Bad Santa (2003)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Jack H

  
  This narratively clichéd yet entertaining alternative Christmas film is one definitely worth seeing if you're sick of 'It's a Wonderful Life'. Billy Bob Thornton stars as Willie, a safe-cracking crook who masquerades as Father Christmas every December in shopping… More
  This narratively clichéd yet entertaining alternative Christmas film is one definitely worth seeing if you're sick of 'It's a Wonderful Life'. Billy Bob Thornton stars as Willie, a safe-cracking crook who masquerades as Father Christmas every December in shopping malls across the United States. His token elf accomplice Marcus, who is a 'little person', exploits his miniature frame to hide in malls after opening hours, hastily cancelling the security system so Bad Santa can waltz in and get to work on the safe. I found myself laughing on many occasions, thanks to contributions from almost all the cast, especially Bernie Mac. The humour was tainted however by the language, which soon became gratuitous and puerile. Those two adjectives also describe Willie, his bad boy persona is exaggerated in many parts of the film; Willie will often needlessly erupt with a foul-mouthed tirades that soon become tiresome. I'm a fan of 'Goodfellas' and 'Scarface'; yet, oddly enough, I didn't find them gratuitous like 'Bad Santa'. Apart from this, I'd recommend Bad Santa. It's an entertaining, politically incorrect and ultimately 'feel-good' film that puts a twist on the Christmas movie genre conventions. I think its dark humour will especially go down a treat with mid-teens who aren't getting that always nauseating 'Christmas feeling'.

• Michael M

  
  Not as grinchy and evil as I had hoped. The plot of Bad Santa is all over the place and sometimes the edginess is lost by dramatic changes to it's story. It didn't score an outrageous number of laughs but Thornton and Mac really shine.

• Jens S

  
  Certainly one of the most ruthless and least politically correct films ever made about Santa. It's a joy how BB Thornton stabs every stereotype of the kind and lovable Santa impersonator imaginable way beyond the point where other films already take a turn towards the… More
  Certainly one of the most ruthless and least politically correct films ever made about Santa. It's a joy how BB Thornton stabs every stereotype of the kind and lovable Santa impersonator imaginable way beyond the point where other films already take a turn towards the "redemption of the stone-hearted" direction. Of course we get that here too, but only with gritted teeth and tongue in cheek. And the meaner a film and its protagonist is, the more meaning his little gestures of kindness get in the end. But before that, you're just having a lot of good laughs with the farting, cursing and fucking bad Santa. Disgusting, mean, yet heart-warming and fun. A combination you just don't get often enough.

• Jeff "

  
  Though not as memorable as Christmas Vacation, Bad Santa is still a very funny comedy with plenty of laughs. Billy Bob Thornton gives one of his best comedic performances here. Bad Santa is a well made comedy that is one of the essential must see viewings for the Christmas season. Bad… More
  Though not as memorable as Christmas Vacation, Bad Santa is still a very funny comedy with plenty of laughs. Billy Bob Thornton gives one of his best comedic performances here. Bad Santa is a well made comedy that is one of the essential must see viewings for the Christmas season. Bad Santa is funny, but at times uneven. Bad Santa is a totally different Christmas film. The film is good and is definitely one of Thornton's best comedic performances. There are plenty of memorable moments in this film, and some are downright hilarious. One thing is for sure, this film is not your average Christmas film, and it's quite wonderful. Those expecting a fun, family oriented Holiday film; you aren't not going to find it here. The film is not your standard holiday film. Still, Bad Santa despite the fact it's not a perfect film, is a good, entertaining and funny film for the holiday season. This is one of the few holiday films that do something new and refreshing. The jokes are good and Bad Santa is simply an entertaining film that is memorable, funny and guarantees a good time. Billy Bob Thornton is good here, and this one of last actually good comedic performances. After this film, he basically replayed the same character, and he became dull. A good comedy for the holiday season, one that belongs in a category of its own because it's quite different. A very enjoyable film and is one of the best Christmas holiday films. But it's no Christmas Vacation.

