Hallmark kicked off 2026 with a confidence that feels almost suspicious, and The Way to You is the clearest sign they’ve entered their “quietly excellent” era. Premiering February 7, 2026 on Hallmark Channel, the film plants itself firmly in New York City — not the postcard version, but a pleasantly polished one where ambition and vulnerability can actually coexist. It’s the kind of setting that gives the story room to breathe instead of forcing it into the usual small‑town snow globe.
The Way to You, written and directed by Nicole Baxter, is a charming tale through a familiar city. When a sudden subway blackout derails their separate brushes with potential soulmates, New Yorkers Emma and Conrad decide to team up and track down the strangers they almost connected with. But as their search leads them across the city—through missed stops, unexpected detours, and conversations that come a little too easily—they begin to realize that the spark they’re chasing might actually be the one growing between them.
Kim Matula carries the film with a grounded warmth that makes her character’s emotional arc feel earned rather than engineered. She plays a woman at a crossroads, trying to reconcile the life she planned with the life that keeps tugging at her sleeve. Opposite her, Aaron O’Connell brings a steady, understated charm — the kind that doesn’t need grand gestures to land. Their dynamic works because it’s built on quiet moments, not contrived misunderstandings, and the film is better for it.
Nicole Baxter, pulling double duty as both writer and director, gives the movie a cohesion Hallmark doesn’t always achieve. Her script is clean, character‑driven, and refreshingly free of filler. As a director, she keeps the emotional beats intimate without slipping into melodrama. You can feel the benefit of a single creative voice guiding the whole thing — the tone stays consistent, the pacing stays sharp, and the romance unfolds with a confidence that suggests Baxter knew exactly what she wanted this story to be.
What really elevates the film is its sincerity. There’s no winking at the audience, no self‑aware parody of Hallmark tropes, no desperate attempt to reinvent the wheel. Instead, The Way to You leans into authenticity — two people figuring out what they want, in a city that both challenges and supports them. It’s a romance that respects its characters enough to let them be flawed, thoughtful, and occasionally messy.
By the time the final scene lands, the movie has earned every bit of its emotional payoff. It’s tender without being saccharine, hopeful without being naive, and polished without losing its heart. Simply put, it’s a good movie — not “good for Hallmark,” but good, period. And now that it’s streaming on Hallmark+, it’s poised to become one of those titles people recommend with a slightly embarrassed, “No, seriously — this one’s actually great.”
MPAA Rating: TV-G.
Runtime: 84 mins
Director: Norma Bailey
Writer: Nicole Baxter
Cast: Kim Matula; Aaron O'Connell; Sarah Luby
Genre: Drama | Romance
Tagline:
Memorable Movie Quote: "You know what? it's going to tell us what it is."
Distributor: Hallmark +
Official Site:
Release Date: February 7, 2026
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: New Yorkers Emma and Conrad agree to help each other find their missed connections after a subway blackout. Their search might lead to love, but not where either of them expects to find it.
