Miao 3: Merry Christmas

***Miao 3: Merry Christmas*** is a 2022 American animated adventure Christmas comedy film produced by Redman Films and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It serves as the third installment of the *Miao* franchise and the sequel to *Miao 2* (2020). The film was directed by Orawan Bunmi in her directorial debut and written by Dane Martin and Reece Edwards from a story by Martin. Ryan Reynolds, Chris Rock, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, Patton Oswalt and Demi Lovato reprised their roles from the previous films, joined by Don Johnson, Tom Hiddleston and Mckenna Grace. In the film, Miao, Jom and the rest of the gang attempt to save Christmas and Santa Claus in a fight against the Leprechaun.

*Miao 3: Merry Christmas* had its world premiere at the AFI Fest in Los Angeles on November 6, 2022 and was theatrically released in the United States on November 16, 2022. The film was both a critical and commercial success, grossing $259.2 million against a $75 million budget and becoming the highest-grossing Redman film to date. Most critics deemed the film as an improvement to the previous two films in the *Miao* franchise. A sequel and a Halloween-themed television special are currently in development.

## Plot

After defeating Lady Charlene in the second film, Miao and his friends return to their normal lives, however Miao goes through an existential crisis after realising that his powers no longer have a purpose. His relationship with Jom also becomes tense, only to be interrupted by the news that Rippy and the rest of the gang plan to return to New York City for Christmas to spend time with Miao.

On the morning of Christmas Day, Rippy surprises Miao by letting him unwrap the first present underneath the Christmas tree that he had set up earlier. To their dismay, the present is revealed to be a parcel with a letter ordering them to be ready by afternoon. Miao finds this unusual and finds out that Santa Claus has been reported missing and is delighted that he can finally become a true hero. At the same time, they find an escort unit approaching in front of their house and one of the officials reveals himself to be Commander Ryan, who is the lead commander of the NORAD Santa team that are attempting to find answers for the mysterious disappearance of Santa Claus.

After the gang is escorted to Colorado, Commander Ryan briefs them on the last known location of Santa Claus and believing that Miao is powerful enough to handle the case and bring back Christmas, he decides to send them on a special mission to Ireland where the Leprechaun’s lair is believed to be. While on the helicopter, Miao and Jom happen to meet a young girl named Lyra sitting at the back row, who has sneaked into the helicopter just to try and save Santa Claus. Miao promises that they will help her and the team finally arrive in Ireland.

Miao and the gang begin to scout the area after disembarking, and find a trapdoor that leads to the secret lair as they had predicted. They overhear the Leprechaun raging over the fact that their pot of gold is also missing and that if he and his henchmen do not get it back by the end of March, the leprechaun lords would strip them of their jobs. Wondering how any of this has to do with Christmas, Miao brushes it off and they hatch a plan to flee Santa Claus, however this backfires and the Leprechaun finds out about their presence.

The Leprechaun interrogates Santa Claus in hopes of retrieving the pot of gold and threatens to kill him and end Christmas. While Lyra tries to convince Santa not to tell him as it is her Christmas gift, Santa confesses anyway and the Leprechaun travels to Lapland while leaving them trapped. While Miao and Santa try to cheer up a heartbroken Lyra, Rippy finds another way out via the ventilation system and they escape. After Lyra tells Miao of how her parents were killed by a homeless man, making her an orphan and that she made her wish to get a pot of gold to ensure she can get a better life, Miao sympathises with her and they decide to stop the Leprechaun from destroying Christmas and Lyra’s gift.

They travel to Lapland and realise that the Leprechaun has gone on a rampage and Miao finally decides that he must put his powers to good use again. They try to find the Leprechaun in Santa’s workshop, only to find the structure in flames and that all the gifts had been stolen. Commander Ryan then informs Miao that the Leprechaun has fled back to the United States.

Meanwhile, the Leprechaun hacks a news studio in Times Square and makes an announcement that Christmas would be obliterated from existence and that Saint Patrick’s Day would be in its place. Miao and the gang manage to reach on time, with Miao and the Leprechaun going on a fight. Although Miao briefly gets exhausted by the fact that his existing powers are not strong enough, he remembers that Lady Charlene was able to become powerful due to enchantments and finds a clover that conveniently dropped from the Leprechaun.

Miao eats the clover, making him invincible against the Leprechaun and finishing him once and for all. After telling the Leprechaun that he should not mess with the true meaning of Christmas, Santa and Miao send the Leprechaun to the rainbow, where he is doomed to be punished for eternity. Miao is once again rewarded as a hero and Christmas is finally restored. While Santa has finally brought gifts to most of the children, a dejected Lyra only gets a personal letter from Santa congratulating her on helping him save Christmas. However, with Jom’s persuasion, Miao reluctantly agrees to adopt Lyra, finally believing that starting a family is more important than gold or powers.

## Voice cast

* Ryan Reynolds as Miao, a 24-year-old orange tabby cat who gained magical powers from Lady Charlene in the first film and tries to redeem himself as a true hero.
* Demi Lovato as Jom, Miao’s Siamese cat wife
* Don Johnson as Santa Claus, the father figure of Christmas who is captured by the Leprechaun.
* Tom Hiddleston as the Leprechaun, a greedy Irish supernatural being who despises Christmas and suspects that Santa Claus stole his pot of gold.
* Mckenna Grace as Lyra, a 12-year-old orphaned girl who defends Santa Claus and is later adopted by Miao and Jom.
* Chris Rock as Rippy, Miao’s straight man rooster friend who lives with Komo, Mus and Haw in an apartment in Atlanta.
* Keegan Michael-Key as Komo, a komodo dragon who is one of Miao’s friends.
* Steve Buscemi as Mus, a polar bear who is one of Miao’s friends.
* Patton Oswalt as Haw, Miao’s quiet and introvert monkey friend.
* James Corden as Commander Ryan, the lead commander of the NORAD Santa team

## Release

### Theatrical

*Miao 3: Merry Christmas* made its world premiere as the closing film of the AFI Fest Celebration on November 6, 2022 and was theatrically released in the United States on November 16, 2022, after initially scheduled to be released on December 21, 2022, then to December 9, 2022.

### Home media

*Miao 3: Merry Christmas* was released on digital on January 17, 2023 by Paramount Home Entertainment, followed by a release on DVD, Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-Ray on February 7.

## Future

In July 2022, director of the first two *Miao* films Dane Martin hinted on the possibility of a fourth film, although he was still considering on whether to direct the fourth *Miao* film or an original idea. In January 2023, Ryan Reynolds expressed interest in returning for a sequel. That September, Martin confirmed that he would not return to direct the fourth film.

In November 2023, executive producer Reece Edwards confirmed that development for a fourth *Miao* film had begun. The following month, a Halloween television special based on the franchise was announced for a 2024 release on Netflix.

## Transcripts

### Main

To view the main transcript of the film, click here.

### Trailers

To view the transcript for the trailers of the film, click here.