‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’ Hits Home Video while Continuing Theatrical Run
The Christmas season's most successful faith-based movie is now on home video. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (PG) launched this week on premium video on demand, giving fans who missed the movie -- or who want to watch it again and again -- the chance to celebrate Christmas with the Herdmans.
The Herdmans are the unruly children at the core of the plot who unexpectedly land all the major roles in a town's Christmas play and threaten to ruin it. It is based on a children's book of the same name. Dallas Jenkins, who directs The Chosen, also directed The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
The movie, which is still playing in hundreds of theaters nationwide, opened at No. 3 at the box office and has grossed $35 million domestically.
It was made by Kingdom Story Company, the same studio behind Jesus Revolution, Ordinary Angels and I Can Only Imagine.
"The movie is just really resonating with audiences," producer Kevin Downes told Crosswalk Headlines. "And Dallas Jenkins did a great job of adapting the book, which obviously has a huge fan base. It's been around for 50 years. People were really pleased with the adaptation. The movie has the fun, which people expect, but it's got a lot of heart. And when you deliver the heart, people want to come back and experience it again."
The film stars Judy Greer, Pete Holmes, and Lauren Graham.
Jenkins said the story includes several biblical messages.
"I think there's a key message in this movie about making sure we understand people who we don't normally see, people who are visiting church for the first time, people from the wrong side of the tracks, people in poverty -- instead of judging them, let's really, truly try to understand [them]," Jenkins previously told Crosswalk Headlines. "... Maybe there's a perspective they have that we and our suburban American viewpoint might miss out on or take for granted in the story of Christmas."
The core message of the film, he added, involves Christ.
"It's the last words of the movie: 'Unto you a child is born.' That is ultimately the message of this. … Jesus came to Earth for you," Jenkins said. "And that is a message that comes through in a comedic way in this movie, but also in a very emotional and spiritual way in this movie."
Photo Credit: ©Lionsgate
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published December 12, 2024.
