Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Nativity!

Play trailer Poster for Nativity! PG 2009 1h 45m Holiday Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
48% Tomatometer 29 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
A British schoolteacher (Martin Freeman) must find a way to bring his former lover (Ashley Jensen), a Hollywood producer, back to London to film his class's Nativity play.

Critics Reviews

View More
Robert Hanks Independent (UK) 11/27/2009
1/5
The plot wouldn't pass muster as an episode of a CBBC drama, but its various twists and turns and grotesque emotional idiocies are engineered through some of the most wooden dialogue I've ever heard. Go to Full Review
Angie Errigo Empire Magazine 11/27/2009
3/5
Funny, sweet and family-friendly seasonal fare. Go to Full Review
David Jenkins Time Out 11/27/2009
1/5
CBeebies if Ronnie Corbett was artistic director; filmmaking by committee, if that committee were made up of the esteemed members of Coventry City Council and chaired by Lenny Henry. Go to Full Review
Charlotte Harrison Charlotte Sometimes Goes to the Movies 12/02/2020
Maybe it's the fact I work with young people that adds another level of funny onto this film for me, but I really think this is a underseen and endearing festive treat. Go to Full Review
Jason Best Movie Talk 11/24/2020
Isitt is asking us to swallow a mighty big portion of back-story, one that is almost as indigestible as a third helping of mince pies. Go to Full Review
Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com 09/18/2020
3.5/4.0
Isitt has beautifully selected sweet, occasionally off-key, and frequently very funny young children. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Mark G @Griff768 Dec 24 Absolute masterpiece - perfect at Christmas! See more 0 A @Bornonthebackdrop Dec 23 Feels like a GCSE film project, but still strangely charming and enjoyable as a Christmas film (if you can suspend criticism and watch this like it's an actual children's nativity play rather than a professional film production). Worst cinematography I've seen in a professional production. Van Hales was presumably just a mate of the producer and wanted to "have a go" at lighting and operating despite, seemingly, having absolutely no understanding or training in how to do either of those highly technical disciplines. Bleached lighting, horrible shadows, weird colours, horribly unbalanced framing that continually shifts mid-shot, constantly zooming in and out mid-shot, camera wobbling all-over the place: all-round a truly disrespectful insult to the art of cinematography. Original Nativity songs are fun. Genuinely charming performances from the children. Wootton was perfect as Mr. Poppy. See more Neil M @Egmawesome Dec 20 Funny and heartwarming family film See more Joshua H @JoshuaHawes Dec 10 Technically I have seen this before but I was like 8 so this feels fresh in my mind. What a joyful film. That's the only word ypu can use joyful. It's able to be so joyful while also being able to go deep with some of it's themes. Yeah I just loved it, not much more 8 can say that hasn't already been said. See more Jaeden M Dec 2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Nativity is a wonderfully funny and heartfelt Christmas film that still stands as the best of all four movies in the series. Martin Freeman is brilliant as Mr. Maddens, and his chemistry with the chaotic, lovable Mr. Poppy brings constant laughs. The children add real charm with their natural, unpolished performances that make the story feel warm, genuine, and full of festive energy. The story’s humour, heart, and honesty set it far above the other three films, giving it a unique magic none of the sequels could match. With catchy songs, a cosy Christmas atmosphere, and emotional moments that feel real, Nativity remains a true holiday classic and a perfect five-star watch for anyone wanting joy, warmth, and plenty of Christmas cheer. Its blend of comedy and sincerity captures the spirit of the season in a way that feels timeless, making it a film people can return to year after year without it ever losing its charm. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ See more Guillermo P Nov 29 The plot is very generic, although it does squeeze in a few decent laughs. Visually, however, the film is a struggle. The cinematography and settings often look outright unpleasant, and from start to finish it plays like a parade of increasingly ugly shots. It is both aesthetically challenged and technically sloppy, with overexposed frames, awkward compositions, and uninspiring locations that drift far closer to a dystopian depressionpunk nightmare than anything resembling a joyful Christmas mood. See more Read all reviews
Nativity!

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW
Fred Claus 20% 45% Fred Claus Watchlist TRAILER for Fred Claus Saving Christmas 0% 30% Saving Christmas Watchlist Deck the Halls 6% 30% Deck the Halls Watchlist I'll Be Home for Christmas 23% 41% I'll Be Home for Christmas Watchlist 8-Bit Christmas 84% 75% 8-Bit Christmas Watchlist TRAILER for 8-Bit Christmas Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis A British schoolteacher (Martin Freeman) must find a way to bring his former lover (Ashley Jensen), a Hollywood producer, back to London to film his class's Nativity play.
Director
Debbie Isitt
Producer
Nick Jones
Screenwriter
Debbie Isitt
Production Co
BBC Films, Mirrorball Films
Rating
PG (Mild Rude Humor|Brief Language)
Genre
Holiday, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 30, 2016
Runtime
1h 45m