In case you missed our earlier rundown, Hallmark and Lifetime each released holiday romance films that have Swifties talking: Christmas in the Spotlight and Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story. The two movies aired just one week apart but follow two entirely separate premises. If you want to know what differentiates these films or are curious about which reigns supreme, we watched both so you don’t have to.
Christmas in the Spotlight
Christmas in the Spotlight most closely resembles the story of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Starring Jessica Lord and Laith Wallschleger, this movie follows the inevitable romance of a pop star, Bowyn Sykes, who is career-oriented and has just getting out of a long-term relationship with a movie star (reminiscent of Swift’s relationship with Joe Alwyn), and a football player, Drew ‘Gonzo’ Gonville, who plays football like his brother (like Travis and Jason Kelce) and is incredibly close with his family.
If the premise of this story isn’t enough for you to see the Swiftie-inspired elements, then hopefully the Taylor Swift lyrics embedded in the script are. On at least four separate occasions, Swift’s lyrics are quoted in this movie, and the common Eras Tour symbol of the friendship bracelet is utilized throughout the storyline.
Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story
On the other hand, Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story has almost nothing to do with Swift and Kelce, other than the fact that Donna Kelce herself makes several appearances as a diner waitress in the movie. Starring Hunter King as Alana Higman, a die-hard Chiefs fan in a family that was made by the Chiefs, and Tyler Hynes as Derrick Taylor, a man who works for the Chiefs, this love story strays very far from the pop star-football player pair we expected.
Alana’s family is up for the role of Fan of the Year for the Chiefs, and Derrick discovers, only after falling for her, that he is the one judging the competition. As the Higmans take Derrick through all of their Chiefs holiday rituals and superstitions, the pair get closer and closer, revealing once again, how epic the Chiefs’ role in the Higman family tree truly is.
Which Love Story Wins?
Surprisingly, the two movies feel nothing alike. Christmas in the Spotlight follows the pop-star-football-player love story to a T while Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story‘s only connection to the Swift-Kelce relationship is the football team. The latter movie was made in collaboration with the Chiefs and guest stars many Chiefs legends, so if you’re a Kansas City Chiefs fan, this movie may be for you!
Christmas in the Spotlight follows a more traditionally Hallmark-style cringey script, whereas Holiday Touchdown strayed a bit from what you’d expect from a cheesy holiday film. Christmas in the Spotlight wins if you know Aristotle, but if you know how to ball, Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story wins the title in this playoff.
With this rundown, we hope you can determine whether either of these movies is worth adding to your holiday watchlist. A classic holiday romance will always show up on our recently watched in December and, luckily, these are both great options.
What's Your Reaction?
Wonderful tribute to one of the most under-appreciated fighting men of the last 50 years. Chacon was all heart, you had to nail him to the floor, and the fourth fight with Bazooka is one of my all-time favourites. Sad to hear of his passing. The Southern California boxing scene was such a hotbed in the late 70s and early 80s. RIP, champ.
Thanks so much for reading!