On Nov. 8, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” one of this season’s funniest Christmas movies, is set to premiere in theaters.
The film is directed by Dallas Jenkins, who is the creator, writer, and director of the critically acclaimed series “The Chosen.” The film stars Judy Greer (“Ant Man,” “Jurassic World,” “The Wedding Planner”), Pete Holmes (“The Secret Life of Pets 2,” “Crashing”), Lauren Graham (“Gilmore Girls,” “Evan Almighty”), Elizabeth Tabish (“The Chosen”), Kirk B.R. Woller (“The Chosen”), and Molly Belle Wright.
Moviegoers can catch an early screening of the film on Nov. 2. Moviegoers who purchase their tickets through ATOM tickets and use the code CHRISTMASGIFT at checkout will receive a free child ticket with the purchase of every adult ticket. This offer is limited. The early screenings will also include never-before-seen content from “The Chosen,” Season 5.
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“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” is based on a 50-year-old best-selling book by Barbara Robinson with the same title.
Jenkins told ChurchLeaders that the film follows “the story of the Herdmans, the worst kids in the history of the world. These six kids who are from the wrong side of the tracks and have never set foot into church before.”
“They come to church because they’re hoping to get some snacks and they end up taking over the Christmas pageant,” Jenkins said. “They bully the other kids into making sure that they play all the lead roles, and it’s a complete disaster and everyone thinks it’s going to be the worst Christmas pageant ever.”
After the town’s beloved Christmas pageant gets highjacked by these misfits, church members react with fear and judgement towards the Herdmans. Jenkins explained that “because of these kids and their unique perspective on the Christmas story—coming from poverty, coming from outsider status—that they’re actually closer to the heart of the Christmas story than even we are as kind of suburban American churchgoers.”
Jenkins shared how he became inspired make the film.
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“Twenty years ago, my wife, Amanda, bought [the book] from a Pottery Barn, brought it home, and said, ‘Remember this book as a kid? Let’s read this to our kids,’” Jenkins recalled. Jenkins said that when he neared the end of this “charming,” “nostalgic,” “classic Christmas story,” he was “weeping.”
“I mean, I am just, I’m crying so hard I can’t even get through it,” Jenkins said, sharing that he had to hand the book to his wife to read. “And then she starts crying and handing it back to me. So we’re taking turns trying to read it to our kids.”
