Who doesn't love Santa Claus? This jolly, rotund individual with a big white beard is loved and revered by all despite his countless acts of 'breaking and entering' through the chimney and property theft (of cookies and milk). Santa Claus has more recently deviated from the historic Jolly Old Saint Nicholas we see in Norman Rockwell paintings, with everyone from Whoopi Goldberg in Call Me Claus to Jose Elias Moreno in Santa Claus taking on the iconic character.
Santa Claus is a mythic figure, one recognized the world over and can be re-imagined in many different ways. The lore surrounding Santa Claus has provided filmmakers with many unique interpretations. It seems there is a Santa Claus story for every type of genre. The holidays typically mean people are busy. There is such an overwhelmingly wide array of Christmas films. While Santa Claus is commonly associated with short specials, like Santa Claus is Coming to Town or A Year Without Santa, there have been plenty of cinematic interpretations of the character. There are so many film versions of the character; there is something for everyone.
These are the best Santa Claus movies of all time.
Update December 6, 2023: In honor of the Christmas season, this article has been updated with even more great Santa Claus movies to watch during the holidays and where you can stream each of them.
19 Fred Claus (2007)
Fred Claus
- Release Date
- November 3, 2007
- Director
- David Dobkin
- Cast
- Vince Vaughn , Paul Giamatti , John Michael Higgins , Miranda Richardson , Rachel Weisz , Kathy Bates
- Main Genre
- Comedy
- Runtime
- 116
Santa's older bitter brother, Fred Claus, is forced to head to the North Pole to help his brother when he becomes strapped for cash for the holiday season. Fred's actions as an elf begin to jeopardize the holiday, but as the two brothers begin to reconnect, Fred decides he wants to help his brother make Christmas happen.
Wanting to be Bad Santa but constricted by its PG rating seems to help Fred Claus. Vince Vaughn plays the title character. He's one big, no-goodnik of a man who doesn't care for his older brother, Santa Claus (Paul Giamatti). As one can guess, these two distant family members come together in the most unexpected ways. Vaughn and Giamatti are quite deft at comedy, which helps carry this semi-oddball of a Santa Claus movie.
Stream on Hulu
18 Santa Buddies (2009)
Puppy Paws wishes there wasn't such a thing as Christmas. Disney magic stuff happens, and then the North Pole starts to melt as a result. Only one thing can save it: if the Buddies can help Puppy Paws rediscover his love for Christmas and its true meaning. Okay, Santa Buddies might be a tad childish. But does that matter while talking about this genre?
We watch these movies to spark nostalgia, so including something from this franchise only makes sense. Any kid who grew up in the mid-2000s can recall seeing Air Buddies, and this is the fourth spin-off that the Disney classic spawned. It's silly, but there's nothing wrong with that, especially when you get time with some adorable doggos. The new generation deserves to understand why Air Buddies was so beloved back in the day.
Stream on Disney+
17 Noelle (2019)
Noelle
- Release Date
- November 12, 2019
- Director
- Marc Lawrence
- Cast
- Anna Kendrick , Bill Hader , Shirley MacLaine , Billy Eichner , Michael Gross , Chelah Horsdal
- Main Genre
- Comedy
- Runtime
- 100
- Writers
- Marc Lawrence
Noelle is the daughter of Kris Kringle, a woman who loves the holidays and everything about the season. However, she wishes to do what her brother Nick does, taking over their father's job of delivering presents that year. When her brother seems to go missing after facing insurmountable stress, she must go on a mission to find him before Christmas to save the hope and joy of billions. No pressure, right?
A Santa film trope that we love is the "Santa's offspring" one. Noelle is a modern take on that, and it stars the lovable Anna Kendrick in the leading, titular role. Noelle is an enjoyable watch, and it's just cute. We suggest this one, especially for close siblings celebrating the holidays together.
Stream on Disney+
16 Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)
Santa Claus
- Release Date
- October 29, 1985
- Director
- Jeannot Szwarc
- Cast
- Dudley Moore , John Lithgow , David Huddleston , Burgess Meredith , Judy Cornwell , Jeffrey Kramer
- Main Genre
- Adventure
- Runtime
- 107
- Writers
- David Newman , Leslie Newman
- Tagline
- Guess Who's Coming To Town!