• Scott G

  
  very very slacky, yet it accomplishes the objective to entertain, Billy's character gives him the opportunity to shine brighter than a christmas tree.

• Dead A

  
  Nasty Santa. Damn I hate it.

• Unknown H

  
  On the surface of it this film looks like just another superficial holiday comedy but under the first few layers and within the first half an hour or so, you begin to realise that although it is side splittingly funny at times it is also a dark and sad tale of a man with literally… More
  On the surface of it this film looks like just another superficial holiday comedy but under the first few layers and within the first half an hour or so, you begin to realise that although it is side splittingly funny at times it is also a dark and sad tale of a man with literally nothing left to lose. Great one lines, Thorton is on fire as Santa gone wrong and with a depressing depth, Bad Santa really is one of the greats.

• Brad W

  
  Funniest christmas movie since Elf. Billy Bob Thorton and the rest were perfect in their roles. The plot was surprisingly interesting, even if cliche and gross sometimes. This movie is sick and twisted, and I loved it.

• KJ P

  
  Bad Santa, even without it's dialogue scenes is pure hilarity. It is a pretty basic story of a drunken man acting as Santa with many problems, but overall, it is an extremely hilarious film. With comedy, heart, and a hint of raunchiness, it is one of the most satisfying christmas… More
  Bad Santa, even without it's dialogue scenes is pure hilarity. It is a pretty basic story of a drunken man acting as Santa with many problems, but overall, it is an extremely hilarious film. With comedy, heart, and a hint of raunchiness, it is one of the most satisfying christmas films in the last decade, seeing as there are very few to choose from. The only thing that sucks, is the fact that the movie had to have a hard R rating. It is certainly not a movie for kids, but adults and teenagers who like to have a vulgar laugh at films like this, they will love it. It's not really what I expected, it's actually better!

• Bruce B

  
  Number 14 is Bad Santa, you will not find a dirtier Christmas move out there, Shooting guns at the Nativity that's a little much don't you think. I wouldn't show this to any children or anyone under 16 anyway, after that age there exposed to it in public school anyway.… More
  Number 14 is Bad Santa, you will not find a dirtier Christmas move out there, Shooting guns at the Nativity that's a little much don't you think. I wouldn't show this to any children or anyone under 16 anyway, after that age there exposed to it in public school anyway. 1 1/2 stars

• Conner R

  
  Just a great movie that never seems to get old, the comedy still works just as well as it did when I saw it the first time. Billy Bob Thorton's performance is easily one of the best and most memorable comedic characters. He's so pathetic and revolting, but you're always… More
  Just a great movie that never seems to get old, the comedy still works just as well as it did when I saw it the first time. Billy Bob Thorton's performance is easily one of the best and most memorable comedic characters. He's so pathetic and revolting, but you're always on his side 100% and never doubt that he is the greatest Con-man Santa to ever sit in a mall. Some of the little things are what make it such a classic, like the answering machine rampage, fried bologna sandwiches and the bloody elephant.

