Is That Christmas woke?
Movie · 2024
That Christmas has a wokeness score of 7/10, which we rate as Strongly Ideological. Woke messaging is very prominent and often feels forced or shoehorned in. Characters and plot are primarily shaped to serve the ideology. Many viewers feel the agenda overshadows the entertainment.
Key points
- School nativity play rewritten as woke parody mocking Christian values with climate messaging and abortion jokes.
- Diverse cast features interracial families, single mothers, non-Christians, and themes of global warming and inclusion.
- Progressive ideologies like diversity and equity feel forced, overshadowing holiday fun and alienating audiences.
Wokeness analysis
That Christmas exemplifies heavily ideological, message-driven content where progressive themes are prominently woven into the narrative, often feeling forced and overshadowing the holiday escapism. The film opens with a school nativity play directed by rebellious teen Bernadette McNutt, who rewrites the biblical story into a woke parody featuring 'Three Wise Women,' climate change messaging, vegetables like chickpeas and eggplants as characters, and even irreverent jokes about aborting baby Jesus, splattering parents with watermelon pulp in chaotic execution. This sequence, described across reviews as blasphemous and agenda-pushing, sets a tone of mocking traditional Christian values in favor of modern progressive sensibilities, drawing backlash from parents and conservative outlets for indoctrinating children under the guise of humor. The town of Wellington-on-Sea boasts a diverse multicultural cast, including interracial families (e.g., Black mother with white father producing red-haired daughters), non-Christian characters, single-mother households normalizing divorce, and themes of global warming, childhood anxiety, and inclusive holiday traditions that 'bend to reflect today's values.' User reviews on IMDb, Common Sense Media, and FilmBooster highlight 'every single kind of political correct statement of inclusion, diversity, and equity rammed into every inch,' with 'strong woke themes' that feel shoehorned, especially in a Netflix family animation. While the core plot emphasizes community and family amid a snowstorm, characters and events—like Bernadette leading kids to ditch 'outdated traditions'—primarily serve ideological points, alienating viewers seeking pure festive fun. Critics note it balances heartwarming moments with preachy overtones, but the agenda dominates, making entertainment secondary and resonating poorly with audiences tired of such forced messaging in children's media.
Plot
In the seaside town of Wellington-on-Sea, a massive snowstorm disrupts Christmas plans for residents, including Santa Claus. Interwoven stories follow shy newcomer Danny Williams coping with his parents' divorce and a crush on anxious twin Sam Beccles; mischievous twin Charlie causing chaos; and spirited Bernadette McNutt leading siblings in rebellion against traditions after parents get stranded. The film kicks off with Bernadette's disastrous, progressive rewrite of the school nativity play. As kids improvise festivities, communities unite in search efforts and heartfelt reunions, emphasizing love, family bonds, and community spirit over material expectations, with Santa's intervention adding magic amid turkeys and whimsy.
Analyzed by AI on January 2, 2026