Santa Claus: The Movie revolves around the origin of Santa Claus and his modern-day adventure to save one of his elves from being manipulated by an unscrupulous toy company executive. Dudley Moore and John Lithgow are surprisingly excellent in the family classic Santa Claus: The Movie. Moore plays the erstwhile Patch, an elf who leaves the North Pole and travels to New York. Along the way, he ends up getting sucked into the evil world of B.Z. (Lithgow). He is a ruthless tycoon with one goal... to turn Christmas into a profit machine for himself. Suddenly, Santa Claus (David Huddleston) has to get involved to save Patch and Christmas itself!
Santa Claus: The Movie was made in the mid-1980s. The film looked to give Santa Claus the same big screen epic treatment that was given to Superman (notably, the movie is the same producer as Superman: The Movie). While a disappointment at the time of its release, the film's epic scope to the Santa mythology has made it a cult classic, although it is commonly agreed the first half of the movie focused primarily on Santa as the best part of the film.
Stream on AMC+
15 One Magic Christmas (1985)
Mary Steenburgen plays Ginny Grainger, a woman who hates Christmas. Her family is struggling, and she doesn't believe in anything anymore. All of this changes when her daughter has an encounter with Santa and Gideon, a Christmas Angel. They visit Ginny, which sets off a wild chain of events that leads her back to the season's meaning.
One Magic Christmas should be rated G for "gem" as it is nearly pitch-perfect in every way. Sure, this premise may sound a bit milquetoast, but overall it is delightful and warmhearted. It shows that no matter how tough things get, one should never stop believing in hope.
Stream on Disney+
14 Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)
Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale
- Release Date
- December 3, 2010
- Director
- Jalmari Helander
- Cast
- Per Christian Ellefsen , Peeter Jakobi , Tommi Korpela , Jorma Tommila , Jonathan Hutchings , Onni Tommila
- Main Genre
- Action
- Runtime
- 84
- Writers
- Jalmari Helander , Juuso Helander
- Tagline
- This Christmas, everyone will believe in Santa Claus
This oddity from Finland features a Santa Claus dug up during an archaeological excavation. Things get even stranger when reindeer die and young kids start to go missing. Suddenly, a vigilante group takes it upon themselves to capture Santa and get rid of him. These men may have guns, but Santa has demonic elves, which might be the equalizer here. What follows is a crazy adventure that makes a sociopolitical statement about the commercialization of Christmas.
Rare Exports has Santa Claus in it, but this isn't your grandparent's Santa, which is what makes it so memorable. It is also an ideal pick for horror fans, as it still carries elements of Christmas celebrations but brings a macabre edge with some stunning visuals to impress. In addition, some great twists near the end will ring in the festive terror!
Stream on Tubi
13 The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
The Christmas Chronicles
- Release Date
- November 22, 2018
- Director
- Clay Kaytis
- Cast
- Kurt Russell , Kimberly Williams-Paisley , Oliver Hudson , Judah Lewis , Lamorne Morris , Darby Camp
- Runtime
- 104
- Writers
- Matt Lieberman
- Tagline
- Santa's in town early this year
It's hard to be a kid and not wonder how Santa Claus can pull everything off in just one night. In The Christmas Chronicles, two siblings get to see everything behind the scenes when Santa crashes his sleigh and needs their help to save Christmas. The Netflix film is a little cheesy, but sometimes, that makes a Christmas film all the more fun.
It has just enough holiday wonder to make it worth checking out after baking all those gingerbread cookies. The movie is one that the whole family can enjoy together, or the kids can watch while the adults sit by the fire with their eggnog. You can follow it up with The Christmas Chronicles 2, which is also on Netflix.
