A Recap of The Movie ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’

Written by Michael Lee

*All Media used in this article is courtesy of Lionsgate

Photo via Lionsgate

Official Trailer: ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’ (2024)

Cast & Crew Interviews: ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’

Plot Synopsis

The film begins with a narration from adult Elizabeth ‘Beth’ Bradley, as she narrates the circumstances that led to the ‘best Christmas pageant ever’, from detailing her family, the town, and of course, the six Herdman children. She explains that the Herdmans were: “Absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lied, they stole, they smoked cigars. They hit little kids, even if the kids were bigger than they were. They took the Lord's name in vain. They dissed teachers. They even set fire to the tool shed."

‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’ Film Clip: “Delivering Him” ● Video via Lionsgate

Beth, our narrator, goes on to detail her family life; brought up by her parents, Grace and Bob Bradley along with her younger brother, Charlie. Beth tells us the names of the Herdman clan: Imogene, Ralph, Claude, LeRoy, Ollie, and Gladys. Beth tells us that the eldest, Imogene, the ringleader of the Herdman clan, once even stole her necklace right from under her, with no regret or remorse at all. According to Beth, the Herdmans are famous across town for their rowdy, inappropriate behavior. Their father is absent and their mother works many, many jobs just to make ends meet and support her many children. The family is also very poor, which gives them abadreputation throughout town. They all occupy one grade across the entire school and not one is held back no matter their academic performance, as it would mean having two Herdmans in one grade: a teacher’s worst nightmare.

Pete Holmes as Bob, Molly Wright as Beth and Judy Greer as Grace in Best Christmas Pageant Ever [Photo by Allan Fraser/Lionsgate]

Beth tells us that one Christmas, Grace, her mother, had volunteered to direct and cast the local church’s Christmas pageant. The excitement for the pageant around the community is palpable, as every single town resident looks forward to this annual celebration. That is, until the Herdmans get involved, of course.

‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’ Film Clip: “A Big Lesson” ● Video via Lionsgate

During lunchtime at school, Beth’s brother, Charlie, is frustrated because the Herdmans keep stealing his dessert. Charlie then jokingly tells the Herdman clan that the treats are so much better at the local church, which the Herdmans take literally. Just as their mother Grace begins casting the pageant, the Herdmans arrive to gorge on the extravagant dessert spread, the same one Charlie told them about, unfortunately doesn’t exist. The pageant is a classic Nativity play, and though the Herdmans are not religious and do not know of the Nativity, they are intrigued. The oldest, Imogene, is fascinated by the thought of acting, of ‘being someone else’.

Pete Holmes as Bob and Judy Greer as Grace in Best Christmas Pageant Ever [Photo by Allan Fraser/Lionsgate]

The Herdmanchildren are all bullies of course, so they do what they can to get cast, which includes silencing many other children in order to hijack the pageant for themselves. Imogene, along with the rest of the Herdman children, truly believe this pageant to be their star vehicle, their ticket to fame and riches beyond their wildest dreams. So, Grace, left with no choice, decides to cast the Herdmans: Imogene is Mary and Ralph is Joseph. Claude, LeRoy, and Ollie are the three Wisemen, while the youngest, Gladys, portrays the Angel who calls the Wiseman to the baby Jesus.

Kynlee Heiman as Gladys Herdman, Matthew Lamb as Claude Herdman, Mason Nelligan as Ralph Herdman, Beatrice Schneider as Imogene Herdman, Ewan Wood as Leroy Herdman and Essek Moore as Ollie Herdman in Best Christmas Pageant Ever [Photo by Allan Fraser/Lionsgate]

Though Beth, Grace, and the town at large may think negatively of the Herdmans, and though their actions are often inappropriate, they are intrigued by the Nativity and the story of Jesus. So they all go to the library, desperate to learn more about the parts they are to play.

Kynlee Heiman as Gladys Herdman in Best Christmas Pageant Ever [Photo by Allan Fraser/Lionsgate]

Grace is under a lot of pressure from the community, as many members see the Herdmans as nothing but “poor trash”, which is a disgrace to the Nativity and the town itself. Casting Imogeneas Mary has also proved to be controversial, as it is a coveted role in town and every mother wants their daughter to desperately get the part. Tensions arise when confronted with an upper-class mother demands that her daughter play Mary again for the fourth time in a row. But Grace does not back down from pressure.

Essek Moore as Ollie Herdman, Ewan Wood as Leroy Herdman, Lorelei Olivia Mote as Alice, Matthew Lamb as Claude Herdman, Molly Wright as Beth, Beatrice Schneider as Imogene Herdman, Mason Nelligan as Ralph Herdman, Kynlee Heiman as Gladys Herdman, Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez as Charlie in Best Christmas Pageant Ever [Photo by Allan Fraser/Lionsgate]

Later, Bob, Grace, Beth and Charlie are working a volunteer event which promises to provide full Holiday meals to those who are in need. The family stumbles across the Herdmans along one of their meal stops, and are shocked to find out the true circumstances of the kids. They seemingly have no father and nearly no mother, as she has to work upwards of four jobs just to keep up on the mortgage. This makes the family realize how desperate the Herdman kids are just to be a part of something bigger than themselves.

Beatrice Schneider as Imogene Herdman, Mason Nelligan as Ralph Herdman, Matthew Lamb as Claude Herdman, Ewan Matthys Wood as Leroy Herdman, Essek Moore as Ollie Herdman and Kynlee Heiman as Gladys Herdman in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever [Photo by Allan Fraser/Lionsgate]

The Herdmans becomefamiliar with the story of Christmas and how much it resonates with their own story, too. Instead of just staying silent like Mary had previously, Imogene goes on to burp the Baby Jesus, like a real baby, noting that she had to do the same thing with Gladys.

Beatrice Schneider as Imogene Herdman and Judy Greer as Grace in Best Christmas Pageant Ever [Photo by Allan Fraser/Lionsgate]

The pageant is an overwhelming success and the town celebrates their crowning achievement, with everyone having learned something important. It is about what the Herdmans taught the community and too what the community taught the Herdmans. As the film closes, it reveals the future of each Herdman family member, and how each went on to lead beautiful, fulfilling lives, forever changed by one Christmas pageant that was never supposed to be.