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Adventure drama

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2024): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2024) movie poster

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a 2024 adventure drama directed by Dallas Jenkins, starring Judy Greer as Grace, Pete Holmes and Lauren Graham. It is based on The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. It earned $40.3 million worldwide on a $20 million budget. Critics gave it 60 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10.

IMDb rating
6.8/10
worldwide gross
$40.3M
Echo Score
72
Metascore
60
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The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2024) movie poster
Released
Director
Dallas Jenkins
Genres
Adventure , Comedy , Drama , Fantasy
Original language
English
Budget
$20M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Best Christmas Pageant Ever About?

The premise of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever without spoilers, adapted from The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

The Herdmans are notorious for their mischievous behavior, known throughout the town for their dishonesty and bullying. When they decide to take over the annual Christmas pageant, chaos and unexpected moments of heart ensue, challenging the traditions and the people involved. Based on the popular novel by Barbara Robinson.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Themes & Keywords

· 34 tags
  • christmas
  • pageant
  • christmas play
  • holiday season
  • sign
  • girl
  • underage smoking
  • older version of character
  • voice over narration
  • five word title
  • angel
  • fire
+22 more
  • money
  • church
  • ham
  • classroom
  • cat
  • reference to pregnancy
  • sibling relationship
  • church pageant
  • poor family
  • christmas story
  • nativity story
  • large family
  • bad reputation
  • reference to jesus christ
  • dress rehearsal
  • reference to mary mother of jesus
  • cigar smoking
  • little girl
  • little boy
  • christmas pageant
  • nativity
  • title spoken by character
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Cast & crew

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Cast & Characters

Judy Greer leads the cast as Grace, with Pete Holmes as Bob and Lauren Graham as Adult Beth. Directed by Dallas Jenkins; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

· 6 more
From the director

More from Dallas Jenkins

More films directed by Dallas Jenkins, best-rated first: Christmas with The Chosen: The Messengers, The Resurrection of Gavin Stone, The Chosen: Last Supper Part 3 and The Chosen: Last Supper Part 2.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Best Christmas Pageant Ever 60 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 72/100, strongest in art & craft (80) and weakest in story & flow (65).

72 /100

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Echo Score Breakdown

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever delivers a warmhearted holiday experience marked by deft direction and agreeable performances but is undercut by predictable beats and uneven timing. Directorial choices maintain a gentle wit and clear message without heavy-handedness, though the narrative frequently relies on familiar faith-based tropes. Performances are generally serviceable, highlighted by a strong child lead, yet emotional stakes sometimes feel distant. Pacing slows noticeably in the latter half, limiting engagement for younger audiences. Overall, the film offers seasonal charm but falls short of lasting impact.

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

  • Art & Craft 80

    Artistic elements display a restrained visual coherence tempered by occasional timing inconsistencies. In terms of direction, framing remains steady and the adaptation’s aesthetic evokes classic holiday warmth. Production design and cinematography support the nostalgic tone with subtle color palettes, though editing at times undercuts comedic and dramatic beats. Overall, the film’s craft is competent but not without minor flaws in pacing.

  • Character & Emotion 65

    Character portrayals balance genuine warmth with a degree of emotional distance. When it comes to acting, the child lead delivers a solid performance while supporting players are competent yet seldom surprising. Character arcs follow familiar faith-based patterns, which offer occasional resonance but limit depth. Overall, emotional engagement remains modest, yielding warmth without profound impact.

  • Story & Flow 65

    The narrative unfolds with clear thematic intent but relies heavily on established holiday tropes. In terms of plot coherence, the storyline progresses logically, yet originality is limited by predictable faith-based conventions. Pacing is measured, with a gentle momentum that focuses on uplifting beats, though the latter half slows and may test engagement. Overall, the story is dependable and sincere but lacks surprising developments.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    The film’s sensory design offers nostalgic charm anchored by a subdued audiovisual style. In terms of visual style, muted color palettes and traditional set pieces evoke a classic holiday atmosphere without extravagance. The soundtrack provides simple, melodic themes that reinforce emotive moments, while sound design remains unobtrusive yet effective. Overall, the sensory experience is pleasingly cohesive though rarely ventures into striking territory.

