Bad Santa

Play trailer

Bad Santa

R

2003

1h 33m

Holiday

Comedy

Crime

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

217 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

In this dark comedy, the crotchety Willie T. Stokes (Billy Bob Thornton) and his partner (Tony Cox) reunite once a year for a holiday con. Posing as a mall Santa and his elf, they rip off shopping outlets on Christmas Eve. This year, however, Willie is falling apart. He's depressed and alcoholic, and his erratic behavior draws the suspicion of mall security (Bernie Mac). But when befriending a small boy brings out his kinder side, Willie begins to wonder if there is still some hope for him.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

A gloriously rude and gleefully offensive black comedy, Bad Santa isn't for everyone, but grinches will find it uproariously funny.

Read Critics Reviews

Nick Schager

The Daily Beast

12/05/2022

Climactic uplift is far less important than the bawdy, nasty, inappropriate hilarity peddled by Terry Zwigoff’s 2003 gem, which also benefits from the participation of the late Bernie Mac and John Ritter.

Go to Full Review

Paul Byrnes

Sydney Morning Herald

12/14/2014

In the annals of movie profanity, this movie would rate an Oscar, but it's actually pretty sweet at heart, although never sentimental. And if you don't believe me, you know what you can do.

Go to Full Review

David Ansen

Newsweek

12/14/2014

An antidote to forced holiday cheer, this scabrously funny misanthropic comedy is not for the whole family.

Go to Full Review

David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

02/15/2021

The film contains perhaps 90 seconds of genuine amusement. The rest is forced, juvenile, "off."

Go to Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

09/25/2020

8/10

His journey of humanization (or the softening of a terribly hardened heart) is sometimes genuinely poignant, even when it's surrounded by preposterously reprehensible conduct.

Go to Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

09/02/2020

3.0/4.0

Lauren Graham was wonderful as the sweet, at times horny, bartender with a thing for Santa.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Steven P

Jan 14

Crass... offensive... and hysterically funny. Billy Bob Thornton is hilarious. This is a very entertaining movie and so is the sequel. Those with delicate sensibilities will not appreciate it.

See more

Yuri B.

@RyuBlack Jan 6

Literally one of the funniest things that I've ever seen in my life. Billy Bob, Tony Cox, & the late greats, John Ritter & Bernie Mac were all hilariously outstanding.

See more

Lydia V

Dec 26

Awful! Who behaves this way? How in the world does such a poor movie make it into any "Best" holiday list. The same people who liked this movie likely voted for you know who. Read a book people. I’m appalled this movie is on anything but a Worst Movies Ever list.

See more

Blu B

Dec 26

A Cult Classic Christmas Film that deserves it's status 100%. I can see why this isn't on the same plane as a lot of other Christmas movies. This is 100% not a film you put on for families or little kids. It's strictly for adults wanting a raunchy Christmas Comedy. The acting is really good by the supporting cast but honestly what sends it over the top and is easily the best thing about this film is The Kid & Thorton. They are phenominal together and have incredible chemistry. They are flat out hilarious whenever they share a scene together. Thorton is incredible in this in one of his best roles. What seems like a dumb idiot actually is an incredibly multi layered character with complex relationships with everyone else. I know that sounds crazy but it is 100% true. You could easily write a mini essay on Thorton's character in this and he is fasinating. The dialouge is incredible in this also. What seems like just brainless raunchy mean spirited humor at first glance with some shock

See more

Mickey B.

@Mickerdoo Dec 25

Crusty, raunchy Santa’s heart grew three times that season. Unapologetically funny. Threaded the needle with the kid. Bernie and Tony!

See more

Neil M

@Neil-MacG Dec 25

Bad is certainly my one-word description of this awful movie. Crass, stupid, flat, tasteless and lacking in any genuine humour.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Terry Zwigoff

Director

Billy Bob Thornton

Willie

Tony Cox

Marcus

Brett Kelly

The Kid

Lauren Graham

Sue

Lauren Tom

Lois

Bad Santa: Official Clip - I'm a Dwarf!

2:10

Bad Santa: Official Clip - Santa's Staying Over

2:09

Bad Santa: Official Clip - Santa's Fatherly Advice

1:48

Bad Santa: Official Clip - He's Freakin' Me Out

2:05

Bad Santa: Official Clip - Nutcracker

1:58

Bad Santa: Official Clip - Bob Chipeska

1:42

Bad Santa: Official Clip - The Three B's

2:03

Bad Santa: Official Clip - Wooden Pickle

2:13

Bad Santa: Official Clip - You People

1:54

Bad Santa: Official Clip - I Always Had a Thing For Santa Claus

2:05

View more videos

Live Free or Die

40%

43%

Live Free or Die

Watchlist

Fakers

38%

32%

Fakers

Watchlist

Reindeer Games

25%

28%

Reindeer Games

Watchlist

Down Terrace

86%

61%

Down Terrace

Watchlist

Suicide Kings

34%

74%

Suicide Kings

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Billy Bob Thornton Says His Goliath Character Picked Up the Actor’s Bad Habits in Season 2

The Matrix Trilogy, Bad Santa, Chef, and More on Netflix and Amazon Prime This Week

Now Streaming: Jodorowsky’s Dune, The Manchurian Candidate, and More

View more photos

Synopsis

In this dark comedy, the crotchety Willie T. Stokes (Billy Bob Thornton) and his partner (Tony Cox) reunite once a year for a holiday con. Posing as a mall Santa and his elf, they rip off shopping outlets on Christmas Eve. This year, however, Willie is falling apart. He's depressed and alcoholic, and his erratic behavior draws the suspicion of mall security (Bernie Mac). But when befriending a small boy brings out his kinder side, Willie begins to wonder if there is still some hope for him.

Director: Terry Zwigoff
Producer: John Cameron, Sarah Aubrey, Bob Weinstein
Screenwriter: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Production Co: Triptych Pictures, The KL Line, Columbia Pictures, Dimension Films
Rating: R (Some Violence|Pervasive Language|Strong Sexual Content)
Genre: Holiday, Comedy, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 26, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 21, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $60.1M
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Surround

Most Popular at Home Now