The Santa Clause is a media franchise that consists of three American holiday family-comedy theatrical feature films starring Tim Allen, and one television series for Disney+. Based on an original story by Leo Benvenuti and Steve Rudnick, the plot centers around Scott Calvin, a marketing executive from Illinois who takes on the role of Santa Claus after he inadvertently causes an accident with the real one. The plot of each installment revolves around Scott as he adjusts to his new role while saving Christmas.
The Santa Clause was met with mixed-to-positive critical reviews, and was a box office success. In the years since its release, it has been described as a Christmas classic. The sequels experienced diminishing critical reception, but were financially successful and are considered holiday cult classics.
The franchise continued with a television series, The Santa Clauses, which premiered on November 16, 2022.
Films Title U.S.release date Director Screenwriters Story by Producers The Santa Clause John Pasquin Leo Benvenuti & Steve Rudnick Robert Newmyer, Brian Reilly and Jeffrey Silver The Santa Clause 2 Michael Lembeck Don Rhymerand Cinco Paul & Ken Daurioand Ed Decter & John J. Strauss Leo Benvenuti & Steve Rudnick The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause Ed Decter & John J. Strauss
The Santa Clause (1994)
Divorced dad Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) has custody of his son Charlie (Eric Lloyd) on Christmas Eve. After he accidentally causes Santa to fall from his roof, 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 is dreaming, but over the next several months he gains weight and grows an inexplicably white beard. Realizing that it was not a dream, Scott embraces the new, permanent role he has as Santa Claus.
The Santa Clause 2 (2002)
Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) has been in the role of Santa for the past eight years, and his loyal elves consider him the best one ever. But the world of the "Merry Old Soul" turns upside down when he is dealt a double whammy of news: Not only has his son, Charlie (Eric Lloyd), landed on this year's naughty list, but Scott discovers that he must marry by Christmas Eve, or he will stop being Santa Claus forever.
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006)
Christmas cheer turns into holiday chaos when Scott Calvin / Santa Claus (Tim Allen) invites his in-laws (Ann-Margret, Alan Arkin) for a visit and must also contend with Jack Frost's (Martin Short) scheme to take over the North Pole. Scott, his family, and Head Elf Curtis (Spencer Breslin) must join forces to foil the nefarious plot.
Short film
True Confessions of the Legendary Figures (2003) Released on The Santa Clause 2 home media, the 3 minutes 30 second short film is a mockumentary interview with Father Time, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Cupid, Sandman and Mother Nature. The actors reprised their roles from the film.
Television series
In January 2022, it was announced that a sequel limited series was in development. Jack Burditt will serve as showrunner and executive producer, while Tim Allen and Elizabeth Mitchell will reprise their roles as Scott Calvin / Santa Clause and Carol Newman-Calvin / Mrs. Claus, respectively. Allen, Kevin Hench, Richard Baker and Rick Messina will serve as additional executive producers. The project will be a joint-venture production between Disney Branded Television, 20th Television, Disney Television Studios and Disney+ Original Series. The show is intended to be released via streaming exclusively on Disney+. Production is scheduled to commence in March 2022 in Los Angeles, California. At the beginning of that month, Jason Winer was announced as the director.
The official premise of the series was announced as:
In March 2022, Kal Penn was cast in the series as a character named Simon Choski, who becomes Scott Calvin's successor as Santa Claus. The Santa Clauses was renewed for a second season on December 14, 2022, with Tim Allen and Elizabeth Mitchell set to return.
