THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER Trailer (2024) Judy Greer

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER Trailer (2024) Judy Greer

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER Trailer (2024) Judy Greer, Family Movie
© 2024 - Lionsgate
Lionsgate on Monday unveiled the first trailer for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, its inspirational comedy starring Judy Greer (13 Going on 30) and Pete Holmes (Crashing), which hails from Kingdom Story Company and Dallas Jenkins, the filmmaker behind popular faith-based series The Chosen.

An adaptation of the 1971 international bestseller by Barbara Robinson, the film will be released in theaters nationwide on November 8.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever centers on the Herdman kids, who are the absolute worst. They lie, they steal, they bully… and they’ve hijacked the town Christmas pageant. As the rowdy and raucous siblings force themselves into all of the lead roles, they drive the pageant’s director, Grace (Greer), and other members of her family, including husband Bob (Holmes), up the wall. But through their misfit mischief, these unlikely messengers might turn out to be the ones to deliver the town’s sensational and moving portrayal of the true meaning of Christmas.

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Also starring Elizabeth Tabish (The Chosen), and Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls), the film is scripted by Darin McDaniel & Platte Clark and Ryan Swanson and Jenkins. Lionsgate came to it after partnering with production company Kingdom Story Company on titles like Jesus Revolution, Ordinary Angels, and the upcoming White Bird, slated for an October 4 release.

Producers include Kingdom Story Company’s Kevin Downes, Daryl Lefever, Andrew Erwin and Jon Erwin, as well as Darin McDaniel and Chet Thomas. Jenkins exec produced alongside Gerald R. Molen, Mark Kendell, and Tony Young.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever opens against Focus Features’ Conclave, which opens wide the weekend of the 8th after debuting in limited release on November 1. The anticipated thriller from recent Oscar winner Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front) stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini.

Coming off the release of titles like Boy Kills World and The Strangers: Chapter 1, Lionsgate’s upcoming slate also includes films like Kill (July 4, with Roadside Attractions), Borderlands (August 9), The Crow (August 23), The Killer’s Game (September 13) and Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis (September 27), among others.

Check out the trailer for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever above.
Christmas comes early this year.

On July 1, Lionsgate shared an exclusive first look at The Best Christmas Pageant Ever with PEOPLE, highlighting stars Judy Greer, Pete Holmes, Elizabeth Tabish and Lauren Graham. The film is adapted from author Barbara Robinson's 1972 book of the same name.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever "centers on the Herdmans — absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world," teases a synopsis. "But this Christmas, they’re taking over their local church Pageant — and they just might unwittingly teach a shocked community the true meaning of Christmas."
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.
"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever". ALLAN FRASER
Greer tells PEOPLE that making a holiday film "does feel extra special" and points to her work with cast mates Holmes, Tabish and Graham, among others as for what audiences should be excited for.

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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.
"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever". ALLAN FRASER
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"We were so lucky with the cast, and I think that’s what really elevated it. The script was so sweet and funny, of course [director] Dallas [Jenkins] is incredible and has such a vision and so much energy," Greer says.

"But what really took the movie to the next level for me, the experience making it, is our incredible cast. Everyone had so much to give and was so talented and funny. Additionally, all of the kids were really able to open their hearts and be vulnerable when it was needed. I think that’s what really makes the movie special."
Pete Holmes as Bob, Molly Wright as Beth and Judy Greer as Grace in Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever". ALLAN FRASER
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Pete Holmes as Bob and Judy Greer as Grace in Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
Pete Holmes and Judy Greer in "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever". ALLAN FRASER
The new movie is directed by Dallas Jenkins, a filmmaker known best for the series The Chosen.

"Between my work with disadvantaged kids, my love of Christmas, my love of comedy, and the fact that I can't even talk about this story without crying, I couldn't have survived watching anyone else direct this movie," Jenkins says. "It's the film I was born to make."

Best Christmas Pageant Ever
LIONSGATE
Adds Jenkins, "What's so special about it is that it's funny without being slapstick, emotional without being sappy, and you'll get the true meaning of Christmas from a church Christmas pageant without it feeling churchy."

"You'll see a movie that honors the book fully because it's made by someone obsessed with the book," says the director. "I couldn't bear it if I made a movie that didn't live up to the beauty and charm of Barbara's work, and I believe we have."
The Best Christmas Pageant is in theaters Nov. 8.