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Movie · Comedy, Animated · 2017 · PG

The Star: parents' guide

6+our pick

Best for ages 6 and up. Rated PG for some thematic elements.

A gentle, funny animated Nativity story told by the animals that suits young children, especially in Christian families. A small donkey named Bo escapes a mill and ends up helping Mary and Joseph reach Bethlehem while a soldier sent by King Herod and his two snarling dogs hunt them. That pursuit supplies the main peril, with chases and slapstick scuffles, and the soldier ends up taking a long fall that may kill him. Herod threatens to kill all the children if he cannot find one baby, though nothing like that is shown. There is no profanity, and the humor runs to mild bathroom jokes.

What's in it

Violence

Mild

Cartoon scuffles: animals knock out the miller, tip the pursuing soldier into a well, and finally knock him off a high ledge, after which he is seen lying motionless below. Two attack dogs go after Bo.

Language

None

No profanity. The bird sidekick says tick people off, jokes about a well-placed number two, and makes other mild potty humor.

Sex and nudity

None

Nothing beyond affection. Joseph kisses Mary's forehead, the couple have a veiled talk about her pregnancy, and a dove flirts with a pigeon.

Drinking, drugs and smoking

None

No drinking, smoking or drug references of any kind; none of the human or animal characters use anything.

Scary or intense scenes

Moderate

A silent, sword-carrying soldier and his growling dogs repeatedly chase Mary, Joseph and the animals, and a large animal charges at people. Herod speaks of killing children, though none are harmed.

Worth talking about

Bo wants to do something important and finds it by helping others. Ask your child how small acts of kindness can turn out to matter a lot.

Where to stream →

On our lists

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Checked October 24th, 2026 against Common Sense Media, Plugged In, movieguide.org, crosswalk.com. 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.