Parents' Guide to Saint Nick of Bethlehem

Movie PG 2024 93 minutes
Saint Nick of Bethlehem movie poster: Daniel Roebuck, Marsha Dietlein, and Elias Kemuel on the back of a truck, waving to people at night

Common Sense Media Review

Monique Jones By Monique Jones , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 10+

Holiday film about loss promotes compassion, empathy.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 10+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Saint Nick of Bethlehem movie: Daniel Roebuck, Marsha Dietlein, and Elias Kemuel on the back of a truck, waving to people at night
  • Saint Nick of Bethlehem movie: Daniel Roebuck comforts Elias Kemuel in a church
  • Saint Nick of Bethlehem movie: Duane Whitaker gestures with his hands as he stands next to cars in his car lot.

Parent and Kid Reviews

See all

What's the Story?

SAINT NICK OF BETHLEHEM follows Nick (Daniel Roebuck), a lonely man who's reeling in the wake of his wife's leaving him and the death of his teenage son in an accident caused by a drunk driver. After one particularly bad night of grief, Nick wakes up with what he feels is a message from his son to live his life to the fullest. As a result, Nick decides to embody the spirit of Santa Claus by giving back to his community through his brother's used car dealership.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

This drama has the basis of a good story, but the story gets bogged down in meandering, sometimes nonsensical storytelling. It's a shame, since Saint Nick of Bethlehem could have been a nice, meaningful, small-budget film with a big heart. As it is, the movie sometimes has odd characterizations and humor, not to mention a lack of buildup as to why Nick decides to embody Santa. We know that he says his son's spirit told him, but we never see him actually have this epiphany, making his explanation feel like it comes out of nowhere.

Nick's other decisions also feel somewhat unsupported. Why does he decide to make his whole wardrobe red? Why does he seemingly equate Santa with God when talking with a young boy who's also dealing with grief? The questions ultimately make what should be emotional scenes feel clunky and emotionally uninspired.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about grief. How does Nick initially deal with his grief in Saint Nick of Bethlehem? What compels him to give back as a more positive way to deal with his loss?

  • How does the film promote compassion and empathy? Why are those important character strengths?

  • Are female characters and people of color represented with depth and nuance in the film?

  • What spiritual or religious messages does the film have? Do you think it's intended to appeal primarily to viewers of faith?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

Saint Nick of Bethlehem movie poster: Daniel Roebuck, Marsha Dietlein, and Elias Kemuel on the back of a truck, waving to people at night

What to Watch Next

See all

Best Holiday Movies for Kids

See all

Faith-Based Movies

See all recommended movie lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate