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Summary The Herdmans are absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, they steal, they bully, and now they’ve hijacked the town Christmas pageant. Based on the international bestseller by Barbara Robinson.
Directed By: Dallas Jenkins
Written By: Barbara Robinson, Ryan Swanson, Platte Clark, Darin McDaniel
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
60
6.7
Where to Watch
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Summary The Herdmans are absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, they steal, they bully, and now they’ve hijacked the town Christmas pageant. Based on the international bestseller by Barbara Robinson.
Directed By: Dallas Jenkins
Written By: Barbara Robinson, Ryan Swanson, Platte Clark, Darin McDaniel
Where to Watch
Coming Soon
Not available in your country?
ExpressVPN
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average Based on 12 Critic Reviews
60
42% Positive
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
58% Mixed
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average Based on 12 Critic Reviews
60
42% Positive
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
58% Mixed
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Nov 5, 2024
Its lessons about how kindness and inclusion benefit both the giver and the receiver are welcome, but its gentle reminder to view even the oldest and best-known story with fresh attention and connection may be even more meaningful.
Dec 5, 2024
The film is directed by Dallas Jenkins, the creator of “The Chosen,” a long-running TV series about Jesus’ life. His tonally perfect adaptation of Barbara Robinson’s book boasts a gentle wit. He deftly conveys the movie’s message without a heavy hand.
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 23 User Ratings
6.7
70% Positive
16 Ratings
16 Ratings
17% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
13% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 23 User Ratings
6.7
70% Positive
16 Ratings
16 Ratings
17% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
13% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
Nov 18, 2024
It is my hope that Hollyweird will learn some much needed lessons and will produce more movies like this. Good story. Nice humor. No forced diversity or identity politics. Just a fun movie that you can safely bring your entire family to (unlike ANYTHING put out by Disney these days). I highly recommend seeing this - and I am an agnostic who once was of the Christian faith (long story).
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Nov 4, 2024
Director Dallas Jenkins comes from the world of faith-based media, and that world is not generally known for delicacy in its messaging, so it counts as a Christmas miracle that Best Christmas Pageant generally avoids heavy-handed sermonizing.
Nov 7, 2024
The movie manages to provide moments of witty dialogue while moving forward with its spiritual duties.
Nov 8, 2024
As far as family-friendly, faith-based holiday movies go, you could do worse than “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” though it might not quite connect with all young audiences, as the film leans more toward poignant than playfully riotous.
Nov 8, 2024
Uplifting in the right spots, touching near the end, cute and yet cloying, maudlin and manipulative everywhere else, it punches a lot of familiar buttons when it comes to faith-based films for the holidays.
Nov 8, 2024
Despite the amateurish lack of comic or dramatic timing, Christmas Pageant does have some old-fashioned charm.
Jan 22, 2025
#TheShortHandCritic: There are those movies that are hard to find fault in because they are innocent enough to slide under the radar. That’s #TheBestChristmasPageantEver for sure. Not that there’s anything so utterly wrong with it. It’s just “missing something”. That something seems to be less processed emotions. It’s a color-by-numbers film. It wants to have a heart of gold so bad, it succeeds in being too squeaky clean. Director #DallasJenkins could have embraced being rough around the edges. You might recall the premise from the book by #BarbaraRobinson and the stage play. The town’s well-known annual Christmas pageant is in jeopardy when a group of rebel children called the Herdman’s bully their way into the show. The film anchors itself on if the pageant will succeed in being “the best” when it’s clearly already in the title—or is it we find out how it is the best? If so, the ending could have afforded to be somewhat bittersweet and not bow tying up ever character in that dumb method of clips and what-happened-to-them taglines. It is a sweet film with a good child performance by #BeatriceSchneider as the main bully Imogene. The often-irritating #JudyGreer plays the mom-turned-director of the pageant. It’s perhaps her best performance (or is it most tolerable?) A major misstep was not having #GilmoreGirls#LaurenGraham as the narrator take the larger part. It would have made the film even more endearing. There is something nice about watching a wholesome movie every now and then. This one is on the fast track to become a Holiday staple, but it doesn’t quite measure up to other classics. There’s no big-little moments of pink bunny suits or cats being roasted by Christmas lights. But as a new family-friendly film it fills the void for the time being. ️️… (Why Not It’s Christmas)+️ (Out of 4 Because 5 Stars Are For Restaurants & Hotels Only!) #FilmReview #ShortHandCritic
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Nov 12, 2024
A simple and slow movie that takes forever to get where it's going and has all the wit and charm of roadkill. I tried for Judy Greer I really did. Unfortunately, movie isn't the right word here. It's Christian propaganda aimed at kids.
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Production Company
- Lionsgate
- Media Capital Technologies
- Kingdom Story Company
- Lumenas Studios
- FletChet Entertainment
- White Light International Media
Release Date Nov 8, 2024
Duration 1 h 39 m
Rating PG
Tagline Silent night. Hold on tight.
Awards
Heartland Film
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
International Catholic Film Critics Association
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
MovieGuide Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
