The Santa Clause

Play trailer

1:42

The Santa Clause

PG

1994

1h 37m

Kids & Family

Holiday

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

74%

Tomatometer

57 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Divorced dad Scott (Tim Allen) has custody of his son (Eric Lloyd) on Christmas Eve. After he accidentally kills a man in a Santa suit, they are magically transported to the North Pole, where an elf explains that Scott must take Santa's place before the next Christmas arrives. Scott thinks he's dreaming, but over the next several months he gains weight and grows an inexplicably white beard. Maybe that night at the North Pole wasn't a dream after all -- and maybe Scott has a lot of work to do.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

The Santa Clause is utterly undemanding, but it's firmly rooted in the sort of good old-fashioned holiday spirit missing from too many modern yuletide films.

Read Critics Reviews

Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

Aug 23, 2017

3/4

A genial, lightweight entertainment.

Go to Full Review

Jeff Shannon

Seattle Times

Dec 6, 2013

3/4

This is Allen's movie debut, and it's easy to see why his show is a ratings smash. There's an effortless quality to his humor, but it's also got a quietly urgent edge to it.

Go to Full Review

Jay Boyar

Orlando Sentinel

Dec 6, 2013

3/5

I was surprised to find The Santa Clause rather easier to take than anticipated.

Go to Full Review

Mal Vincent

The Virginian-Pilot

Mar 2, 2022

3/4

There's a laughable edge that makes it all entertaining - not hilarious, just chuckle kind of chuckles...

Go to Full Review

Jim Rohner

Battleship Pretension

Apr 14, 2021

The original is actually quite entertaining, with Allen's sardonic wit standing in gleeful contrast to his surroundings...

Go to Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Dec 12, 2020

2.5/4

...a perfectly watchable yet entirely unmemorable family-friendly...

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Teddy B

@RT90521672 Oct 30, 2026

I find this such a mixed case. The general conceit is inspired, but the execution is tired and uneven. Scott Calvin is one of those characters that loses all of their interest when they learn from their mistakes; and Allen plays him with a sort of constipated irony that is pretty unpleasant to watch. The look and feel of the film is there---everything else just needs to step up its game to meet it head-on.

See more

Stephen C

@dogfood23111 Sep 29, 2026

The worldwide gross is $190,539,357.00 over a production budget of $22,000,000.00. Profit of $168,539,357.00.

See more

Austin B

@RT35999578 Sep 12, 2026

Austin B Boswellllgmailcom

See more

Robert P

@Superbad Sep 9, 2026

The Santa Clause = a 3.5 star Movie!

See more

diogo13 T

@Tua_mera Jul 11, 2026

É um bom filme de natal

See more

Conor T

@RT72920782 Jun 26, 2026

A fun 1990s Christmas classic!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

John Pasquin

Director

Tim Allen

Scott Calvin

Judge Reinhold

Dr. Neal Miller, the Psychiatrist

Wendy Crewson

Laura Miller

Eric Lloyd

Charlie Calvin

David Krumholtz

Bernard, the Arch-Elf

Jingle All the Way

20%

42%

Jingle All the Way

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Jingle All the Way

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

35%

63%

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Home Alone

66%

81%

Home Alone

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Home Alone

Ernest Saves Christmas

40%

44%

Ernest Saves Christmas

Watchlist

Jungle 2 Jungle

18%

33%

Jungle 2 Jungle

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

The Santa Clause: Trailer 1

1:42

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Divorced dad Scott (Tim Allen) has custody of his son (Eric Lloyd) on Christmas Eve. After he accidentally kills a man in a Santa suit, they are magically transported to the North Pole, where an elf explains that Scott must take Santa's place before the next Christmas arrives. Scott thinks he's dreaming, but over the next several months he gains weight and grows an inexplicably white beard. Maybe that night at the North Pole wasn't a dream after all -- and maybe Scott has a lot of work to do.

Director: John Pasquin
Producer: Bobby Newmyer, Brian Reilly, Jeffrey Silver
Screenwriter: Leo Benvenuti, Steve Rudnick
Distributor: Hollywood Pictures, Buena Vista Pictures, Buena Vista International [us], Walt Disney Pictures
Production Co: Hollywood Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures, Outlaw Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Kids & Family, Holiday, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 11, 1994, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $145.5M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo, Dolby Digital

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings