Bad Santa (2003)
81%RT Audience Score: 75%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 12 nominations
A gloriously rude and gleefully offensive black comedy, Bad Santa isn’t for everyone, but grinches will find it uproariously funny
Bad Santa is the perfect movie to watch if you’re feeling a bit grumpy about the holidays. Billy Bob Thornton’s portrayal of a drunken, foul-mouthed Santa is both hilarious and cringe-worthy. The movie definitely isn’t for everyone, but if you’re in the mood for some dark humor and a bit of heartwarming redemption, give it a watch. Plus, Lauren Graham is a total babe as the bartender with a thing for Santa.
Production Company(ies)
Renaissance Films, British Broadcasting Corporation, Curzon Film Distributors
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Del Amo Fashion Center – Hawthorne Boulevard & Carson Street, Torrance, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for pervasive language, strong sexual content and some violence
Year of Release
2003
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 26, 2003 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 22, 2004
Genre(s)
Holiday
Keyword(s)
starring Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox, Brett Kelly, Lauren Graham, Lauren Tom, Bernie Mac, directed by Terry Zwigoff, written by Glenn Ficarra, John Requa, holiday, R-rated, box office gross $60.1M, reviewed by Paul Byrnes, David Ansen, Sam Adams, David Stratton, Michael Agger, Christy Lemire, David Walsh, Mike Massie, Richard Propes, Sarah Cartland, Stuart Klawans, American History X, Inside Man, Hustle & Flow, Red Dragon, American Beauty, produced by John Cameron, Sarah Aubrey, Bob Weinstein
Worldwide gross: $76,490,720
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $123,981,647
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 918
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 13,520,354
US/Canada gross: $60,060,328
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $97,350,089
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 767
US/Canada opening weekend: $12,500,000
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $20,260,897
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 651
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $23,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $37,280,050
Production budget ranking: 1,011
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $20,075,307
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $66,626,290
ROI to date (est.): 116%
ROI ranking: 875
Tony Cox – Marcus
Brett Kelly – The Kid
Lauren Graham – Sue
Lauren Tom – Lois
Bernie Mac – Gin Slagel
Director – Terry Zwigoff
Producers – John Cameron, Sarah Aubrey, Bob Weinstein
Writers – Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Director(s)
Terry Zwigoff
Writer(s)
Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Producer(s)
John Cameron, Sarah Aubrey, Bob Weinstein
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 12 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (220) | Top Critics (58) | Fresh (172) | Rotten (48)
In the annals of movie profanity, this movie would rate an Oscar, but it’s actually pretty sweet at heart, although never sentimental. And if you don’t believe me, you know what you can do.
December 14, 2014
Paul Byrnes
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
An antidote to forced holiday cheer, this scabrously funny misanthropic comedy is not for the whole family.
December 14, 2014
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
If Bad Santa does well at the box office, Zwigoff will get credit for being a savvy player. That Bad Santa is as vile and stupid as Ghost World was insightful and touching is something Hollywood has no interest in measuring.
December 14, 2014
Sam Adams
Philadelphia City Paper
TOP CRITIC
Bad Santa is definitely not PC, it’s rude and crude and, I think, very funny.
December 14, 2014 | Rating: 4.5/5
David Stratton
At the Movies (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
Once the rude shock of a profane Claus wears off, there’s not really much to do except await the next outrageous remark.
December 5, 2013
Michael Agger
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
Even when the film threatens to turn feel-good, it thankfully resists the urge.
December 5, 2013
Christy Lemire
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
The film contains perhaps 90 seconds of genuine amusement. The rest is forced, juvenile, “off.”
February 15, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
His journey of humanization (or the softening of a terribly hardened heart) is sometimes genuinely poignant, even when it’s surrounded by preposterously reprehensible conduct.
September 25, 2020 | Rating: 8/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Lauren Graham was wonderful as the sweet, at times horny, bartender with a thing for Santa.
September 2, 2020 | Rating: 3.0/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
This tale of a misanthrope and a bullied boy is grossly funny yet rather affecting. Willie may not win Dad Of The Year but increasingly has the kid’s interests at heart, and after drunkenly eating the advent calendar chocolates does at least feel guilty.
December 6, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Sarah Cartland
Caution Spoilers
The movie’s one joke — which will endure for the ages — is the defamation of the Christmas spirit by Billy Bob Thornton, who stars as a drunken, chain-smoking, dirty-minded, incontinent, foul-mouthed and larcenous department-store Santa.
February 24, 2016
Stuart Klawans
The Nation
if you hate the Yuletide season, you’re part of the target audience
January 12, 2016 | Rating: 2/5
Kevin Carr
Fat Guys at the Movies…
Plot
Willie T. Stokes is a convicted con man who’s led a miserable life. He drinks heavily and constantly embarrasses himself publicly. He only works once a year dressed as Santa. But then come Christmas Eve, he and his pint-sized helper dwarf Marcus stage elaborate robberies and take their department stores for everything they got. This time around, Willie gets distracted by large women, a bartender who is attracted to Santas, and a kid who’s convinced he’s the real deal. However, Marcus must once again put up with Willie’s heavy drinking and a series of incidents that constantly shoot themselves in the foot. Will Willie and Marcus make it to next Christmas? Or will this be the year the dynamic duo finally face justice?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film Bad Santa on Fresh Kernels.
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