The Star (2017 film)

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox film
| name        = The Star
| image       = The Star (2017 film) poster.jpg
| caption     = Theatrical release poster
| director    = [[Timothy Reckart]]
| producer    = Jenni Magee Cook<ref name="AMSPASlate2018" />
| screenplay  = Carlos Kotkin<ref name="AMSPASlate2018" />
| story       = {{Plainlist|
* Carlos Kotkin<ref name="AMSPASlate2018" />
* Simon Moore<ref name="AMSPASlate2018" />
}}
| based_on    = {{ubl|{{based on|The [[Nativity of Jesus]],}}|{{based on|Original concepts|Tom Sheridan}}}}
| starring    = {{Plainlist|<!--Per poster billing-->
* [[Steven Yeun]]
* [[Gina Rodriguez]]
* [[Zachary Levi]]
* [[Keegan-Michael Key]]
* [[Kelly Clarkson]]
* [[Patricia Heaton]]
* [[Kristin Chenoweth]]
* [[Tracy Morgan]]
* [[Tyler Perry]]
* [[Oprah Winfrey]]
}}
| music       = [[John Paesano]]<ref>{{cite news|title=John Paesano to Score 'The Star'|url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2017/08/31/john-paesano-scoring-sony-pictures-animations-the-star/|access-date=September 1, 2017|newspaper=Film Music Reporter|date=August 31, 2017|archive-date=November 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171103124931/http://filmmusicreporter.com/2017/08/31/john-paesano-scoring-sony-pictures-animations-the-star/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| editing     = Pam Ziegenhagen
| studio      = {{Plainlist|
* [[Columbia Pictures]]<ref name=insight/>
* [[Affirm Films]]<ref name=insight/>
* [[Sony Pictures Animation]]<ref name=insight>{{cite web|url=https://www.varietyinsight.com/print_featurefilm_releases.php|title=Film releases|work=[[Variety Insight]]|access-date=November 11, 2017|archive-date=February 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205105405/https://www.varietyinsight.com/print_featurefilm_releases.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Walden Media]]<ref name=insight/>
* [[The Jim Henson Company]]<ref name=insight/>
* [[DeVon Franklin|Franklin Entertainment]]<ref name=insight/>
}}
| distributor = [[Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group#Sony Pictures Releasing|Sony Pictures Releasing]]<ref name=insight/>
| released    = {{Film date|2017|11|12|[[Fox Theater, Westwood Village|Regency Village Theater]]|2017|11|17|United States}}
| runtime     = 86 minutes<ref>{{cite web|title=''THE STAR'' (U)|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/star-2017|publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification]]|access-date=October 22, 2017|archive-date=February 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215085109/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/star-2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
| country     = United States
| language    = English
| budget      = $20 million<ref name=BOM/>
| gross       = $62.8 million<ref name=BOM>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=thelamb.htm|title=The Star (2017)|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=March 20, 2018|archive-date=March 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319003009/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=thelamb.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
'''''The Star''''' is a 2017 American animated [[biblical]] [[comedy film]] produced by [[The Jim Henson Company]]. [[Sony Pictures Releasing]] was the distributor of the film and [[Timothy Reckart]] directed it. A screenplay written by Carlos Kotkin, and a story by Kotkin and Simon Moore,<ref name="AMSPASlate2018" /> based on an original concept by Tom Sheridan.<ref name="VarietyReckartDebut" /> Inspired by the [[Nativity of Jesus]], the film stars the voices of [[Steven Yeun]], [[Gina Rodriguez]], [[Zachary Levi]], [[Keegan-Michael Key]], [[Kelly Clarkson]], [[Patricia Heaton]], [[Kristin Chenoweth]], [[Tracy Morgan]], [[Tyler Perry]], and [[Oprah Winfrey]].

''The Star'' was owned by [[Columbia Pictures]], and released through its parental label [[Sony Pictures Releasing]] worldwide on November 17, 2017. The film received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $62 million worldwide with a $20 million budget. It received a nomination for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]] ("[[The Star (Mariah Carey song)|The Star]]" by [[Mariah Carey]]) at the [[75th Golden Globe Awards]] but lost to "[[This Is Me (Keala Settle song)|This Is Me]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/golden-globe-nominations-2018-nominees-full-list-1202634435/|title=Golden Globe Nominations: Complete List|last=Rubin|first=Rebecca|date=December 11, 2017|work=Variety|access-date=January 1, 2018|archive-date=December 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214021531/http://variety.com/2017/film/news/golden-globe-nominations-2018-nominees-full-list-1202634435/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Plot==
In "9 months B.C.", Mary is visited by an angel telling her she will bear the [[Messiah]]. A pygmy [[jerboa]] named Abby overhears and tells the other animals as [[Star of Bethlehem|a star]] begins glowing brightly in the night.

