Writing Santa: A Character Study of Famous Santas in Movies

Santa Claus goes by a lot of names: Jolly Old St. Nick. Kris Kringle. Father Christmas. Regardless of the name though, Santa Claus is a fairly consistent figure in movies. Each iteration tries to define him a little differently, whether he’s a warrior capable of taking down hostages in Violent Night or the friendly figure on trial in Miracle on 34th Street. At his core, though, Santa Claus is the one who oversees the naughty and nice lists and flies around with eight reindeer delivering presents on Christmas Eve.

These films show how to differentiate the famous character and how you can create your own version of the big man in the red coat.

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

In arguably the first famous version of Santa Claus in the movies, Miracle on 34th Street is about an old man who goes by the name Kris Kringle and accidentally becomes the Santa representative meeting kids at Macy’s in New York City. One thing you’ll see repeated here is how Santa Claus stories often revolve around kids who no longer believe in him. Naturally, grown-ups don’t believe so another aspect is changing the hearts and minds of the adults. Santa Claus plays coy through most of the movie hinting he is the real Kris Kringle with a wink as opposed to an overt gesture.

The Santa in Miracle on 34th Street doesn’t have any magic or external struggles regarding delivering presents on Christmas Eve. He’s portrayed as just a kind man spreading joy for the holidays.

Santa Claus (1985)

In the film Santa Claus, the story centers around a man who happens to fall into the job of being Santa. This movie acts somewhat as an origin story of St. Nick following a man in the Middle Ages who delivers presents to a local village. One night during a massive blizzard, he’s rescued by the North Pole elves who help create the first Christmas where presents are delivered to children all over the world.

After the introduction and a montage of Santa on Christmas Eve throughout the centuries, the film lands in the present day where his operations take a dark turn when a cartoonishly maniacal toy tycoon tries to push him out of existence. He is a jolly old man with a thick salt-and-pepper beard, donning the red suit and hat. He doesn’t interact with children much other than a homeless boy he meets while delivering presents on Christmas Eve but shows off a childlike curiosity and joy while also having a penchant for spreading some wisdom.

The Santa Clause (1994)

When a toy executive accidentally kills Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, it’s up to him to put on the suit and deliver presents to boys and girls all over the world. Because Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) put on the suit, according to the Santa Clause, he is legally obligated to become Santa Claus. This premise has held up because Allen is one of the more famous portrayers of Santa Claus having three movies and, at least, two seasons of a TV show centered around his character. Each film has him going through a series of arcs but overall the character doesn’t evolve much from his core.

Santa Claus, in The Santa Clause, struggles to accept his position in life as the famous gift giver as he goes through a hero’s journey to finally realize he is Santa. By the end of the first film and following into the subsequent content, he becomes the sweet, jolly old man everyone knows and loves. What differs though is how he deals with a series of challenges and crises, whether it’s finding a Mrs. Claus (The Santa Clause 2) or fending off a coup by Jack Frost (Santa Clause 3). In each iteration, he relinquishes his selfish, human-like tendencies and discovers the meaning of Christmas to him and the children of the world.

Elf (2003)

Although Santa Claus doesn’t have as much screen time in Elf as in other films, he plays a prominent role in the lead character’s life. One Christmas Eve, a baby sneaks into Santa’s sack and ends up in the North Pole. Buddy (Will Ferrell) is a human in an elf’s world at the beginning of the film working in Santa’s toy shop until he sets off on a journey to find his real father in New York City. After the first few scenes, Santa is gone until the third act.

Santa Claus (Ed Asner) is a gruff yet cordial Father Christmas who must deal with the crisis on Christmas Eve of a lack of spirit. This version of Santa is a happy grandpa-type who becomes focused more on the mission than someone who interacts with the human world.

Fred Claus (2007)

The movie follows the curmudgeon older brother of Santa Claus as he navigates the world as the sibling of a famous person until he wreaks havoc in the North Pole. From the start though, it’s established that Santa Claus, named Nicolas as a baby, always had the best of intentions and desired to bring happiness to everyone – of course, if your parents are always gleeful with everything you do, your brother is going to resent you. Fred and Nick are complete opposites with Fred becoming a selfish, somewhat con artist to the stereotypical sweet Santa.

The first scene of Saint Nick as an adult has him stressing over his hair color, delivering on toy quotas, and bailing his big brother out of jail then convincing him to visit the North Pole. He’s also maintained his true Santa self of being the overseer of toy operations filled with joyful spirit. It’s when his brother Fred arrives that really shakes him up and the audience sees how these two opposites mix.

The Christmas Chronicles (2018)

After their father dies (I guess they took a note from Disney), a young girl really needs something good to believe in. One Christmas Eve, the young girl and her brother try to get a video of Santa delivering presents but catching him in the act sets off a chain of mishaps that threaten his ability to deliver presents.

After the sleigh crashes, the reindeer run off and he loses his hat which is where he gets his powers from. It’s up to him and the two kids to make things right so he can finish the night’s job. This version of Santa, played by Kurt Russell, continues the tradition of Santas who are stressed out trying to complete his yearly mission of delivering presents and the worldwide chaos that would ensue if he doesn’t.

This Santa is a little more tough-love than the others. He is focused more on the mission than being kind to kids, but that’s because delivering presents is dependent on the spirit of the season so he’s eyeing the long-term strategy. In Christmas Chronicles, Santa is the father figure the two kids need this holiday season with all three going on an adventure together to collect the necessary items (reindeer, hat, etc.) and save Christmas.

Fatman (2020)

He doesn’t wear his red suit and barely seems like anything more than a man who works a farm but the Santa in Fatman is indeed the jolly old man facing the same challenges as many who preceded him in other films: threats to being shut down. There is also another threat in this R-rated Christmas film – an assassin, hired by a bratty kid who didn’t get what he wanted on Christmas, is on his way to kill him.

In Fatman, this classic character is more of a gruff old man living in rural Canada than the saccharine-sweet Saint Nick in other movies. His magic is more subtle as he takes care of the reindeer or heads into town to pick up wish lists sent to him. When most Santas live in glittery palaces in North Pole wonderlands, this Santa hunkers down on a farm. He still has elves in a workshop and a Mrs. Claus, and he still has the generally nice disposition but he’s more of a grandfather than a Santa. In fact, for the most part, you wonder if he really is Santa Claus.

Violent Night (2022)

It’s Santa Claus meets John Wick. That’s the basic premise of Violent Night when a disgruntled Santa Claus must save a family being held hostage on Christmas Eve. His origin story has a brutal beginning and his current situation is the usual Santa delivering presents. He’s not jolly or nice, and will even pound back a few drinks in a bar before continuing to deliver presents, but like in many aging, reluctant male hero movies, he feels an obligation to help out the unfortunate family.

He can wield his magic, such as remembering why certain people are on the naughty list, and can take some damage but still fight back. This character plays on classic tropes and turns his knowledge and magic into weapons.

Read More: Slay Bells Ring: How to Write Great Christmas Horror Slasher Movies

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Whether he’s a holly jolly joy-spreader or a scruffy reluctant hero, Santa Claus remains an interesting and fun character to utilize in stories. Hopefully, this list brings you some cheer as well as inspiration to write your own Santa-centered tale!

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