The Star (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
The Star is a 2017 animated comedy directed by Timothy Reckart, starring Keegan-Michael Key as Dave, Aidy Bryant and Gina Rodriguez. It runs 1 hour 26 minutes and earned $63.6 million worldwide on a $20 million budget. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Original Song at the Golden Globes 2018. Critics gave it 42 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 26m (86 min)
- Director
- Timothy Reckart
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Columbia Pictures
- Budget
- $20M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Star About?
The premise of The Star without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
A spirited donkey named Bo yearns for something more than his ordinary life. He sets off on an extraordinary journey with a group of unlikely animal companions, including Ruth the sheep, Dave the dove, and three comical camels. Following a bright Star, they find themselves unexpectedly involved in the events surrounding the birth of Jesus, becoming part of a heartwarming Christmas story filled with friendship and wonder.
The Star Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- talking animal
- bible story
- king
- nativity
- christianity
- donkey
- escape
- chase
- dog
- sheep
- baby
- bible
+38 more Show fewer
- mouse
- cgi animation
- mary of nazareth character
- joseph of nazareth character
- star
- dove
- pregnancy
- falling from height
- three wise men
- three kings
- beef
- childbirth
- giving birth
- newborn baby
- christmas
- camel
- religion
- horse
- caravan
- mill
- wedding day
- anthropomorphic mouse
- anthropomorphic donkey
- anthropomorphic camel
- anthropomorphic dove
- shortcut
- anthropomorphic sheep
- preaching
- nazareth israel
- year one
- angel
- annunciation
- star of bethlehem
- bethlehem judah
- computer animation
- year 1 b.c.
- desert adventure
- cg animation
The Star Cast & Characters
Keegan-Michael Key leads the cast as Dave, with Aidy Bryant as Ruth and Gina Rodriguez as Mary. Directed by Timothy Reckart; 14 actors are credited in all.
- Director Timothy Reckart
-
Keegan-Michael Key as Dave - Aidy Bryant as Ruth
-
Gina Rodriguez as Mary -
Kristin Chenoweth as Abby
Also Starring in The Star
· 10 more- Steven Yeun Bo
- Kris Kristofferson Old Donkey
- Zachary Levi Joseph
- Oprah Winfrey Deborah
- Christopher Plummer Herod
- Ving Rhames Thaddeus
- Gabriel Iglesias Rufus
- Anthony Anderson Zach
- Patricia Heaton Edith
- Kelly Clarkson Leah
More from Timothy Reckart
One more film directed by Timothy Reckart: Head Over Heels.
The Star Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Star 42 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 50/100, strongest in sensory experience (60) and weakest in art & craft (35).
The Star Echo Score Breakdown
The Star delivers a mixed experience marked by sporadic charm and uneven execution. On one hand, its sincere heart and occasional emotional moments earn modest praise, particularly for younger viewers. On the other hand, inconsistent direction and tonal shifts between reverence and juvenile humor undermine cohesion. While some find it a serviceable family-friendly retelling of the Christmas story, the film rarely rises beyond an average seasonal offering.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 35
The film’s art and craft elements struggle with inconsistent direction and lackluster animation quality. Critics noted that the visual style veers between reverent imagery and juvenile slapstick, resulting in an uneven aesthetic. Occasional production design moments impress, but they are overshadowed by simplistic editing choices and uninspired character models. Overall, the art direction feels unbalanced and rarely achieves a coherent visual identity.
- Character & Emotion 50
Characterization in The Star yields mixed results, with intermittent emotional resonance punctuated by shallow development. While a few performances, notably Mariah Carey’s vocal work, bring warmth, many characters lack depth and chemistry. The animal protagonists often distract from human storylines, leading to uneven engagement. In sum, the film offers occasional heartfelt interactions but falls short of sustained character immersion.
- Story & Flow 50
The narrative in The Star alternates between clever reinterpretations of the Nativity and derivative comedic detours. Plot coherence suffers when slapstick interludes interrupt key emotional beats, resulting in uneven pacing. Some viewers appreciate the effort to remain faithful to the traditional story, while others find it forgettable and lacking originality. Consequently, the story feels serviceable but rarely compelling.
- Sensory Experience 60
The sensory experience of The Star benefits from an upbeat soundtrack and clear sound design that support its family-friendly tone. Musical numbers earn particular praise for capturing holiday sentiment, even if the R&B elements sometimes clash with the spiritual material. Visually, the animation is competent though not distinctive, and the overall audio-visual cohesion remains moderate. The film’s sensory qualities are often pleasant but seldom memorable.