Six months later, a young [[donkey]] is tired of milling wheat and wishes to join a traveling royal caravan so that he may feel important. An older donkey helps him escape the miller who owns them, and the young donkey ends up with an injured ankle at the house of [[Saint Joseph|Joseph]] and [[Virgin Mary|Mary]] who have just celebrated their wedding. Mary takes the donkey in and names him Bo, and reveals to Joseph that she is pregnant, with Joseph accepting Mary's situation after praying to God. During this time, Bo and his dove friend Dave plot to escape despite Mary's kindness, but end up staying three more months.

Meanwhile, the [[Biblical Magi|three wise men]] and their camels, Felix, Cyrus, and Deborah, arrive at the home of [[Herod the Great|King Herod]]. The wise men reveal their gifts of [[gold]], [[frankincense]], and [[myrrh]], but when they reveal that it is actually for the "new King", he sends them on their way to meet him, but secretly sends his royal hunter and his two dogs, Thaddeus and Rufus, to find and kill the new King.

As Joseph and Mary leave [[Nazareth]] in order to head to [[Bethlehem]], Bo and Dave try another escape, but are confronted by the dogs, who knew of the home by interrogating Abby. After learning that Joseph and Mary are not home, the hunter and his dogs leave to look for them. Feeling guilty, Bo decides to warn them with Dave joining him. Along the way, they meet a friendly sheep named Ruth who left her flock when she saw the star. They catch up to Joseph and Mary in time to warn them and hide them in a market place where the hunter ties up his dogs. Bo releases the cart Joseph and Mary were using to roll down and cause a chain reaction that knocks the hunter down a well. However, he creates severe damage to the market in the process, and Joseph, unaware of the danger, tells Bo off for his actions.

Upset with being rejected, Bo leaves and Dave follows until they arrive at the royal caravan. While happy to have found it, Bo realizes that he liked being with Mary and tells Dave, who admits that he is not upset and that he just wants Bo to be happy with his decision. Together, the two return and make up with Ruth, and then convince a frustrated Joseph to talk to Mary. Mary admits that it has been difficult for her and that she is scared of the importance of the baby, and they make up when Mary begins having [[Uterine contraction|contractions]]. They arrive at Bethlehem where Joseph is unable to find an inn for Mary. The miller, who just so happened to be there, kidnaps Bo with Dave and Ruth leaving to rescue him. The wise men arrive as well, but the camels, who are aware of Herod's plot, are left tied to a post.

Bo ends up in a stable where he meets a horse named Leah, a cow named Edith, and a goat named Zach. They reveal that they have not been able to sleep because the star's bright light has been shining through on their [[manger]] for 9 months. Realizing that this is where the baby is supposed to be, the animals help Bo escape and he catches up with Dave and Ruth while spotting the hunter and his dogs. Bo finds Joseph and Mary and gets them back to the stable while Dave runs into Cyrus, Felix, and Deborah and helps them escape their bonds. Ruth finds her flock, who had previously refused to follow her, and tries to convince them to help, but gets unexpected help from the angel who informs them and their shepherds that the Savior is coming. Bo manages to fight off Thaddeus and Rufus, but is outdone by the hunter. Suddenly, Ruth and her flock, the camels, and Dave arrive and dispatch them by having them hang from a cliff. The hunter lets his dogs fall, but they are saved by Bo while the hunter himself falls to his death.

All of the animals, who are now joined by Abby who assumed the danger to be ongoing, and the redeemed Thaddeus & Rufus, shepherds, and three wise men arrive to see [[Jesus|baby Jesus]]. Bo realizes that he has been carrying the new King the whole time. Deborah predicts that this event will be remembered around the world for years to come (which Cyrus and Felix both declare that she's crazy). After that, Joseph buys Bo from the miller, and Bo, Dave, and Ruth help him and Mary raise Jesus.

