IMDb 5.5 2019 HD

Once Upon a Time in Bethlehem

Once Upon a Time in Bethlehem

2019
Comedy Fantasy
100 min NR Italy
6.121 / 10
5.5 IMDB

A thief and a priest end up magically transported in the year 0's Palestine, where they'll have to make sure that the Nativity will follow its course.

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Matteo Parenti / Gianni Costantino / Giovanni Calvaruso / Cinzia Malatesta / Luca Iacona / Salvatore Ficarra / Valentino Picone
Starring
Salvatore Ficarra / Valentino Picone / Massimo Popolizio / Roberta Mattei / Massimo Cagnina / Giovanni Calcagno / Giacomo Mattia / Azelarab El Kaughat

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

charming whimsical comedic entertaining intriguing amusing light-hearted predictable uneven surprising

Reviews

P
Penelope Croft
Apr 8, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

The charm of 'Once Upon a Time in Bethlehem' lies in its sheer audacity and the winning performances of its leads, Salvatore Ficarra and Valentino Picone. They embody a thief and a priest who are hilariously out of…

A
Arthur Sterling
Apr 8, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

With a premise as audacious as a temporal displacement to the year zero, 'Once Upon a Time in Bethlehem' aims for the stars, offering a comedic spin on the Nativity. Salvatore Ficarra and Valentino Picone carry the film…

G
Genevieve Dubois
Apr 8, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

'Once Upon a Time in Bethlehem' is a delightful surprise, a comedic caper that artfully blends historical import with laugh-out-loud moments. Ficarra and Picone are a comedic force, their contrasting characters providing endless amusement as they navigate the…

M
Marcus Bellwether
Apr 8, 2026
2.5 / 5
2.5

The concept behind 'Once Upon a Time in Bethlehem' is undeniably intriguing: a modern-day thief and priest are thrust into ancient Palestine to preserve the Nativity. Salvatore Ficarra and Valentino Picone, the leads, bring a certain energy to…

E
Eleanor Vance
Apr 8, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

Salvatore Ficarra and Valentino Picone headline 'Once Upon a Time in Bethlehem' with a whimsical premise that sees them whisked back to the time of the Nativity. Their comedic chemistry is palpable as a thief and a priest…

FAQs

By introducing a time-travelling thief and priest, 'Once Upon a Time in Bethlehem' undoubtedly offers a novel lens through which to view the traditional Nativity narrative. The comedic approach suggests it's less about a reverent retelling and more about exploring the human element and potential chaos surrounding such a pivotal event. It promises a fresh, perhaps even irreverent, take on a universally known story.