Merry Christmas

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Merry Christmas

PG-13

2005

1h 56m

Holiday

War

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

74%

Tomatometer

112 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

With the advent of World War I, Europe is thrown into a brutal and vicious chaos as men are forced to kill or be killed. While blood soaks the battlefield as Christmas approaches, the men in the trenches of the Western Front face a transformation, however fleeting, toward peace and goodwill. Against all odds, four unlikely individuals from opposing sides (Diane Kruger, Benno Fürmann, Guillaume Canet, Gary Lewis) bond during this bloodless respite to experience the hope and goodness in humanity.

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Critics Consensus

The poignant humanity on display in Joyeux Noel makes its sentimentality forgivable.

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Shubhra Gupta

The Indian Express

[Merry Christmas] underlines all that unites us at a time when all seems to separate us.

Apr 26, 2019

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Rick Groen

Globe and Mail

Unfolding slowly, then building in momentum like the hymns themselves, this entire sequence is tremendously affecting.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 14, 2014

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Simon Crook

Empire Magazine

A vivid, quietly powerful recreation of a truly extraordinary moment in history: just not an overwhelmingly moving one.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 14, 2014

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Joseph Tomastik

Loud and Clear Reviews

To my knowledge, there has never been a story that better shows how powerful the holiday in and of itself is than Joyeux Noël.

Rated: 4.5/5

Nov 3, 2024

Full Review

Margaret Pomeranz

At the Movies (Australia)

It's a film with great humanism and if it's a little light on true drama or even realism it's intentions are honourable.

Rated: 3.5/5

Dec 14, 2014

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Melissa Levine

New Times

Except for a few missteps, the movie is so beautifully and sensitively rendered in its particulars, in its characterizations of soldiers and officers, and in its dramatization of a nearly miraculous event, that the result is an affecting piece of cinema.

Dec 14, 2014

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Kyle M

The “goodwill toward men” ideal was truly embraced briefly amid WWI in what could be considered a factually bizarre turn of events wherein humanity display actually comes forth in front of militaria triggers. Both a satisfying dramatization and continuous thought-provoking endorsement that questions the higher authorities’ sense of power disabling any sort of humane empathy that was arguably witnessed amongst the fraternized men from both sides of the fight, and that’s where the actual honor lies. (B+)

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/06/25

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Dave P

A highly underrated Christmas movie with a powerful message of peace

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/23/24

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Mark J

One I like to watch each year but would definitely recommend everyone see it once at least. Probably a very romanticised version of what actually happened but a nice story. Felt they could have shortened it slightly to help with pacing.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/17/24

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John B

Very cool story about how the spirit of Christmas allowed soldiers in war to find their common humanity.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/06/24

Full Review

Tim O

Was listening to random music server 'Xmas' tunes today, and the main theme from this came on, without lyrics, but instantly recognizable. Knew I had to queue the movie up *tonight*. I don't know if it works with the same impact, without the massive human cost and baggage, that World War I itself brings to the table. But for me, it's profoundly moving, especially this time of year... -- though my wife - and I - could do with less of the subplot with the Opera singers [grin] Films like this reinforce that _this year_, after our annual watch of 'It's a Wonderful Life', we'll be following it up with it's spiritual sequel, 'The Best Years of Our Lives'...

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/18/23

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kyle v

Lacks gravitas but still an emotionally effective real life Christmas miracle story.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Christian Carion

Director

Diane Kruger

Anna Sörensen

Benno Fürmann

Nikolaus Sprink

Guillaume Canet

Lieutenant Audebert

Gary Lewis

Palmer

Dany Boon

Ponchel

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Synopsis

With the advent of World War I, Europe is thrown into a brutal and vicious chaos as men are forced to kill or be killed. While blood soaks the battlefield as Christmas approaches, the men in the trenches of the Western Front face a transformation, however fleeting, toward peace and goodwill. Against all odds, four unlikely individuals from opposing sides (Diane Kruger, Benno Fürmann, Guillaume Canet, Gary Lewis) bond during this bloodless respite to experience the hope and goodness in humanity.

Director: Christian Carion
Producer: Christophe Rossignon
Screenwriter: Christian Carion
Production Co: Artemis Productions, Senator Film Produktion GmbH, Nord-Express Productions [fr]
Rating: PG-13 (Some War Violence|Brief Sexuality/Nudity)
Genre: Holiday, War, Drama
Original Language: English
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Mar 3, 2006
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 1, 2011
Runtime: 1h 56m
Sound Mix: Dolby

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