Stream on Netflix
12 Bad Santa (2003)
Bad Santa
- Release Date
- November 26, 2003
- Director
- Terry Zwigoff
- Cast
- Billy Bob Thornton , Tony Cox , Brett Kelly , Lauren Graham , Lauren Tom , Bernie Mac
- Runtime
- 91
- Main Genre
- Comedy
- Writers
- Glenn Ficarra , John Requa
- Tagline
- He doesn't care if you're naughty or nice
The premise is unwieldy, but the execution is flawless, and darn it if you don't love this Bad Santa and all of his foul-mouthed drunken ways by the end of the movie. Billy Bob Thornton and director Terry Zwigoff turned the Santa Claus movie on its head here. Billy Bob Thorton plays Willie, a conman of the highest order with one goal-- he wants to stage a robbery on Christmas Eve by posing as a department store Santa.
What this film lacks in Christmas spirit, it makes up for in tough, hilarious love. Released in the same year as Elf, Bad Santa provided an alternative naughty holiday classic, one that provides a great spin on the idea of the mall Santa that everyone knows so well. If you dig this one, you can also check out Bad Santa 2.
Stream on Paramount+
11 The Polar Express (2004)
The Polar Express
- Release Date
- November 10, 2004
- Director
- Robert Zemeckis
- Cast
- Tom Hanks , Leslie Zemeckis , Eddie Deezen , Nona Gaye , Peter Scolari , Andy Pellick
- Runtime
- 97
- Writers
- Chris Van Allsburg , Robert Zemeckis , William Broyles Jr.
- Tagline
- This Holiday Season... Believe!
There is a richness and depth to The Polar Express that seems to work despite its somewhat outdated and awkward 'uncanny valley' animation style. A film about a boy taking a special train that transports him to the home of Santa Claus: along the way, he meets various expressive characters and learns more about what it means to celebrate the Christmas season. S
Despite the uncanny valley effect of the film, it also features a rich world and a true imagination to depict Santa and the North Polle. The fact that they have Tom Hanks playing multiple roles (yes, he plays Santa Claus) only adds to this movie's warmth and holiday cheer. By the time the audience sees Santa Claus, who throughout the film is conveyed with such a gravitas and epic scope, he perfectly embodies everything one wants from the character.
Stream on Hulu
10 Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Miracle on 34th Street
- Release Date
- June 11, 1947
- Director
- George Seaton
- Cast
- Maureen O'Hara , John Payne , Edmund Gwenn , Gene Lockhart , Natalie Wood , Porter Hall
- Main Genre
- Comedy
- Runtime
- 96
- Writers
- George Seaton , Valentine Davies
- Tagline
- Capture the spirit of Christmas with this timeless classic!
Following a department store Santa from Thanksgiving Day to Christmas Day, Miracle on 34th Street follows the various lives that St. Nick inspires and changes—notably, Susan Walker, whose mother raised her not to believe in Santa Claus. When the lives of the two intersect, Susan begins to think that he may be the real Santa. When Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) is locked away as unstable because he claims to be Santa Claus, a young lawyer is thrust into defending this person and has to prove that he is Kris Kringle.
We live in a time of soundbites where every thought and idea is for sale, and everyone disagrees on what to believe. The idea of Santa Claus, or what the big man in red represents, is very real. Now, this movie may be dated, but it has never been more poignant. Miracle on 34th Street quaintly reminds us that the idea of Santa Claus is needed all year round.
Stream on Prime Video
9 Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)
The story follows the standard 'Santa needs a successor' plot-- Santa is looking for somebody to take his place, and Ernest P. Worrell (Varney) is determined to make that happen. If it doesn't, Christmas will end, which is unthinkable to the larger-than-life Ernest.
Jim Varney may not reek of the Christmas spirit, but that doesn't mean that Ernest Saves Christmas has little to offer. This film, despite its silliness, is filled with heart and emotion. On top of that, Douglas Seale's Santa Claus is probably the most realistic depiction of the big, jolly man ever to grace the silver screen.
Streaming on Disney+ and Prime Video
8 Krampus (2015)
Krampus
- Release Date
- November 26, 2015
- Director
- Michael Dougherty
- Cast
- Emjay Anthony , Adam Scott , Toni Collette , Stefania Owen , Krista Stadler , Conchata Ferrell
- Runtime
- 98
- Main Genre
- Horror
- Studio
- Universal Pictures
- Tagline
- You don't want to be on his list.
