Ho ho ho, who’s your favorite TV or movie Santa? Here’s some of the nicest (and naughtiest) Kris Kringles that made our list. We’re only ranking performances as the “real” Santa, not your average mall guy in a red suit. (Sorry, Billy Bob Thornton!)
11. Jim Broadbent in “Get Santa” (2014)
Broadbent’s genial gift-giver not only gets stranded, but ends up — shocker— in prison in this underrated but very funny Christmas tale. Santa pretending to be prison tough is a hoot.
10. John Goodman as Santa Bot in “Futurama”
In the future, the dread Santa Bot (voiced by a more than usually gruff John Goodman) considers everyone naughty and the traditional carol “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” is now “Santa Claus is Gunning You Down.”
9. Kurt Russell in “The Christmas Chronicles” (2018)
The “Escape From New York” star makes a very cool Santa (and we also get Goldie Hawn as Mrs. Claus), but the movie itself is more “ho hum” than “ho ho ho.” Followed by “The Christmas Chronicles 2” in 2020.
8. Bill Nighy in “Arthur Christmas” (2011)
Jim Broadbent makes for a perfectly nice Santa in this animated holiday film, but his retired father, Grandsanta (irascably but lovingly voiced by Bill Nighy) really steals the show when he teams up with underappreciated youngest son Arthur (James McAvoy) to deliver an overlooked gift in the, er, nick of time.
7. Alec Baldwin in “Rise of the Guardians” (2012)
This sword-wielding Santa (aka Nicholas St. North) is big, burly, Russian and tattooed: One arm reads “naughty,” the other reads “nice.” And he doesn’t just give gifts. He, along with the other immortal guardians, have to protect the children of Earth from a villain called Pitch Black (Jude Law).
6. Ed Ivory in “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993)
Although Santa (aka “Sandy Claws”) doesn’t have a lot of screen time in this holiday favorite, we can all agree that he’s very good at his job and that Jack Skellington is very bad at it. He also gets a song and ably defends himself against Oogie Boogie, so this is one Santa you shouldn’t mess with.
4. Richard Attenborough in “Miracle on 34th Street”
It’s hard to get warmer or kindlier than Richard Attenborough’s Kriss Kringle in this ’90s remake of the 1947 classic.
3. Ed Asner in “Elf” (2003)
Asner made a career out of playing gruff guys like Lou Grant and Carl Fredricksen, but he also made a darn great Santa in this modern Christmas favorite. If Buddy Elf swears he’s the real Santa, that’s good enough for us.
2. Tim Allen in “The Santa Clause” films
In 1994, Allen’s Scott Calvin reluctantly became the new Santa Claus and he’s been doing it quite capably (on and off) ever since. One highlight of the warmth he brings to the character is in “The Santa Clause 2” when the vintage toys he brings to a faculty staff party are magically each teacher’s favorite one from childhood. The doll he gives Carol (Elizabeth Mitchell) is one she just mentioned that evening and it’s just part of his magical charm that persuades her to become Mrs. Claus.
1. Edmund Gwenn in “Miracle on 34th Street” (1947)
In this Christmas classic, Gwenn (who was Oscar-nominated for the role) is the kindest, wisest Santa of all. He not only convinces skeptical Natalie Wood that he’s the real deal, but he cheers up a Dutch girl at Macy’s by singing her the “Sinterklaas” song in perfect Dutch. As proven in a court of a law, Kris Kringle really is Santa Claus.
