Movies are weird. One minute you’re watching a princess run away from her royal duties in a snowy New York City, and the next, you’re wondering why this specific story—Once Upon a Holiday—is the one everyone keeps Googling ten years after it premiered. It’s not just a movie. It’s a vibe. Honestly, it’s the blueprint for how Hallmark Channel turned "royal runaway" into its own entire subgenre of holiday cinema.
Released in 2015, the film stars Briana Evigan as Princess Katie. She’s royal, she’s tired, and she just wants to see the Big Apple like a regular person. It sounds cliché. It probably is. But there is a reason this specific 84-minute flick remains a staple of the Countdown to Christmas lineup while other films from the same era have basically vanished into the digital void.
Why Once Upon a Holiday Hit Different in 2015
Let’s look at the landscape. Back then, Hallmark was just starting to realize that the "secret princess" trope was a goldmine. You’ve got the fish-out-of-water element, the low-stakes romantic tension, and the inevitable "I lied about being a princess" reveal that usually happens at a Christmas gala around the 75-minute mark.
People love it.
The story follows Princess Katherine Hollington of Montsauria. She’s in New York on a diplomatic tour but ditches her security team to explore the city she’s only seen from car windows. Enter Jack, played by Paul Campbell. He’s a regular guy, a woodworker, and a genuine person who doesn't realize he's walking around with royalty. Their chemistry is what sells it. Paul Campbell has since become a Hallmark legend for his comedic timing, and you can see the early sparks of that here.
Most royal movies feel stiff. This one felt... cozy? It wasn't about the crown as much as it was about the claustrophobia of duty. It’s the Roman Holiday of cable TV, just with more scarves and hot cocoa.
The Paul Campbell Factor
If you ask any hardcore Hallmark viewer why they rewatch Once Upon a Holiday, they’ll mention Paul Campbell. He doesn't play the brooding leading man. He’s funny. He’s approachable.
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He’s the guy who fixes things.
In a world where holiday movies can sometimes feel like they were written by a robot—even before AI was a thing—Campbell brings a level of "is this actually happening?" energy that makes the princess trope feel less like a fairy tale and more like a romantic comedy. It’s a subtle distinction, but it matters. The dialogue isn't Shakespeare, but it doesn't try to be. It’s just nice.
The Production Magic and Montsauria
Where the heck is Montsauria? It doesn't exist. Obviously. Like Genovia or Aldovia, it’s a fictional European micro-state designed to give the protagonist a reason to have a vague accent and a lot of jewelry.
Filming actually took place in British Columbia, Canada. If you look closely at the "New York" streets, you’ll see the tell-tale signs of Vancouver and Langley. It’s a trick of the trade. They use tight shots, fake snow, and a lot of extras in heavy coats to convince you it’s Manhattan.
- Director: James Head
- Writer: Hanz Proppe (Story), David Golden (Teleplay)
- Release Date: November 25, 2015
Why the "Runaway" Trope Works Every Time
We all want to run away. That’s the psychological hook. You don’t have to be a princess to feel like your schedule is owned by someone else. When Princess Katie ditches her handlers to get a hot dog from a street vendor, the audience isn't thinking about international diplomacy. They’re thinking about the time they took a mental health day from work to go sit in a park.
It’s escapism within escapism.
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Dealing with the "Holiday Movie" Logic
Let’s be real for a second. There are plot holes. There are always plot holes.
How does a world-famous princess walk around New York for days without being recognized by a single person with a smartphone? In 2015, Instagram was already huge. Twitter was a thing. Someone would have snapped a photo. But in the world of Once Upon a Holiday, the suspension of disbelief is part of the contract you sign with the network. You agree to pretend that a scarf and a beanie are a foolproof disguise, and in exchange, you get a happy ending.
It’s a fair trade.
The movie deals with themes of honesty and the weight of legacy. Katie’s late mother is a huge part of the emotional arc. She wants to honor her mother’s memory by seeing the sights her mom loved, which adds a layer of grief and sentimentality that keeps the movie from being too "bubblegum." It actually has a heart.
The Legacy of the Film in the 2020s
Looking back from 2026, the film is a time capsule. It represents a simpler era of holiday programming. Before every movie had a massive budget or a tie-in with a major brand, they were just these small, earnest stories about two people meeting in the snow.
It also launched a thousand clones. Since 2015, we’ve seen A Royal Christmas, Christmas with a Prince, A Prince for Christmas, and about fifty variations of the word "Royal" and "Christmas" mashed together. Most of them aren't as good. They lack the specific charm of the Jack and Katie dynamic.
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What People Still Get Wrong
A lot of critics dismiss these movies as "trashy" or "mindless." They're wrong. Making a movie that people want to watch every single year for a decade is incredibly difficult. It requires a specific balance of pacing, lighting, and "comfort." Once Upon a Holiday mastered that balance.
It’s not trying to win an Oscar. It’s trying to make you feel like everything is going to be okay for two hours while you wrap presents.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Rewatch
If you’re planning on diving back into this classic or watching it for the first time, here is how to actually enjoy it without overthinking the "princess logic":
1. Watch the background actors.
The "New York" extras in the Canadian filming locations are often hilarious. You’ll see people walking in circles or reacting to things that aren’t there. It adds to the charm.
2. Follow the Paul Campbell filmography.
If you like his vibe in this, check out The Santa Stakeout or Three Wise Men and a Baby. He’s essentially perfected the "reluctant but charming" guy role over the last ten years.
3. Pay attention to the "Montsauria" lore.
The movie drops little hints about this fictional country that are never fully explained. It’s fun to try and piece together where exactly this place is supposed to be on a map.
4. Check the schedule.
Hallmark usually airs this in the "late night" or "early morning" slots during the off-season, but it almost always gets a primetime spot during the Thanksgiving weekend marathons. Set your DVR.
The staying power of Once Upon a Holiday isn't an accident. It’s a testament to the fact that sometimes, we don't need gritty realism. We just need a princess, a woodworker, and a snowy night in a fake New York City to feel like the holidays have actually arrived.