The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2024)

"That's a pageant I'd like to see!"

The Herdmans are the worst kids in town. They smoke, steal, curse, and ignore authority. No one wants to deal with them, including adults. Imogene (Schneider) is the toughest, Gladys (Heiman) hits everyone, and the boys, Ralph (Nelligan), Ollie (Moore), Claude (Lamb), and Leroy (Wood), beat up anyone that gets in their way.

The town of Emmanuel is known for it's annual Christmas pageant. This year they are celebrating the 75th anniversary and advertising everywhere. The usual director breaks both her legs, so Grace Bradley (Greer) volunteers to take over. She has copious notes and history, but that all goes away when thr Herdman family volunteers for all the lead roles: Imogene as Mary, Ralph as Joseph, Gladys as the angel, and the rest of the boys as wise men.

The Herdmans don't know the story and want to change it to add in violence and vengeance. Grace insists it will be the best pageant ever, but everyone else, including her husband Bob (Holmes) and children Beth (Wright) and Charlie (Billingsley-Rodriguez), think the Herdmans will ruin the pageant. They all want Grace to kick them out of the show, but no one is willing to stand up to them. Will the pageant survive the Herdmans?

Based on the 1972 book "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" by Barbara Robinson. 

The Good:

The story is faithful to the book, while expanding on some elements. Judy Greer is great as Grace. The role of Bob is expanded here and Pete Holmes makes it work. He is funny (he said the quote above) and supportive. The kids are all good as well, with Gladys as a standout, because we all know a kid like Gladys.

It is funny, with heart and a tearful finale.

The Bad:

No real complaints.

Other Comments:

-The story was previously adapted for film in 1983.

-I love the book and the 1983 film (which I try to watch every year), so I was excited about this film. I was not disappointed.  It is funny and serious and moving and the kids are great. I definitely want to see this film again!

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2024) 95 minutes 

Director: Dallas Jenkins 

Starring: Judy Greer as Grace Bradley

Pete Holmes as Bob Bradley

Molly Belle Wright as Beth Bradley

Lauren Graham as Narrator

Beatrice Schneider as Imogene Herdman

Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez as Charlie Bradley

Matthew Lamb as Claude Herdman

Essek Moore as Ollie Herdman

Kirk B.R. Woller as Reverend Hopkins

Ewan Wood as Leroy Herdman

Mason D. Nelligan as Ralph Herdman

Kynlee Heiman as Gladys Herdman