==Cast==
* '''Main animal characters'''
** [[Steven Yeun]] as Boaz ("Bo") - A young mill donkey who is loyal yet worrisome. He sees the star one night thinking it is a sign that his life is soon to change. When he hears of the Royal Caravan marching into Nazareth, he feels this is his purpose and escapes to try to join it. But when he encounters Mary, he feels more dedicated to be with her and keep her out of  danger .
** [[Keegan-Michael Key]] as Dave - A smug and eccentric dove who is Bo's best friend. He joins Bo on his quest to join the Royal Caravan but is more set on that than he is at helping others.
** [[Aidy Bryant]] as Ruth - A light-hearted, bubbly, and naïve sheep who left her flock to follow the star. She later joins Bo and Dave on their journey to Bethlehem with Mary and Joseph. At first, she seems to be a nuisance to them, but Bo later grows a soft spot for her and soon becomes friends with her.
** [[Ving Rhames]] as Thaddeus - A sinister captive purebred [[wolf]] who is determined to find Jesus for his master.
** [[Gabriel Iglesias]] as Rufus - An [[alaunt]] who is a dimwitted sidekick to Thaddeus.
** [[Tyler Perry]] as Cyrus - The intelligent and calm but skeptical leader of the three camels.
** [[Tracy Morgan]] as Felix - The youngest of the three camels. He is shown to be rather goofy and loudmouthed, and often gets into arguments with Cyrus.
** [[Oprah Winfrey]] as Deborah - The only female of the three camels. She is the most down-to-earth of the trio, but the other two often think she is crazy despite her attempts at being the voice of reason and keeping her cohorts from making bad choices.
** [[Patricia Heaton]] as Edith - A cow who lives at the stable where Mary and Joseph eventually end up at. She is the most level-headed of the animals who reside at the stable and is mostly unamused and pessimistic.
** [[Kelly Clarkson]] as Leah - A horse who lives at the stable where Mary and Joseph eventually end up. She loves to sing, but more often than not, her singing is obnoxiously loud, which is most likely caused by her lack of sleep she got since the star began to shine over the stable.
** [[Anthony Anderson]] as Zach - A goat who lives at the stable where Mary and Joseph eventually end up at. He has deformed eyes and is very hyper and paranoid due to the lack of sleep he got since the star began to shine over the stable.
** [[Kristin Chenoweth]] as Abby - A pygmy jerboa who first witnesses the Angel coming to Mary. She tells her friends about it and tries to warn the others about the hunter.
** [[Mariah Carey]] as Rebecca - A chicken at a coop.
** [[Kris Kristofferson]] as the Old Donkey - Bo's fellow elderly mill donkey.
* '''Main human characters'''
** [[Gina Rodriguez]] as [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Mary]] - A loving and caring young Hebrew woman and  soon to be the Mother of Jesus, the Son of God.
** [[Zachary Levi]] as [[Saint Joseph|Joseph]] - A usually-pessimistic and paranoid young Hebrew carpenter whom Mary weds, soon to be the personal legal guardian of Jesus. 
** [[Christopher Plummer]] as [[Herod the Great|King Herod]] - The selfish, treacherous, greedy, and sinister king of Judea who hears about the new King who is arriving and sends the three wise men out to find him in Bethlehem while secretly sending his hunter to find and kill Mary.
** [[Lex Lang]] as the Hunter - A large, sinister, yet silent hunter whom King Herod sends out to kill the new King.
* '''Other Characters'''
** [[Phil Morris (actor)|Phil Morris]] as the Miller - Bo's former owner who is determined to get him back after he escaped from his mill.
** Joel McCrary as the Angel - The Holy Spirit who tells Mary that she will soon be carrying the Son of God.
*** McCrary also voices Zachariah, Elizabeth's husband and John's father.
** [[Joel Osteen]] as [[Caspar (magus)|Caspar]] - One of the three wise men wearing red and Deborah's owner.
** Phil Morris as [[Balthazar (magus)|Balthazar]] - One of the three wise men wearing purple and Cyrus' owner.
** [[Fred Tatasciore]] as [[Melchior (magus)|Melchior]] - One of the three wise men wearing blue and Felix's owner.
*** Tatasciore also voices a pottery vendor and an innkeeper.
** [[Delilah (radio host)|Delilah]] as [[Elizabeth (biblical figure)|Elizabeth]] - Zachariah's wife and John's mother.
** [[Roger Craig Smith]] as the Chamberlain
** [[Joe Whyte]] as a scribe
** Will Townsend as a Horse and a Goat.
** [[Gregg Berger]], Roger Craig Smith, Melissa Sturm and [[Joe Whyte]] as the Innkeepers.

