The Star

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2:00

The Star

PG

2017

1h 26m

Kids & Family

Holiday

Comedy

Adventure

Animation

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

45%

Tomatometer

51 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

A small but brave donkey named Bo yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. One day, he finds the courage to break free, embarking on the adventure of his dreams. On his journey, he teams up with Ruth, a lovable sheep who has lost her flock, and Dave, a dove who has lofty aspirations. Along with three camels and some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new friends follow the Star and become accidental heroes in the greatest story ever told -- the first Christmas.

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Critics Consensus

The Star may not leave audiences singing "Hallelujah," but its offbeat yet sincere approach to the nativity story makes for acceptably diverting holiday viewing.

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Donald Clarke

Irish Times

12/01/2017

2/5

The film believes its myths and propagates them through some of the cheesiest God pop you could ever dread to hear.

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Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

12/01/2017

1.5/5

This thin storyline is padded out with subplots that showcase a bizarrely star-studded voice cast.

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Ed Potton

The Times (UK)

11/29/2017

1/5

Why has nobody thought of this before - the Nativity retold for kids via knockabout animal animation and gloopy pop ballads? Oh yes, because it's an absolutely dreadful idea.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

09/01/2021

2/4

Neither the humor nor the animation ever rises above humdrum.

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Hosea Rupprecht

Pauline Media Studies

08/24/2021

The Star is a wonderful retelling of the Christmas story but with a fun twist: the animals who inhabit the story drive the action.

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Jason Escamilla

EskimoTV

05/08/2019

C-

Not a lot of enjoyable moments for adults to engage with but families may enjoy watching, as it is a kid-friendly telling of the birth of Jesus.

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Kala E

13h

Great movie - especially to teach kids the story of Jesus birth. It’s unfortunate that most of the critics completely missed this point, and how its a dip into a deeper side story to what is typically just a footnote. An animal story that parallels the story we all know just enriches the story even more. My only criticism is whoever did the music really missed some great hooks and dramatic potential. It almost feels like they purposely cut out musical hooks - that left me wanting more.

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John K

@UndeadKingUK 6d

Absolute blasphemy to the birth of Christ. It felt more like an entertainment to kids rather than praising the first Christmas.

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Kai P

Dec 1

Hello. How was your day (tucks hair behind ear)? ME? Little old me??? Oh... It was the best day of my life, I got proposed to, got some iced cream, and went swimming! It was a precaft day! But when we got home, I decided to watch it! IT WAS AWFUL! It ruined my day! It sucks.... so so so so dad. :( But you can watch it if you want, I don't care, cuz I'm not religous. So you do you booboo! Bye! :) 6 7

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Declan D.

@filmbuffkid Nov 22

I see the issue with this movie, talking animals with the first Christmas, and people wouldn’t like the idea of this movie, but I don’t mind it and I watch it every year.

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Spencer P.

@s_plewe Oct 13

A good introduction to the Nativity story for kids, this animated animal retelling may be totally predictable with unremarkable animation, but not without heart and respect for the source.

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Comedy F

Aug 7

As bo peaks throughout the window and saw a star as he goes on a journey to save Mary but with the miller around as a twist to the story the star brought great animation to its story and characters

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Timothy Reckart

Director

Steven Yeun

Bo

Keegan-Michael Key

Dave

Aidy Bryant

Ruth

Gina Rodriguez

Mary

Zachary Levi

Joseph

The Star: The Star - The Best Nativity Movie Ever! 4K Video

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The Star: Official Clip - Good Tidings of Great Joy

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The Star: Official Clip - This Bird Can Dance!

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The Star: Official Clip - When Animals Attack

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The Star: Official Clip - The Nativity

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The Star: Official Clip - Marketplace Disaster

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The Star: Official Clip - Prayers from Donkeys

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The Star: Official Clip - Animal Impersonations

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The Star: Official Clip - Bo's Big Escape

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The Star: Official Clip - The King of the Shoes

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The Star: Trailer 1

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The Star: International Teaser Trailer

1:01

The Star: Teaser Trailer 1

1:50

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Synopsis

A small but brave donkey named Bo yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. One day, he finds the courage to break free, embarking on the adventure of his dreams. On his journey, he teams up with Ruth, a lovable sheep who has lost her flock, and Dave, a dove who has lofty aspirations. Along with three camels and some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new friends follow the Star and become accidental heroes in the greatest story ever told -- the first Christmas.

Director: Timothy Reckart
Producer: Jenni Magee-Cook
Screenwriter: Carlos Kotkin
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Franklin Entertainment, Affirm Films, Walden Media, Sony Pictures Animation, Columbia Pictures, The Jim Henson Company
Rating: PG (Some Thematic Elements)
Genre: Kids & Family, Holiday, Comedy, Adventure, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 17, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 6, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $40.4M
Runtime: 1h 26m
Sound Mix: DTS, Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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