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Journey to Bethlehem

Where to watch.

Watch Journey to Bethlehem with a subscription on Netflix, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

What to Know

Journey to Bethlehem adds a solidly traditional and surprisingly fun -- albeit occasionally treacly -- entry to the lengthy list of Nativity films.

Journey to Bethlehem is an excellent adaptation with enjoyable songs that stays true to the spirit of the story despite taking a few liberties along the way.

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Cast & crew.

Adam Anders

Fiona Palomo

Milo Manheim

Joel Smallbone

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Journey to bethlehem.

A young woman carrying an unimaginable responsibility. A young man torn between love and honor. A jealous king who will stop at nothing to keep his crown. ​   This live-action Christmas musical adventure for the entire family weaves classic Christmas melodies with humor, faith and new pop songs in a retelling of the greatest story ever told, the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus. A unique new entry into the collection of holiday classic movies, this epic Christmas musical is unlike any before it.

© 2023 Road To Bethlehem LLC, Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Inc. and TSG Entertainment II LLC. All Rights Reserved.

© 2024 Sony Pictures Digital Productions Inc.   All rights reserved

Exclusive: Journey to Bethlehem Filmmaker Adam Anders on the Daunting Task of His Christmas Movie

Adam Anders opened up about the challenges that came with making a bold musical about the greatest story ever told.

You may never see a Christmas musical quite like this. In Journey to Bethlehem , director Adam Anders creates a lavish spectacle capturing “the greatest story ever told” with the tale of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus. Anders, who co-wrote the film with Peter Barsocchini, was the executive music producer for Glee before producing The Prom. But with Journey to Bethlehem, the filmmaker takes a big leap of faith — literally — in helming a musical which he wrote, directed, and produced.

The mammoth undertaking features 12 original new songs, performed by a cast featuringFiona Palomo ( Outer Banks ), Milo Manheim ( Zombies ), Antonio Banderas ( Puss in Boots ), King + Country’s Joel Smallbone, and multiple Grammy-winner Lecrae, among many others. The story tracks a young woman with a big responsibility. Themes of love and honor are woven into the cinematic fabric, too, as one couple (Palomo and Manheim) attempt to hold their own against jealous king Herod (Banderas) who is desperate to maintain his crown.

The bold live-action holiday musical adventure is ideal for the entire family as it features classic Christmas melodies filled with faith and humor, but the brand new pop songs are an interesting twist, making this a potential new holiday classic. Adam Anders shared more about taking on the project in this exclusive MovieWeb interview.

The Daunting Task of Journey to Bethlehem

If there was anybody perfectly suited for creating an all-out musical about the story of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, it was Adam Anders. The man is at the helm of Anders Media Inc., which produces film and television content for global audiences. But the fact that Anders has sold more than 100 million records and worked alongside artists such as Miley Cyrus , Jonas Brothers, and Cee-Lo Green, gives him an edge for something like Journey to Bethlehem.

Still, it’s fitting to ask if the filmmaker was daunted by the idea of taking a classic story, one that's so meaningful to so many people, and giving it a contemporary musical spin. More so, if he was intimidated by how the staunch Christians might feel about the character of Mary breaking out into song. “That's always a fear when you touch a subject like this, a story that's so revered and so important to billions of people,” he said. “You're going to have a target on your back. There's no doubt.”

He referenced executive producing the faith-based FOX live television event The Passion , starring Tyler Perry , which generated a No. 1 soundtrack on Billboard, noting that, “the press was not kind on either side — Christian press or mainstream,” adding:

’It's not Christian enough for Christian press,' or, 'It's too Christian for me.’ It was like I couldn't win. But I learned in that process that I'm never going to make everyone happy. If I make it for everyone, I make it for no one. So, I just have to follow my vision. And that's what we did.

