We haven’t wept and laughed so much at any Christmas movie. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, based on Barbara Robinson’s 1972 novel, is both very lighthearted and deeply touching. Christianity Today commented:
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is pretty much everything you’d want in a faith-based family Christmas movie. It’s heartfelt, self-aware, and genuinely funny…
Christmas touches deep emotions for many people, not always easy ones. The Herdman family symbolize everything that is difficult and unwelcome at Christmas. Many people so idealize Christmas that they exclude any messiness. The manger was messy; life is messy. This movie celebrates the messiness of life. The Herdman family create the ultimate Christmas messiness.
The Herdmans were ‘the worst kids in the history of the world’. They lie, steal, smoke cigars, swear, set fires, and hit little kids. Everyone in town feared and avoided the six rowdy Herdmans – Ralph, Leroy, Claude, Ollie, Gladys, and their tough-as-nails leader Imogene. You can imagine the shock when they decide to take over the annual Christmas pageant. Grace Bradley (Judy Greer) did a remarkable job as the last-minute, very reluctant pageant director. None of the self-righteous church people wanted anything to do with the Herdmans. But Grace defended these ‘lepers’, saying, “Jesus was born for the Herdmans as much as He was for us.” Because the Herdmans were a hard-core unchurched family, they were able to see the Christmas story with fresh eyes. The good news of this amazing film is how outsiders help insiders discover the real reason for the season: the baby Jesus.
Isn’t it great that you don’t have to apologize any more for the poor quality of Christian films? Dallas Jenkins, producer of the Chosen TV series and the Irwin Brothers’ Kingdom Story Company have come together with Lionsgate Films to turn a good Christmas classic into a great Christmas classic. This may end up being watched each Christmas season alongside of It’s a Wonderful Life. Essek Moore, who played Ollie Herdman, hopes that in ten years from now, many kids will be watching this heartwarming movie at Christmas: “It is so good that you can’t get enough of it. You will want to watch it over and over again.”
We highly recommend everyone this Christmas, whether churched or unchurched, to check out this delightful Christmas story. You will not regret it. To learn more, click on https://bestchristmaspageantever.movie/
Books by Rev. Dr. Ed & Janice Hird include God's Firestarters; Blue Sky, a novel; and For Better, For Worse: Discovering the keys to a Lasting Relationship. Dr Ed’s newest award-winning book The Elisha Code is co-authored with Rev. David Kitz. Earlier books by Dr. Ed include the award-winning Battle for the Soul of Canada, and Restoring Health: Body, Mind, & Spirit.
i took 5 unchurched grandchildren to this movie last sunday in nanaimo.
The 5 year old didn’t understand very much but it was a super-hit with the 9-14 year olds. the people in front of me took two small children (less than 5) out so fyi for the age level.
i have just moved down the road from my grandchildren and have been asking God to provide many opportunities to discuss Him with these young people. this movie was one of these great moments. we had a blast!
some of them remembered the times when Gramma talks about “language” and using God’s name incorrectly. i was so happy to have backup and the kids certainly heard it in the movie.
we will make this movie an annual event in our family.