While there are dozens upon dozens of Christmas movies tackling different aspects of the season, the best ones frequently feature Santa Claus. As the figurehead of the holiday, it makes sense. We, the people, want to capture that joy, magic, and nostalgia, and what better way to do so than by putting Kris Kringle on screens everywhere?
Still, you can't just put anybody in a suit and expect audiences to love him. It requires a certain level of authenticity and charm to play Santa, and those iterations are worth celebrating as Christmas inches closer. Whether it's a classically joyous depiction of the character or a subverted interpretation of the Man in Red, here are the 10 best Santas in Christmas movies, ranked by how iconic they are. Boot up streamers like Netflix, Hoopla, and more to grade them for yourself.
10. David Howard Thornton - Terrifier 3 (2024)
This one is a bit of a cheat, which is why it ranks last on this list. Technically, Art the Clown isn't Santa, but he wears the red and white suit, creeps into people's houses during nightfall, and enjoys a glass of milk and cookies. And really, that's half of the job description. Sure, he brutally slices and dices innocent people to death, but at least he does the dishes afterward.
In all seriousness, Terrifier 3 is a glorious splatterfest for horror fans seeking absurd violence and pitch-dark comedy. David Howard Thornton delivers another delightfully demented performance as Art, with the festive holiday backdrop adding a creepy contrast to the otherwise gory flick. If blood-drenched Christmas horror movies like Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 (1987) or Christmas Evil (1980) are your thing, Art will hack his way into your heart.
9. Frozen Santa Claus - Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)
I never get tired of talking about this movie. As a horror fan, I'm always on the lookout for something unique, and Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale delivers. At first, this dark fantasy and horror mash-up seems to feature an abundance of Santa Clauses, considering, in this universe, they're a wild species that's hunted, caged, and traded. However, those feral men are actually just helpers, with the true Santa Claus defrosting in a block of ice in an empty airplane hangar.
Of all the Santas mentioned on this list, Rare Export's interpretation of the being is perhaps the most magical. Gigantic, horned, and generally terrifying, this Santa Claus is supernatural and archaic. The only reason it ranks so low here is that it remains contained in the ice, but honestly, I shudder thinking about what would've happened had it been unleashed. If you want a holiday horror movie with an anti-consumerism message, look no further than Rare Exports.
8. Tim Allen - The Santa Clause (1994)
Sure, this movie starts with the real Santa falling to his death, but if you can look past that, you get a pretty wholesome PG movie for your next family night. Plus, Tim Allen, everyone's favorite TV dad from Home Improvement (1991), proves he has the chops to play good ol' Saint Nick as he works to repair his relationship with his on-screen son.
The Santa Clause is undoubtedly a Christmastime favorite. Equally humorous and heartwarming, it's the type of movie that works for both kids and adults. In this world, Allen's Scott not only inherits Santa's responsibilities after putting on the red suit of the late Mr. Claus, but also his power, which adds a nice touch of supernatural whimsy. While it will be a sure hit for fans of holiday comedies, Tim Allen doesn't disappear into the role quite as dramatically as other actors on this list.
7. Chris Sarandon/Danny Elfman - The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
While Ed Ivory voices the true Santa Claus in Tim Burton's stop-motion masterpiece, Jack Skellington's turn as the mythical character makes for a more interesting character study. After discovering Christmas Town, Jack becomes enamored with the holiday, kidnaps Santa, and steps into the role. However, the fusion of Halloween and Christmas goes about as horribly as you'd expect, and Jack realizes he's become a selfish villain.
Like any good children's movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas ends on a positive note, but don't mistake the story as juvenile. There's something oddly poetic and deeply sad about Jack's character arc. And it's captured wonderfully by the performances of Chris Sarandon and Danny Elfman, who provide the speaking voice and singing voice of Jack, respectively. If you need a fun yet thought-provoking PG movie for the family, here it is.
6. Kurt Russell - The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
If you know Kurt Russell from movies like The Thing (1982) or Big Trouble in Little China (1986), then you already know the man can chew scenery. His role as Santa in The Christmas Chronicles is no different. Instead of the usual jolly hijinks, Russell's Santa is funny, charismatic, and, dare I say, cool. That might disappoint those of you looking for the traditional depiction of Saint Nick. However, anyone craving something a little different will find that here.
