Has your favourite Santa Claus made the list? (Picture: Universal Studios / Rex)
Father Christmas, Santa Claus, Saint Nicolas. The man in red has plenty of names, and he’s had even more faces on the big screen.
With the festive season underway, everyone will have their own seasonal traditions and opinions, right down to which cinema Santa is the definitive jolly old elf.
Whether it’s a wholesome and magical figure, a grumpy drunk or a bloodthirsty vigilante, it feels like we’ve seen every possible iteration over the years.
With Christmas less than three weeks away (we can’t believe it either), we’ve decided to rank the best depictions of Santa on the big screen.
Did your favourite make our countdown? Keep reading to find out and have your say at the bottom of the page.
10. Ed Ivory – The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Ed Ivory voiced Santa in The Nightmare Before Christmas (Picture: Touchstone/Kobal/Shutterstock)
When it’s Halloween or 25th December, Nightmare Before Christmas is a bona fide classic, and we have to give Tim Burton’s film a nod here.
Here, director Henry Selick ended up casting a local actor Ed Ivory from San Francisco, after trying to bring in Vincent Price, Don Ameche and even James Earl Jones.
In the end, Ivory got the part, and became a memorable part of film history.
9. Billy Bob Thornton – Bad Santa (2003)
Not-so-jolly old Saint Nick (Picture: Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock)
No, Billy Bob Thornton doesn’t play the ACTUAL Santa Claus in Bad Santa, but we can’t ignore this 2003 comedy.
This isn’t one for the kids, but for a whole generation, it’s a staple for anyone wanting a more grown-up Christmas treat.
Billy created something very memorable as alcoholic ‘mall Santa’ Willie, and it’s stood the test of time.
8. JK Simmons – Klaus (2019)
Klaus is sure to become a staple as the years go on (Picture: SPA Studios/Netflix/Kobal/Shutterstock)
Not as well known as other films on this list, Klaus deserves to be held as a Christmas institution all over the world.
Without spoiling too much, JK Simmons plays the title role in something of an origin story for Father Christmas himself in an emotionally raw and stunning film.
As if you needed any more encouragement, it was also Netflix’s first animated film to get nominated for an Oscar.
7. David Harbour – Violent Night (2022)
David Harbour gave us a Santa Claus like no other (Picture: Universal Studios/Allen Fraser)
By far the most recent film on the list, Violent Night’s David Harbour turned Father Christmas from festive gift giver to a vigilante combining the best parts of Die Hard and Home Alone.
A Christmas cracker packed with explosions, shoot-outs and every pun possible, the movie is also full of heart.
Even with the R-rated action, Harbour’s Santa still feels real, even against a less-than-traditional backdrop.
6. Edmund Gwenn – Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Edmund Gwenn’s Kris Kringle made people believe (Picture: 20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock)
Do you believe?
Edmund Gwenn holds a special place in the heart of several generations after playing Kris Kringle in the 1947 black and white version of Miracle on 34th Street.
In many ways, he’s the definitive Father Christmas, and the film gave us countless iconic lines. Remember,Christmas isn’t just a day, it’s a frame of mind.
5. Kurt Russell – The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
Kurt Russell has continued the great tradition of Santa on screen (Picture: Michael Gibson/Netflix)
Kurt Russell gave a fun take on Santa in The Christmas Chronicles and its 2020 sequel.
He has to team up with kids Kate and Teddy to save Christmas, after they sneak into his sleigh and accidentally cause a crash.
The future of the franchise isn’t clear, but we can’t imagine anyone would be disappointed to see Kurt donning the suit one more time.
4. Tom Hanks – The Polar Express (2004)
Tom Hanks was the embodiment of Father Christmas (Picture: AP Photo/Warner Bros. Pictures)
Tom Hanks was all over The Polar Express, but his turn as Santa Claus can sometimes be overlooked.
He also voices the Hobo, an Ebenezer Scrooge puppet, Hero Boy’s father, and the grown-up voice of Hero Boy as well as providing plenty of motion capture work.
Honestly, his take on Father Christmas – despite just lasting a few minutes – is almost as classic as it gets.
3. Ed Asner – Elf (2003)
Will Ferrell stole the show, but Ed Asner has a place in our hearts (Picture: Alan Markfield/New Line Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock)
Like Tom Hanks, Ed Asner’s Santa Claus isn’t necessarily the focus of the action in his film, but his turn in Elf is as memorable as any other.
Playing off Will Ferrell’s Buddy brilliantly, Ed plays a weary but defiant Father Christmas bemoaning a decline in Christmas spirit and keeping things ticking at the North Pole and beyond.
The final scene of his sleigh taking to the sky is enough to give you chills, and his advice to Buddy about gum and yellow snow is the right level of cheeky..
2. Richard Attenborough – Miracle on 34th Street (1995)
For many, Richard Attenborough is the definitive Kris Kringle (Picture: Fotos International/REX/Shutterstock)
Although Edmund Gwenn was the OG, it’s hard to look past Richard Attenborough’s own turn in the 1994 remake of Miracle on 34th Street.
Like his predecessor, Attenborough is wonderfully magical as Kris Kringle, doing enough to make you believe that maybe he really is the actual Santa.
It might be a remake, but this version might just take the (Christmas themed) biscuit.
1. Tim Allen – The Santa Clause (1994)
Tim Allen has longevity on his side after three films and two series over 30 years (Picture: Attila Dory/Walt Disney/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)
For longevity alone, it’s hard to look past Tim Allen, who first took on the coat and hat in 1994’s The Santa Clause after the original Santa fell off the roof and died.
It’s not the typical way to kick off a Disney Christmas film, but it spawned a beloved franchise, with Tim quite literally growing into the role of Scott Calvin/Santa, which he reprised in two sequels in 2002 and 2006, and a recent two-series revival for Disney+.
‘You really are Santa Claus,’ Scott’s told by his wife Laura in the first film, and 30 years later, it’s hard to argue.
Who is the best big screen Santa Claus?
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