Best Christmas Party Ever

The film opens with Beth Bradley narrating about the Herdman siblings—Imogene, Ralph, Claude, Ollie, Leroy, and Gladys—who are considered troublemakers and feared by the town. Their mother is never seen, and their presence causes anxiety among both children and adults. The Herdmans are introduced as the worst kids in the world, setting the stage for their disruptive yet transformative role in the story.

Leroy Herdman brings his pet cat to school to terrorize the class, leading to the children being let out early. During this chaos, Imogene steals Beth's locket, which was a gift from her mother, illustrating the Herdmans' mischievous nature. This event highlights their disruptive influence early in the story.

The town's annual Christmas pageant's usual director, Mrs. Armstrong, injures herself by breaking both her legs. Mrs. Wendelken, a townswoman, volunteers to direct the pageant, prompting a shift in leadership. The event triggers the main setting for the storyline involving the town's holiday festivities.

Leroy and the Herdmans attend church for the first time, surprising everyone with their presence. They don't participate in hymns or offerings but pay attention when Grace begins casting roles for the nativity scene. Their arrival marks the beginning of their involvment in the church events.

The Herdmans insist on playing major nativity roles, with Imogene demanding to be Mary and Ralph as Joseph. They also assign Leroy, Ollie, and Claude as the Wise Men, and Gladys as the Angel. They threaten and influence other children to take on roles, disrupting traditional casting practices.

During rehearsals, the Herdmans pelt other children with snowballs and act aggressively, showing their lack of familiarity with the Nativity story. Grace attempts to guide them, and Imogene shows admiration for a Mary painting, expressing her desire to participate in the pageant despite her initial resistance.

Grace begins to soften her stance towards the Herdmans after seeing how much her family and the town are involved in their lives. She reflects on the Herdmans' circumstances and starts to support their participation, challenging the town's negative perceptions.

During the dress rehearsal, the Herdmans face various issues, including reluctance to part with their earrings, and a fire in the bathroom caused by Imogene smoking a cigar. The other parents criticize Grace for allowing the Herdmans to disrupt the preparations, highlighting the tension between tradition and change.

Beth visits Imogene at her home, encouraging her to participate in the pageant and highlighting her mother's sacrifices. Imogene expresses doubts about her suitability for the role of Mary, but Beth urges her to see the story through, emphasizing her potential to find purpose in the pageant.

The Christmas pageant starts with Alice temporarily taking the role of Mary. However, she quickly reverts to her regular role, allowing the Herdmans to join the nativity scene. Imogene and Ralph assume their roles, leading to humorous moments like Imogene burping Baby Jesus and the Herdmans presenting ham as gifts.

During the performance, the Herdmans' authentic involvement causes the audience to be unexpectedly moved. Imogene begins to tear up as she experiences true Christmas spirit. The scene ends with admiration from the crowd, and the Herdmans are finally accepted by the community.

Adult Beth concludes her narration by sharing how the Herdmans, especially Imogene, found a sense of belonging and purpose through the pageant. She reflects on the importance of the event in bringing the town together and preserving the spirit of Christmas.

The closing text describes each Herdman's future: Ollie becomes a vet, Claude a teacher, Leroy improved after jail, Gladys a flight attendant, Ralph a church pastor, and Imogene an active mother and church director. Their lives show how the experience transformed them and allowed them to find their place in society.