The Christmas Chronicles itself is a solid holiday pick. Its status as a Netflix original makes it an easy choice for anyone with a subscription to the streamer, and it garnered enough attention to warrant a sequel, The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two (2020). Funny, sweet, and just the right amount of cheesy, it's got a similar vibe to The Santa Claus, just with a modern feel.
5. David Harbour - Violent Night (2022)
Carrying an R rating like a badge of honor, Violent Night might not work for family movie night, but it makes a stupidly entertaining watch for action movie fans wanting something besides Die Hard (1988) this holiday season. It's gory, violent, and loaded with dark humor. Think of it a little like John Wick (2014) takes on Christmas.
David Harbour's riff on Santa is a disillusioned Viking warrior who may have a bit of a drinking problem. He is more complicated than the other Santas on this list (excluding you, Billy Bob Thornton), which makes him all the more interesting. If you've ever wondered what Santa would be like if he were badass and mean-spirited, Harbour gives you the perfect answer.
4. Billy Bob Thornton - Bad Santa (2003)
I hesitated to rank Bad Santa so high on this list because the movie hasn't aged the best. However, Billy Bob Thornton plays his dysfunctional mall Santa with so much profane glee that it honestly warrants the number four spot. Thornton did mean-spirited Santa almost two decades before David Harbour in Violent Night, and truthfully, it's a blast to watch. He is the polar opposite of what Santa should be, which is why he remains an anti-Christmas icon.
As for Bad Santa, it's still worth a watch for fans of dark Christmas comedies, just don't expect all its jokes to match today's climate. It was offensive then, and it's offensive now. But the thing is, that's exactly what Bad Santa wants to be. It might not be for everyone, but if you like the black comedy in movies like The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977) or Quick Change (1990), then you're the exception.
3. Ed Asner - Elf (2003)
Ed Asner's Saint Nick takes third place for two reasons. One, he manages to find the balance between Santa's magical, rosie-cheeked persona and a believable manager—because, in some ways, that's exactly what Santa Claus is. Two, Elf is a fan-favorite Christmas movie that we Americans eat up every year.
Unlike Bad Santa or Violent Night that teeter on the edge of anti-Christmas territory, Elf offers audiences a comedy filled with genuine love for the holiday and its tropes. Asner's Santa plays a role in that, but it's Will Ferrell's Buddy that truly sells the story. Humorous, heartwarming, and just downright fun, Elf is a must-watch for anyone who appreciates enduring Christmas classics like Home Alone (1990) and A Christmas Story (1983).
2. Edmund Gwenn - Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
It doesn't get much more classic than 1947's Miracle on 34th Street, and honestly, not many can do Santa better than Edmund Gwenn. In fact, Gwenn won the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his interpretation of Kris Kringle. Lookswise, Gwenn is spot on, but it's how he imbues a genuine sense of warmth and joy that truly sells it.
If you appreciate classic cinema, especially of the black-and-white variety, then Miracle on 34th Street is a holiday standout. Cozy, charming, and perfectly cast, there's a reason people keep coming back to this movie more than seven decades later. Plus, if anyone could make you believe Santa Claus is real, it's Edmund Gwenn.
1. Richard Attenborough - Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
Is ranking the Miracle on 34th Street remake above the original movie controversial? Maybe. However, as perfectly spectacular as Edmund Gwenn is at playing Santa, Richard Attenborough does it better. Funny enough, his beloved turn as Kris Kringle occurred just a year after he wobbled on the edge of villainy in Jurassic Park (1993). Thankfully, he traded dinosaur casualties for presents and managed to steal scenes and hearts in a remake many people assumed wasn't needed, considering the original film's legacy.
If Edmund Gwenn left you second-guessing the whole "Is Santa Claus real?" thing as an adult, then Attenborough will, too. He delivers a similar authentic performance to Gwenn, but with an additional layer of charm and warmth that edges Gwenn out of the top spot. There's something joyously infectious about watching Attenborough do his thing in Miracle on 34th Street that will put a smile on your face. Not to mention that he improvised the sign language scene, and the child actor's surprised happiness is genuine. Excuse me, I'm going to get some tissues now.