This one might count as a cheat since Krampus isn't technically about Santa, but he is Santa adjacent. The film follows a dysfunctional family at Christmas time who, having lost the spirit of Christmas, find themselves tormented by an ancient horned demon named Krampus. The figure is from European folklore and punishes the naughty at Christmas time, along with a host of holiday-themed torments for this family.
Krampus is a great inverse of the Santa mythology. Instead of rewarding good, Krampus is meant to punish the bad and give real weight to the holiday season, as one's actions now have disastrous repercussions. Krampus is a reminder of the good Santa brings and what his dark counterpart leaves in his wake. Filled with great holiday imagery and biting satire, Krampus is a great holiday watch for someone looking for something different from a traditional Santa outing.
Stream on Peacock
7 The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The Nightmare Before Christmas
- Release Date
- October 9, 1993
- Director
- Henry Selick
- Cast
- Danny Elfman , Chris Sarandon , Catherine O'Hara , William Hickey , Glenn Shadix , Paul Reubens
- Runtime
- 76
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Writers
- Tim Burton , Michael McDowell , Caroline Thompson
- Tagline
- A ghoulish tale with wicked humour & stunning animation.
What is Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon/Danny Elfman), the ruler of Halloween Town, to do? He's discovered this place called Christmas Town, and now he wants to have Christmas with a few Halloween Town adjustments. The brilliance of this concept from Director Henry Selick (from a story by Tim Burton) is that The Nightmare Before Christmas is and isn't a Santa Claus movie. Yes, it takes a very different look at Christmas and features an undead Santa wannabe. However, that is precisely what makes it the kind of film perfect for the holidays.
Add in a few corpses, demons, mummies, and other oddballs in this Santa Claus film, and it's easy to see why it is so beloved after all these years. Also it still does feature the classic version of Santa Claus. But don't think this is just a film for December, as The Nightmare Before Christmas is made for the entire pumpkin spice season.
Stream on Disney+
6 Arthur Christmas (2011)
Arthur Christmas
- Release Date
- November 10, 2011
- Director
- Barry Cook , Sarah Smith
- Cast
- James McAvoy , Hugh Laurie , Jim Broadbent , Bill Nighy , Ashley Jensen , Imelda Staunton
- Runtime
- 97
- Writers
- Peter Baynham , Sarah Smith
- Tagline
- Ever wonder how 2 billion presents get delivered all in 1 night?
Arthur Christmas tells the tale of the lovable Arthur. He doesn't do anything well, but boy, does he try. He is given a mission to return a misplaced gift, and he will make this happen despite himself. How cool is a Santa Claus movie that is voiced by James McAvoy? Well technically Santa's kid but someone who has the potential to be Santa Claus someday.
With other voice cast members that include Jim Broadbent and Bill Nighy, Arthur Christmas might be one of the lesser-known Santa Claus movies, but it's one of the sweetest, funniest, and most inventive. This is also another excellent choice for a family movie night!
Stream on Max
5 Rise of the Guardians (2012)
rise of the guardians
- Release Date
- November 21, 2012
- Director
- Peter Ramsey
- Cast
- Chris Pine , Alec Baldwin , Jude Law , Isla Fisher , Hugh Jackman , Dakota Goyo
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Runtime
- 97
- Tagline
- Legends unite!
A group of heroes, all inspired by the holiday seasons, must team together to stop the evil spirit of Pitch Black from taking over the world. Sworn to protect the children, the team uses the spirits of the holidays as motivation to save the earth. While Rise of the Guardians follows many holiday icons, like the Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman), Jack Frost (Chris Pine), and Santa Claus (Alec Baldwin), Christmas plays a considerable role in the story.
This version of the jolly saint has a bit of an edge, with tattoos and an intimidating build. However, he mentors Frost to embrace his center. Santa Claus is the Guardian of Wonder, making him the holiday icon he is. While this version is a little unconventional, it reminds audience members to appreciate the core reasons we have holidays. As a bonus, Rise of the Guardians has a winter aesthetic but technically takes place in the spring, so it is a holiday movie that can be watched year-round.
