Come Christmastime, it’s all about the big man in red. Santa Claus, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, St Nick – whatever you call him, he’s one of the most recognisable holiday figures around.
And how have many of us come to know this “jolly old elf”? On screen, of course.
Santa has featured in a litany of holiday movies, from The Christmas Dream (1900) to Red One (2024). But the issue with being in so many titles is that it becomes difficult to know which of these bearded, cookie-eating blokes represents the ultimate Santa.
Many Santas have come and gone on screen, but which one “sleighs” the most?
To work this out, I’ve devised a list (and checked it twice) of criteria that arguably best define Santa. Let’s see how some of the most popular iterations stack up.
The Santa Criteria
While everyone may have a slightly different perception of Santa, there are a few key traits most would agree on (and which an endless number of Christmas songs can back up).
- He’s generous
- He sets children as top priority
- He’s wise, with an air of authority
- He’s playful and jolly
- He’s got a bit of junk in the trunk (no shame, Santa)
- He loves the colour red
The Santa power ranking
Edmund Gwenn helped shape our perception of Santa today. He was so convincing as Father Christmas he won an Oscar for it in 1948 (no other Santa actor has managed the same, though Richard Attenborough in the 1994 Miracle on 34th Street remake surely came close).
If Gwenn doesn’t scream holly jolly, I don’t know what does. His generosity of spirit and truth knows no bounds, and his entire MO is to look out for the kids, paying special attention to the young Susan who’s beginning to lose faith in Christmas (not on his watch, though). His quiet wisdom and moral clarity convinces an entire courtroom of his innocence, and while he may not be as boisterous as other Santas, he’s a gentle kind of playful throughout. The only criteria he doesn’t quite dominate are merely superficial – he’s full-bellied, sure, but not overly so, and though he wears his classic red suit, we don’t really see it as the film is in black and white.
Overall ranking: 25/30
Tim Allen’s Santa is solid. By the end of the film, his son is top of mind, he cracks a wicked one-liner – “can we take a direct flight back to reality, or do we have to change planes in Denver?” – and he’s suitably round and rosy-cheeked.
However, it took a while to get there, so we only really see him as an “ultimate” Santa for a small portion of the film, making some of his rankings a little lower. He also famously has little clue what’s going on, so that unfortunately hits him pretty hard in the wisdom department.
Overall ranking: 19/30
A Santa with a red Chevrolet, a burgundy leather coat and a penchant for bluesy rock? Kurt Russell’s St Nick may not sound like a classic Santa on the surface, but he still possesses many of the trademark characteristics.
Firstly, his entire mission is based around locating the lost gifts so that the children of the world maintain their festive spirit. Moreover, he displays 1700 years of Christmas wisdom, commanding respect from his elves and astounding people with his knowledge of their deepest wishes.
That being said, his playfulness has more of a modern swagger, and he does technically get into a car chase and locked in jail, where he bursts into a rock ballad. He also actively rejects famous Santa catchphrases, despises the commercialisation of his look and is way too trim to scream Father Christmas.
Overall ranking: 20/30
On the surface, David Harbour’s Santa is everything Christmas isn’t. He’s belligerent, unmotivated, jaded, a drunkard. When he’s cracking a joke, it’s either dripping with sarcasm or not entirely PG. And his beefy physique gives a “boxer who let himself go” vibe more than jolly old St Nick.
However, peek below the surface and you’ll find a gooey centre. Despite initially wanting to run after discovering the hostage situation, he decides to stay for the sake of a little girl who still believes in him. His Viking warrior past also imbues him with a deep sense of authority, even if it often seems more intimidating than protective. And no one can deny his love of red – just look at all the blood he spills.
Overall ranking: 19/30
Ed Asner shows us that even Santa can get burnt out sometimes. Pressured by the never-ending job and dejected by the number of people losing their Christmas spirit, Asner’s Kris Kringle comes with an edge and pragmatism not conventionally associated with the big man in red. He even threatens to whack Buddy with a crowbar at one point.
But what he lacks in jollity he makes up for in everything else. His slightly world-weary voice lends him the authority needed to keep the North Pole a well-oiled machine. Not only does he run the show, but he truly cares about it. Asner’s Santa’s dedication to and unrelenting faith in Buddy is evident throughout, offering support as Buddy searches for his real father even though it means Buddy leaves him and the elves behind. And when Buddy helps him repair his sleigh and reinstate New Yorkers’ Christmas cheer, his festive spirit sparkles once again.
Overall ranking: 24/30
The winner is…
Only one Santa can reign(deer) supreme and that is Edmund Gwenn. His endlessly benevolent spirit and very shapely beard are the epitome of Father Christmas, even if we can’t actually see any red in the film.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
