The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2024) Official Trailer – Lauren Graham, Judy Greer, Pete Holmes
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a 2024 theatrical film released by Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company, based on the book of the same name by Barbara Robinson. It was filmed entirely in Manitoba, Canada.
Synopsis[]
The Herdmans are six siblings with the reputation in the town for being the worst kids in the world. They are also labeled as juvenile delinquents who will most likely end up in jail. Beth Bradley, the narrator, wishes they would somehow disappear somewhere remote until she can grow up and move away.
The Herdmans are Imogene, the eldest, then Ralph, Leroy, Claude, Olly and Gladys. They are all assertive and brutish, bully everyone, steal and generally make everyone miserable.
On the town Christmas pageant's 75th anniversary, Beth's housewife mom Grace volunteers to be in charge as the woman who usually runs it has broken her legs. Beth's little brother Charlie tells his tormentor that at church they get treats and sweets, so the whole Herdman clan comes to Sunday school.
Surprisingly, they stay. But even more surprising, Imogene announces she will take the role of Mary in the local church pageant. She and her siblings offer themselves to take the biggest parts, bullying everyone else into silence. The shocked community is appalled that Grace gives them a chance to reform by letting them perform in the pageant.
At the first rehearsal Grace reads everyone the Christmas story, sensing that the Herdmans are not familiar with it. They are outraged by the story, suggesting they include a King Herod to kill, so they cut their first meeting short when chaos erupts.
At the Bradleys that night, they debate over the Herdmans' participation in the pageant. Dad Bob points out they will make the show more interestingly unpredictable and that they had some valid questions. The next morning, he takes their whole family as he delivers hams for the food drive. Watching how excited the Herdmans are upon receiving theirs seals Grace's determination to follow through with them in the pageant.
Imogene gets Beth to help her and her siblings to research the Christmas story in the library. To convince them to care about the pageant, she points out it is an opportunity to live someone else's life, like actors in a movie.
The final dress rehearsal is chaotic. First Imogene's brothers hide the baby, the choir are not in sync, a mother makes Imogene feel unworthy to be Mary, then a fire alarm is pulled. In the mayhem with the fire trucks, Imogene overhears many townspeople speaking badly of the Herdmans, so they disappear.
The next day, when Grace is not able to reach them by phone, Beth confronts Imogene at home. Although reminded that Grace fought for her family to have this opportunity, Imogene does not give her any assurance that she and her siblings will come. So that evening, when Grace opens the Christmas pageant, she freely admits she has no idea how it will go.
At the last minute the Herdmans do come, and give a certain authenticity to the show. Imogene sheds real tears, and many are moved. The family is accepted by the townspeople, and all but Leroy move on to do well in life.
A postscript reveals what happened to the siblings:
- Ollie Herdman in now a veterinarian who specializes in feline research.
- Claude Herdman is now a public school teacher.
- Leroy Herdman had a few stints in jail, but has been rehabilitated.
- Gladys Herdman is a flight attendant.
- Ralph Herdman is a pastor of the largest church in the Midwest.
- Imogene Herdman acted in a few movies before running the Christmas Pageant at Ralph's church. She is a mother of five.
Songs[]
| Title(s) | Performed by |
|---|---|
| "Twinkle (Little Christmas Lights)" | JD McPherson |
| "A Holly Jolly Christmas" | The River Cryers |
| "The First Noel" | |
| "The Holly and the Ivy" "Here We Come A-Caroling" "Jingle Bells" |
Red Dirt Boys |
| "Jesus Loves Me" "Away in a Manger" "O Little Town of Bethlehem" "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks" "We Three Kings" "What Child is This?" "Silent Night" |
select Cast |
| "O Come All Ye Faithful" | Matthew Perryman Jones |
| "Christmas is Love" | Devon Gilfillian |
| "Go Tell It on the Mountain" | Blake Shelton |
Cast[]
| Actor/actress | Character |
|---|---|
| Stanlee Arches | Ticket Taker |
| Vanessa Benavente | Teacher (1st Grade) |
| Mariam Bernstein | Mrs. Armstrong |
| Jenni Burke | Miss Graebner |
| Kamal Chioua | Joseph |
| Lauren Cochrane | Nurse Pond |
| Sarah Constible | Mrs. Slocum |
| Wyatt Dewar | David |
| Joshua Downes | Kid in Class |
| Zoe Fish | Choir Kid #1 |
| Donna Fletcher | Piano Player |
| Sara Angelica Lopez Garcia | Mary Mother |
| Davison Gee | Robby |
| Lauren Graham | Adult Beth |
| Nolan Grantham | Elmer |
| Judy Greer | Grace |
| Kynlee Heiman | Gladys |
| Danielle Hoetmer | Mrs. Wendelken |
| Pete Holmes | Bob |
| Adam Hurtig | Mr. Grady |
| Maisy Jacques | Choir Kid #6 |
| Kincade Johnson | Choir Kid #4 |
| Reena Jolly | Ms. Warren |
| Kevin Klassen | Male Parent |
| Shantaya Labiuk | Choir Kid #8 |
| Matthew Lamb | Claude |
| Daina Leitold | Mrs. Hopkins |
| Owen Mathison | Choir Kid #5 |
| Ewan Matthys-Wood | Leroy |
| Chloe McKinnon | Little One |
| Curtis Moore | TV Announcer |
| Essek Moore | Ollie |
| Lorelei Olivia Mote | Alice |
| Mason Nelligan | Ralph |
| Anastasia Rautert | Choir Kid #9 |
| Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez | Charlie |
| Beatrice Schneider | Imogene |
| Ray Strachan | Fireman |
| Khloe Banville-Sumner | Minnie |
| Stephanie Sy | Mrs. Thomas |
| Elizabeth Tabish | Mrs. Grady |
| Oswald Taronno | Choir Kid #3 |
| Isla Verot | Becky |
| Dermot Webster | Choir Kid #7 |
| Grace Lynn Williams | Choir Kid #2 |
| Kirk B.R. Woller | Rev. Hopkins |
| Molly Belle Wright | Beth |
| Tom Young | Mr. Armstrong |
See also[]
External links[]
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at the Internet Movie Database
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at the Movie Database
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at Rotten Tomatoes
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