==Production==
The film's script was originally developed during the late 1990s by [[the Jim Henson Company]], partially inspired by the success of the 1995 film ''[[Babe (film)|Babe]]''.<ref name=StarLight>{{cite web|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/features/the-star-in-a-different-light/|title=The Star: In A Different Light|work=Animation Magazine|date=October 31, 2017|last1=McLean|first1=Tom|access-date=November 28, 2017|archive-date=March 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329195220/http://www.animationmagazine.net/features/the-star-in-a-different-light/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animationscoop.com/interview-director-timothy-reckart-talks-the-star/|title=Director Timothy Reckart talks "The Star"|publisher=Animation Scoop|last1=Murphy|first1=Jackson|date=November 10, 2017|access-date=January 27, 2018|archive-date=December 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214014232/http://www.animationscoop.com/interview-director-timothy-reckart-talks-the-star/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2014, it was reported that [[DeVon Franklin]] would produce a faith-based film inspired by the [[Nativity of Jesus|Nativity story]] under his production company, Franklin Entertainment, in collaboration with [[Sony Pictures Animation]].<ref name=WrapFaithBased /> In April 2015, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' reported that [[Timothy Reckart]] would direct the film in his directing debut.<ref name=VarietyReckartDebut /> On August 5, 2015, it was announced that the film, then titled ''The Lamb'', was given an official release date of December 8, 2017.<ref name="VarietySonyDates16" /> On June 20, 2016, it was announced that [[Brian Henson]] and [[Lisa Henson]] from [[The Jim Henson Company]] would be executive producers for the film, now titled ''The Star'',<ref name=DeadlineSPADates /> making it the first Henson-produced film for Sony since ''[[The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland]]'' in 1999.

In an interview with [[Animation Magazine]], Reckart expressed that he felt encouraged to direct the film, as he felt that there was a lack of Christmas films centering on the Nativity of Jesus: "It felt like an opportunity to be part of a movie that has not been done before, that's really going to fill a void."<ref name=StarLight/>

The animation was produced by [[Cinesite|Cinesite Studios]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/804475-sony-pictures-animation-2017|title=Sony Pictures Animation Teases Upcoming Slate|date=January 18, 2017|access-date=January 20, 2017|archive-date=January 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119061152/http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/804475-sony-pictures-animation-2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Animation work began in January 2017.<ref name=StarLight />

===Casting===
On January 5, 2017, it was reported that Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry would be in the film.<ref name="THR2017Forecast">{{cite news|last1=Masters|first1=Kim|title=Studios' 2017 Forecast: Big Bets, Franchise Fears and Executive Intrigue|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2017-movies-biggest-gambles-justice-league-mummy-960935/item/sony-what-watch-2017-960933|access-date=January 6, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 5, 2016|archive-date=January 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106013951/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2017-movies-biggest-gambles-justice-league-mummy-960935/item/sony-what-watch-2017-960933|url-status=live}}</ref> The rest of the cast was announced on January 19, 2017.<ref name="AMSPASlate2018" />

===Soundtrack===
{{main|The Star (Mariah Carey song)}}
''The Star (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)'' was released on October 27, 2017, including contributions from [[Jessie James Decker]], [[Jake Owen]], [[Kelsea Ballerini]], [[Zara Larsson]], [[Casting Crowns]], [[Kirk Franklin]], [[Fifth Harmony]], [[Yolanda Adams]], [[Saving Forever]] and [[Mariah Carey]]. [[Pentatonix]] also contributes a bonus track to the digital release of the album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/animated-christmas-movie-the-star-features-songs-from-kelsea-ballerini-jake-owen-jessie-james-decker/|title='The Star' Soundtrack Features Kelsea Ballerini, Jake Owen, More|first=Wendy|last=Hermanson|website=Taste of Country|access-date=December 22, 2018|archive-date=December 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212172338/http://tasteofcountry.com/animated-christmas-movie-the-star-features-songs-from-kelsea-ballerini-jake-owen-jessie-james-decker/|url-status=live}}</ref> The main single ''[[The Star (Mariah Carey song)|The Star]]'', interpreted by [[Mariah Carey]] ranked at No. 6 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' US Holiday Digital Song Sales in 2017.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/mariah-carey/chart-history/xdt/|title=Mariah Carey The Star Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 26, 2017}}</ref> The song was nominated for the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]] at the [[75th Golden Globe Awards]].<ref name="auto">[https://ew.com/awards/2017/12/11/golden-globes-nominations-2018/Golden Globes nominations: Read the full list] Entertainment Weekly, Retrieved December 11, 2017</ref>

