Many have donned the infamous armor of the holiday season's most notable consumerist hero on the big screen, but who has earned and who has disgraced that fur-trimmed velvety uniform?
We give you film's heroic, ridiculous and shameful Santas.
BEST:
Dan Aykroyd Trading Places (1983)
In this Oscar nominated film (seriously, Best Screenplay) Dan Aykroyd makes an excellently pathetic fortunate son dressed as a desperate dirty drunken Santa.
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John Call Santa Conquers the Martians (1964)
As Christmas campy as you can get. Often referred to as the worst holiday movie ever made, though we think it deserves a revival.
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Bruce Willis Die Hard (1988)
Now Bruce Willis is never exactly seen by the bad guys or us viewers dressed as Santa Claus, but he does playfully refer to himself as an unknown entity delivering Christmas surprises, like murder.
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Gene Hackman The French Connection (1971)
Who can forget Hackman's character, NYC Detective James "Popeye" Doyle, on an undercover stakeout, dressed as Santa Claus waiting to make his move.
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Honorable Mention: Gizmo Gremlins (1984)
WORST:
Tim Allen The Santa Clause (1994)
The insufferably annoying Tim Allen somehow stumbled upon a Christmas movie franchise by acting like a jackass in all three movies.
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Paul Giamatti Fred Claus (2007) [Correction: not to be confused with Swiss sculptor, Alberto Giacometti]
Everybody wanted to like this guy, call him an accomplished thespian, nominate him for all the bullshit awards... but now look at him.
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Edmund Gwenn Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
We'll probably catch hell for this one, but admit it, this movie is boring and so is its morally superior Santa. Department store executives, lawyers and real estate dreams fill this fantasy. Santa should have better things to do. Sorry, Kris Kringle.
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George Wendt Santa Baby (2006)
This is a made-for-TV movie where Santa gets sick and relies on the help of his high powered businesswoman daughter, played by Jenny McCarthy, to make Christmas happen. It's just depressing to watch Norm go through the motions.
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Honorable Mention: Hulk Hogan Santa with Muscles (1996)
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