Great American Media Turns Branson Into a Real-Life Christmas Movie Set

BRANSON, MO – January 14, 2026 – The glow of more than 6.5 million Christmas lights in Branson, Missouri, will linger a little longer this year. As production begins on Great American Media's new original holiday film, An Ozark Mountain Christmas, the city and its iconic Silver Dollar City theme park are not just backdrops but starring characters in a strategic play for the heart of family entertainment.

The film, starring Brianna Cohen and Jonathan Stoddard, is slated to be a cornerstone of the network's Great American Christmas 2026 programming event. For local residents, it's a touch of Hollywood in the Ozarks; for the media company, it's a tangible manifestation of its brand promise. For the city of Branson, it’s a powerful marketing engine revving up long after the typical holiday crowds have departed.

A Partnership of Lights and Cameras

The collaboration between Great American Media and the Branson community is a masterclass in symbiotic marketing. The production will immerse viewers in what the company calls a “real-life Christmas dream,” leveraging Silver Dollar City’s 1880s-themed streets, artisan craft shops, and dazzling light displays. The city of Branson has even agreed to extend its own celebrated Christmas décor and lighting throughout the filming schedule to ensure every frame captures an authentic holiday atmosphere.

This move goes beyond set dressing. It taps into a growing trend of location-based filmmaking that enhances authenticity and doubles as powerful tourism promotion. By featuring a beloved, real-world Christmas destination, the network provides its audience with a tangible connection to the story. This strategy is designed to drive tourism, as viewers are often inspired to visit the picturesque locations they see on screen. For Branson and Silver Dollar City, the film serves as a feature-length advertisement broadcast directly to a receptive, family-oriented demographic, potentially boosting visitor numbers for years to come.

“Branson and Silver Dollar City create one of the most breathtaking Christmas destinations in America,” said Bill Abbott, President & CEO of Great American Media, in a statement. “The film allows us to invite audiences inside a real-life Christmas dream – one filled with light, tradition, music, craftsmanship, and the warmth of small-town celebration.”

The economic impact on the region is immediate, with the production bringing in cast and crew who require local accommodations, catering, and other services. But the long-term value lies in cementing Branson’s identity as a premier Christmas destination, perfectly aligned with the wholesome, traditional values Great American Media champions.

Great American Media's Calculated Rise

An Ozark Mountain Christmas is more than just another holiday movie; it's a key piece in Great American Media's aggressive strategy to carve out a dominant space in the faith and family entertainment market. Established in June 2021 by former Hallmark Channel executive Bill Abbott, the company has defied industry trends, achieving remarkable growth in a declining linear cable landscape.

Its flagship network, Great American Family, was recognized as television's fastest-growing linear cable network in 2023. By late 2024, it had broken into the Top 25 channels for households, reporting double-digit year-over-year growth in key demographics, including a 21% increase in total viewers. This success is largely fueled by its “Great American Christmas” programming, a direct competitor to established holiday giants like Hallmark and Lifetime.

The company’s strategy is multi-pronged. It has successfully attracted talent popular with the holiday movie audience, including genre veteran Jonathan Stoddard, who stars in the new film. This approach provides viewers with familiar, trusted faces. Simultaneously, the company has expanded its digital footprint aggressively. The 2023 acquisition and rebranding of the streaming service Pure Flix into Great American Pure Flix gave the company a significant foothold in the subscription video-on-demand market, which it describes as the “Netflix of faith-based content.”

With distribution across cable, YouTube TV, and its own direct-to-consumer app, GFAM+, Great American Media is ensuring its content reaches its target audience wherever they are. The production of An Ozark Mountain Christmas is set to premiere across all these platforms, maximizing its reach and reinforcing the brand's multi-platform ecosystem.

Tapping a Yearning for 'Faith, Hope, and Joy'

The commercial success of Great American Media is rooted in a deep understanding of its target audience—a significant demographic that feels underserved by mainstream Hollywood. The company's explicit focus on content that celebrates “faith, family, and country” resonates with viewers who seek uplifting, traditional, and morally clear narratives, particularly during the holidays.

Abbott has stated the film embodies “everything Great American Christmas represents -- faith, hope, joy. Christmas as it is meant to be.” This messaging is not accidental. It directly addresses a cultural demand for escapism into idealized small-town settings where community is strong, values are clear, and happy endings are guaranteed. In a complex world, the simple, predictable comfort of these stories offers a powerful emotional anchor for many viewers.

The audience for this content is loyal and engaged, often valuing brand safety and alignment with their personal beliefs above all else. They are looking for entertainment that reflects their worldview without controversy. By positioning itself as a trusted source for such programming, Great American Media has built a dedicated following.

As filming for An Ozark Mountain Christmas captures the glow of lantern-lined streets and the sound of carolers in the Missouri air, it's doing more than making a movie. It is solidifying a brand, promoting a region, and delivering a specific, highly sought-after vision of Christmas to millions of American homes. This production is a clear signal of the company's intent to continue its ambitious growth, built on a foundation of faith, family, and the enduring magic of a small-town holiday.