{{Track listing
| headline     = The Star: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
| extra_column = Artist
| total_length = 44:17
| title1   = [[The Star (Mariah Carey song)|The Star]]
| extra1   = [[Mariah Carey]]
| length1  = 4:01
| title2   = [[Children, Go Where I Send Thee|Children Go Where I Send You]]
| extra2   = [[Kelsea Ballerini]]
| length2  = 2:40
| title3   = [[We Three Kings]]
| extra3   = [[Kirk Franklin]]
| length3  = 4:06
| title4   = Can You See
| extra4   = [[Fifth Harmony]]
| length4  = 3:57
| title5   = Life Is Good
| extra5   = [[A Great Big World]]
| length5  = 3:16
| title6   = [[Mary, Did You Know?]]
| extra6   = [[Zara Larsson]]
| length6  = 3:23
| title7   = [[O Holy Night]]
| extra7   = [[Yolanda Adams]]
| length7  = 4:20
| title8   = [[What Christmas Means to Me]]
| extra8   = [[Saving Forever]]
| length8  = 3:03
| title9   = [[Home for Christmas (Amy Grant album)|Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song)]]
| extra9   = [[Jessie James Decker]]
| length9  = 4:51
| title10   = [[His Eye Is on the Sparrow]]
| extra10   =  [[Casting Crowns]]
| length10  = 4:19
| title11   = [[What Child Is This?]]
| extra11   = [[Jake Owen]]
| length11  = 3:16
| title12   = [[Carol of the Bells]]
| extra12   = [[Pentatonix]]
| length12  = 3:13
}}

==Release==
In July 2016, the release date was set for November 10, 2017,<ref name="BOMNewDatesJuly2016" /> but it was later pushed back to November 17, 2017.<ref>[https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/11/09/why-november-17-is-one-of-the-most-packed-release-dates-of-2017 WHY NOVEMBER 17 IS ONE OF THE MOST-PACKED RELEASE DATES OF 2017] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109042303/http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/11/09/why-november-17-is-one-of-the-most-packed-release-dates-of-2017 |date=November 9, 2020 }} IGN, November 8, 2017</ref> ''The Star'' had its world premiere in [[Los Angeles]] at the [[Fox Theater, Westwood Village|Regency Village Theater]] on November 12, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/scene/news/gina-rodriguez-zachary-levi-the-star-premiere-fifth-harmony-1202613454/|title=Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi Shine Light on Faith at 'The Star' Premiere|last=Holmes|first=Mannie|date=November 12, 2017|work=Variety|access-date=January 16, 2018|archive-date=April 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427114553/http://variety.com/2017/scene/news/gina-rodriguez-zachary-levi-the-star-premiere-fifth-harmony-1202613454/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Marketing===
The first trailer was released on July 26, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCtp84nKmJw|title=The Star - Official Teaser Trailer|publisher=Sony Pictures Animation's official [[YouTube]] channel|date=July 26, 2017|access-date=July 26, 2017|archive-date=July 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726193340/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCtp84nKmJw&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 16, 2017, the official video for the song ''The Star'', performed by [[Mariah Carey]], was made available on her [[YouTube]] channel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CziCidR4KcY|title=Mariah Carey - The Star|website=YouTube|date=November 16, 2017|access-date=November 17, 2017|archive-date=November 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119151921/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CziCidR4KcY|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Home media===
''The Star'' was released on digital on February 6, 2018, and on DVD and Blu-ray on February 20, 2018, by [[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thestar/|title=The Star|website=Sony Pictures|date=February 2, 2018|access-date=February 2, 2018|archive-date=April 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404072557/http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thestar/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Box office===
''The Star'' has grossed $40.9 million in the United States and Canada, and $22 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $62.8 million, against a production budget of $20 million.<ref name=BOM/>

