Bad Santa

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Bad Santa

R

2003

1h 33m

Holiday

Comedy

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

216 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

In this dark comedy, the crotchety Willie (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.

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Critics Consensus

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

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Nick Schager

The Daily Beast

Dec 5, 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.

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Paul Byrnes

Sydney Morning Herald

Dec 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.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Dec 14, 2014

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

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David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

Feb 15, 2021

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

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Sep 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.

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Sep 2, 2020

3.0/4.0

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

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 7, 2026

Bad Santa = a *4* star Movie!

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Leprechaun K

@LeprechaunKing Jul 11, 2026

Zwigoff did a great job directing this movie and the writing is also excellent. An unconventional Holiday classic that has all the right ingredients. It is one of the funniest Christmas movies ever made. Thornton's performance is fantastic and supporting actors are outstanding with the late John Ritter and Bernie Mac, but the child star Brett Kelly steals every scene. A must watch for the Holidays.

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David M

@DavidMcKimmie Jul 4, 2026

I understand that the theatrical cut is a bit of a frankensteined creation, but the DNA of this movie is strong. Billy Bob Thornton is great with comedy. Everyone’s good in this.

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Blake- N

@PBSAniDom Apr 18, 2026

Bad Santa (2003) is crude, cynical, and definitely not for everyone, but it’s surprisingly well-executed for what it is. The film leans heavily into dark humor and uncomfortable situations, yet manages to find an odd balance between mean-spirited comedy and a strangely sincere story underneath. Billy Bob Thornton delivers a standout performance, fully committing to the character’s bitterness and self-destruction while still showing hints of humanity. The supporting cast, especially the kid, adds an unexpected layer of charm that contrasts nicely with the film’s harsh tone. While some jokes go too far and won’t land for every viewer, the direction and writing keep it from feeling completely pointless. Over time, it’s easy to see why it gained appreciation after its 2003 theatrical release. It’s rough around the edges, but executed better than expected. Overall, i'd gave it a 7/10.

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rob H

@RT63278111 Mar 9, 2026

This is a really funny movie! Don't let the cuss words put you off as cuss words are ubiquitous these days in this country. If you don't like this movie there is something wrong with you!

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Steven F.

@SteveGotScored Feb 19, 2026

One of the funniest crude humor holiday movies of all time!

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Terry Zwigoff

Director

Billy Bob Thornton

Willie

Tony Cox

Marcus

Brett Kelly

The Kid

Lauren Graham

Sue

Lauren Tom

Lois

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Synopsis

In this dark comedy, the crotchety Willie (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

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