The Heist Before Christmas
Directed byEdward Hall
Screenplay byRonan Blaney
Starring
Production
companies
  • SHUK (Studio Hamburg UK), Calico Pictures
Distributed bySky Max
Release date
  • December 24, 2023 (2023-12-24)
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The Heist Before Christmas is a 2023 British Christmas film starring Timothy Spall and James Nesbitt. It is written by Ronan Blaney, directed by Edward Hall, and produced by Calico Pictures and SHUK (Studio Hamburg UK).

Synopsis

A twelve year-old witnesses a bank robbery committed by a man dressed as Santa Claus during a 'Santa Dash' and follows the robber only to also meet a man claiming to be the real Father Christmas.[1][2]

Cast

Production

Written by Ronan Blaney, the film, then entitled Joy to the World, was announced by the Sky Group in February 2023, with filming scheduled to take place in and around Belfast. Production comes from SHUK and Calico Pictures.[5] The title was changed to The Heist Before Christmas prior to broadcast.[6]

Filming

Principal photography took place in Newtownabbey and Monkstown, County Antrim and Rathfriland County Down in March 2023.[7][8] That month, filming also took place in the Turf Lodge housing estate, Belfast.[9]

Casting

Lead actors James Nesbitt and Timothy Spall were joined in the cast by young actors Bamber Todd and Joshua McLees, both from Northern Ireland and 13 and 11 years old, respectively.[10]

Broadcast

It was broadcast in the UK on Sky Max on 24 December 2023.[11]

Reception

The Guardian's Lucy Mangan rated it four stars, calling it a "magnificent drama" but bemoaning the ending as "a bit of a mess".[12] The Independent's Nick Hilton was less positive, rating it two stars, praising its "ambitious, anti-capitalist" outlook, but criticising its execution as "cheap" and "hammy".[13]

References

  1. ↑ Bałaga, Marta (September 24, 2023). "Timothy Spall Talks Being Santa in 'Joy to the World,' the 'True Horror' of 'Sixth Commandment,' Harry Potter's Shift Toward Being a 'Religion'". Variety. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Joy to the World". Comedy.Co.Uk. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  3. ↑ Molina-Whyte, Lidia (November 24, 2023). "The Heist Before Christmas releases trailer with James Nesbitt and Timothy Spall". Radio Times. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  4. ↑ Black, Rebecca (November 24, 2023). "New Sky Christmas movie 'a fairytale for our times' – director". Irish News. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  5. ↑ "James Nesbitt and Timothy Spall get their Claus out". Chortle. February 2, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  6. ↑ Vickers-Green, Laura (November 13, 2023). "UK Christmas 2023 TV Guide: the Best Festive Specials, New Drama & Comedy Series". Den of Geek. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  7. ↑ McGurk, Helen (March 28, 2023). "Jimmy Nesbitt spotted filming new Christmas drama in Co Antrim". Newsletter.Co.uk.
  8. ↑ "James Nesbitt and Timothy Spall film Sky drama in Monkstown". Northernirelandworld. March 27, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  9. ↑ Ní Ghréacháin, Gráinne (March 16, 2023). "James Nesbitt and Timothy Spall in Turf Lodge filming Christmas drama". Belfast Media. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  10. ↑ O'Dordan, David (November 26, 2023). "Child stars Bamber and Josh ready to steal hearts in new Christmas heist film". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  11. ↑ Vickers-Green, Laura (November 13, 2023). "UK Christmas 2023 TV Guide: the Best Festive Specials, New Drama & Comedy Series". Den of Geek. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  12. ↑ Mangan, Lucy (December 24, 2023). "The Heist Before Christmas review – Timothy Spall's festive drama is a total triumph". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Ambitious, anti-capitalist film The Heist Before Christmas could have been excellent". The Independent. December 24, 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
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