In the United States and Canada, ''The Star'' was released alongside ''[[Justice League (film)|Justice League]]'', ''[[Wonder (film)|Wonder]]'' and ''[[Roman J. Israel, Esq.]]'' and was projected to gross around $10 million from 2,800 theaters in its opening weekend. The film made $2.8 million on its first day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/11/walden-media-the-star-the-wonder-release-on-same-day-1202202624/|title=The Tale Of Two Films: Walden Media's 'The Star' & 'Wonder' Bow On Same Day|last1=Busch|first1=Anita|date=November 10, 2017|access-date=November 14, 2017|archive-date=November 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113162102/http://deadline.com/2017/11/walden-media-the-star-the-wonder-release-on-same-day-1202202624/|url-status=live}}</ref> It ended up grossing $9.8 million in its opening weekend, finishing 6th at the box office.<ref name=opening>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/11/justice-league-opening-weekend-box-office-lower-thor-ragnarok-wonder-the-star-1202211094/|title='Justice League' Encounters Kryptonite At The B.O. With $93M+ Opening: Why The DC Movie Weakened|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=November 19, 2017|access-date=November 19, 2017|archive-date=November 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119211954/https://deadline.com/2017/11/justice-league-opening-weekend-box-office-lower-thor-ragnarok-wonder-the-star-1202211094/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Critical response===
On review aggregation website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has an average rating by critics of 42% based on 52 reviews, with an average rating of 4.94/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "''The Star'' may not leave audiences singing 'Hallelujah', but its offbeat yet sincere approach to the nativity story makes for acceptably diverting holiday viewing."<ref>{{cite web|title=''The Star'' (2017)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_star_2017|publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=December 6, 2017|archive-date=November 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117225355/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_star_2017/|url-status=live}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], which assigns a normalized rating to reviews, the film has a [[weighted average]] score of 42 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-star |title=''The Star'' reviews |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=November 17, 2017 |archive-date=November 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115205924/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-star |url-status=live }}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.<ref name=opening/>

''[[The A.V. Club]]''{{'}}s [[Ignatiy Vishnevetsky]] criticized ''The Star'' as a "rote cartoon feature" existing for purely commercial reasons: "...even the kid-friendliest, Sunday-school-iest kind of religious art can't spring from religion alone; it needs artistry, too. Otherwise, you end up with a generic product aimed at a market segment who'll buy anything as long as it seems sufficiently churchy."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vishnevetsky |first1=Ignatiy |date=November 16, 2017 |title=The animated trifle The Star passes the Nativity through its ass |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-animated-trifle-the-star-passes-the-nativity-throug-1820488093 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |access-date=November 16, 2017 |archive-date=November 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117022032/https://www.avclub.com/the-animated-trifle-the-star-passes-the-nativity-throug-1820488093 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Accolades===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" 
|-
! Award
! Category
! Recipients
! Result
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award]]s<ref name="auto"/>
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]]
| "The Star"
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Annie Award]]s<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/12/annie-awards-nominations-coco-the-breadwinner-full-list-1202219487/|title=Annie Awards: Disney/Pixar's 'Coco' Tops Nominations|last=Hipes|first=Patrick|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=December 4, 2017|access-date=December 10, 2017|archive-date=December 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205201622/http://deadline.com/2017/12/annie-awards-nominations-coco-the-breadwinner-full-list-1202219487/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Best Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production
| [[Louie del Carmen]]
| {{nominated}}
|-
| Best Editorial in an Animated Feature Production
| Pamela Ziegenhagen
| {{nominated}}
|-
| [[Heartland Film Festival|Heartland Film Festival 2017]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://heartlandfilm.org/tmpa/|title=Truly Moving Picture Award|publisher=Heartland film|access-date=December 11, 2017}}</ref>
| Truly Moving Picture Award 
| [[Timothy Reckart]]
| {{Won}}
|-
| [[Guild of Music Supervisors Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/music/news/guild-of-music-supervisors-awards-nominations-1202661480/|title=Sufjan Stevens, 'Greatest Showman,' 'Girls' Among Guild of Music Supervisors Awards Nominees|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=January 11, 2018|access-date=January 12, 2018|archive-date=January 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130204222/https://variety.com/2018/music/news/guild-of-music-supervisors-awards-nominations-1202661480/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Best Music Supervision for Film: Budgeted Under 25 Million Dollars
| Spring Aspers and Ron Fair
| {{nominated}}
|-
|}

==See also==
* [[List of Christmas films]]
* [[Christmas in the media]]
* ''[[The Night the Animals Talked]]''

