Oy to the World! is one of those Hallmark holiday movies that sneaks up on you. You put it on while wrapping presents — tape stuck to your elbow, ribbon refusing to curl, the whole seasonal disaster — and suddenly you’re emotionally invested in whether two former high‑school rivals can pull off an interfaith choir program without strangling each other with tinsel. The setup is peak Hallmark chaos: Temple Beth Am’s water lines explode, St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church offers sanctuary, and because the universe loves a good narrative coincidence, the last night of Hanukkah and Christmas Eve land on the same day. It’s the kind of premise that would’ve made my Gen‑X teenage self roll their eyes so hard they’d see their own brain, but here’s the twist — it’s actually charming.
Brooke D’Orsay and Jake Epstein play Nikki and Jake, two choir directors who have been competing since adolescence and apparently never got the memo that adults don’t need to treat everything like a regional show‑choir finals. Their chemistry is that classic Hallmark blend of “I hate you, but also your face is nice,” and honestly, it works. They bicker, they posture, they try to one‑up each other with musical arrangements like they’re auditioning for a reboot of Glee, and underneath it all, you can see the slow thaw. It’s predictable, sure, but it’s the kind of predictable that feels like a warm blanket — or at least a warm blanket that smells faintly of pine and menorah candles.
The standout sequence — the one that actually gives the movie some emotional heft — is the kids’ rehearsal scene. You know the one: Nikki and Jake are mid‑argument about tempo or harmonies or whose arrangement is “objectively superior,” and the kids, bless them, just start singing together anyway. No rivalry, no drama, just pure, earnest holiday energy. And suddenly the adults have to shut up and watch these middle‑schoolers effortlessly blend “O Hanukkah” into “Angels We Have Heard on High” like it’s the most natural thing in the world. It’s the moment the movie stops being about competition and starts being about community, and it lands harder than you’d expect from a network that once gave us a movie about a magical Christmas ornament that grants wishes.
From there, the film leans into its interfaith heart. The joint service feels thoughtful rather than gimmicky, and the production design actually respects both traditions instead of slapping a dreidel next to a wreath and calling it a day. The fundraising subplot gives the story some stakes, and watching Nikki and Jake slowly realize they’re better together — musically and otherwise — is sweet without being saccharine. It’s still Hallmark, so don’t expect gritty realism or complex emotional trauma; however, it’s one of the rare entries that genuinely cares about the communities it portrays.
If you’re in the mood for something cozy, earnest, and just self‑aware enough to keep a Gen‑X viewer from groaning, Oy to the World! is worth watching. It premiered on December 14, 2025, and you can stream it on Hallmark+, which means it’s sitting there right now waiting for you to judge it lovingly. And honestly? It’s a solid choice for wrapping gifts, sipping cocoa, or just reminding yourself that sometimes the holidays really do bring people together — especially when plumbing disasters force them to share a building.
MPAA Rating: TV-G.
Runtime: 84 mins
Director: Paula Elle
Writer: Genna Ryan; Rick Garman
Cast: Harrison Coe; Shaye Quinn; Curtis Lovell
Genre: Holiday Romance
Tagline:
Memorable Movie Quote: "I will pick up a Hanukkah bush."
Distributor: Hallmark Channel
Official Site:
Release Date: December 14, 2025
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: When a synagogue's pipes burst, a church offers space. As choir directors prepare a joint Christmas-Hanukkah service, old rivals Nikki and Jake must overcome their competition to unite their communities through song.
