Jingle All the Way (1996)

15% of critics liked it
(40 reviews)
42% of users liked it
(209,453 ratings)

The true meaning of Christmas -- desperate last-minute shopping -- is the subject of this holiday-themed comedy. Howard Langston (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a mattress salesman with a bad habit of putting his work ahead of his family. His son Jamie (Jake Lloyd), who wishes Dad would pay more… More The true meaning of Christmas -- desperate last-minute shopping -- is the subject of this holiday-themed comedy. Howard Langston (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a mattress salesman with a bad habit of putting his work ahead of his family. His son Jamie (Jake Lloyd), who wishes Dad would pay more attention to him, wants only one thing for Christmas -- a Turbo Man action figure, with all the accessories. Howard promises both Jamie and his wife Liz (Rita Wilson) that there will indeed be a Turbo Man under the tree for Jamie on Christmas morning, but come December 24, Howard realizes that he hasn't actually bought the toy yet. Seemingly it would be no great problem to head on down to the toy store and pick one up, but it just so happens that Turbo Man has been the hottest ticket of the holiday season, and literally thousands of parents are scrambling for the last few action figures. Howard then spends a hilariously hellish Christmas Eve madly scrambling from store to store in desperate search of a Turbo Man; in the course of his adventures, Howard keeps crossing paths Myron Larabee (Sinbad), a postal worker who wants a Turbo Man even more desperately than Howard. And on the home front, Howard has to worry about Ted Maltin (Phil Hartman), an annoyingly perfect suburbanite obsessed with Christmas who has eyes for Liz. This was the second film for child actor Jake Lloyd, who three years later would gain international attention when he was cast as the young Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: Brian Levant
Written By: Randy Kornfield
Genres: Comedy, Kids & Family

In Theaters: Jun 1, 1997 Wide
On DVD: Nov 3, 1998
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, Variety
In this formulaic star vehicle, Schwarzenegger gets to fly like Peter Pan, act like Superman--and fulfill all the fantasies kids may have about their fathers.
Heather Boerner, Common Sense Media
Ahnold terminates the holiday spirit.
Rob Nelson, Boston Phoenix
God forbid Arnold should have to shell out for one of those Spanish-speaking turbomen being hocked in the bad part of town.
Pete Croatto, Filmcritic.com
still heartless and unfunny and as welcome a part of the holidays as traffic and fruit cake.
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
Home Alone, this is not, but for a family Christmas movie, it's surprisingly fun.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
If only it had jingled all the way, instead of just hitting the right note at the end.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
The 2007 DVD of this 1996 flick, billed as Family Fun Edition, includes 20 minutes of extra-footage; two set-up games, Christmas Rush and Guess the Gift; and several featurettes like Making of a Hero, Super Kids, and Turbo Man Behind the Mask.
Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser
The film is rescued by a strong third act, but getting there is torture.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
If it weren't for the credits 'A Brian Levant Film' and 'Directed by Brian Levant,' one would be certain that the director was Chris Columbus.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
OK family fun casts Arnold with Sinbad.
Edward Douglas, ComingSoon.net
And one wonders why Sinbad hasn't made any movies since
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
The practice of buying indulgences didn't die with the Middle Ages, it just sort of metastasized into something black and malignant at the heart of our society.
Ryan Cracknell, Movie Views
While there's some genuine laughs and warm sentimentality to be had, Brian Levant's Jingle All the Way represents everything that's bad with Christmas today.

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Joshua W

Last christmas I watched this only to hear the greatest schwarzenegger line ever, 'PUT THAT COOKIE DOWN! NOW!!' classic. but this film makes you think if arnold thinks people thinks he's funny or if he knows it's just because he says things funny. honestly, if u… More
Last christmas I watched this only to hear the greatest schwarzenegger line ever, 'PUT THAT COOKIE DOWN! NOW!!' classic. but this film makes you think if arnold thinks people thinks he's funny or if he knows it's just because he says things funny. honestly, if u just read the script, without arnolds voice, it's just a bad dad suffering from a bad parenting mistake. it's no kindergarden cop. sinbad's in it... remember when he was a thing?
Sophie B

An enjoyable but silly Christmas film. Fun for the kids but too cheesy and unfunny for adults.
E.J. B

Some movies are review proof. Jingle All the Way is one such movie. Of course it's bad. The effects are so horrid and the story is so completely ludicrous that you can't help but shake your head and laugh. And laugh you shall! I'm an avid Arnold fan, and Jingle All the… More
Some movies are review proof. Jingle All the Way is one such movie. Of course it's bad. The effects are so horrid and the story is so completely ludicrous that you can't help but shake your head and laugh. And laugh you shall! I'm an avid Arnold fan, and Jingle All the Way is my annual Christmas movie. Every year, and this year was no different, my brother and my cousins sit around the TV with some nice warm hot chocolate and laugh our asses off as we watch Arnold pummels his way through a pack of evil Santas, a reindeer, Sinbad, and a parade to ultimately make his son happy. There is a certain charm to this movie. It may be in the sheer nonsensical slapstick humour, or in the way that it pokes fun at how people confuse mass consumerism with Christmas spirit, but there is an evident good nature to the jokes. A lot of people have dismissed the film by saying it sends a message to parents that they better get their kids the toys they want for Christmas, or they're going to turn into crazy lunatic alcoholic mailmen. I don't think that's entirely the case. I think what's more dangerous in the scenario is not the father forgetting to buy his son a toy, but that he is neglecting his son, and leaving the kid to spend many of his most defining moments without his father present. That leaves a mark on the child, perhaps creating self esteem issues, and wondering if the child is loved by his father. Nevertheless, I doubt the filmmakers wanted to do anything more than entertain and get people in the mood for Christmas. In the case of my family and I, no movie does this better than Arnold's holiday family "classic," Jingle All the Way! It fails spectacularly as a satire and a legitimately feel good Holiday movie, but I don't think I would like it so much if it wasn't as bad as it is. On a serious note, this was one of the last films to feature Phil Hartman, and his performance here as a sleezy divorcée is a true testament to his comic genius!
Melvin W

