The Most Underrated Movie Santa Claus Is...

Finally, a cool Santa

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Published Dec 16, 2025

Michael Gibson / Netflix

Who is the best movie Santa Claus of all time? There are quite a number of frontrunners for the title.

Of course, there's Tim Allen from The Santa Clause. We have Ed Asner from Elf. There are off-beat options like David Harbour in Violent Night or Billy Bob Thornton in Bad Santa. Some might give the title to Christmas newcomer Jack Skellington (though he isn't technically Santa; he just pulls off the red hat really well). And others may prefer Edmund Gwenn from the original Miracle on 34th Street or Richard Attenborough from the 1994 remake.

But to me, the best (and definitely most underrated) movie Santa Claus of all time is Kurt Russell in The Christmas Chronicles. Now, hear me out...

First of all, I'm not saying The Christmas Chronicles is the best Christmas movie of all time (far from it). But I do think it benefits from having the best Santa.

Russell as Santa is perfect casting. He's a cool Santa. He's got swagger. He's got great hair. He's got a killer beard. He's got a badass red jacket. He even has a great singing voice (and, yes, that is Russell actually singing in the movie).

Michael Gibson / Netflix

For those who don't remember, The Christmas Chronicles hit Netflix in 2018 and follows two kids who accidentally crash Santa's sleigh. Obviously, they then need to work together to save Christmas. The movie was such a hit, it was even followed up with a sequel in 2020, The Christmas Chronicles 2.

In PureWow's review of the follow-up film, we wrote back in 2020, "Think of it as the modern-day version of The Polar Express, which transports viewers into an alternate universe (AKA the North Pole). The Christmas Chronicles 2 does the same exact thing, all while offering an action-packed storyline."

"Is it cheesy? Yes. Is the movie designed for kids who believe in the magic of Christmas? Absolutely. However, it made me feel nostalgic in the best way possible. You know, kind of like those claymation Christmas movies that somehow still hold a place in my heart."

But beyond cool Kurt Russell Santa, both films boast another secret (and underrated) weapon...Goldie Hawn.

best movie santa kurt russell goldie hawn

Joe Lederer / fotojo / Netflix

Hawn—who is Russell's IRL partner—plays an incredible Mrs. Claus. She has a fun cameo at the end of the first film and an even bigger part in the sequel.

I guess "best movie Santa" is in the eye of the beholder. But to me, Russell ~~slays~~ sleighs the most.

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Philip Mutz

VP, News and Entertainment

Oversees news and entertainment content
Is an award-winning playwright and has hosted two entertainment podcasts
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