Anders, a Christian himself, said he didn’t want to “hurt” the story of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. “What I wanted to do is make it digestible for everyone. I wanted to tell a story for everyone, not just Christians. Most people celebrate Christmas, and they're like, 'Well, it's Santa.' So — here's what we actually celebrate. Here's the story. And I was very clear in the beginning of the movie, because I say, ‘inspired by a true story.’ And that was important to me as a filmmaker to say that, because number one, it's 'inspired by,' it's not a documentary. They didn't break into song and dance to pop music [back then]. I know that. But I am also a believer. So that's an important distinction.”

Best Movies About Jesus, Ranked

Creating his own story.

Treating the story with reverence, love, and care was key. At the same time, Anders wanted to make it accessible in a way that people could relate to today. He was torn between telling the story in a more literal way, and jumbling the timeline to tell the story he felt he needed to. Fortunately, a friend came to him with advice, prompting a shift in perspective. Anders explained:

“The Wise Men probably showed up three years after Jesus was born, but every nativity scene has them there. So, every artist can take creative license throughout history. Why can't I? And I was really distracted, because I'm going to have a target on my back with this story. And he said something amazing to me, and I don't know if he knows how much it meant to me, but he said, ‘Nobody's going to remember your movie [because] your timeline is accurate. They're going to remember it if it's great. Just make a great movie.’”

Anders set out to do just that. The genesis of the story came from an idea Anders had more than 17 years ago. He had attempted to watch a musical but couldn’t land on anything that suited him. He began to wonder how a musical of the nativity scene would play out. Nearly two decades later, we have Journey to Bethlehem.

He may not have realized the extent of this undertaking. There were 12 set pieces involved and a detailed production schedule in Spain. “It was nuts,” he said. “There is no overtime in Spain, which made it even more difficult because I had 10 hours a day, and I was shut down every single day, so if anything went wrong, you're just crossing off shots on my list, and like, ‘Okay, that’s going to be very short. There was a ticking time bomb every day. That was probably the hardest part.”

He managed to complete the shoot in 30 days. While he cannot reveal how much the production cost, he shared: “I don't know if I can talk about it, but it was way too little, I can tell you that. You know, musicals cost a lot of money because it's like making two productions at once. But we did it for a very responsible number.”

Best Movies with Religious Themes, Ranked

When asked how he felt the TV show Glee and the musical The Prom, prepared him for this film, Anders shared:

“I can look back and see all of it was preparation for this, frankly. After The Prom , I was ready to make this movie. Because I had a lot of responsibility on that movie. Ryan Murphy directed it, and he made me a producer on it. And what an amazing thing to produce Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, James Corden, and Ariana DeBose. I gained a lot of confidence there working with a cast at that level, and here, with Antonio Banderas. Like Quincy Jones once said, I just make music I like, and I am lucky people agree. So that's really what it is as a creative person.”

Experience Journey to Bethlehem in theaters November 10. You can check out a music video from Steven Curtis Chapman and We the Kingdom that's used in the film (and featuring clips) below:

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ABOUT THE MOVIE

A young woman carrying an unimaginable responsibility. A young man torn between love and honor. A jealous king who will stop at nothing to keep his crown. This live-action Christmas musical adventure for the entire family weaves classic Christmas melodies with humor, faith, and new pop songs in a retelling of the greatest story ever told—the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus. A unique new entry into the collection of holiday classic movies, this epic Christmas musical is unlike any before it. See JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM , now playing exclusively in theaters.

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‘It’s the most personal story I’ll ever tell,’ director says about new film ‘Journey to Bethlehem’

Adam anders of ‘glee’ fame says ‘journey to bethlehem’ was 17 years in the making.

By Hanna Seariac

For director Adam Anders, “Journey to Bethlehem” is a dream come true.

The new, live-action musical chronicles the story of the birth of Jesus. It stars Antonio Banderas (Herod), Milo Manheim (Joseph), Fiona Palomo (Mary) and Geno Segers (Balthazar) and puts a contemporary twist on the musical element of the movie.

Anders is best known for his work as the producer of the “Glee” albums. His work earned him four Grammy nominations. Before now, much of Anders’ work has been in producing, but “Journey to Bethlehem” marks his directorial debut.

