Tim Allen dressed as Santa and looking at the camera for The Santa Clause.Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
By
Lisa Nordin
Published 21 minutes ago
Lisa Nordin is an actress, writer, and fan of all things performing arts. Her favorite genres are Sci-Fi and Fantasy. She is a self-published author and enjoys exploring how fictional stories help define and qualify the human experience.
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When it comes to a dream role for actors, there is perhaps none as iconic as that of Santa. The generous soul who visits children and delivers toys is both magical and mischievous. Great opportunities exist for backstory, taking creative license; many filmmakers have given Santa Claus both tragic and dramatic origins, and some have even reinterpreted him as a less-than-kindly man.
From animated hits to live-action classics, several highly talented performers have donned the famous moniker. Whether their takes on the character were more serious and stoic, or comedic and carefree, each interpretation offers an entertaining view into the beloved Christmas persona. Here are 10 of the greatest movie Santas, ranked based on their interpretation and how iconic their portrayals have become.
10 Stan Francis - 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' (1964)
Santa (Stan Francis) shocked by Rudolph's (Billie Mae Richards) red nose, Rudolph the Red-Nosed ReindeerImage via Videocraft International, Ltd
Does Santa get a chance for a redemption arc? He certainly does in the 1964 stop-motion animation film Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. On the surface of this holiday classic, Santa (Stan Francis) seems like everyone else, unable to see past Rudolph’s (Billie Mae Richards) differences and very unaccepting. However, Rudolph is eventually celebrated and appreciated for his unique abilities.
Santa, along with most of Rudolph's family and friends, learns to see how each individual has strengths that others do not, and communities are better when they work as a team. Francis’ voice acting is rich, symphonic, and is part of beloved holiday memories for many viewers. Hearing him ask the quintessential line, “Rudolph with your nose so bright, won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?” is highly rewarding.
9 Douglas Seale - 'Ernest Saves Christmas' (1988)
Douglas Seale as Santa talking to someone in a car who is off-screen in Ernest Saves Christmas.Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Every occupation eventually needs a replacement, and Santa’s is no exception in Ernest Saves Christmas. Unmistakable personality Ernest P. Worrell (Jim Varney) is determined to help Santa (Douglas Seale) find his successor. As with all of the slapstick Ernest comedies, a highly energetic comedy of errors ensues, and it is exemplary of the collection.
Seale’s performance as Santa is tender, sweet, and genuine. The added layer of a highly successful person needing to find his replacement gives Seale a unique angle with which to approach the role, a more wary approach than most other actors who have played Father Christmas. He is the serious, sentimental center of this zany comedy, and Seale’s dedication to doing Santa justice is evident.
8 Alec Baldwin - 'Rise of the Guardians' (2012)
Santa Claus and his Yetis in Rise of the Guardians.Image via DreamWorks Pictures
Belief in Santa is tied to his identity, and in Rise of the Guardians, it has even higher stakes. Alec Baldwin gives voice to North, a Slavic, rough-around-the-edges, tattooed version of Santa. In a great scene where he bonds with another potential guardian, Jack Frost (Chris Pine), he explains his “center,” his essence, and what makes him who he is. As Jack opens layer upon layer of a nesting doll, North reveals aspects of himself that he is jolly, mysterious, fearless, caring, and, at the core, full of wonder.
Writers David Lindsay-Abaire, William Joyce, and Chris Appelhans use this great vignette into the life of a legend to examine what is at the core of who Santa is. He inspires wonder. Baldwin’s performance is lovely, and he dedicates himself to the voice performance with great gusto. Although Rise of the Guardians did not do well at the box office, it has remained a favorite among fans and is destined to become a cult classic.
7 Kurt Russell - 'The Christmas Chronicles' (2018)
Kurt Russell is known for his roles in films like Escape from New York, The Hateful Eight, and The Thing. In Netflix’s The Christmas Chronicles, audiences get to see a different side of the talented actor when he takes his turn breathing new life into a Santa Claus narrative. Much like Baldwin’s rough and ready flavor of Santa, Russell’s is more ostentatious than traditional semblances and brings a distinct style to the film.
In The Christmas Chronicles, Russell’s Santa is saddled with two curious adolescents who are trying to get video footage of him to prove his existence. As the three main characters share in a night full of adventure, The Christmas Chronicles makes for a highly entertaining holiday film. Affectionately referred to as "Hot Santa" by some, Russell reprised his performance for the sequel The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two, and watching a favorite Hollywood icon blend his own personality with such an iconic one is a Christmas treat.
6 David Harbour - 'Violent Night' (2022)
David Harbour as Santa holding an ice skate and looking to the side intensely in Violent Night.Image via Universal Pictures
You definitely want to be nice and never want to be naughty when David Harbour’s version of Santa Claus is coming to town. In Violent Night, the Stranger Things star wields weapons and teaches a group of criminals why you don't want to be on Santa's bad side. On the surface, Violent Night seems like a Christmas-themed slasher flick, and you would assume it focuses purely on violence for shock value. Instead, there is a surprisingly layered theme with an interesting backstory for Santa and a subplot for the main characters.
Harbour is excellent as “Nicumond the Red,” a Viking-esque character who was a pillager and thief who thrived on greed. When his life changes, he does a complete 180, becoming Santa, a figure who is symbolic of generosity. What is sweet about Harbour’s character in Violent Night is that he can’t resist the call of a child in need. He doesn’t set out to destroy evil mercenaries just because he can; he does it because a young girl named Trudy (Leah Brady) calls out to him on a radio, because she is afraid. Violent Night is a gory and hard-core take on Santa, but his self-sacrificing nature, willingness to help others, and most of all his love for children are spot-on.
5 J.K. Simmons - 'Klaus' (2019)
Promo image for Klaus, featuring Klaus holding his unwitting assistant Jesper and gifts.Image via Netflix
Newer audiences will recognize J.K. Simmons as playing a buffed-up, bench-pressing version of Santa in the 2024 action film Red One. However, several years before, in 2019, he was the voice of one of the greatest animated versions of Santa ever in Klaus. In Klaus, Simmons’ version of Santa is the titular character who has had a life that did not turn out the way he expected. After losing his wife and not being able to have children, the toys, which he intended to give to his own kids, sit lifeless, gathering dust.
Klaus is one of Netflix’s most successful animated films and was nominated for the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
When a postman named Jesper (Jason Schwartzman) befriends Klaus, a whole new life full of joy and opportunities awaits. Klaus is one of Netflix’s most successful animated films and was nominated for the Oscar for Best Animated Feature in 2020. Now considered one of the best Netflix original movies, Klaus has great rewatchability, and fans can enjoy the great performances given by Simmons, Schwartzman, and the rest of the superbly talented cast.
4 Ed Asner - 'Elf' (2003)
Ed Asner as Santa Claus in a white house in Elf.Image via New Line Cinema
Edward “Ed” Asner has an extensive career on the big and small screens. His knack for comedy and ability to have a commanding presence were honed when he played Lou Grant in The Mary Tyler Moore Show. These attributes made him the perfect person to play Santa in the now-iconic Will Ferrell-led Christmas comedy, Elf.
In the movie, Ferrell plays a human who accidentally hitches a ride with Santa (Asner) to the North Pole as a baby and is adopted and raised by an elf played by another TV legend, Bob Newhart. Asner’s New Yorker-style prowess is a great dimension for Santa as he literally travels all over the world every year and is used to big city hustle and bustle. Having him be a traveling businessman with a heart of gold and a good sense of humor is par for the course for Asner, and he was an excellent choice for Elf’s Santa.
3 Tim Allen - 'The Santa Clause' (1994)
Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
One of the best Christmas movies of the 1990s, The Santa Clause brings lighthearted legality to the legend. Tim Allen stars as Scott Calvin, a divorced father whose life changes overnight after an unfortunate accident when Santa falls off his roof. After putting on Santa’s outfit, Scott unwittingly agrees to a binding contract that makes him the new Santa Claus.
Allen is perfect as the reluctant Scott. His knack for accessible humor and grounded, realistic portrayals made him ideal for the role. Although the production was not without drama, the result was a great family film that has become a Christmas favorite for many. It is easily one of Allen's best roles and one of the best movie Santas.
2 Paul Giamatti - 'Fred Claus' (2007)
Paul Giamatti as Santa talking and gesturing in Fred Claus.Image via Warner Bros./Courtesy MovieStillsDB
If you have never had the privilege of watching Paul Giamatti’s take on Santa in Fred Claus, this is your sign to put it on your watchlist. The 2007 Christmas movie focuses on the story of Vince Vaughn's character, Fred, Santa Claus’ brother. Like every project he’s in, Giamatti steals every scene, and his tenure as Santa is one of the best.
Family tensions are at a high in Fred Claus. After all, being a living legend’s sibling can’t be easy. The film blends poignant scenes with silly ones, and it is a unique mix that makes Fred Claus stand apart. Giamatti’s ability to capture the warmth and heart of Santa while infusing great comedic timing and going toe-to-toe with Vaughn is brilliant. The two have great on-screen chemistry together, and Giamatti is the best part of the film.
1 Edmund Gwenn - 'Miracle on 34th Street' (1947)
Maureen O'Hara as Doris talks and smiles with Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street.Image via 20th Century Studios
Of all the actors who have had the honor of playing Santa, there is none so memorable or easily identifiable as Edmund Gwenn in Miracle on 34th Street. The film itself had several obstacles to overcome, like being deemed “morally objectionable” and being released in the spring, but despite all these challenges, audiences then knew what audiences now also do: it is a true gem. Miracle on 34th Street was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar and took home three Academy Awards for its writing and Gwenn for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
It is no surprise that Gwenn won; his performance is one of the best of Hollywood’s Golden Age. What is brilliant about Miracle on 34th Street is that the film takes the audience on the same journey as the lead characters. There is no obvious “yes, he’s Santa” moment, but it is left up to the viewers to decide for themselves what they believe. Gwenn's Santa is merry and kind with a strong moral compass and heart for serving others. He can play with children, scold adults, and make everyone feel special and loved. Gwenn is the only actor to have won an Oscar for playing Santa, and for such a beloved role, the competition and standards for excellence should be no less. Bravo Mr. Gwenn.
Miracle on 34th Street
Not Rated
Family
Comedy
Drama
Release Date
June 11, 1947
Runtime
96 minutes
Director
George Seaton
Cast
Edmund Gwenn, John Payne, Natalie Wood, Maureen O'Hara, Gene Lockhart
Writers
George Seaton, Valentine Davies
Genres
Family, Comedy, Drama
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