{"id":20688,"date":"2022-12-20T15:57:29","date_gmt":"2022-12-20T23:57:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/?p=20688"},"modified":"2022-12-30T09:54:16","modified_gmt":"2022-12-30T17:54:16","slug":"santa-claus-characters-movies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/santa-claus-characters-movies\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Favorite Santa Claus Characters In Movies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The jolliest guy in the red suit has made hundreds \u2013 yes, hundreds \u2013 of appearances across different films and television specials, making him one of the most popular characters to grace both the big and small screen alike. He goes by many names in many cultures: Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, Babbo Natale, Sinterklaas, P\u00e8re No\u00ebl. But he\u2019s perhaps best known as Santa Claus. Of course, the real Santa is far too busy making his list and checking it twice to star in hundreds of movies and television shows, so several actors over the years have taken on the task of putting on the coat and hat to tell the tale of the magic sleigh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This season, David Harbour of <em>Stranger<\/em> Things fame stars in <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.atomtickets.com\/movies\/violent-night\/325983\">Violent Night <\/a><\/em>and gives us the latest take on Santa. And he\u2019s not exactly at his holly and jolliest. In fact, this Santa is a pessimistic drunk, annoyed by the fact that today\u2019s children only want cash and video games for Christmas. His violent past even comes to the surface when he must save Christmas not by bringing joy, but by bringing pain to a group of mercenaries that are holding a family hostage. It\u2019s far from the conventional portrayal, but we still say Harbour\u2019s Kris Kringle has already become a Christmas classic. Let\u2019s look at the other Saint Nicks that we love watching again and again every holiday season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Santa Clause (1994)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"585\" src=\"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/the-santa-clause-1024x585.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20691\" srcset=\"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/the-santa-clause-980x559.jpeg 980w, https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/the-santa-clause-480x274.jpeg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s the reason so many of us are forever incapable of being able to spell \u201cSanta Claus\u201d correctly \u2013 without adding an \u201ce\u201d on the end. When Santa falls off the roof of divorced toy salesman Scott Calvin\u2019s (Tim Allen) house, Scott becomes the new Santa by means of the legally binding agreement known as \u201cThe Santa Clause\u201d when his son Charlie urges him to put on the red coat. Reluctant to accept the title at first, Scott undergoes the \u201cSantafication\u201d process over the course of the next year, but with this, he is threatened with losing his visitation rights with his son as others fear that Scott\u2019s new Santa-like behavior has become a bad influence for Charlie. Of course, Tim Allen brings comedic excellence to the role, with an abundance of supporting characters that we love, and it brings a unique, fresh take that the role of Santa is not one guy throughout all of history, but that the title becomes passed down over time. And personally, we still want to try Judy the Elf\u2019s shaken, not stirred hot cocoa recipe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Miracle on 34th Street (1994)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/miracle-on-34th-street-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20692\" srcset=\"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/miracle-on-34th-street-980x551.jpg 980w, https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/miracle-on-34th-street-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While Edmund Gwenn starred as Kris Kringle in the original and outstanding Miracle on 34th Street in 1947 \u2013 for which he also has been the only actor to win an Academy Award for the role of Santa Claus \u2013 Richard Attenborough stole hearts while creating Christmas magic for Susan Walker (Mara Wilson) as the real Santa Claus, working in a department store. And who would dare think to put Santa on trial? It\u2019s a heartwarming story, but the real tear-jerking moment occurs between Kris Kringle and a young deaf girl named Sami (Samantha Krieger), who comes to sit on Santa\u2019s lap at the department store. When Kris begins to sign with Sami, the little girl is positively delighted &#8211; a genuine reaction from the deaf actress who had not rehearsed any sign language with Attenborough, who had secretly learned some signs for the part. It\u2019s a small moment with a big impact, and goes to show that Attenborough brought his own true magic to the film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Elf (2003)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/elf-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20693\" srcset=\"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/elf-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/elf-980x490.jpg 980w, https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/elf-480x240.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While Will Ferrell leads the film as Buddy the elf \u2013 a human raised by Santa\u2019s elves in the North Pole \u2013 who leaves the snowy winter wonderland to explore The Big Apple, we still love Ed Asner\u2019s grandfatherly Santa Claus. Asner portrayed the big man in red a whopping eight times in his career, but his work in the Jon Favreau holiday classic is by far his most well-known. Donning a big, white beard and half-moon glasses, he simply can\u2019t turn away the cute, orphaned baby that crawls into his stocking one Christmas night. While many of the elves might resent Buddy for his comparatively low productivity with toy building, Santa always has faith in Buddy as his best elf and biggest spreader of Christmas cheer. Plus, he put New York\u2019s Central Park Rangers on the naughty list, something they seem to have held a grudge over for years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Polar Express (2004)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"646\" src=\"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/polar-express-1024x646.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20694\" srcset=\"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/polar-express-980x618.png 980w, https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/polar-express-480x303.