The story of how the film came together starts 17 years ago, Anders told me in a video call. He and his wife were visiting family in Iowa and he couldn’t find “anything to watch” that was both a Christmas movie and a musical.

Over the course of the last 17 years, Anders has tried to get the film made, but for one reason or another, he’s run into delays and roadblocks.

“It’s been challenged all along the way, but I think each challenge has made me learn something,” Anders said. “All the failures in trying to make this movie I think made me understand what I needed to do and do better.”

“It was in COVID where we got shut down,” he continued. “I had six months with nothing to do. I started over. I was like, ‘Let me just learn from all my mistakes and try to get this right.’ So, that ended up being a blessing to have that time to reflect and get it right.”

In the process of making the movie, Anders was praying every day. Throughout the development of the movie, he felt like his faith was growing stronger.

“I’ve had to rely on it to get through some of the hard times and some of the trials. I think even now there’s a strike and all these years trying to get a movie made and then, it’s coming out during the strike is really like, ‘Why? What’s going on?’” he said. But, he emphasized, “You’ve got to trust that there’s a plan and it’s going to work out.”

After nearly two decades, the movie is finally debuting on Nov. 10 in theaters.

“This is the most personal project I’ve ever done, and I’ve actually talked to my wife about it. I don’t know that I’ll ever have one that’s this special to me, to my faith,” Anders said.

The film certainly has faith elements in it, but Anders also wants to convince everyone to attend, regardless of if they are religious or not. He thinks everyone wants to “get in the Christmas spirit, whether you’re a believer or not” and his movie is a way to do that.

“It’s inclusive. It’s fun. The music is amazing,” he said. “Music unites people and it crosses borders and barriers and it pulls down the fence.”

“And because we’re telling the love story of Mary and Joseph, it’s like the original ‘Romeo and Juliet.’ We have a great villain in Herod and we have comic relief in The Wise Men. It’s everything you need to have a great family movie to sit down and watch and enjoy,” he added.

The process behind making the movie and music for the movie was intense, Anders said. He moved to Spain for six months to film and had to weave together the script with the songs.

“My favorite song in the movie is probably ‘Mother to a Savior and King’ because it’s so powerful and beautiful,” he said. “My wife and I, ... our first date was writing a song together, and now 25 years later, we’re still writing songs together. We feel like it’s the best song we’ve written.”

In addition to Anders directing the film, he and his wife, Nikki Anders, picked up credits as composers and producers.

While making the movie, Anders was laser-focused on coming up with a “fun and vibrant” film that also honored the story.

“It’s a true story for me. It’s part of my life and my faith. And it means so much to me,” he said. “So, I hope that comes across in the movie, even though we’re having fun with it.”

“I think it’s the most personal story I’ll ever tell, like I said. And I hope I’ve done it justice.”

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‘Journey to Bethlehem’ Review: No Room at the Inn? Try the Multiplex

It’s no “Home Alone” or “Jesus Christ Superstar,” but it does have Antonio Banderas as a song-slinging Herod and Lecrae as a quavering Angel Gabriel.

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By Glenn Kenny

Christmas announces its coming earlier every year. We haven’t even hit Thanksgiving and here is this peculiar Nativity movie for, um, someone’s whole family, directed and co-written by Adam Anders. Anders, making his feature debut here, is a former “Glee” writer and music producer, and his co-writer, Peter Barsocchini, is a veteran of “High School Musical.” While their treatment of the ancient world is informed, to say the least, by their prior work, the scenario also feels like Hallmark pulped through a Disney strainer.

For instance, the future Jesus-mom, Mary (Fiona Palomo), bridles at her arranged marriage, and actually says, “What about my dream of becoming a teacher, like my father?” She is talked down by girlfriends on a shopping trek who sing, “Mary, Mary, Mary, Mary/It’s good for you.”

