A Boy Called Christmas

2021

1 hr. 46 min.

Kids & Family

Holiday

Adventure

Drama

Fantasy

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List

84%

31 Reviews

Tomatometer

61%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

An ordinary young boy called Nikolas sets out on an extraordinary adventure into the snowy north in search of his father who is on a quest to discover the fabled village of the elves, Elfhelm. Taking with him a headstrong reindeer called Blitzen and a loyal pet mouse, Nikolas soon meets his destiny in this magical, comic and endearing story that proves nothing is impossible. Adapted from the bestselling book by Matt Haig.

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Critics Consensus

A Boy Called Christmas offers few surprises, but makes up for its lack of originality with a heaping helping of winsome holiday spirit.

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Matt H

A decent enough holiday movie.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/06/24

Full Review

Maanyata R

I think this movie has a lot to teach. I loved it! and recommend you to watch it, if you are a person who enjoys holiday movies and is not so keen on script and acting.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/30/23

Full Review

Adrian M

It was a sweet story within a story, in the same way as The Princess Bride was, only worse. No matter how many leaps of faith I took, the movie still found ways to not make sense. While it was nice to see more traditional elves for a change (yes, JRR Tolkien, I get it that you made new types of elves, but seriously, can we go back to traditional ones at least occasionally?), and it was based at least a little bit on established mythology, a lot of it just did not make sense, and even when you accepted that, the so-called leap of faith, there was still more that did not make sense, and it just kept on having things that did not make sense. If I take a mark off out of 10 for every time they had an escalating leap of faith that they failed to adhere to, this movie would be about a -40/10, or worse even. But there were still nice bits and, so long as I put my mind to sleep for a bit, it might be possible to enjoy it. But this is very hard. This is not a good movie. I gave it 3/10

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

12/29/23

Full Review

Joehan

The plot of the movie was weak.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

12/29/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I truly love people that argue about keeping Christ in Christmas. Really? Upset because your made-up religion isn’t being followed in this made-up movie? There is ZERO proof that God or Jesus EXIST. The whole Bible is a sham it’s just a book about how to be a good person. So I’m thankful that a Christmas movie doesn’t have that loser Jesus in it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/25/23

Full Review

Kyle M

Purely original holiday spirit actually offers a unique yuletide cheer slightly differentiating the seasonal mythos with heartening resonance and thickening narrative, even if it doesn't favorably stand as high in the merry genre but worthwhile dazzling family fare. (B+)

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/25/23

Full Review

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Gil Kenan

Director

Henry Lawfull

Nikolas

Stephen Merchant

Miika

Michiel Huisman

Joel

Zoe Margaret Colletti

The Truth Pixie

Kristen Wiig

Aunt Carlotta

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A Boy Called Christmas: Trailer 1

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A Boy Called Christmas: Teaser Trailer

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Stephen Romei

The Australian

This is a big-hearted movie about kindness, which, as Nikolas reminds his dad, costs nothing but is worth so much.

Rated: 3.5/5

Dec 11, 2021

Full Review

Christy Lemire

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

It's light, playful, and knowingly anachronistic without being obnoxious.

Dec 1, 2021

Full Review

Clarisse Loughrey

Independent (UK)

Kenan has done a better job here of mining the comforts of childhood nostalgia than he did on the recent Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which he co-wrote.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 28, 2021

Full Review

Aaron Phillips

But Why Tho? A Geek Community

A Boy Called Christmas was a surprising hit for me, and I urge you and your families to put this film at the top of your must-watch list.

Rated: 8.5/10

Jan 16, 2023

Full Review

Tom Beasley

Flickering Myth

It's a film that leaves you yearning to delve into the riches of its unknown worlds, but lacks the propulsion to actually get the audience there.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 16, 2021

Full Review

Edward Porter

Sunday Times (UK)

The concept strikes me as presumptuous and laboured, but the book is popular and Gil Kenan's film adapts it smoothly in snow-dusted fairytale style.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 8, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

An ordinary young boy called Nikolas sets out on an extraordinary adventure into the snowy north in search of his father who is on a quest to discover the fabled village of the elves, Elfhelm. Taking with him a headstrong reindeer called Blitzen and a loyal pet mouse, Nikolas soon meets his destiny in this magical, comic and endearing story that proves nothing is impossible. Adapted from the bestselling book by Matt Haig.

Director: Gil Kenan
Executive Producer: Matt Haig, Ron Halpern, Ben Knight, Didier Lupfer
Screenwriter: Ol Parker, Gil Kenan, Matt Haig, Ol Parker, Gil Kenan
Production Co: Netflix, Blueprint Pictures, Studio Canal
Genre: Kids & Family, Holiday, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Original Language: English (United Kingdom)
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 24, 2021

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