- Rewatch Factor 55
The Star offers moderate replay value, particularly for its target audience of young viewers and families. Several users report enjoying subsequent viewings for its encouraging themes and festive songs. However, adult audiences may find limited lasting appeal due to predictable humor and uneven engagement. Ultimately, the film holds some seasonal charm but is unlikely to become a perennial favorite beyond initial viewings.
-
IMDb 6.3 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 42 Metascore
User score 6.0
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 63% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.6 /5
4 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 4.3 /5
See on Movie Insider
The Star Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in The Star 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 5-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The movie begins in Nazareth, where Mary (voiced by Gina Rodriguez) is deep in prayer. Suddenly, an angel (voiced by Joel McCrary) appears from above, announcing to Mary that she will give birth to the son of God. This miraculous event doesn’t go unnoticed, as a small pygmy mouse named Abby (voiced by Kristin Chenoweth) witnesses everything and eagerly spreads the news to other animals in the town. Their gaze is drawn to the heavens where a radiant star shines brightly.
Full summary
The whole story of The Star, scene by scene, with the ending explained
The Star Box Office & Budget
The Star grossed $63.6 million worldwide on a $20 million budget, 3.2 times what it cost. $40.9 million came from the US and Canada and $22.7 million (36%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$63.6M
3.2× its budget
- US & Canada
- $40.9M
- International
- $22.7M
- Budget
- $20M
The Star Awards & Nominations
The Star earned 1 award nomination, including Best Original Song at the Golden Globes 2018.
1 nomination1 ceremony
-
Golden Globes 2018 1 nomination- Nominated Best Original Song
The Star Trailers & Videos
20 videos: 3 trailers, 4 clips and 13 featurettes.
- Trailer THE STAR Trailer #3 (2017)
- Trailer Trailer #1
- Clip Charades
- Clip It's a Birthday Party!
How Well Do You Know The Star?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the young donkey who dreams of joining the Royal Caravan?
The Star Also Known As
37 alternative titles, including “The Lamb” and “La Estrella de Belén”.
- Also known as
-
- The Lamb
- La Estrella de Belén
- The Star Donkey
- Se armó el belén 2017
- L’Étoile de Noël - L'Histoire Du Tout Premier Noël
- ザ・スター はじめてのクリスマス
- L'étoile
- Hviezda
- Se armó el Belén
- L'Étoile de Noël
- Bo und der Weihnachtsstern
- Stjernen
+25 more Show fewer
- Primul Crăciun
- Путеводная звезда
- A Estrela de Belém
- Šťastná hvězda
- Gli eroi del Natale
- De Ster
- 圣诞星
- Pierwsza gwiazdka
- Cesur Eşek
- 더 크리스마스
- Звездата
- Zvaigzne
- คืนมหัศจรรย์แห่งดวงดาว
- A Estrela de Natal
- Žvaigždė
- Stjärnan
- A csillag
- Šťastná hviezda
- Το Αστέρι των Χριστουγέννων
- ستاره
- Різдвяна зірка
- הכוכב
- Julestjernen
- 幸運星
- Ngôi Sao Phương Đông
Seen The Star?
Movies Like The Star
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Story of Christmas, Star of Bethlehem and Light of the World.
-
The Story of Christmas 1994 -
Star of Bethlehem 1912 -
Light of the World 2025 -
Journey to the Christmas Star 1976 -
The Small One 1978 -
StarDog and TurboCat 2020 -
Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey 1977 -
Silent Night: The Story of the First Christmas 2000 -
The Christmas Star 2020 -
Puppy Star Christmas 2018 -
That Christmas 2024 -
The King is Born 1987
The Star FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of The Star, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Star?
The Star runs 1 hour 26 minutes (86 minutes).
When was The Star released?
The Star was released on November 17, 2017.
Who directed The Star?
The Star was directed by Timothy Reckart.
More films by Timothy Reckart Who is in the cast of The Star?
The Star stars Keegan-Michael Key as Dave, Aidy Bryant as Ruth and Gina Rodriguez as Mary, among 14 credited actors.
How much did The Star make at the box office?
The Star grossed $63.6 million worldwide ($40.9 million domestic, $22.7 million international) on a budget of $20 million.
How is The Star rated?
The Star has 6.3/10 on IMDb, 42 on Metacritic, 63% on TMDB and 2.6/5 on Letterboxd.
Was The Star nominated for any awards?
The Star received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.
Does The Star have a post-credit scene?
No. The Star has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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