Santa on film: A look at cinema’s most memorable portrayals of the man in red

Magical, mysterious and heartfelt are appropriate words to describe the iconic Christmas film Miracle on 34th Streetand Edmund Gwenn’s Oscar-winning performance as Kris Kringle only solidifies his status as one of the greatest of all time.

At face value, it seems like a pretty depressing Christmas movie. A kindly old man who stood in for a drunken Santa at Macy’s New York ends up claiming he really is Santa, eventually landing him a possibly permanent spot in a mental health facility.

But a series of miraculous events and special encounters tell a different story, leaving audiences at the end wondering if Kris really was the fabled man in red.

Gwenn’s touching performance ticks all the boxes. Not only does he have the traditional look, complete with a realistic beard and kind eyes, but he also embodies the soulful, warm-hearted persona long associated with the character.

From his scenes with 4-year-old co-star Natalie Wood (like the iconic “pull my beard” moment) to the happy realizations in court, Gwenn’s performance set the standard for years to come, and plenty of others to follow.

Richard Attenborough later portrayed Kringle in the 1994 remake of Miracle on the 34thand hints of Gwenn’s charms can be clearly seen in his performance of the character.

What happens when Santa dies? That’s the darkly comic question asked in Santa Claus movie series and expertly explored by ’90s all-rounder Tim Allen.

Allen’s Scott Calvin is a divorced father who tries to keep the Christmas dream alive by telling his son that Santa Claus is real.

It turns out that Santa Claus is in fact real and dies by falling off Calvin’s house, tying the father with a Santa Claus to become the new Santa Claus.

Like many of the other Santas on this list, Allen excels in the role because his portrayal of Calvin/Santa has an unmistakably human element to it.

He has marital problems, burns family dinners and ultimately wants to do what is best for his young son.

Whether it’s the hesitance to put on the suit, the cheeky sly asides and sarcastic jokes, or even the in-your-face physical comedy, Allen’s Santa is the perfect balance for kids and adults alike.

The success of the first film spawned two sequels, proving there was an appetite for the character.

Believe in the Big Red Man or not, either way Scott Calvin will make you think about the wonder of Christmas and why it’s always important to hold on to a little bit of magic this Christmas season.

While Santa is traditionally associated with children and family, Billy Bob Thornton’s portrayal couldn’t stray any further.

Despite its unusually heartfelt message and warm undertones, the original Bad Santa Claus train Miracle on the 34th drunk Santa at the start of the movie and impersonated him a thousand times.

Willie, a sex-addicted alcoholic, poses as Santa Claus to rob a department store, but his plans are thwarted when he inadvertently befriends a young boy.

While the film has plenty of misbehavior from Willie, who plays Santa in anything but the traditional way, it also has its heartfelt moments where the con man almost acts as a father figure to the young boy when the heist plans suddenly go awry.

Thornton, known for playing gruff and uncompromising characters, buttressed his unflappable image as Santa Claus with a sense of sarcastic irony and dry wit.

His character was so well received that a 2016 sequel was also made.

Unshaven, dirty and unfair, Willie’s uncompromising caricature of Saint Nick for adults is exactly the kind of antidote to the sterile Christmas tales that often appear in Hollywood today.

Despite being in the film for a very short time, Tom Hanks voiced Santa Claus in the hit animated film The Polar Express dominates every scene he is in.

If we’re looking for a classic Santa, this is it. Dressed in his trademark hat and suit, Hanks voices the character with an unmistakably deep yet warm tone.

Ready to embark on his round-the-world journey to deliver gifts, he gives the young male protagonist a sleigh bell in a symbolic and touching moment.

There are no hidden motives or backstories here, just the happy, cheerful man with more festive aura than you can shake a stick at.

Our hero character starts the movie not believing in Santa, but seeing all the classic Christmas tropes in action makes him believe.

Scores of excited children in cinemas across the globe would have left remaining believers after their viewing of the polar express, no doubt.

What made Paul Giamatti’s Santa performance so memorable was that it was the first time we got a good look into Saint Nick’s home life.

Fred (Vince Vaughn) is the troublemaker and opposite of his saintly sibling, Nicholas aka Santa (Giamatti).

One day, Fred gets into trouble with the law, and Nick rescues him and brings him to the North Pole to pay off the debt by making toys.

After a brief fight between the brothers because Fred’s young friend is on the “naughty list”, Nick injures his back, which means Fred has to step in to deliver the presents for Christmas.

Giamatti plays the character in a fairly straightforward manner while still bringing some of his trademark humor to the role.

He embodies the tropes of Santa Claus and the traditional stoic manner, while also revealing a more human and relaxed side, as shown through his interactions with his immediate family.

He clearly loves his brother despite his flaws and wants the best for him. There are crude gags, bad jokes and plenty of dry humor in the film, but Giamatti still puts a great modern spin on a classic character.

Mitchell Hageman joined Herald’s entertainment and lifestyle team in 2024. He previously worked as a multimedia journalist for Hawke’s Bay today.