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You need to know something right off the bat: the Herdmans are the worst kids in the world. There’s Imogen, the eldest, then Ralph, Leroy, Claude, Ollie, and Gladys. They smoke. They curse. They bully. They’re just plain bad.

Enter Beth Bradley, our narrator. Early on, her locket gets stolen, and she prays to God to send the Herdmans far, far away.

Meanwhile, the church’s 75th annual Christmas pageant is coming up—it’s a big deal. Mrs. Armstrong, who’s directed it every year, breaks both her legs, so Beth’s mom, Grace, steps in. Despite all the skeptics, she boldly claims it’s going to be the best Christmas pageant ever.

Beth’s little brother Charlie has been getting bullied into giving Leroy Herdman his lunch cookies. Out of frustration, Charlie tells them he doesn’t even care—he gets all the snacks he wants at church.

Big mistake.

Leroy spreads the word to his siblings, and the next thing you know, the Herdmans show up at church. The pastor says they’ve got to attend Sunday school first—so they do.

But even more shocking than them staying is when Imogen declares she’s going to play Mary, and Ralph is going to be Joseph. The rest of the major roles? Also claimed by Herdmans. The other kids decide it’s probably best not to argue.

When the church community hears about this, they protest: You can’t let the Herdmans be in the pageant!

At the first rehearsal, Grace realizes something big—the Herdmans have never heard the story of Jesus. They’re stunned by it. They demand King Herod be included in the play… and that he be taken out.

Imogen ropes Beth into helping them research the story of Christmas at the library.

The final dress rehearsal is a mess. Imogen’s brothers hide the baby Jesus doll, the choir falls apart, and a fire alarm goes off. Everyone assumes Imogen pulled it—or that she was smoking in the bathroom. Turns out, something just burned in the oven.

Imogen overhears the townspeople badmouthing her family and decides they’re done. The Herdmans vanish.

The next day, Grace can’t get ahold of them. Beth goes to Imogen’s house and reminds her that Grace stuck up for them. Imogen gives no sign of what they’ll do. So that night, as Grace prepares to open the show, she tells the audience honestly—she has no idea what’s going to happen.

And then, just in time, the Herdmans show up.

They bring their own flair to the pageant: Imogen gently burps the baby doll, the Wise Men bring a ham, and Imogen even sheds a tear. The crowd is unexpectedly moved—they love it.

The film closes with a grown-up Beth now directing the Christmas pageant herself, carrying on the wild, wonderful legacy of the Herdmans.