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Animated comedy

The Star (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

The Star (2017) movie poster

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.

IMDb rating
6.3/10
worldwide gross
$63.6M
award nomination
1
Echo Score
50
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The Star (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 26m (86 min)
Director
Timothy Reckart
Original language
English
Budget
$20M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

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
  • 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
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Cast & crew

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.

From the director

More from Timothy Reckart

One more film directed by Timothy Reckart: Head Over Heels.

Full filmography
Ratings

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).

50 /100

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.

Plot

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

Read the full summary
Box office

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.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$63.6M

3.2× its budget

US & Canada
$40.9M
International
$22.7M
Budget
$20M
US & Canada 64% Rest of the world 36%
Awards

The Star Awards & Nominations

The Star earned 1 award nomination, including Best Original Song at the Golden Globes 2018.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

The Star Trailers & Videos

20 videos: 3 trailers, 4 clips and 13 featurettes.

All 20 videos
The Star International Teaser Trailer #1 (2017) | Movieclips Trailers
  • Trailer THE STAR Trailer #3 (2017)
  • Trailer Trailer #1
  • Clip Charades
  • Clip It's a Birthday Party!
Quiz

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

  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 name of the young donkey who dreams of joining the Royal Caravan?

Details

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
  • 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?

FAQ

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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