Main cast and characters
Character Film series Television series The Santa Clause The Santa Clause 2 The Santa Clause 3: The Santa Clauses Season 1 Season 2 Scott Calvin / Santa Claus Tim Allen Tim Allen Tim Allen Toy Santa Neil Miller Judge Reinhold Laura Miller Wendy Crewson Charlie Calvin Eric Lloyd Eric Lloyd Bernard the Elf David Krumholtz David Krumholtz Mr. Whittle Peter Boyle Detective Nunzio Larry Brandenburg Mrs. Daniels Mary Gross Judy the Elf Paige Tamada Comet the Reindeer Frank Welker Bob Bergen colspan="2" Falling Santa / Santa 17 Steve Lucescu Jim O'Heir Sara Melissa King Casey Wilson Kris Moreno / Kris Kringle Uncredited child actor Gabriel Iglesias Carol Newman-Calvin / Mrs. Claus Elizabeth Mitchell Curtis the Elf Spencer Breslin Lucy Miller Liliana Mumy Mother Nature Aisha Tyler Father Time Peter Boyle Easter Bunny Jay Thomas Tracy Morgan Cupid Kevin Pollak Kevin Pollak Tooth Fairy Art LaFleur Sandman Michael Dorn Michael Dorn Jack Frost Martin Short Bud Newman Alan Arkin Sylvia Newman Ann-Margret Buddy "Cal" Calvin Uncredited baby actor Austin Kane Simon Choksi Kal Penn Sandra Calvin Elizabeth Allen-Dick Grace Choksi Rupali Redd Betty Matilda Lawler Matilda Lawler Noel Devin Bright La Befana, the Christmas Witch Laura San Giacomo Riley Ruby Jay Magnus Antas / Mad Santa Eric Stonestreet Olga Marta Kessler
Additional crew and production details Title Composer Cinematographer Editor Productioncompanies Distributingcompany Running time The Santa Clause Michael Convertino Walt Lloyd Larry Bock Walt Disney PicturesHollywood PicturesOutlaw Productions Buena Vista Pictures Distribution 97 minutes The Santa Clause 2 George S. Clinton Adam Greenberg David Finfer Walt Disney PicturesBoxing Cat FilmsOutlaw Productions 104 minutes The Santa Clause 3: Robbie Greenberg 92 minutes The Santa Clauses Ariel Rechtshaid J.P. Wakayama Arge O'NealChristine KimDean Pollack 20th TelevisionSmall Dog Picture CompanyDouble Wide Productions Disney Platform Distribution 196 minutes
Reception Box office performance Film Revenue Budget U.S. and Canada Other territories Worldwide The Santa Clause $145,539,357 $45,000,000 $190,539,357 $22,000,000 The Santa Clause 2 $139,236,327 $33,618,738 $172,855,065 $65,000,000 The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause $84,500,122 $26,268,000 $110,768,122 >$12,000,000 Totals $ $ $ >$99,000,000
The Santa Clause 2 on its opening weekend grossed more than its predecessor. The opening weekend was a personal best to date for Tim Allen. The Hollywood Reporter said its performance "exceeded expectations". The Santa Clause strongest market outside the United States was Germany, and The Santa Clause 2 had in Germany an opening weekend of $892,000, which was 50% larger than the opening weekend of the original film.
In the United States, The Santa Clause 3 had an opening weekend of , which was less than the grossed by The Santa Clause 2. Box Office Mojo reported: "More often than not, second sequels in the family genre make significantly less than their predecessors". After in theaters, the third film had grossed , which Box Office Mojo said was "lagging behind its predecessors by a wide margin".
In the United Kingdom, The Santa Clause 3 had an opening weekend of at , which was 40% better than the opening weekend of The Santa Clause 2. In Mexico, The Santa Clause 3 had an opening weekend of at , which was three times better than The Santa Clause 2s opening weekend.
Critical and public response Title Season Critical Public Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic CinemaScore The Santa Clause – 73% (59 reviews) 57 (13 reviews) A− The Santa Clause 2 – 56% (122 reviews) 48 (26 reviews) A The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause – 17% (66 reviews) 32 (17 reviews) B+ The Santa Clauses 1 57% (21 reviews) 55 (6 reviews) 2
Scott Foundas of Variety called the 1994 film "a full-on charmer pic". Foundas said the 2002 follow-up had too many writers and executives involved during the long development process, which he said led to "systematically pulverizing most of the original's simple delights". The critic said: "The Santa Clause 2 is a movie conscious, at every waking moment, of trying to out-do its predecessor". Varietys Justin Chang said The Santa Clause 3 was "a much cleaner, more streamlined ride than its overstuffed predecessor". Chang said: "Michael Lembeck directs the action with a surer touch and more consistent tone than he brought to Santa Clause 2, and effortlessly pulls off the pic's sentimental, life-affirming moments without tugging too hard".
See also List of Christmas films Santa Claus in film
Notes
References
External links