The familiar story line is festooned with “kicky” touches, like a meet-cute between Mary and Joseph (Milo Manheim) at a fruit market, and the angel Gabriel (the rapper and singer Lecrae) struggling with stage fright before making his presentation to the Blessed Virgin. Later, in a dream, two Josephs ponder the pregnancy issue, with the anti-Mary manifestation singing “Don’t make concessions/for her transgressions.”

Antonio Banderas appears as Judea’s King Herod, dead set on making sure the newborn (other) King doesn’t stick around for long.

“Did he lose a bet?” one may wonder, seeing Banderas in this role. Apparently not; he clearly relishes playing a singing and dancing villain. In his introductory number, he croons about how, yes, it’s good to be king.

“Mine is the kingdom/mine is the power,” he belts out. And Joel Smallbone, as his scheming son Antipater, sidles up beside him to harmonize on “mine is the glory.”

The magic of movies does depend on a certain suspension of disbelief, but “Journey” tests the viewer beyond rational credulity, even as it persists in asserting the reality of its existence.

Call it a Christmas anti-miracle?

Journey to Bethlehem Rated PG. Running time: 1 hour 38 minutes. In theaters.

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Summary A young woman carrying an unimaginable responsibility. A young man torn between love and honor. A jealous king who will stop at nothing to keep his crown. A live-action Christmas musical adventure for the entire family.

Directed By : Adam Anders

Written By : Peter Barsocchini, Adam Anders

Journey to Bethlehem

Where to watch, fiona palomo, milo manheim.

Antonio Banderas

Joel Smallbone

Rizwan Manji

Geno segers.

Omid Djalili

Stephanie Gil

Antonio cantos, maria pau pigem, antonio gil.

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Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Journey to Bethlehem’ on Netflix, Where The Nativity Story Meets ‘Glee’

Where to stream:.

• Journey to Bethlehem
• Faith-Based

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Is ‘the chosen’ season 4 available to stream, stream it or skip it: ‘the baxters’ on prime video, a family drama based on karen kingsbury’s popular novels, even russell crowe is surprised ‘noah’ is in the netflix top 10.

Journey to Bethlehem (now on Netflix) takes The Greatest Story Ever Told and merges it with The Greatest Showman , which is something we always never knew we wanted, right? Um. Sure? So brace yourselves for a singing-and-dancing musical version of Mary and Joseph’s trek down the burro trail to the humble hay-ridden birthplace of Jesus himself, with Antonio Banderas turning up to play mean ol’ King Herod. Adam Anders, whose songwriting and music production credits range from Glee to High School Musical and Hannah Montana , directs the movie, and that pretty much gives away the goofy, lightweight tone here. But is it joyous, or just blasphemous? 

JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY, reads the opening title card, so this movie is already hilarious. We meet three wisemen – Caspar (Rizwan Manji), Balthazar (Geno Segers) and Melchior (Omid Djalili) – and as the designated comic relief, they certainly are wisecracking wiseasses. They spot the exceptionally brilliant star in the sky they’ve been waiting their entire lives to see, and immediately pack up the gold and frankincense and myrrh for a long journey. Please note, from this point on, you will be subject to more myrrh jokes than you could ever dream of. Must’ve been an entire writer’s room dedicated just to the myrrh jokes! 

Meanwhile, in Nazareth, Mary (Fiona Palomo) is super-pissed at her parents for betrothing her to some stranger. I mean, she wants to be a teacher, not some j-hole’s wife . Mary’s sisters take her to the square to go shopping and blow off some steam, and here she meets a cute guy with pretty good hair who claims to be an expert at handling fruit. Well then! He won’t back down even though she’s betrothed and when she runs off he says he didn’t get her name, which tells us he wasn’t paying attention to an earlier song, which included the lyric “Mary Mary Mary Mary,” and rhymed it with “contrary” and “secondary.” 

Later, the two families stage the first meeting of Mary and her hubs-to-be, and wouldn’t you know it, he’s – gasp – the fruit guy! His name is Joseph (Milo Manheim), and Mary’s mad that he didn’t tell her he, too, was betrothed. Betrothal is absolutely something that must be disclosed, per unofficial Year Zero-era social contracts, you know. He’s not too hot on being betrothed, either. He wants to be an inventor, a profession with such great promise. I mean, just think of all the things that hadn’t been invented yet – computers, industrial agriculture, rechargeable nose trimmers, free will, birth control. So many things! 

