Film

The Star

Other titles called The Star: the 1952 film.

A computer-animated retelling of the Nativity from the animals' perspective, with a scrappy donkey and his misfit crew as the real heroes of Christmas. It's warm and silly without being saccharine, made for families who like their faith stories with genuine heart and comedy that works for both kids and adults.

TMDb rating3.3

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you enjoy cosy, sincere holiday fables that find the comedy in ordinary creatures caught up in a famous story, and you don't mind the telling being gentler than sharp.

Skip it if you want sharp wit or a story that surprises you, since this is gentle and familiar in shape, and its jokes lean on mild slapstick and talking animals.

What it asks of you: It runs a brisk 86 minutes and rarely lingers, so the only real demand is patience with a donkey as the hero and a few songs.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

The Lion King1994

A sweeping animated epic where the stakes feel real, the music soars, and the journey of a small creature discovering their place in something larger mirrors what makes The Star work.

But The tone is often darker and more serious; if you want comedy throughout rather than moments of levity, you might find yourself wanting laughs more frequently.

The Lion King poster

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted2012

Scrappy animal characters on an impossible quest, voiced comedy that lands for kids and adults, and a genuine warmth underneath the chaos that never feels cynical.

But It's loud and frenetic; the humor is broader and wackier, so if you prefer subtle comedy, this won't be your speed.

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted poster

Sing2016

An ensemble of lovable misfits with real dreams, stellar voice acting that brings personality to every character, and a story about belonging that genuinely earns its emotional beats.

But The plot is fairly predictable and hits every beat you'll see coming; some find the earnestness a bit much without enough irony to balance it.

Sing poster

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from The Star

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Hoodwinked!2005

Both tell a beloved, familiar story from the animals' point of view, reframing who the real heroes were all along. The Nativity becomes a heist, just as the fairy tale becomes a caper.

A feature-length CGI retelling of Little Red Riding Hood from multiple perspectives—each character's version contradicts the last. It's Rashomon for kids, clever and genuinely funny, with real voice acting spark.

But The animation is distinctly early-2000s rough; some find the fractured narrative confusing rather than clever, and it looks low-budget compared to what you're used to.

Hoodwinked! poster
More like this (8)

Arthur Christmas2011

A Christmas-specific adventure with heart, humor for all ages, and a hero who wins through kindness and persistence rather than toughness—refreshingly uplifting without being manipulative.

But The animation style is dated by now; some viewers find the Irish-inflected humor too broad, and the plot wraps up almost too neatly.

Arthur Christmas poster

Zootopia2016

Smart, beautifully animated, with voice acting that gives each character real weight. The buddy dynamic crackles, and there's genuine wit layered throughout for adults paying attention.

But It's more cerebral than The Star; if you want simple, warm-hearted fun without subtext, the film's social commentary might feel like an extra layer.

Zootopia poster

How to Train Your Dragon2010

A boy and a creature learn to trust each other on an epic quest; genuinely funny, visually stunning, and the emotional core is earned rather than handed to you.

But The pacing is faster and the adventure more intense; it's aimed slightly older, so some younger viewers might find it overstimulating.

How to Train Your Dragon poster

The Good Dinosaur2015

A small creature and an unlikely companion on a long journey home, with gorgeous animation and moments of genuine tenderness amid the adventure and humor.

But The plot is fairly thin and the emotional beats can feel unearned; some find it drifts rather than building momentum.

The Good Dinosaur poster

Trolls2016

Bright, silly, fast-paced, with surprisingly catchy music and voice talent that sells even the wackiest moments. Pure joyful energy that doesn't apologize for being feel-good.

But The humor is mostly one-note and the story is thin; it's essentially 90 minutes of color and noise, which exhausts viewers wanting substance.

Trolls poster

The Nut Job2014

Small animal, big heist, ensemble crew with distinct personalities. It aims to entertain kids with slapstick and talking animals without pretending to be anything else.

But The script is thin, the animation is budget-conscious, and adults will find little to engage with beyond watching their kids laugh.

The Nut Job poster

Mary and Max2009

Both films center on a gentle soul navigating the world with kindness, connecting with people (and animals) others have written off, and finding meaning in small acts of grace.

Stop-motion animation, a story about unlikely connection and kindness despite the world's harshness, and a tone that is genuinely touching without sentimentality. It's funny and heartbreaking by turns.

But It's bleak in places—mental illness, aging, loss are all present. The animation is deliberately crude; it requires patience and isn't a breeze to watch.

Mary and Max poster

Klaus2019

Both are Christmas origin stories told from an unexpected angle, finding magic and meaning in how simple acts of giving change the world. Klaus shows how generosity can reshape reality.

A beautiful 2D-animated film about the first Christmas gift-giver; gorgeously drawn, touching without being treacly, and structured like a fairy tale told well. The production design alone is worth the evening.

But It's slower and quieter than The Star; if you want constant comedy and energy, the contemplative stretches might feel like the film is dragging.

Klaus poster

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A Christmas Carol