Everyone has a certain basic plotline that pops into their head when they hear the phrase “Hallmark Christmas Movies,” and for good reason. The cozy holiday romance genre, dominated by companies like Hallmark, Lifetime and Netflix, is known for being very formulaic and predictable. A typically female protagonist travels to a small town for the holidays and becomes involved in some sort of holiday preparations or shenanigans, all the while falling in love with a local. Of course not all of these movies follow the formula exactly and there are elements about each that are different, but the general story often remains the same.

The repetitive nature of Hallmark and Lifetime movies has drawn criticism, and understandably so. After a while, the films can seem stale and unoriginal. This is a genuine issue with the genre. Yet companies keep making them, and people keep watching them. There’s a very simple reason why.

The formula, when not followed closely enough to make a movie boring, can make it predictable enough to feel comforting. I’ve experienced this phenomenon personally and often find myself putting a Hallmark movie on in the background while baking cookies or decorating for the holidays. As much as I love a suspenseful, action-packed movie, there’s enough real-life unpredictability in December already that I don’t find myself needing to watch anything that’ll keep me on the edge of my seat.

These movies aren’t for everyone, and that’s okay. There are many valid reasons for people to criticize Hallmark and Lifetime movies, such as the lack of representation and the reluctance to stray too far from the formula. But there has been some significant progress in the past few years, with movies starting to feature a broader variety of characters and situations. Personally, I plan to keep on watching and waiting to see what they come up with.