A Boy Called Christmas

Name: A Boy Called Christmas
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Family
Released: November 24, 2021
Rating: 61
Cast: Jim Broadbent, Kristen Wiig, Maggie Smith, Michiel Huisman, Rune Temte

2021

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 14 Ratings

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4.6

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4.6	Your Score
4.6	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 14 Ratings

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A Boy Called Christmas

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Movie Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date (Streaming): November 24, 2021 | PG

Starring: Jim Broadbent, Kristen Wiig, Maggie Smith, Michiel Huisman, Rune Temte, Sally Hawkins, Sinead Phelps, Stephen Merchant, Toby Jones, Zoe Margaret Colletti

Summary: This is the story of Father Christmas, the tale of a young boy named Nikolas (Henry Lawfull) as he goes on his adventures. This is a Christmas movie based on a book of the same title by Matt Haig and will include snow, elves, kidnapping, more snow, and Dame Maggie Smith. What more could you want in a holiday movie?

Director: Gil Kenan

Genre(s): Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Family

Rating: PG

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

RogerEbert.com Nell Minow

Nov 24, 2021

A Boy Called Christmas is a resplendent Santa Claus origin story with a star-filled cast, sumptuous visuals, and some melancholy details to keep it from being too sugary. Read full review

Natalia Winkelman

Nov 24, 2021

Magic abounds in A Boy Called Christmas, Netflix’s first prestige holiday movie of the season, but pulsing through this winning adventure tale is something even stronger: the immersive power of storytelling. Read full review

The Independent Clarisse Loughrey

Dec 3, 2021

It’s surprising how much the film can flit between clangingly obvious bits of exposition – aha! The source of the floppy red hat! A reindeer that happens to be named Blitzen! – and more mature perspectives on the holidays. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Nov 29, 2021

In a winter of dull holiday romances and seriously unimaginative seasonal slop, this one tickles and delights and is at least good enough to put off that “Christmas Story” rerun you know you’re getting around to, because that after-all is a tradition. Read full review

Empire Ian Freer

Nov 29, 2021

A Boy Called Christmas is by-the-numbers Yuletide storytelling buoyed by a strong Brit cast, inventive filmmaking and a heart in the right place. Read full review

The Guardian Cath Clarke

Nov 23, 2021

It feels kid-gloves at times: big-hearted and entertaining, but possibly lacking a little fun or oomph. A lovely warming film, though. Read full review

The Telegraph Robbie Collin

Dec 9, 2021

At a glance, A Boy Called Christmas looks delightful enough, with its snowy landscapes, cosy knitwear, and scenes of Jim Broadbent larking around in a periwig and frock coat. But beneath its Paddington-meets-Potter storybook exterior, its bloodstream runs with purest gloop. Read full review

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User Reviews

DawdlingPoet

Dec 3, 2022

This is a very entertaining and enjoyable film that's quite family friendly and features a decent cast including Jim Broadbent, Maggie Smith, Toby Jones and Sally Hawkins. It features some decent visual effects and good cinematography of a snow covered landscape. I remember reading the bookThis is a very entertaining and enjoyable film that's quite family friendly and features a decent cast including Jim Broadbent, Maggie Smith, Toby Jones and Sally Hawkins. It features some decent visual effects and good cinematography of a snow covered landscape. I remember reading the book its based on (I like the authors work, though if the film was no good, I was (honest, guv!) say so) and I enjoyed this film version of it. It does well at portraying childlike fascination with myths/folk tales and the power of magic, that sort of seasonal stuff and I wouldn't say it talks down to any kids watching, in a patronising kind of a way, which is always refreshing. A nice festive film, I would recommend this, yes.… Expand