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What's After the Movie?
Fantasy comedy

Noelle (2019): Cast, Ratings & Plot

Noelle (2019) movie poster

Noelle is a 2019 fantasy comedy directed by Marc Lawrence, starring Anna Kendrick as Noelle Kringle, Bill Hader and Billy Eichner. It runs 1 hour 40 minutes. Critics gave it 56% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10.

IMDb rating
6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
56%
Echo Score
51
Metascore
48
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Noelle (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 40m (100 min)
Director
Marc Lawrence
Genres
Fantasy , Comedy , Family
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Noelle About?

The premise of Noelle without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Kris Kringle’s spirited daughter, Noelle, desires to make a difference, much like her brother Nick, who is destined to inherit their father's role. When Nick struggles with the immense responsibility, Noelle suggests a temporary respite. However, his sudden disappearance throws Christmas into jeopardy, and Noelle must step up to find him and ensure the holiday isn't ruined.

Noelle Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • christmas
  • santa claus
  • christmas eve
  • north pole
  • elf
  • reindeer
  • fish out of water
  • arizona
  • entitlement
  • yoga
  • underachiever
  • family business
+38 more
  • brother sister relationship
  • private investigator
  • one word title
  • christmas movie
  • character name as title
  • phoenix arizona
  • deaf child
  • ipad
  • naughty
  • nice
  • reference to the arizona state sun devils
  • arizona state sun devils
  • reference to the arizona cardinals
  • reference to desert ridge marketplace
  • reference to the phoenix suns
  • reference to the desert botanical garden
  • arizona state sun devil mens basketball
  • female protagonist
  • cleavage
  • daughter of santa claus
  • son of santa claus
  • holiday
  • mrs. santa claus character
  • ice skates
  • holiday season
  • holiday family
  • holiday comedy
  • baby crying off camera
  • yoga studio
  • full moon
  • mall
  • tv news
  • united states of america
  • psychiatric evaluation
  • northern lights
  • heir
  • private detective
  • yoga instructor
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Cast & crew

Noelle Cast & Characters

Anna Kendrick leads the cast as Noelle Kringle, with Bill Hader as Nick Kringle and Billy Eichner as Gabriel Kringle. Directed by Marc Lawrence; 27 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Marc Lawrence

More films directed by Marc Lawrence, best-rated first: Music and Lyrics, The Rewrite, Two Weeks Notice and Did You Hear About the Morgans?.

Full filmography
Ratings

Noelle Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Noelle 56% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 51/100, strongest in character & emotion (70) and weakest in rewatch factor (30).

51 /100

Noelle Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Noelle elicits a mixed reaction, offering modest festive appeal overshadowed by derivative elements. The film earns praise for Anna Kendrick’s spirited performance and occasional charm in its origin story framework, yet its plot is broadly predictable and the production design leaves little lasting impression. Sensory touches convey holiday cheer but are dampened by artificial effects. Ultimately, Noelle stands as an average seasonal offering that delivers mild enjoyment without strong incentives for repeat viewing.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 50

    The film’s visual craft delivers a functional but uninspired presentation. Reviews frequently highlight the mundane depiction of the North Pole town, with ordinary costumes and conspicuous faux elf ears undermining authenticity. CGI reindeer often appear artificial, and neither the cinematography nor editing offers standout moments. In terms of production design and visual cohesion, the art direction remains serviceable yet lacking in distinctive flair.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    Performances, especially by the lead, provide the film’s most consistent appeal. Anna Kendrick’s energetic and playful portrayal brings warmth and charisma to a script of modest dimension. By contrast, supporting roles exhibit limited depth and chemistry, leaving emotional stakes feeling underdeveloped despite occasional charm. When it comes to acting and emotional engagement, character elements hinge on Kendrick’s strengths but offer limited resonance beyond the central figure.

  • Story & Flow 45

    The narrative is straightforward but suffers from predictability and thin plotting. Critics and viewers note that early foreshadowing and familiar holiday clichés reduce suspense and originality. The pacing maintains a steady but unremarkable tempo, while thematic threads like female empowerment surface without deeper exploration. In terms of plot coherence and engagement, the story offers modest seasonal comfort yet lacks compelling twists or substantive momentum.

  • Sensory Experience 60

    The sensory elements evoke seasonal cheer with occasional shortcomings. The soundtrack and sound design generate a festive atmosphere, though neither is particularly memorable. Visually, the color palette and set decoration maintain a pleasant holiday tone, but unconvincing CGI reindeer and limited visual innovation temper the overall impact. When considering auditory and visual cohesion, the sensory experience remains enjoyable yet inconsistently executed.

  • Rewatch Factor 30

    Rewatch potential is constrained by the film’s forgettable nature. Observers frequently remark that once the initial charm subsides, few scenes invite repeat viewings. While younger audiences may appreciate the simplicity and seasonal warmth on subsequent watches, the story’s predictability and limited depth offer scant incentive for adults to revisit. In terms of replay value, the film functions as a one-time holiday diversion rather than a lasting favorite.

Plot

Noelle Plot Summary

What happens in Noelle from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The story unfolds on Christmas Eve, where Kris Kringle, known as Santa Claus, enters a cozy home to deliver gifts and encounters a young girl named Noelle. In a playful manner, Kris asks her to keep his visit a secret. However, it’s soon revealed that Noelle is actually his daughter. As Kris shares presents with his family, he gives his son, Nick, a special Santa hat and designates him as his successor. Excited yet somewhat disappointed, Noelle learns that her role will be to spread Christmas cheer, helping her brother fulfill his duties.

Full summary

The whole story of Noelle, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

Noelle Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Noelle.

NOELLE Trailer (2019)
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Noelle?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who plays the role of Noelle in the movie?

Cars

Cars in Noelle

16 cars on screen, including the 1993 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible and the 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty.

All 16 cars
  • 1993 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible in Noelle 1993 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible Important role
  • 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty in Noelle 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty Minor role
  • 2015 Audi S3 in Noelle 2015 Audi S3 Background role
  • 2004 Chrysler Pacifica in Noelle 2004 Chrysler Pacifica Background role
Details

Noelle Also Known As

14 alternative titles, including “Nicole” and “Noëlle”.

Also known as
  • Nicole
  • Noëlle
  • Никол
  • 노엘
  • Николь
  • Ноель
  • Νοέλ
  • 诺艾尔
  • Noelle: Julemandens datter
  • 諾艾爾的聖誕任務
  • Noelle: A Télapó lánya
  • נואל קרינגל מצילה את חג המולד
+2 more
  • Noelle: Fiica lui Moș Crăciun
  • 聖誕家族

Seen Noelle?

FAQ

Noelle FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of Noelle, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Noelle?

Noelle runs 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).

When was Noelle released?

Noelle was released on November 12, 2019.

Who directed Noelle?

Noelle was directed by Marc Lawrence.

More films by Marc Lawrence

Who is in the cast of Noelle?

Noelle stars Anna Kendrick as Noelle Kringle, Bill Hader as Nick Kringle and Billy Eichner as Gabriel Kringle, among 27 credited actors.

How is Noelle rated?

Noelle has 6.3/10 on IMDb, 56% on Rotten Tomatoes, 48 on Metacritic and 66% on TMDB.

Does Noelle have a post-credit scene?

No. Noelle has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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