Stream on Paramount+
4 Violent Night (2022)
Violent Night
- Release Date
- December 2, 2022
- Director
- Tommy Wirkola
- Cast
- David Harbour , John Leguizamo , Beverly D'Angelo , Alex Hassell , Alexis Louder
- Main Genre
- Action
- Runtime
- 1hr 52min
- Writers
- Pat Casey , Josh Miller
- Tagline
- You better watch out.
Violet Night puts Santa Claus (played by David Harbour) into a Die Hard situation where he is trapped in a house, having to save a family who has been taken hostage. The film sees a disillusioned Santa Claus who needs to rediscover his holiday joy in a world that seems to have moved past classic Christmas joy.
The movie is topical and has a big heart on its sleeve that, luckily, does not get lost in all the over-the-top violence. The movie's Santa Claus is both the classic version of the character but also a more cynical take on the material, but one who eventually finds the holiday spirit. There will be a sequel, too, which is still in development, meaning the stylized holiday horrors of director Tommy Wirkola will get another chance to entertain audiences.
Stream on Prime Video
3 The Santa Clause (1994)
The Santa Clause
- Release Date
- November 11, 1994
- Director
- John Pasquin
- Cast
- Tim Allen , Wendy Crewson , Judge Reinhold , Eric Lloyd , David Krumholtz , Larry Brandenburg
- Main Genre
- Comedy
- Runtime
- 97
- Writers
- Leo Benvenuti , Steve Rudnick
- Tagline
- This Christmas, the snow hits the fan.
Tim Allen plays Santa in this 90s comedy that has proven timeless since its release. The plot of The Santa Clause is simple. When Scott Calvin (Allen) unfortunately kills Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, he has to take his place and deliver gifts to all the children of the world due to the "Santa Clause", a rule that says he must become the new Santa. The premise may seem hokey, but movies about Santa Claus always seem to thrive on the fact that they can reside in the realm of magic.
The film also spanned a successful series of films, first with 2002's Santa Clause 2 and then 2006's Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause. Tim Allen returned to the franchise in 2022 with the Disney+ series Santa Clauses. The first film remains a timeless Christmas classic, and for many, Tim Allen is the definitive Santa Claus, as well as being the root cause of many children during the 1990s and 2000's for misspelling Santa Claus as Santa Clause.
Stream on Disney+
2 Elf (2003)
Elf
- Release Date
- October 9, 2003
- Director
- Jon Favreau
- Cast
- Will Ferrell , James Caan , Bob Newhart , Edward Asner , Mary Steenburgen , Zooey Deschanel
- Runtime
- 97
- Writers
- David Berenbaum
- Tagline
- This holiday, discover your inner elf.
Will Ferrell gives a career-best performance as Buddy in Elf. He is a grown man living as an elf, causing major problems in the North Pole. Thus, Buddy travels to America to discover who he really is. It turns out his birth father is a man named Walter Hobbs (James Caan), and, as you can guess, Hobbs isn't falling all over himself to claim this elf-man as his son.
Elf is a wildly entertaining family romp that also skews nicely toward adults. They don't usually make Santa Claus movies with this much sass, but it works delightfully here. Part of that is because the film is directed by Iron Man director and The Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau, and the late great Ed Asner plays a wonderful Santa that is equally grumpy and sweet.
Stream on Max and Hulu
1 Klaus (2019)
Klaus
- Release Date
- November 8, 2019
- Director
- Sergio Pablos
- Cast
- Joan Cusack , Rashida Jones , J.K. Simmons , Jason Schwartzman , Mila Brener , Tucker Meek
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Runtime
- 97
- Writers
- Zach Lewis , James Michael Mahoney , Sergio Pablos
- Tagline
- Welcome to the jingle
Klaus is an origin story that we think of fondly and stands as the best version of the Santa Claus story. A postman at the bottom of his class is sent north, where he meets a toy maker who actively avoids being associated with other people. The two of them merge their passions into one and use those unique talents for good and
Traveling far and wide with a charming duo, Klaus is a unique film that explains how we receive presents during the holiday season and who is responsible for it happening. The movie teaches a lesson about being kind and willing to forgive, which is the perfect message for families to ponder during the happiest time of the year. The animation is marvelous, and it is one of the best modern Christmas movies released and also the best movie about Santa Claus.
Stream on Netflix