  • Rewatch Factor 70

    The Best Christmas Pageant Ever offers moderate rewatch potential, particularly for seasonal viewing. Regarding replay value, its gentle humor and familiar storyline make it a comforting choice for holiday routines. Lasting appeal stems from its positive messaging and a standout child performance, even though predictable elements may diminish repeat surprises. Overall, the film rewards subsequent viewings for its warmth but may not sustain long-term fascination.

Plot

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The Herdman siblings—Imogene, Ralph, Claude, Leroy, Ollie, and Gladys—are notorious in their community for their chaotic and unruly antics, which include smoking cigars, using foul language, indulging in homemade wine, stealing from stores, and even committing acts of arson. This unsavory reputation can be attributed to their chaotic upbringing; their father deserted the family when Gladys was just an infant, leaving their mother overwhelmed as she juggles multiple jobs to provide for her children. This absence of parental guidance means that the Herdman children have largely evaded any real consequences for their behavior.

Full summary

The whole story of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Box Office & Budget

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever grossed $40.3 million worldwide on a $20 million budget, 2.0 times what it cost. $40 million came from the US and Canada and $213,359 (1%) from the rest of the world.

2024 box office

Worldwide gross

$40.3M

2.0× its budget

US & Canada
$40M
International
$213.4K
Budget
$20M
US & Canada 99% Rest of the world 1%
Videos

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 2 trailers.

Official Trailer
  • Trailer Trailer 2
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Best Christmas Pageant Ever?

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

What is the main behavior of the Herdman children that makes them infamous?

Cars

Cars in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

7 cars on screen, including the 1992 Chevrolet Chevy Van and the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado.

All 7 cars
  • 1992 Chevrolet Chevy Van in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever 1992 Chevrolet Chevy Van Important role
  • 2015 Chevrolet Silverado in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever 2015 Chevrolet Silverado Minor role
  • 2007 BMW 3 E92 in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever 2007 BMW 3 E92 Background role
  • 2010 Chevrolet Impala in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever 2010 Chevrolet Impala Background role
Details

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Also Known As

22 alternative titles, including “La peor obra de navidad” and “Le meilleur concours de Noël de tous les temps”.

Also known as
  • La peor obra de navidad
  • Le meilleur concours de Noël de tous les temps
  • Les Pires Enfants de l'histoire du monde
  • Jasełka wszech czasów
  • Şimdiye Kadar Ki En İyi Noel Gösterisi
  • טקס חג המולד הטוב ביותר
  • O Melhor Espetáculo de Natal de Todos os Tempos
  • 史上最棒的圣诞庆典
  • Příšerná besídka
  • Найкраща різдвяна вистава
  • แก๊งเด็กซ่า ปาฏิหาริย์ละครคริสต์มาส, საუკეთესო საშობაო ზეიმი
  • 史上最棒的聖誕劇
+10 more
  • La più mirabolante recita di Natale
  • Visu laiku labākais Ziemassvētku konkurss
  • Најбоље божићно такмичење икад
  • Najbolji božićni izbor ikad
  • Η Καλύτερη Χριστουγεννιάτικη Παράσταση Όλων
  • Лучшее рождественское представление на свете
  • El mejor espectáculo Navideño de todos los tiempos
  • Geriausias Kalėdų konkursas
  • Hội Diễn Giáng Sinh Tuyệt Vời Nhất
  • A legeslegszebb betlehemes

Seen The Best Christmas Pageant Ever?

FAQ

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever FAQ: Cast & Box Office

Release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, each answered in a sentence.

When was The Best Christmas Pageant Ever released?

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever was released on November 8, 2024.

Who directed The Best Christmas Pageant Ever?

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever was directed by Dallas Jenkins.

More films by Dallas Jenkins

Who is in the cast of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever?

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever stars Judy Greer as Grace, Pete Holmes as Bob and Lauren Graham as Adult Beth, among 10 credited actors.

How much did The Best Christmas Pageant Ever make at the box office?

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever grossed $40.3 million worldwide ($40 million domestic, $213,359 international) on a budget of $20 million.

How is The Best Christmas Pageant Ever rated?

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever has 6.8/10 on IMDb, 60 on Metacritic and 69% on TMDB.

Is The Best Christmas Pageant Ever based on a book?

Yes. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is adapted from The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson.

Does The Best Christmas Pageant Ever have a post-credit scene?

No. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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