The Nativity Story

The Nativity Story (2006)

  • 38% of critics liked it
    (128 reviews)

  • 74% of users liked it
    (82,260 ratings)

Australian-born Whale Rider sensation and Oscar nominee Keisha Castle-Hughes stars opposite Oscar Isaac in Lords of Dogtown director Catherine Hardwicke's dramatic account of the Annunciation, and the arduous journey of Mary and Joseph to give birth to baby Jesus. House of Sand and Fog's… More

Play Trailer

PG,
Directed By
Written By
Mike Rich
Genres
Drama, Faith & Spirituality
In Theaters
Dec 1, 2006 Wide
On DVD
Mar 20, 2007
New Line Cinema

Critic Reviews

  • Tom Charity, CNN.com

    Of course there is nothing inherently wrong with preaching to the converted -- secular Hollywood does it all the time. But I confess I wish the movie had some of the passion of The Passion of the Christ.

  • Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

    We just haven't had too many films that concentrate on this story.

  • Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

    I have to hand it to Hardwicke: I was a lot less bored by The Nativity Story than I feared I'd be.

  • Claudia Puig, USA Today

    It's not exactly the dullest story ever told, but it's certainly not the greatest.

  • Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

    The Nativity Story may prove just idiosyncratic enough to alienate the doctrinaire believers but not quite weird enough to appeal to revisionists, cultists or regular holiday moviegoers.

Read all 24 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Chris W


    I wasn't sure what to really expect from this, especially given how I was hesitant to ever see it...and that was before I knew who Catherine Hardwicke was, and way before Twilight. I finally sat down and watched it (not much better to do when one can't sleep a day or two… More

  • Bentley L


    Christmas Move Review Mania Episode #1: The Nativity Story It's the last day of November and people around the world are preparing for the Christmas season. I am to and welcome to Christmas Movie Review Mania! I will be writing reviews of Christmas movies up until the big… More

  • danny d


    this film has not been well recieved, but it was powerful. there were a few small inaccuracies as far as consitency to Scripture, but the film was well made and well played. I'll watch this every Christmas from now on.

  • Red L


    Well, if you have ever sat through a Christmas play, you know the story already. The movie was OK - nothing earth-shattering. I didn't realize the middle east was as dry as this movie portrays it.

  • Dean M


    Beautiful Bible film of Jesus' parents on their incredible journey of hope and discovery. This is my first time of Bible story about Mary and Joseph before giving their son born. Director Catherine Hardwicke makes a wonderful bibical story against a realistic and detailed… More

Read all 11 featured audience ratings

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