree farm for a rare vacation from her busy life. The boy who was her next door neighbor is now the family's groundskeeper on the farm, and he has become extremely handsome in the years since they last saw each other. When their romance is captured by social media, rumors fly and threaten their privacy. Can they have peace in their relationship? Or will they go back to their separate worlds for good?
The ChatGPT Plot Summary:
International pop sensation, Lily Evergreen, is a glittering star in the music industry, constantly surrounded by the dazzling lights of fame. In need of a break from the relentless touring and high-profile events, she decides to escape the glitterati and return to her roots—a quaint Christmas tree farm owned by her family. Once a child running through the fields with the boy next door, Lily discovers that her childhood playmate, Ethan, has transformed into the farm's handsome and rugged groundskeeper. Struck by the changes in both herself and Ethan, Lily begins to see life through a different lens, craving the simplicity and authenticity of her past.
Ethan, now a skilled guitar player, introduces Lily to the beauty of tending to the Christmas trees, immersing her in the serene world of nature and family. As they spend days harvesting trees and nights by the cozy fireplace, a deep connection forms between them. Their newfound bond is put to the test when Lily and Ethan take center stage at the community tree lighting, delivering a soulful rendition of Christmas carols that captivates the entire town. The magic of the moment culminates in a first kiss among the twinkling lights and falling snow, a scene that quickly becomes the talk of the town and beyond.
Their budding romance faces an unexpected challenge as rumors and intrusive social media attention threaten to overshadow their private world. Lily and Ethan grapple with the invasion of their personal lives and the pressure of public scrutiny. The question looms—can they find peace and happiness together, or will they be forced to retreat to their separate worlds, leaving the magic of their holiday romance behind? In a heartwarming climax, Lily and Ethan discover the strength of their love and the importance of protecting the sacred moments that make their connection truly special.
Alternative Titles: Melodies Under the Mistletoe, Lights, Love and Lyrics, Holiday Duet, and Rustic Romance.
3. Magic in Mistlewood
Our ChatGPT prompt:
Write a Hallmark-style holiday movie plot in three paragraphs with the following details: Female protagonist is the local arts reviewer for the newspaper and is covering a fantasy convention, where she bumps into a man dressed as an elf. The next day at her local coffee shop, a very handsome man behind her in line recognizes her as the beautiful woman he bumped into at the convention, but she does not recognize him as the elf. He doesn’t reveal his identity, but instead explains he is a writer from New York, spending the weekend in this town with a festive name to work on his novel. What she doesn’t know is he is writing a fantasy novel epic in three parts, and that he was actually the elf from the convention. When she finds out, she feels lied to. Everything changes when she finds pages from his novel left behind at the coffee shop and she falls in love with his writing. One year later, she writes about his bestselling book and its launch party in the local paper.
The ChatGPT Plot Summary:
In the cozy town of Mistlewood, local arts reviewer Emma Green is covering the annual fantasy convention, capturing the whimsical atmosphere of the event. Amidst the colorful costumes and elaborate displays, Emma's path collides with a mysterious elf, his face concealed by his costume. He is captivated by her beauty, but with a quick apology, he disappears into the crowd, leaving Emma puzzled by the fact that an elf just bumped into her. The next day, at Mistlewood's charming coffee shop, Jingle Beans, Emma encounters a handsome stranger who accidentally bumps into her–again. Introducing himself as Josh, he recognizes her as the enchanting woman from the convention, but she remains oblivious to their prior encounter.
Fate continues to weave its magic as Emma and Josh run into each other throughout Mistlewood. She discovers that he’s a writer from New York seeking solitude for a weekend of novel writing, and Emma is charmed by his air of sophistication. But unbeknownst to her, he's a devoted fan of fantasy novels, often dressing up as his favorite elf for conventions. After learning about his hidden passion, Emma is hurt by the deception but is later spellbound when she stumbles upon his forgotten novel pages at the coffee shop. Unable to resist, she reads the entire fantasy epic in one sitting, falling in love not only with the story but also with Josh.
Determined to make amends, Josh rushes to the coffee shop, only to find Emma waiting for him. Overwhelmed by her genuine appreciation for his work, they share a heartfelt kiss, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their story. A year later, on Christmas Eve, Emma celebrates the success of his bestselling trilogy, capturing the enchanting tale of love, magic, and redemption in her column for the local paper. The launch party becomes a magical night, and as snowflakes gently fall in Mistlewood, Emma and Josh enjoy a love story that transcends both reality and fiction.
Alternative titles: A Novel Christmas, An Enchanting Encounter, and Pages of Love.
Want more? Head over to our Discord is where it’s at! You’ll find tons of other fans there chatting about the TV shows, movies, music and books we all love, as well as up to date info on our Holiday Slate watch parties and other special holiday themed events, like the Joyful Markit, our digital take on the classic festive artist’s marketplace. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, tumblr, and Spotify for more fandom content!
