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The Legend of the Christmas Witch

Original title: La Befana vien di notte
  • 2018
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
4.8/10
1K
YOUR RATING
Paola Cortellesi in The Legend of the Christmas Witch (2018)
Watch Trailer originale italiano [OV]
Play trailer1:58
1 Video
10 Photos
AdventureComedyFamilyFantasy

During the day Paola is an ordinary primary school teacher, but at night, she turns into The Christmas Witch, a magical creature who brings gifts to the good kids.During the day Paola is an ordinary primary school teacher, but at night, she turns into The Christmas Witch, a magical creature who brings gifts to the good kids.During the day Paola is an ordinary primary school teacher, but at night, she turns into The Christmas Witch, a magical creature who brings gifts to the good kids.

  • Director
    • Michele Soavi
  • Writer
    • Nicola Guaglianone
  • Stars
    • Paola Cortellesi
    • Stefano Fresi
    • Francesco Mura
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.8/10
    1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Michele Soavi
    • Writer
      • Nicola Guaglianone
    • Stars
      • Paola Cortellesi
      • Stefano Fresi
      • Francesco Mura
    • 15User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Trailer originale italiano [OV]
    Trailer 1:58
    Trailer originale italiano [OV]

    Photos9

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    Top cast21

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    Paola Cortellesi
    Paola Cortellesi
    • Paola…
    Stefano Fresi
    Stefano Fresi
    • Mr. Johnny
    Francesco Mura
    • Riccardo
    Clòe Romagnoli
    Clòe Romagnoli
    • Sveva
    Diego Delpiano
    • Ivan
    Odette Adado
    • Emilia
    Jasper Gonzales Cabal
    • Giuseppe
    Robert Ganea
    • Leo
    Fausto Maria Sciarappa
    • Giacomo
    Giovanni Calcagno
    • Igor
    Giuseppe Lo Piccolo
    Giuseppe Lo Piccolo
    • Smilzo
    Luca Avagliano
    • Gino
    Nicholas Cristalli
    • Giovanni Rovasio
    Chiara Sartori
    • Madre Giovanni Rovasio
    Mario Scelbo
    • Padre Giovanni Rovasio
    Lidia Cocciolo
    • Madre Sveva
    Cristina Cavalletti
    • Governante
    Nicolas Bongiorno
    • Gemella
    • Director
      • Michele Soavi
    • Writer
      • Nicola Guaglianone
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews15

    4.81K
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    Featured reviews

    8valentinabonomelli

    Finally a decent Italian Christmas comedy

    This is literally the first (and for now, only) decent Italian Christmas comedy. It clearly isn't a masterpiece, but it could easily be compared to those fun and light-hearted American or British comedies you watch with the family during the holidays. It's fun and decently acted, the CGI is good, the music is lovely. Which is way more it could be said of pretty much any other Italian comedy. Plus the sceneries are stunning, and it's a fun take on a tipically Italian tradition. It has some mild curse words in it, but in my opinion it's nothing too out there. Would recommend it for family movie time and would definitely watch again.
    7bevitaly-37951

    Cute but not for kids.

    The movie has some potential. It has funny lines and overall it's not the worst movie I have seen. I am disappointed by the few cuss words they have the kids say. The bully of the group spies on a classmate's mother taking a shower. These kids look in middle school at best. It needs dinner editing by a parent.
    3tesswysko

    The Most Ridiculous Yule Story

    ONCE AGAIN, I'm sitting here, half an hour into writing a eloquent, informative, (I'm a journalist/Media Influencer, I own 4 Music News & Entertainment channels, and English was one of my majors in college) & historical review of this movie, when I bump my phone three slightest, it slides, the screen rotates, and THANKS TO IMDB, EVERYTHING I WROTE IS GONE!!!! This has happened more times than I can count! So you can all thank IMDB for the lack of a good review! Someone should start a petition to MAKE THEM FIX their website FINALLY!!! Because I've NEVER used another site where everything is deleted if the screen rotates!!!

    So I'll keep it brief. This is AWFUL, but not for the reason you think!!! These kids are in maybe sixth or seventh grade, their teacher is the Christmas Witch(ugh... everything about her is a Santa rip-off, and they make Santa to be a jealous bad guy) & she gets kidnapped. 6 kids, typical typecast group, go after her, along the way they encounter trouble as expected, but they ALSO get into and say/ do things no 11 year olds should be doing!!! In the middle of the night in a cabin the kids are alone in, the "nerd" & The girl he's been chasing, the "perfect blonde" are about to kiss, he jumps up, runs off, finds his friend, and they have a long conversation kite EXACTLY HOW to French Kiss!!! It makes the audience very uncomfortable!! This is just the tip of the iceberg! I would NEVER let my kids watch this movie!

    Topping it off, the plot stinks, the writer obviously had no foresight as to were they were going with it. You could drive a Mack truck through the plot holes!!! I'd love to explain my reasoning more in depth, but thanks to IMDB (Grrrrrrrr), all that hard work is GONE, and I am too tired to stay up any later! Goodnight all!
    9mpower-33894

    Some Italian Magic

    My wife and I and our 10 year old daughter watched The Legend of the Christmas Witch this week. A wonderful adventure of Christmas Magic, with the real focus on the adventure and bravery of the children, an over the top toy making villain and best of all, a witch combining magic and smarts. The scenery in the Italian alps is a bonus and the music was inspiring. Recommend you see it, especially with children. Thanks cast and crew for a new take on this witch for Christmas.
    7spekx-65751

    First movie I have watched that had voiceovers in its entirety

    First movie I've watched, all the way, that had voiceovers. That's a shocker to me.

    delightful and fun. The bad guy was awesome, character and dress. And the factory on the mountain made it look like the people inside were actually in the mountain factory, Like the red steam, etc.

    sure there were a lot of quirks. But for it being a family movie... awesome!

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Connections
      Followed by The Legend of the Christmas Witch 2: The Origins (2021)

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • December 27, 2018 (Italy)
    • Countries of origin
      • Italy
      • Spain
    • Language
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Бефана приходить вночі
    • Filming locations
      • Rome, Lazio, Italy
    • Production companies
      • Lucky Red
      • Morena Films
      • Rai Cinema
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,843,257
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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