Journey to Bethlehem: Blockbuster Musical Movie Now in Cinemas!
Journey to Bethlehem is now showing in cinemas across the country! Released yesterday (30 November), it’s a Christmas musical movie about Mary, Joseph, Herod, the Magi and of course, the birth of Jesus!
This year has seen the release of blockbuster films such as Jesus Revolution and Sound of Freedom. And not to mention the continual releases of The Chosen.
Journey to Bethlehem is a little different – being a musical – but it’s a welcome addition to an ever-increasing lineup of quality Christian movies impacting the local cinema. And that is something to rejoice at!
Watch as Warwick introduces the film and see the trailer below!
Responses to Journey to Bethlehem
Journey to Bethlehem takes the story of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem and repackages it as an upbeat and joy-filled family-fun musical adventure.
Its marvellous musical score combines with an uplifting message that a baby born in a backwater of a vast Roman Empire is destined for His eternal throne (Luke 1:32–33). No wonder Herod “was deeply disturbed” (Matt 2:3)!
The film is produced by Affirm Films, who’ve put out the previous releases of Fireproof, Soul Surfer, Risen, War Room and Courageous.
The star-studded cast features Antonio Banderas (Shrek, Puss in Boots, The Mask of Zorro) as King Herod, Joel Smallbone from for KING & COUNTRY as Herod’s son, Antipater, and rapper Lecrae as the angel Gabriel. Key characters Mary and Joseph are played by Fiona Palomo and Milo Manheim.
Lecrae puts his thoughts on the film this way,
“It is a story that has been important for thousands of years. It needs to be told and retold. What an amazing opportunity to be the first musical offering of a story this significant.”
Kurt Malhburg writes, “The live-action musical Journey to Bethlehem puts an upbeat, joyful and unexpected spin on the Christmas story, making it the must-see family movie of this holiday season.” Read the rest of Kurt’s review article here.
“By all accounts”, writes Cody Mitchell, “the heart behind Journey to Bethlehem is deeply biblical — a desire to communicate the greatest story of all time, to glorify Christ and to direct people to Him.” Read Cody’s complete review article here.
Journey to Bethlehem is playing in cinemas across the country. It is critical that we fill the cinemas over the next four days. This will be the ONLY way that it stays on the big screen for another week. Tell your friends and go yourself. Click the green button below to find a cinema near you!
See and Support the Film!
As Dallas Jenkins (the creator of The Chosen) said after watching the movie, it is important that Christians support projects like Journey to Bethlehem. It’s money that talks in Hollywood. As Christian films continue to do well at the box office, we can expect more faith-affirming films to hit the big screen.
In our increasingly secular culture where Christianity is kicked to the curb, Christian content in the public space is a cause for rejoicing.
And as Kurt points out in his article, if the cynical, anti-Christian New York Times hates Journey to Bethlehem, then it’s absolutely a film worth seeing!
Book your tickets and take the whole family to a faith-affirming film this festive season!
Yours for good movies, faith and family,
Samuel Hartwich & Warwick Marsh
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We attended a screening yesterday afternoon, sadly just five people in the cinema 😔
BUT what a wonderful treat this movie is!
As musicians and songwriters we absolutely loved the score, and believe that it certainly is world class in the genre of Musicals.
Particularly Joel Smallbone’s song stood out to us.
So, a bit of poetic licence, but in the scheme of presenting the Birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to a new audience, it’s wonderful.
Make sure you don’t miss it.
I have just been to a screening of the Journey to Bethlehem. There were only 5 people there including myself and 2 friends. I must say that I am disappointed with the overall message of the film. The music and singing were great, however if you are wanting to view something authentic this is the not the film.