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While the animation takes a sharp left turn into the uncanny valley, Tom Hanks, master of the craft that he is, gives the film all the warmth and lasting Christmas comfort that the original children\u2019s book is cherished for. Initially, Robert Zemeckis had wanted Hanks to play every role in the film, but he was eventually narrowed down to six parts, including that of Santa Claus. It\u2019s a classic take on the character, with all the kindheartedness that you would expect out of the big man, but what\u2019s especially touching is the simple act when Santa returns a lost gift to a boy on Christmas morning. Small, but with a big reward, as the boy then continues to believe in the magic for his whole life. In the true spirit of Christmas, the film has since sparked numerous holiday train experiences all around the world, inviting the young and the old alike on their own journey to the North Pole, right in their hometown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rise of the Guardians (2012)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/rise-of-the-guardians-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20695\" srcset=\"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/rise-of-the-guardians-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/rise-of-the-guardians-980x552.png 980w, https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/rise-of-the-guardians-480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on The Guardians of Childhood series by William Joyce, the DreamWorks animated film features an ensemble of longtime Guardians: Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, and the Sandman, along with Jack Frost, the newest addition to the team. Here, Santa (voiced by Alec Baldwin) \u2013 going by Nicholas St. North \u2013 doesn\u2019t have to worry about finishing everything for the Christmas season just yet, but instead, he joins forces with his fellow Guardians to keep children all around the world safe from The Boogeyman. Excitable and full of wonder, North is surrounded by Yetis who do most of the toy building at the workshop, while the elves are less than helpful. But of course, the most notable distinctions about this Santa are his heavy Russian accent and plethora of tattoos, including the words \u201cNaughty\u201d and \u201cNice\u201d inked on his forearms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Christmas Chronicles (2018)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/christmas-chronicles-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20696\" srcset=\"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/christmas-chronicles-980x654.jpeg 980w, https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/christmas-chronicles-480x320.jpeg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Kurt Russell as Santa Claus is a casting choice that we find ourselves asking \u201cwhy didn\u2019t we do this sooner?\u201d And casting his real-life wife of over thirty years, Goldie Hawn, as Mrs. Claus makes it all that much sweeter. On Christmas Eve while out delivering presents, Santa\u2019s sleigh is inadvertently crashed by brother and sister Teddy and Kate, and all three of them have to work together against several police officers to gather up all the scattered presents in time. With a little bit of sass, Russell\u2019s Santa gets a rock and roll makeover with long, silvery-white locks and a beard to match, and a red leather, fur-trimmed trench coat that makes for a perfect modern update. He fits in just as well behind the wheel of the stolen, red Dodge Challenger speeding along in a police chase as he does with his hands on the reigns of his sleigh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Noelle (2019)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"417\" src=\"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/noelle-1024x417.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20697\" srcset=\"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/noelle-980x399.jpg 980w, https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/noelle-480x195.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A fresh, diverse take on how the title of Santa is passed down over time, Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader star as Noelle and Nick Kringle, the children of the late Kris Kringle. Nick is ushered in as the twenty-third Santa, but leaves shortly before the holiday due to the stress. While trying to bring her brother back to the North Pole, Noelle learns that she has inherited several of her father\u2019s talents that her brother simply does not have, no matter how much he tries to practice, including speaking multiple languages and being able to tell who\u2019s naughty from who\u2019s nice just by looking at them, as well as spreading Christmas cheer, of course. Knowing which one of them would truly make a better Santa Claus, Nick hands the reigns of the sleigh over to Noelle, making her the twenty-fourth Santa, and first woman to hold the honored generational title. It\u2019s cheerful and delightful, and Kendrick\u2019s bubbly positivity will warm up the whole family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bonus: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/the-grinch-1024x576.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20698\" srcset=\"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/the-grinch-980x551.jpeg 980w, https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/the-grinch-480x270.jpeg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We know what you\u2019re thinking. But the Grinch isn\u2019t Santa! He disguises himself as Santa and steals Christmas \u2013 that\u2019s the opposite of what Santa does! Yes, he can put on the red coat and hat, build his own sleigh, and have his dog Max as his trusty reindeer to guide him through the night in Whoville. And we agree, he is still the Grinch, not Santa. But by taking away all the physical presents and decorations from the Whos out of his own hatred for the holiday, the Grinch does give them a gift (much like Santa): the reminder that Christmas is all about spending time with family and friends, not about presents. And with Jim Carrey\u2019s laugh-out-loud, sarcastic characterization of the Grinch, we just couldn\u2019t leave this off our list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.atomtickets.com\/movies\/violent-night\/325983\">Check out David Harbour\u2019s gritty take on Kris Kringle in <em>Violent Night<\/em>, in theaters now.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The jolliest guy in the red suit has made hundreds \u2013 yes, hundreds \u2013 of appearances across different films and television specials, making him one of the most popular characters to grace both the big and small screen alike. He goes by many names in many cultures: Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, Babbo Natale, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":20689,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[40,37],"class_list":["post-20688","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial","tag-featuredpage","tag-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20688","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20688"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20688\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20699,"href":"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20688\/revisions\/20699"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20689"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20688"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20688"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20688"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}