Well, Christmas just isn't complete without Santa Claus is it.
He’s one of the most famous holiday icons of all time, and there have been
countless interpretations of this character throughout various holiday movies
and specials. So, for a special holiday treat, here are my personal top ten
favorite renditions of Santa Claus, as portrayed in movies and television.
10. Father Christmas from “The
Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”
Here’s one of
the more unique renditions of Santa. First of all, I like how his formal title
is “Father Christmas” as opposed to one of his more common names. Second, I
like how he’s from a fantasy setting, with an original, mid-evil design to
boot. This is a Santa who doesn’t shy away from weapons either, as long as their
used for a good purpose.
9. Santa Clause from “The
Polar Express”
Even though this Santa isn’t on screen for that long, he
still leaves a subtle impact. This Santa has a genuinely magical presence,
feeling less like a person in a suit, and more like a mystical being that was
created from the joy and good tidings of the holiday. Tom Hanks delivers a
subtle performance, I like how the character even glows, and he delivers those
speeches that are short, but simple and to the point. Sometimes a magical presence is all I really need from
a film rendition of Santa Claus.
8. St. Nicolas from “Nicolas:
The Boy Who Became Santa”
This is a half hour, holiday short from a
company called CCC
Entertainment, and they specialized in developing animated, direct to video
movies, which always focused on a famous individual with a religious back story. In
the case of this special, it’s Saint Nicolas, the boy who would grow up to
become the embodiment of Santa Claus. Many people forget to connect Santa to Christianity, but he's in fact based on a Saint with Christian ties. This special is a great little reminder of that, and it’s an
interesting take on his life, beginning as a humble child, and then growing up
to be a charitable adult, who thinks nothing of himself or his needs, just the
needs of others. If you can find a copy of this special, give it a watch, and check out one of the most selfless, and faithfully inspiring Santa’s you’ll
ever see.
7. Santa Claus from “A
Christmas Story”
Well, not every variation of Santa is kind and cheery,
some are downright cruel (as seen in movies like “Bad Santa”). But of all the “jerk Santa’s”, my favorite by far is
the one featured in “A Christmas Story”.
The idea of Santa can warm any child’s heart around the holidays, but when you
meet him in a shopping mall, Santa starts getting a little scary. Speaking from
personal experiences, I was never happy visiting Santa in a shopping mall, and
this movie represents that perfectly. This Santa is so enjoyably over the top
with his big bug eyes, overblown laugh, and extremely uncomfortable close-up
shots, that I couldn’t help but give him a spot on the list.
6. Santa Claus from
“The Santa Clause”
Oh, this movie
is such a treasured gem, and a lot of that stems from the films simplistic
story of how an ordinary guy can become someone as special as Santa. Actually,
Tim Allen’s character isn’t just an everyday, common guy, he’s also a complete
jerk, and seeing him slowly become Santa, not just in physical form but also in
spirit and tone, makes this flick all the more warm and joyful. Interestingly
enough, he feels like a genuine Santa Claus, with a cheery personality, and a
high spirited performance from Tim Allen to boot.
5. Santa Clause from “Rise
of the Guardians”
Okay, so, this is an unusual take on Santa, because this
one goes into battle swinging two swords, dresses up like a pirate, has a
Russian accent, and could put up one heck of a fight. Yet, he still feels like a
classic, cheery Santa Claus, with wholesome morals, words of wisdom, and nothing
but sheer joy for what he does. I just love how energized and upbeat this guy
is, even when he’s aiding the tooth fairy with a task that’s nothing like his
own, he still enjoys every second of it, and does the best he can at his job. He’s
energetic, fun, loving, and sure knows how to use a sword. That makes him one of
the most unique, yet thoroughly enjoyable Santa Claus.
4. Santa Claus from “The
Twilight Zone: Night of the Meek”
This particular “Twilight Zone” Christmas episode is one of my personal top 25 Christmas specials, and a lot of that has to do with the
Santa featured here. This is a very tragic and down beat Santa, but he’s also
one of the most thoughtful and charitable Santa’s I’ve ever seen. This guys
determination to give to the need and destitute is just so admirable and
joyful, despite coming from a unique source. I highly recommend looking up this
fantastic episode from this even more fantastic TV series, just so you can view one
of the greatest Santa’s of all time.
3. Kris Kringle from “Miracle
on 34th Street” (The Original)
This is perhaps the most famous
Santa on my list, which is no surprise, considering that he comes from one of the most
famous Santa Claus themed movies ever. In this film, Edmund Gwenn plays Kris Cringle, and the brilliance of this film is that we never know for sure if he’s
the real Santa or just a kind old man who believes he’s Santa. However, when
you see this guy do what he does, there’s absolutely no doubt in your mind that
he’s the genuine article. This is the movie that made Santa feel the most human
and relatable, and it’s Edmund Gwenn’s performance that makes the character
feel all the more real. Even though this isn’t my absolute favorite portrayal
of Santa, he’s still one of the absolute best, and for all the right
reasons.
2. Santa Claus from “Ernest
Saves Christmas”
Now I’m not going to argue that this isn’t a stupid
movie, as it is for the most part. However, the Santa Claus in this film played
by the late Douglas Seale is an absolute gem. This is perhaps the most joyful
Santa Claus of all time, and by that, I mean he’s an instant joy to watch.
Every time he’s on screen, you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Every time he chuckles,
or gives a simplistic speech, it can make anyone’s small heart grow three sizes.
It’s one of those performances where I never see an actor delivering memorized
lines, it genuinely feels like Santa, right there in the flesh. If you think
this movie is stupid, that’s perfectly understandable, if you think Ernest is stupid,
that’s especially understandable, but I think at the very least ... you can find something to like about this films version of Santa.
Before I reveal my number one favorite, here are some quick Honorable Mentions ...
Santa from "Santa Claus: the Movie" (1985)
Santa from "The Legend of Santa Paws"
Santa the 20th from "Arthur Christmas"
Santa from "Fred Claus"
Kringle from "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"
1. Kris Kringle from “Miracle
on 34th Street” (1994)
When it comes to different variations
of Santa Claus, my personal favorite is this one, played by Sir Richard Attenborough.
He is just the kindest, sweetest old man that just embodies the spirit of the
holiday. He’s also very sophisticated and dignified, which balances off his
magical charm, and persona perfectly. I especially love his presentation, the
design of his costume is beautifully detailed, and his smile is simply
contagious. He simply embodies everything jolly, wholesome, and dignified that
you’d expect to see in a rendition of Santa Claus, and for that, he’s my
personal favorite.
Thanks for reading my countdown ... and continue to enjoy the Christmas and Holiday specials you Love!
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