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Movie · Comedy, Drama · 2024 · PG

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: parents' guide

7+our pick

Best for ages 7 and up. Rated PG for thematic material and brief underage smoking.

A funny, big-hearted family film about grace that suits elementary-age kids. The six Herdman siblings, known as the worst kids in town, take over a church Christmas pageant and ask blunt questions that make everyone see the old story fresh. They steal, threaten classmates, start a shed fire, and smoke cigars, and they are largely left to fend for themselves by an absent mother. No profanity is spoken, though the Herdmans silently mouth curses. Their bad behavior is the point of the story, and it softens into something touching by the end.

What's in it

Violence

Mild

The Herdmans scuffle with and threaten other kids, and one makes a throat-slitting gesture. A snowball fight gets rough, a woman who broke both legs is wheeled out by paramedics, and a cat runs wild in a classroom.

Language

Mild

No profanity is spoken aloud. The Herdmans mouth curses at teachers, Imogene says 'My God' in church, and kids trade insults like 'jerks,' 'stupid,' and 'cooties.' One rude line is cut off midway.

Sex and nudity

None

Nothing romantic. The kids loudly work out that Mary was pregnant, which scandalizes one prim girl, and someone mentions a dad walking around in his underwear.

Drinking, drugs and smoking

Moderate

The Herdman kids, girls included, are known for smoking cigars, one is shown smoking, and Imogene is accused of lighting up in the church restroom; their reputation gets them blamed for a church fire. No alcohol appears in the sources we read.

Scary or intense scenes

Mild

Little that is scary. The emotional moments come from seeing how neglected the Herdmans are and how harshly the town judges them, and some scenes near the end may bring tears.

Sensitive topics

  • Bullying

Worth talking about

The church folks judge the Herdmans without knowing them; ask kids how it feels to be labeled and what changes when someone is given a chance.

Where to stream →

On our lists

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Checked October 24th, 2026 against Common Sense Media, Plugged In, bbfc.co.uk. The age is our judgment, not an official rating, and every family draws its lines differently: read the notes, not just the number. Spotted something we missed? Tell us. How we rate.