• Chris W

  
  This is one of my favorite holiday films. It's a lot more crude and mean spirited than basically all of them, but the performances are fucking brilliant, and the script is just great, This movie successfully balances out the vulgarity with lots of heart, genuine feelings, and… More
  This is one of my favorite holiday films. It's a lot more crude and mean spirited than basically all of them, but the performances are fucking brilliant, and the script is just great, This movie successfully balances out the vulgarity with lots of heart, genuine feelings, and nicely done character development. Willie is the last guy you'd want as a Santa, and he's the most unlikely person to turn his life around, but leave it up to a goofy but well-meaning kid, his shifty vertically challenged companion, and an attractive woman with an interesting fetish to change all that. Terry Zwigoff is awesome, and I respect this movie a great deal (for a lot fo reasons), but especially since the Coen Bros. produced it. This is definitely an adult CHristmas movie, but it has some actual substance, and you really grow to care about the characters, no matter how twisted things are. Billy Bob Thornton has given some excellent performances in his career, and this ranks up there pretty high on that list. Lauren Graham is awesome, Brett Kelly is fun, Tony Cox is really good, and it's nice to see Bernie Mac and John Ritter put in some good work too, especially since this was Ritter's final film. Give this one a chance if you haven't seen it yet. I may just surprise you with how good and touching it is.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"It's Christmas and the kid's gettin' his fuckin' present."</i> A miserable conman and his partner pose as Santa and his Little Helper to rob department stores on Christmas Eve. But they run into problems when the conman befriends a… More
  <i>"It's Christmas and the kid's gettin' his fuckin' present."</i> A miserable conman and his partner pose as Santa and his Little Helper to rob department stores on Christmas Eve. But they run into problems when the conman befriends a troubled kid, and the security boss discovers the plot. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> Pitch black comedy from filmmaker Terry Zwigoff and the Coen Brothers (who came up with the idea and produced) about a malcontent career criminal and alcoholic whose yearly scam as a department store Santa Claus with his partner as his 'helper' (Thornton and Cox making for a merry motley pair) faces a few unsuspecting set-backs including the milquetoast mall manager (Ritter in one of his last onscreen appearances); the store dick (Mac) and a heavyset adolescent (Kelly) who thinks Thornton is the real Kris Kringle. Frequently uproariously funny with a sappy undercoating makes for a bit of naughty and nice with all the appeal of curdled egg nog. Thornton is a riot as the foul talking loser and the film sets the right tone of outrageous raw behavior that makes the most of a sacred cow led to slaughter.

• Lenny M

  
  Gross film.

• Josh L

  
  A hilarious and unrelentingly dark comedy that will appeal to the grinch in all of us. This is one of the very few Christmas movies worth watching from the past decade so if you haven't seen it yet I recommend it. Billy Bob Thornton is really good in this role, which he was… More
  A hilarious and unrelentingly dark comedy that will appeal to the grinch in all of us. This is one of the very few Christmas movies worth watching from the past decade so if you haven't seen it yet I recommend it. Billy Bob Thornton is really good in this role, which he was probably born to play. The little kid and midget are pretty funny at times too. This movie isn't for everybody though. I know of a few people who would probably be offended by it.

• Film C

  
  very funny and brilliant acting in this comedy! nothing like a grumpy santa claus a fat kid and a dwarf tha is so amusing! really worth a watch!

• Luke B

  
  A one joke film played out fantastically. The performances allow you to ignore the fact that you are just laughing at someone swearing. Thornton's quips are so hurtful and cruel, they really go against the Christmas spirit. Luckily the film does bring about a rather wonderful… More
  A one joke film played out fantastically. The performances allow you to ignore the fact that you are just laughing at someone swearing. Thornton's quips are so hurtful and cruel, they really go against the Christmas spirit. Luckily the film does bring about a rather wonderful Christmas message without becoming too sentimental. The young Brett Kelly steals the show. A beautifully simplistic performance that allows you to feel for The Kid as well as understand Thornton's anger. A little bit different and a little bit awesome.

• Lady D

  
  My favourite Christmas comedy of all time, a family Christmas film this ain't! In fact quite the contrary. Billy-Bob's charater's bad attitude is hillarious, he plays a bad guy really well and the shock factor lasts throughout the film. Definitely my kind of… More
  My favourite Christmas comedy of all time, a family Christmas film this ain't! In fact quite the contrary. Billy-Bob's charater's bad attitude is hillarious, he plays a bad guy really well and the shock factor lasts throughout the film. Definitely my kind of humour.

• Anthony L

  
  Good Santa!

• Jason O

  
  I remember going into this one thinking it'd be overly corny and unfunny, but I was totally wrong. This is one of those rare films that most of my family and friends dislike, but I love it lol.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings