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His mythology has become almost completely secularized his origin as a Christian saint replaced with jolly whole-cloth hokum.
He can have different levels of magical power from godlike omniscience to a Batman-like dependency on gadgetry.
He can be tall or short, fat or thin.
That being said, Santa does consistently stand for certain values in the movies.
placed there by cops with a distinct lack of Christmas cheer.
21.Paul Giamatti,Fred Claus(2007)
21.
Fred Clausis a terrible movie.
Paul Giamatti co-stars as Freds older brother Nicholas, a.k.a.
(They hired Kevin Spacey to serve as an efficiency expert, so maybe Satan is involved?)
Giamattis Santa is harried and bottom-heavy and has a schedule thats micromanaged down to the second.
Hes Santa as Rodney Dangerfield: He gets no respect and has the undereye bags to show it.
20.Richard Riehle,The Search for Santa Paws(2010)
20.
K. Simmons,Red One(2024)
19.
So that kind of negates the whole strength thing.
Which is fine rock-hard abs dont shake like a bowl full of jelly, anyway.
18.John Call,Santa Claus Conquers the Martians(1964)
18.
The version of Santa Claus thats presented inSanta Claus Conquers the Martiansfits the movies retro-futuristic early 60s aesthetic.
Now, that whole franchise has been rendered awkward in hindsight by McCarthys subsequent turn into vaccine denialism.
But its still nothing next toSanta Buddies: The Legend of Santa Paws.
In this films world, humans and dogs share control as rulers of the earth.
Indeed, Santa often defers to his dog counterpart, Santa Paws, in matters of North Pole governance.
(Well see this premise again later.)
Come with me on a magical mission that only your imagination could conjure up!
But if Kurt Russell doing Santa is what you want, then by golly, youll get it!
13.Dozens of naked Finnish men,Rare Exports(2010)
13.
Theyre drawn to kids too not to spoil them and bring them presents but to devour them alive.
Like all fairy-tale creatures, the original Santa and his elves are very dark.
Presumably, there are no refunds.
12.John Goodman,The Year Without a Santa Claus(2006)
12.
He has mussed up hair and a Southern accent to further establish an aura of wholesome simplicity.
Its no surprise that he flees from his life as head of SantaCo.
11.David Harbour,Violent Night(2022)
11.
Many Santa movies see the big guy questioning whether people really care about him or Christmas anymore.
But usually, his faith is reaffirmed by the end of the story.
That implies Santa is immortal, but the film doesnt hit the mythology angle too hard.
(Its relationship with Christmas magic is one of convenience.)
10.Whoopi Goldberg,Call Me Claus(2001)
10.
She has to be persuaded, of course, but in the end, shes a natural.
9.Jim Broadbent,Get Santa(2014)
9.
Santas braided beard and denim prison uniform give him a Harley-Davidson vibe until he starts talking.
Thats when Broadbents whimsical eyes take over, splitting the difference between doddering old coot and magical elf.
Broadbent even looks like a classic wizard-bang out Santa with his little round glasses and beer gut.
8.Anna Kendrick,Noelle(2019)
8.
Here, Santa has two kids played by Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader.
7.Bill Goldberg,Santas Slay(2005)
7.
In retrospect, the fingerprints ofSantas Slayare all overViolent Night from Santas Nordic origins to the tongue-in-cheek splatter.
5.Paul Sorvino,Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe(2009)
5.
His Santa is more neatly groomed than most with a tan and a bulky watch around his thick wrist.
(You could call it a midlife crisis, but hes immortal.)
4.Edmund Gwenn,Miracle on 34th Street(1947)
4.
Hes warm but not gregarious.
3.Ed Asner,Elf(2003)
3.
Modern interpretations of Santa Claus often portray him as a towering figure.
Overall, hes witty, sincere, and endearingly relatable.
2.David Huddleston,Santa Claus: The Movie(1985)
2.
Huddlestons Tennessee biker uncle Claus is ironic given how English this movie is on the whole.
But it does match the North Poles wood-lined cabin aesthetic.
1.Richard Attenborough,Miracle on 34th Street(1995)
- and seems confused when the gallery laughs.
Like his predecessor, Attenborough dresses in tweed and brushed wool when hes off the clock.
The British accent and hunched, grandfatherly posture complete the picture, making Attenborough the ultimate pop-culture Santa.