==References==

{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=VarietyReckartDebut>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/timothy-reckart-sony-animated-film-1201466219/|last1=Flores|first1=Terry|title=Oscar-Nommed Timothy Reckart to Make Feature Directing Debut on Sony Toon (EXCLUSIVE)|work=Variety|date=April 7, 2015|access-date=December 22, 2016|archive-date=April 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425045949/https://variety.com/2015/film/news/timothy-reckart-sony-animated-film-1201466219/|url-status=live}}</ref>
<!-- not in use, previously in plot section <ref name="SPATheStar">{{cite web|title=The Star|url=http://www.sonypicturesanimation.com/films.php?s=thestar|publisher=Sony Pictures Animation|access-date=December 25, 2016}}</ref> -->
<ref name="DeadlineSPADates">{{cite web|last1=Pederson|first1=Erik|title=Sony Animation Dates 'Hotel Transylvania 3', 'Emojimovie' & More; 'Ghostbusters' TV Series Set|url=https://deadline.com/2016/06/hotel-transylvania-3-emoji-movie-ghostbusters-sony-animation-1201775965/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=December 25, 2016|date=June 20, 2016|archive-date=July 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711094013/https://deadline.com/2016/06/hotel-transylvania-3-emoji-movie-ghostbusters-sony-animation-1201775965/|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name=WrapFaithBased>{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/sony-pictures-animation-developing-faith-based-movie-about-nativity-story-exclusive/|last1=Sneider|first1=Jeff|title=Sony Pictures Animation Developing Faith-Based Movie About Nativity Story (Exclusive)|publisher=The Wrap|date=September 2, 2014|access-date=December 22, 2016|archive-date=November 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130033939/http://www.thewrap.com/sony-pictures-animation-developing-faith-based-movie-about-nativity-story-exclusive/|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="VarietySonyDates16">{{cite news|last1=Kroll|first1=Justin|title=Sony Dates 16 Films Including Two More 'Bad Boys' Sequels, 'Jumanji' Remake|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/sony-films-bad-boys-jennifer-lawrence-passengers-1201557242/|access-date=December 25, 2016|work=Variety|date=August 5, 2015|archive-date=September 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921013115/https://variety.com/2015/film/news/sony-films-bad-boys-jennifer-lawrence-passengers-1201557242/|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name=BOMNewDatesJuly2016>{{cite web|title=Release Schedule - New Dates & Changes|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/schedule/?view=changes&p=.htm|publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=December 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708112110/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/schedule/?view=changes&p=.htm|archive-date=July 8, 2016}}</ref>
<ref name="AMSPASlate2018">{{cite news|last1=Milligan|first1=Mercedes|title=Sony Pictures Animation Reveals Slate through 2018|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/features/sony-pictures-animation-reveals-slate-through-2018/|access-date=January 22, 2017|work=Animation Magazine|date=January 18, 2017|archive-date=August 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821045352/http://www.animationmagazine.net/features/sony-pictures-animation-reveals-slate-through-2018/|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20171205102401/http://www.thestarmovie.com/site/}}
* {{Official website|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706201432/http://www.sonypicturesanimation.com/films.php?s=thestar}} at Sony Pictures Animation
* {{IMDb title|4587656}}
{{Sony Pictures Animation}}
{{The Jim Henson Company}}
{{Sony theatrical animated features}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Star, The (2017 film)}}
[[Category:2010s American animated films]]
[[Category:2010s Christmas comedy films]]
[[Category:2010s Christmas films]]
[[Category:2010s English-language films]]
[[Category:2017 comedy films]]
[[Category:2017 computer-animated films]]
[[Category:2017 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:2017 films]]
[[Category:Affirm Films films]]
[[Category:American children's animated adventure films]]
[[Category:American children's animated comedy films]]
[[Category:American children's animated fantasy films]]
[[Category:American Christmas films]]
[[Category:Animated Christmas films]]
[[Category:Animated films about donkeys]]
[[Category:Animated films set in Palestine (region)]]
[[Category:Animated films set in the 1st century]]
[[Category:Christian animation]]
[[Category:Columbia Pictures animated films]]
[[Category:Columbia Pictures films]]
[[Category:Films about the Nativity of Jesus]]
[[Category:Films scored by John Paesano]]
[[Category:The Jim Henson Company films]]
[[Category:Sony Pictures Animation films]]
[[Category:Walden Media films]]