Our not-so-happy couple hasn’t even walked down the aisle before they run into their biggest bone of contention, and I know that’s a major phrasing issue, but let’s just move on: Mary’s visited by the angel Gabriel (Lecrae), who floats into her room and hits his head on the doorway – no, really – just like that one Stormtrooper did, before revealing that she’s destined to carry the son of the Lawd. Well, shit. Nobody believes her, and Joseph ain’t too keen on being a resident of Cuck City, so she’s exiled to a barren stretch of desert to live with relatives. Not to give anything away, but if Mary and Joseph ever make up – and I can neither confirm nor deny that they do! – I’m sure this’ll be a great story to tell their grandchildren.

Elsewhere, in Jerusalem, the guy who voices Puss in Boots hams it up as King Herod, and busts out into a song that’s way too much like “I Just Can’t Wait to be King” from The Lion King . When he catches wind that someone’s about to give birth to another king in his country, he declares that the baby king should be slaughtered. As we recover from tonal whiplash, we meet Herod’s unfortunately named son, Antipater (the unfortunately named Joel Smallbone), who isn’t so sure about killing a baby, and therefore is torn between loyalty and sanity. Will Joseph forgive Mary? Will they survive King Herod’s tyranny? Will the child leap from her loins wearing tap shoes? NO SPOILERS.

What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: I already made the hacky Greatest joke, so let’s see what else we can come up with. How about this: Journey to Bethlehem is like The Nativity Story crossed with Aladdin .

Performance Worth Watching: There’s lots of generic singing and acting happening here, so thankfully we have Banderas to spice things up with some heavily eyelinered eyerolls and a goodly amount of campy gesticulating. 

Memorable Dialogue: Melchior: “My clothes smell of sheep dung. My skin smells of sheep dung. This whole earth is made of sheep dung. And tonight, I meet the son of God. This is just perfect!”

Sex and Skin: We know how that baby got in there, so, none, of course. It’s only logical.

Our Take: Journey to Bethlehem ends with another title card, all but apologizing for “taking creative license” with the story, so at least it ends with another good laugh. Maybe I should apologize for my sacrilegious tone here, but it’s kinda in step with the tone of the movie, which takes a story that’s rather serious to many and renders it rather silly. To illustrate the level of subtlety here: Joseph, torn between believing and disbelieving Mary’s virgin-pregnancy story, dreams of two sides of himself sing-fighting, rhyming “immaculate conception” with “ultimate deception.” It symbolizes his inner conflict, see. See? See ?!?

The movie is glossy and cheap-looking, like a TV-production crew parked outside Yuma for three weeks to stage small-scale musical numbers with voguing Roman centurions and Banderas dressed two-thirds the way to clowndom. The songs are glossy generipop sprinkled with old standards like “Silent Night,” and it all sounds like something you’d hear performed by the Hooray for Everything troupe in a mall in 1985, as opening act for a Casual Corner fashion show. Anders avoids a cliche or two – we don’t get a scene of Mary screaming as Joseph implores her to PUUUUUSHHHHH, but we do get a shot of her beloved pet donkey pacing outside the manger, which is a bummer, because I was hoping he’d deliver the baby – but steps in a dozen others, ranging from a bevy of cornball jokes to far too many watery ballads. I’ve therefore concluded that we’re definitely not supposed to take any of this seriously. Not for a second. 

Our Call: The faithful will be torn between appreciating Journey to Bethlehem ’s lighthearted cutesiness and believing it’s just not religious enough to do the story justice. I can only speak for myself though, and I got enough giggles out of this ridiculousness to justify imploring y’all to STREAM IT. 

John Serba is a freelance writer and film critic based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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• November 21, 2023 (United Kingdom)
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