Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Charming retelling of first Christmas is great for families.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Three Wise Men
What's the Story?
THE THREE WISE MEN is a retelling of the Christmas story of the birth of Jesus and the arrival of the shepherds and Magi to the stable in Bethlehem. Told in charming rhyme by narrator Andy Griffith from the perspective of Melchior, the tale follows the Wise Man's long journey toward a prophetic star, eventually joined by two other Magi named Balthasar (voiced by Mike Krause) and Caspar (Rod Goldfarb). As they make their way toward Bethlehem, the story introduces Mary (Catherine Gilbert) and Joseph (Ernie Gilbert), tells of the angel Gabriel's (Steve Twitchell) messages to them and their ensuing journey to Bethlehem for Caesar's (Matthew W. Taylor) census, and factors in Herod's (Twitchell again) nefarious plot to discover the identity of the newborn king. Christmas carols performed by The Brothers Cazimero provide the backdrop for this charming faith-based tale.
Is It Any Good?
If ever a new classic deserved a place in your family's Christmas movie rotation, this is it. The Three Wise Men is lovely to watch and enchanting to listen to. It tells the story of the first Christmas in simple rhyme delivered by the legendary Griffith, weaving lines from carols like "We Three Kings," "Silent Night," and "Angels We Have Heard on High" into the narration and backing up the story with wonderful renditions of the songs between scenes.
Spinning the tale from the point of view of one of the Wise Men is a welcome twist on the retelling as well. Legend typically lumps the three together into a compound singular, so the fact that the three elite visitors to the manger have names known to history may even be a surprise to some. Much fun is had with the distinct personalities of the Magi, adding to a lot of the humor of the story and helping to illustrate the Christian messages of unity and equality heralded by the first Christmas. This wonderful, heartwarming movie is a perfect pick for families this holiday season.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how this retelling compares to others they've seen and heard. How does Melchior's perspective change how the story is told from the more traditional third-person tellings?
How does this story of the birth of Jesus promote themes of compassion and unity? What characters experience these firsthand? How are they changed by the experience? Are you changed by hearing this story?
How do your family's holiday traditions reflect your culture and/or faith? What are some favorite memories you have from holidays past?
TV Details
- Premiere date : November 27, 2020
- Cast : Andy Griffith , Catherine Gilbert , Steve Twitchell
- Network : Prime Video
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Holidays
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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
Suggest an Update
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