The Naughty Nine is a Christmas heist Disney Channel Original Movie. It premiered on November 22, 2023 on Disney Channel and November 23, 2023 on Disney+.[1][2]
Synopsis[]
The Naughty Nine follows fifth grader Andy, who has been a bit of a troublemaker this year. When Christmas morning rolls around and Andy gets stiffed by Santa, he realizes he's on the "naughty list." Feeling unfairly maligned, Andy pulls together a crack team of fellow "naughty listers" to execute an elaborate heist to get the presents he and the others feel they deserve. The determined ensemble includes Dulce, Andy's best friend and archery expert; North Pole conspiracy theorist Lewis; daredevil "wheel woman" Ha-Yoon; animal whisperer Rose; master-of-disguise Jon Anthony; adorable charmer Albert; and Andy's older sister, Laurel, a talented gymnast seeking to regain her confidence. Andy also enlists the help of Bruno, a disgruntled cargo pilot who claims to have witnessed Santa's sleigh. However, in the process of finding their gifts, the gang begins to realize that Christmas is more about giving than taking.
Plot[]
Andy Steele is a 5th grade boy who constantly gets into trouble with his best friend Dulce Gutierrez. They recently pulled a heist involving stealing confiscated toys from the faculty to return to kids, albeit for money. Andy is constantly at odds with his sister Laurel who always does the right thing and constantly tries to out Andy for his schemes, though she is usually outwitted. On Christmas day, Andy realizes that he did not get his video game console for Christmas while Dulce similarly did not get her bow and arrow set. They learn from their tech savvy friend Lewis Sobong that they are most likely on the naughty list and, through his internet algorithm, reveals the numerous other kids also on the list. Feeling that Santa's selectiveness has gone too far, Andy and Dulce decide to go to the North Pole to get their presents with Lewis agreeing, despite him not being naughty.
Andy recruits Ha-Yoon Si-u, a girl with a love for daredevil stunts who is naughty due to her reckless behavior, Rose Wingert, an animal whisperer who was caught letting loose wild animals, Jon Anthony Dizon, a boy and fashion designer whose naughty behavior is not made obvious, and Albert Reyes, a young boy who uses his cuteness to get what he wants. The group also recruit gymnast, and Laurel's snooty rival, Bethany after she failed to get a new cell phone, and Andy learns that one of his father's co-workers, a pilot named Bruno, claimed to have seen Santa's reindeer during what of his cargo flights. He decides to help Andy out so that he can be vindicated. At the last minute, Bethany backs out after she ends up getting her cell phone after all. Andy manages to recruit a reluctant Laurel to fill in for her.
Bruno flies the kids to the North Pole where Jon Anthony privately admits to Rose that he is on the naughty list because his "originals" are actually stolen designs. Nevertheless, he manages to make compelling elf costumes for everyone. The group is forced to make an emergency landing, though Bruno manages to coax the local air force that he is simply taking inventory. The kids sneak into Santa Village by using Albert's cuteness to distract an elf. Rose and Ha-Yoon recruit some of Santa's reindeer for a getaway while Lewis finds the security room. Andy, Dulce, Jon Anthony, and Laurel stop by an elf party where they briefly have fun, but Andy forces everyone to leave. They find Santa's mostly empty vault along with each of their gifts. As payback, Laurel takes what was supposed to be Bethany's phone.
The group manage to escape thanks to Rose and Ha-Yoon and grab Lewis and Albert while fleeing from elf security. When Andy sees that Laurel snatched Bethany's phone for herself, he becomes disillusioned. Bruno warns them that he is being forced back into the air and the kids are forced to jump into the moving plane. However, Andy decides not to get on and retains the gifts as elf security catches him. He is taken to Santa Claus himself who threatens to put him and everyone else on the naughty list permanently, but Andy insists that he should be the only one punished. When Santa limits the list to simply him and Laurel, Andy is shocked. The rest of the Naughty Nine are brought in and Andy and Laurel make amends with each other. Santa tells them that no one is ever kept on the naughty list permanently and that they just need to be nice, but not change who they are. The Naughty Nine are allowed to leave, but not without Bruno getting a selfie with Santa.
One year later, Andy is called into the principal's office, only to be greeted by Santa who tells him that needs him to re-recruit the Naughty Nine for an unknown purpose.
Cast[]
- Winslow Fegley as Andy Steele
- Camila Rodriguez as Dulce Gutierrez
- Derek Theler as Bruno
- Deric McCabe as Jon Anthony Dizon
- Clara Stack as Rose Wingert
- Anthony Joo as Lewis Sobong
- Ayden Elijah as Albert Reyes
- Imogen Cohen as Ha-Yoon Si-u
- Madilyn Kellam as Laurel Steele
- Danny Glover as Santa Claus[2]
Production[]
The movie was filmed in Montreal, Canada and began sometime in early 2022 and wrapped on April 11, 2022.[3]
Trivia[]
- This is the fifth Christmas Disney Channel Original Movie after The Ultimate Christmas Present, 'Twas the Night, Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!, and Christmas...Again?!
- This is the sixth Disney Channel Original Movie to feature LGBTQ+ representation after Under Wraps, Christmas...Again?!, Under Wraps 2, Prom Pact, and The Slumber Party.
- It's the third DCOM that features a main character having two fathers after Under Wraps 2 and The Slumber Party.
- Dulce has two dads.
- Jon Anthony is gay.
- It's the third DCOM that features a main character having two fathers after Under Wraps 2 and The Slumber Party.
- This is the first Disney Channel Original Movie to premiere on a Wednesday.
- The film was released on the same day that Wish was released in theaters.
- The film ends on a cliffhanger, potentially setting it up for a sequel.
Gallery[]
Videos[]
References[]
- ↑ Disney Channel (September 28, 2023). "They're assembling a team. Their mission? Break into the North Pole and take back Christmas. 🎁 #TheNaughtyNine, an Original movie, premieres Wednesday, November 22 on #DisneyChannel and Thanksgiving Day on @DisneyPlus! OnDisneyPlus.Disney.com". Twitter.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Palmer, Roger (September 28, 2023). "Disney’s “The Naughty Nine” Teaser Trailer Released". What's On Disney Plus.
- ↑ Belli, Alberto (April 11, 2022). "That’s a wrap on N9! If I told the kid in the photo he would end up directing a Disney Xmas movie he wouldn’t believe it — like Walt said: “Dreams come true!” I’ll be forever grateful to the amazing cast, and crew for their incredible work and passion. More soon...". Twitter.
External links[]