Myron Larabee: How about these stupid letters from kids to Santa at the North Pole: "Dear Santa, Can you send me a bike and a slinky?" No! Your father's been laid off! "Two Dads, One Present, No Prisoners." I'm not going to lie, I've always found… More
Myron Larabee: How about these stupid letters from kids to Santa at the North Pole: "Dear Santa, Can you send me a bike and a slinky?" No! Your father's been laid off! "Two Dads, One Present, No Prisoners." I'm not going to lie, I've always found some enjoyment from this movie. Ever since I was a little kid, I have watched this ever single Christmas and I still haven't grown to hate it yet. It isn't a good movie by any standards, even by holiday movie standards. The kid is really annoying, what with his whining about TurboMan and his dad missing his karate class and the whole Arnold Schwarzenegger as the father thing is a bit of a stretch. Still when it comes to family Christmas films, you could do a lot worse. A father promises his son a TurboMan action figure for Christmas. The problem with that promise is that he hasn't gotten it yet and now it's Christmas Eve and this toy is the hottest thing on the market. Now he has to run around department stores, chase after leads and battle another father for a TurboMan. What I've always liked about the movie is how it uses the classic need to get your kids exactly what they want for Christmas. The father is forced to go to great extents in order to try to get his kid a pretty useless toy that he will probably play with three times before throwing into a huge pile of other toys he just had to have. It also proves that every guy will always wait until the last minute to get presents. That's just a fact.
Louis R

Appalling. Intensely cringy, predictable, saccharine and worst of all without any so-bad-it's-good value. It actually drains you of christmas spirit. Avoid it.
Jeff "

Jingle All the Way is one of the worst holiday comedies ever conceived. The film is a horrible mess from start to finish, and doesn't do anything to truly make it a memorable Holiday viewing. Where to begin with this one? The cast? The script? The directing? All of it is… More
Jingle All the Way is one of the worst holiday comedies ever conceived. The film is a horrible mess from start to finish, and doesn't do anything to truly make it a memorable Holiday viewing. Where to begin with this one? The cast? The script? The directing? All of it is terrible. As a holiday comedy, Jingle All the Way isn't a successful comedy. The film is quite awful, and one thing that makes this film so bad is the cast. Schwarzenegger is totally out of place, and he proves yet again that comedies aren't his genre. Director Brian Levant shows how he can't direct an effective, and delivers another crap fest. Jingle All the Way is a film that needs to be avoided. The cast is terrible, and the paper thin script doesn't deliver anything. Jingle All the Way is yet another awful holiday film, and should be seen as a how not to make a holiday film. The film had very poor directing from awful director Brian Levant, who never seems to deliver an entertaining film. His work is sloppy, washed out and he really is one of cinema's worst directors. With Jingle All the Way, he delivers an awful, boring, clichéd film that is plainly a film not worth seeing. If you're looking for a great holiday comedy film, pass up on Jingle All the Way. This is a pointless comedy not worth watching.
Albert K

TURBO MANNNNNN!
Martin S

It's fun because he has problems
Alexander D

Come on, now. The reviews for this movie totally screw it up. It's a good family holiday movie, and it's funny, even though Arnold Schwarzenegger isn't usually humorous.
Lucas M

Good try to be a classic christmas movie. Is a pity that flaw.
Brad W

Sinbad was the only funny thing
Michael E

a hilarious comedy with great jokes from all the characters, the inside jokes, references, and the acting is spot on even for Schwarzenegger.
Gordon A

Early Arnie
Conner R

In many ways this is the ultimate Christmas movie. It really sums up the entire holiday, parents desperately trying to win the love of their children by buying them things that they don't need. It also happens to be one of the craziest and action oriented Holiday movies ever… More
In many ways this is the ultimate Christmas movie. It really sums up the entire holiday, parents desperately trying to win the love of their children by buying them things that they don't need. It also happens to be one of the craziest and action oriented Holiday movies ever assembled. Arnold Schwarzenegger is just about the greatest dad in film, going to every length possible in order to please his sith lord son. Sinbad also made a great deranged mail man. A lot of people automatically knock this movie because it is offbeat and flat out weird, but I think if you really watch it with the right lens, it is a great movie.
Tim S

Horrible Christmas movie.
KJ P

It's ridiculous! However it has a good Christmas spirit, and should be enjoyed by everyone!
Candy R

Arnie is a busy dad who has to get a toy for his son's Christmas present but he leaves it to the last minute. He tries everything including stealing his neighbour's son's toy. But Arnie saves the day as the super action hero dad.
Wahida K

Say whatever you want but Arnie had talent to play in Comedy Movies. I liked this one.
Jason O

I liked this when I was younger, and still like it now. Great family Christmas comedy. Sinbad and Arnie both rock.
Anthony L

Really fucking awful, God know why I saw this in the cinema!