The Santa Clause (1994)

NEUTRAL

Various

74%

1994, Holiday/Comedy, 1h 37m

RT Critics’ Score: 72% (UNBIASED)
RT Audience Score: 65%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 8 nominations

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Critics Consensus

The Santa Clause is utterly undemanding, but it’s firmly rooted in the sort of good old-fashioned holiday spirit missing from too many modern yuletide films

Audience Consensus

The Santa Clause is a classic holiday movie that will have you laughing and feeling festive in no time. Tim Allen’s dry humor is the perfect contrast to the magical world of Santa Claus, and the story is heartwarming without being too sappy. Sure, there are some plot holes and confusing moments, but who cares when you’re having this much fun? It’s the perfect movie to watch with the family while sipping on hot cocoa and snacking on some Christmas cookies. So grab your Santa hat and settle in for a jolly good time!

Storyline

Scott Calvin is disgusted to learn that his ex-wife and her husband have tried – and failed – to break it easy to their 6-year-old son Charlie that Santa isn’t real. On Christmas Eve, Scott reads The Night Before Christmas – then receives an unexpected visitor on his roof. When Santa is startled by Scott’s calling out and falls, he disappears, leaving only an 8-reindeer sleigh and a suit with instructions to put it on if he’s involved in an accident. Scott does, and is transported around the town dropping gifts through chimneys until he’s taken to the North Pole and informed by a group, who claim they’re elves, that he is now Santa. Charlie is proud of his dad’s new job, though Scott’s convinced it’s a dream. Until his hair turns white, his beard refuses to stay shaved, he gains weight inexplicably, even for his sudden love of junk food – Now he’s accepted it, there’s just one problem: how to keep it secret from his disbelieving family.

Production Company(ies)

Distributor
Hollywood Pictures, Buena Vista International [us], Walt Disney Pictures, Buena Vista Pictures

Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)

Filming Location(s)
17 Chisholm Street, Oakville, Ontario, Canada

MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for a few crude moments

Year of Release
1994

Technical Specs

Color:

Color
Sound mix:

Dolby Digital
Aspect ratio:

1.85 : 1
Runtime:

1h 37m
Language(s):

English, Spanish
Country of origin:

United States
Release date:

Release Date (Theaters): Nov 11, 1994 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 7, 2004

Genre(s)
Holiday/Comedy

Keyword(s)
starring Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson, Eric Lloyd, David Krumholtz, Peter Boyle, directed by John Pasquin, written by Leo Benvenuti, Steve Rudnick, Holiday, Comedy, PG, Hollywood Pictures, Buena Vista International [us], Walt Disney Pictures, Buena Vista Pictures, Bobby Newmyer, Brian Reilly, Jeffrey Silver, $145.5M, reviewed by Gene Siskel, Seattle Times, Orlando Sentinel, Philadelphia Inquirer, New Yorker, TIME Magazine, The Virginian-Pilot, Battleship Pretension, Film Inquiry, PG, Santa Claus, Christmas, North Pole, elf, custody battle, imagination, family-friendly, kidnapping, transformation, endearing, heartwarming, cheesy, holiday cliches, comedy, Disney, family film, good old-fashioned, laughter, magic, feel-good, entertaining, charming, solid, likable, endearing, hokey, silliness, heart

Box Office Details

Worldwide gross: $190,539,357
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $385,485,008
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 398
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 42,037,624

US/Canada gross: $145,539,357
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $294,444,366
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 197
US/Canada opening weekend: $19,321,992
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $39,090,812
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 324

Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $22,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $44,508,758
Production budget ranking: 876
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $23,967,966
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $317,008,284
ROI to date (est.): 463%
ROI ranking: 277

Cast & Crew

Tim Allen

Judge Reinhold

Wendy Crewson

Eric Lloyd

David Krumholtz

Scott Calvin

Santa Clause

Dr. Neal Miller

the Psychiatrist

Laura Miller

Tim Allen – Scott Calvin, Santa Clause
Judge Reinhold – Dr. Neal Miller, the Psychiatrist
Wendy Crewson – Laura Miller
Eric Lloyd – Charlie Calvin
David Krumholtz – Bernard, the Arch-Elf
Peter Boyle – Mr. Whittle, Scott Calvin’s Boss

John Pasquin

Leo Benvenuti

Bobby Newmyer

Brian Reilly

Jeffrey Silver

Director

Writer

Producer

Director(s)
John Pasquin

Writer(s)
Leo Benvenuti, Steve Rudnick

Producer(s)
Bobby Newmyer, Brian Reilly, Jeffrey Silver

Film Festivals

Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 8 nominations

Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Gene Siskel

Jeff Shannon

Jay Boyar

Carrie Rickey

Michael Sragow

Chicago Tribune

Seattle Times

Orlando Sentinel

Philadelphia Inquirer

New Yorker

THE SANTA CLAUSE
All Critics (59) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (43) | Rotten (16)
A genial, lightweight entertainment.

August 23, 2017 | Rating: 3/4

Gene Siskel
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
This is Allen’s movie debut, and it’s easy to see why his show is a ratings smash. There’s an effortless quality to his humor, but it’s also got a quietly urgent edge to it.

December 6, 2013 | Rating: 3/4

Jeff Shannon
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
I was surprised to find The Santa Clause rather easier to take than anticipated.

December 6, 2013 | Rating: 3/5

Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
Like most modern fantasies, The Santa Clause isn’t very clear about the rules governing Scott’s new powers.

December 6, 2013 | Rating: 2/4

Carrie Rickey
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
Tim Allen’s talent for dry regular-guyness fails to kindle Disney’s sappy big-screen Yule log.

December 6, 2013

Michael Sragow
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
You can get the same emotional and imaginative kick staying home and rereading your Christmas cards.

December 6, 2013

Richard Schickel
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
There’s a laughable edge that makes it all entertaining – not hilarious, just chuckle kind of chuckles…

March 2, 2022 | Rating: 3/4

Mal Vincent
The Virginian-Pilot
The original is actually quite entertaining, with Allen’s sardonic wit standing in gleeful contrast to his surroundings…

April 14, 2021

Jim Rohner
Battleship Pretension
…a perfectly watchable yet entirely unmemorable family-friendly…

December 12, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/4

David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Weird, confusing, and there are just so many questions.

December 30, 2019 | Rating: 1/5

Justin Brown
Medium Popcorn
Wild, disturbing, and it made no sense.

December 30, 2019 | Rating: 1/5

Brandon Collins
Medium Popcorn
The Santa Clause is a failure as a holiday movie. It promotes negative aspects of the season and attempts to have you cheer for disgusting, irritating people.

December 15, 2017

Zac Hestand
Film Inquiry…

Plot
Scott Calvin is disgusted to learn that his ex-wife and her husband have tried – and failed – to break it easy to their 6-year-old son Charlie that Santa isn’t real. On Christmas Eve, Scott reads The Night Before Christmas – then receives an unexpected visitor on his roof. When Santa is startled by Scott’s calling out and falls, he disappears, leaving only an 8-reindeer sleigh and a suit with instructions to put it on if he’s involved in an accident. Scott does, and is transported around the town dropping gifts through chimneys until he’s taken to the North Pole and informed by a group, who claim they’re elves, that he is now Santa. Charlie is proud of his dad’s new job, though Scott’s convinced it’s a dream. Until his hair turns white, his beard refuses to stay shaved, he gains weight inexplicably, even for his sudden love of junk food – Now he’s accepted it, there’s just one problem: how to keep it secret from his disbelieving family.

Trivia