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The Heist Before Christmas

  • 2023
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
760
YOUR RATING
Timothy Spall, James Nesbitt, Bamber Todd, and Joshua McLees in The Heist Before Christmas (2023)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer0:41
1 Video
15 Photos
ComedyDrama

A bank robber dressed as Santa Claus holds up a bank, a child disillusioned with Christmas encounters a man in the woods who, also dressed as Santa, claims to have fallen out of his sleigh.A bank robber dressed as Santa Claus holds up a bank, a child disillusioned with Christmas encounters a man in the woods who, also dressed as Santa, claims to have fallen out of his sleigh.A bank robber dressed as Santa Claus holds up a bank, a child disillusioned with Christmas encounters a man in the woods who, also dressed as Santa, claims to have fallen out of his sleigh.

  • Director
    • Edward Hall
  • Writer
    • Ronan Blaney
  • Stars
    • Timothy Spall
    • James Nesbitt
    • Laura Donnelly
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.2/10
    760
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Edward Hall
    • Writer
      • Ronan Blaney
    • Stars
      • Timothy Spall
      • James Nesbitt
      • Laura Donnelly
    • 15User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 0:41
    Official Trailer

    Photos15

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    + 10
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    Top cast24

    Edit
    Timothy Spall
    Timothy Spall
    • Santa
    James Nesbitt
    James Nesbitt
    • Bank Robber
    Laura Donnelly
    Laura Donnelly
    • Patricia
    Bamber Todd
    Bamber Todd
    • Mikey
    Joshua McLees
    • Sean
    Bronagh Waugh
    Bronagh Waugh
    • Georgina
    Lloyd Hutchinson
    Lloyd Hutchinson
    • Brady
    Pat Shortt
    Pat Shortt
    • Headmaster
    Daniel Lamont
    • Five Year Old Boy
    Lemmy Black
    • Driving Dad
    Peter Rethinasamy
    • Wesley
    Barbara Blanka
    • Dominika
    Saahil Bali
    • Young Man
    Keith Thanni
    • Middle Aged Man
    John Heathwood
    • Black Santa
    Sean Sloan
    Sean Sloan
    • Newsagent
    Catriona McFeely
    • TV Reporter
    Claire Kieran McGrogan
    • Customer
    • Director
      • Edward Hall
    • Writer
      • Ronan Blaney
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews15

    5.2760
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    Featured reviews

    1dmolineux

    Horrendous

    This is without question the worst film I've seen in a very long time. The main character is a badly behaved kid that I guess is supposed to have a redemption arc storyline. That doesn't happen however, he just remains a horrible character throughout. The various bits of the story don't work at all together either. The mother's story in the shop is rubbish, again, it just highlights a horrible character and doesn't really add to the overall narrative. There are some really good actors involved and it's a real shame to see them so badly used. It's really terrible. An hour and a half if my life I'll never get back.
    3garryberryman

    Beyond disappointing

    This is advertised and portrayed as a family comedy with a few decent stars in nesbitt and spall. In reality it's a low budget children's tv movie with a terrible plot-line.

    Looks like it was made with no budget, shocking acting and I mean shocking and where they were used rubbish special effects, no real message (shoplifting is cool) and the closing Santa scene had no conclusion I mean he stayed in hospital? Did the money run out? - Honestly terrible had waited all Christmas Day to watch and was glad there were adverts so I'd have something else to watch, one of the kids fell asleep it was so boring.
    5danieljfarthing

    Forgettable, low-budget, Northern Irish tv-standard Xmas romp

    In director Edward Hall's low-budget, Northern Irish tv-standard Xmas romp "The Heist Before Christmas" ne'er-do-well pre-teen scrote Bamber Todd follows mean santa-suited bank robber James Nesbitt to his woodland hideout, hoping to score some of his loot... but also there in the woods is the similarly santa-suited Timothy Spall, claiming to be the ACTUAL Santa, fallen from his sleigh. Todd's bro Joshua McLees, struggling single-mum Laura Donnelly, & the po-po led by Bronagh Waugh all get pulled into a 1hr 12min tale that writer Ronan Blaney admirably avoids some big clichés in, but in so doing so leaves some holes & questions. It's not terrible, but is sadly forgettable.
    4justinhorton-38896

    More suited to Cbeebies

    Really wanted to like this but what a disappointment. Very tame storyline, unbelievable acting and cringe attempts at humour. Nesbitt gets surprisingly little screen time and Spall is poorly cast. The two exceptions were the young boys who had a big role and have big futures.

    I'd say that this film is best suited to Cbeebies and doesn't warrant a prime time adult slot. It was basic, boring and poorly written.

    The scenery was depressing and bleak, I know that was partly the point of it, but it was such a stereotypical view of Northern Ireland. If I lived there I'd be livid that this lottery funded film portrayed my country in this way.

    Yawn!
    8xjwtfmrn

    Need to believe

    It is a movie about good people with their backs against the wall. Don't except lots of guns, dead bodies, car crashes, explosions. You would have to have a cold heart not to enjoy this movie. It is an Amazing movie if you believe that all people have problems of one kind or another in life. We all struggle with personal problems. People who still have a little bit of child left in their hearts will enjoy this moment of Christmas. If you enjoy a different slant on a Christmas movie then I recommend the movie for a laugh and a cry with some heart felt moments along the way. Wishing you all a very merry Christmas.

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    Storyline

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    • Soundtracks
      Carol of the Bells
      Written by Peter Wilhousky (as Peter J. Wilhousky) and Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych (as Mykola Leontovych)

      Arranged by Robert Prizeman

      Performed by Libera

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • December 24, 2023 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Ireland
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Sky Press Release
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 聖誕劫前夕
    • Filming locations
      • Rathfriland, County Down, Northern Ireland
    • Production companies
      • Calico Pictures
      • Studio Hamburg UK
      • Studio Hamburg
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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    Timothy Spall, James Nesbitt, Bamber Todd, and Joshua McLees in The Heist Before Christmas (2023)
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